Ron Lindeboom
2
COW Coins
Forum Replies Created
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We just had a conference call with a bunch of the team on it and we are hard at work isolating and removing the issues.
We will get to the bottom of this quickly and resolve the problem so that you can once again watch your podcasts as in the past.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
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[Kimmo Rinta-Pollari] “So it must be with quicktime codec what your site is using.”
What we usually find in these cases is that the Windows users that get these kinds of errors are usually using some form of advertising blocker software and that causes the issues.
Are you using software like that? If you are, you need to turn it off when coming here. We are not trying to hack your system and our sponsors are not doing it either, it is just that most of those anti-advertising programs are so aggressive that a site like ours — which is advertiser sponsored as it has to be to exist — get targeted by those programs that think they are doing you a favor by blocking certain things.
Ron Lindeboom
creativecow.net -
Thank you for understanding, David.
Sadly, all newer accounts are moderated for a while as one of the newest tactics of spammers is to have a real person create an account, make a few posts by copying and pasting answers from other older posts, and then once the account is approved, they go crazy across the forums. If you look at a recent thread on the COWmunications forum, we had an account opened and approved that did just this and when they got approved after a few posts, they quickly added a couple dozen or so posts for their DVD piracy program they were selling.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
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[david grantham] “I tried an answer which got witheld for review by forum moderators. I understand that. Treating issues with advertisers must be handled fairly, so I’d just as soon not ID any brand name here nor link to where they occur. But I’d love your kind input in a tech troubleshooting area.”
I am the one that most times does the moderating of this particular forum, David, and I do not recall censoring any post here in this forum or any other because of “advertiser concerns.” To be honest, I haven’t moderated much of anything for any reason in the last year or more. With my amount of gray hair, it could be years since I’ve moderated a post due to advertiser concerns and I wouldn’t remember.
Perhaps you have us confused with Chris over at DVInfo.net??? We are regularly told that he does that, a lot.
We have moderated for a lot of reasons here at the COW over the years, but silencing honest issues with manufacturers or advertisers hasn’t been one of them.
The only time we have ever done anything like that is when we had — for example — a guy who hated JVC cameras and was a VAR for another brand. He tore into them and made it out like there was a bunch of different people in agreement with him. There wasn’t, it was just him masquerading under numerous names and accounts — but all hailing from the same IP address. When I warned him that we check things and that I was ready to reveal his ID publicly if he tried it again, you would be shocked at how silent that all those “various and assorted people” became.
Ron Lindeboom
creativecow.net -
Yes, as Chris points out, we too found a very highly-rated local institution that has only 16 branches but was quite willing to loan money as they had ZERO sub-prime and other funny-paper loan business on their books. They were quite solid and willing to do business.
Ron Lindeboom
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[Todd Terry] “It was with the bank we have been dealing with for years, have banked with them forever, maintain a pretty healthy balance with them, had a previous loan repaid to them (early), have an excellent credit rating, and had really high accounts receivables on the books from reliable and well-paying clients… yet the bank was absolutely less than interested in even discussing a line of credit with us.”
It’s time to let your bank know that you are going to go “banker shopping.”
Seriously.
I used to teach small business classes for two banks in Central California and one of the things we discussed in one of the class sessions, was “banker shopping.” I would always reserve the class for one of the nights when the bankers were not present and then I’d tell the class that “What we are going to discuss tonight is not something that we could have done when Mr. X and Ms Z were here from their respective banks.”
In the class, I would discuss strategies for taking your financials, with your receivables, etc., etc., to meet (by pre-arranged appointment only — never a walk-in) with the bank’s business accounts manager.
I would never meet with one of the team, only the manager. It was to discuss the “possibility of bringing our business to your bank and to find out how your bank works with companies of our nature and what your policies and programs are.”
By doing this, the bank is automatically in a defensive position and if you play your strategy correctly and do not jump in the minute they offer anything, no matter how good it is, and you always thank them kindly and excuse yourself as you have to present this to the company’s decision makers (officers, etc., as appropriate) — then they never do get off the defensive.
You are not once in the process on the defensive.
Kathlyn and I recently did this after nearly 20 years with the same bank, who — like your bank, Todd — would not give us what we wanted. So we looked for a financially sound institution in our area, one with a very high rating and liquidity (so that they have the money to lend) and we made an appointment with the branch manager. He was so excited to discuss things with us that he asked the bank’s area VP of Business Services, as well as the Business Services Manager, to join us for a dinner appointment — their treat.
They took us to the fanciest restaurant in town. They ordered nice wine — we had to tell them that was quite okay, as I had to stop drinking wine due to doctor’s orders as my triglycerides were too high (and I am one of those rare individuals whose reaction to red wine is opposite what most people get — my blood pressure goes up, not down. Bummer, as I LOVE great wine.
I put them at peace and told them to please get what they wanted. I recommended some of the best wines on the list and explained why some of them were so special — as I am VERY much into fine wines. They followed my lead and thanked me for the recommendation when they had a chance to taste the wine.
By the time dinner was over, they had sold themselves so hard and justified so many points of their operation that they had to close the deal with us. They had too much invested to just walk away.
So, we got our loan and we moved our business.
Now, whenever we go to the bank, the branch manager personally handles all of our deposits, etc., even if they are not working one of the stations. We have a relationship and we discuss everything from wine, to music, to what is going on in our business and with the bank.
Kathlyn chuckles as she says that never in her life has a banker ever treated her like this. Seriously, we are friends and there is a mutual respect born out of an understanding that we are partnering between us.
You get that by setting the tone of your relationship and it’s not automatic, you must both ask for it, expect it and be unwilling to settle for less than it.
It’s what I told my classes 25 years ago and the principles still work today.
And remember: the important part is NEVER leave the first meeting(s) with an agreement. Get them invested in the deal. We cut our deal in the restaurant which was our 3rd meeting with the branch manager. If you cut a deal right away, then you miss the point of what this strategy is all about and you will never have a relationship that is one of mutual respect.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
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Hi Jill,
Thank you for your kind thoughts, they are appreciated.
If you wish feedback on any items you are looking for, please feel free to write me at ron@creativecow.net and I will point you to Cow sponsors who sell the product.
Thank you again.
Ron Lindeboom
(and Kathlyn, Tims 1 & 2, Abraham, Ellen, Cowdog and all the Cow Team) -
Yes, I could see that it was a cut-and-paste, Colin. But if we removed stuff that was a simple cut-and-paste, there would be a lot of work in a day for the team here.
Best,
Ron Lindeboom
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[Tim Tschudin] “…everything I own is paid for…there are some big ticket items I still need to purchase…should I take out a small business loan or keep trying to save from the small jobs that are coming in? The only draw-back to saving is I need some of the equiptment in order to do the jobs.”
RENT.
Rent the equipment you need until the cashflow justifies the purchase.
If you are getting small jobs, the likelihood that they will be able to pay for the cost of ownership, is remote.
While renting costs more in the long run, if you use and return the stuff quickly enough and only as genuinely needed, it will be far more cost advantageous than trying to buy it under your circumstances.
We have survived bad markets and circumstances that would have destroyed most companies by following that advice.
Yes, ownership is less costly — if you can afford it. But there are times that renting is more fiscally responsible for a small business. I think from your description, this is one of those times.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
PS: Not to mention that banks and other financial institutions are not really loaning money to anyone, other than those who truly just flat don’t need it. But isn’t that always the case?
:o)
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[Travis Kelly] “i’m not sure that the cow will be able to handle my sexiness”
We have grown accustomed to being a site that, shall we say, revels in sexiness. Bessie is the very picture of sexiness and Cowdog is the veritable poster dog for sexiness — or so he insists.
Then you have the COW’s Tim Wilson, who like Elvis before him long ago, has left a string of broken hearts that reach … well, to his house.
Next up? The COW’s secret weapon, Tim Matteson, our sales director. He had to move to Los Angeles just to have enough hearts to break. (He used to live in Pacoima but the 11 women of heartbreakable standing in the municipality were quickly under his spell — and so he moved southeast in search of greener pastures — though browner air.)
Then there’s me: Kathlyn would tell you that I, like the song, am too sexy for my shirt. That is true as it’s early morning here and I am not wearing one. But due to the aforesaid condition, I now find both Cowdog and Kathlyn in my office insisting I put one on.
“A dog can only take just so much,” says he, scrunching down to the floor where he begins to gnaw his hindparts.
Kathlyn is nicer about it — she always is — though I find it disconcerting that she’s walking in backwards looking away from me, holding out one of my shirts behind her back. It tells me that I am likely now in second place to Cowdog, who has a hairy back — me, I’d never allow mine to grow so furry.
“I win,” says Cowdog.
“Yeah, but you haven’t met my new friend, Travis,” I protest. “Just wait, he’ll put you in your place — he probably has a back even furrier than yours, Cowdog. And likely no fleas.”
Ball’s in your court, Travis.
Ron Lindeboom