Being a small business owner has been quite the interesting experience. I have learned more about the world in these last 4 months than I have learned in the last 4 years. Here are some things that I've experienced and learned.
If any of you have gotten married, you know that when you walk into a bakery to look at a cake or if you walk into a flower shop to pick out your flowers, and you tell them you're engaged, the price skyrockets for that cake or flowers. Well, the same happens if you are a small business. Our phone bill is through Qwest and the advertisements on TV make claims that you can get a small business package for $99 per month. Seems like a good deal so Qwest is who we went through. 2 months later, the we got our bill in the mail and it was $700!!! My jaw hit the floor when I saw this bill. I knew it was going to be one of our bigger expenses but $700??? Needless to say, we got it worked out but it took several weeks for ust to find someone that wasn't trying to screw us over for our loan money. Lesson #1, do NOT use Qwest as your phone company and do NOT tell other bigger companies you are a small business. Not only did this happen with Qwest but other companies wanted our money as well such as Yellowpages.com, Startribune, etc. We are now a target because we have loan money just BURNING a hole in our pockets.
Because we are a new small business, our lovely friends at Qwest then sold our phone number to credit card companies so at least 4 times a day we get phone calls from people wanting to sell us a credit card or a credit card processer. We already HAVE a credit card processor and we don't NEED a credit card. One day a credit card processor solicitor called and I proceeded to tell her we were already the proud owners of a CC machine. Her next line was, "okay well, please don't tell me you got the CC processor through the bank, they just can't be trusted." Dumbfounded, I could barely grasp the words to say to her, "and I'm supposed to trust YOU?! I don't even KNOW you!" ... click. Lesson #2, don't trust anyone.
Lastly, I've learned that EVERYONE in business has an alterior motive. This is the most difficult aspect of my job. Because I am in healthcare, I try my best to trust the people I talk to and care for them. Two personal aspects that other business personel push aside to make a quick buck. Lesson #3, always ask yourself, what does this person have to gain from what I can give them and will it TRULY help me in the end.
That's all for today, just some food for though on this rainy afternoon.
Dr. Julie
Hello, my name is Steph I am at Qwest. I am sorry you had this experience with our company. I would be happy to have a small business specialist look into the situation if you would like a resolution. Please email me at talktous@qwest.com attention Steph, please include the billing phone number and address, and a copy of your post. Thank you
ReplyDeleteSteph Lake
Manager - Talk To Qwest Team
talktous@qwest.com - attention Steph
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