Category — Roz Speaks Out

It’s been a while since I posted at BlogViewsByRoz.com.  I do not review as much as I used to as my time and focus has turned to my own creative projects.  However, I still have my hands in once in a while.  Those who know me, know I am hardly ever at a loss for words and have many “Views” on many things.

My dirty little Summer Secret was the CBS reality show Big Brother 8.  I can’t even believe I am saying this as I NEVER in the eight years it has been on TV gotten this involved.  But the Donatos — Evel Dick Donato and his daughter Daniele — captured my heart.  Long story short… they are father and daughter and had not spoken for two years.  It was a Big Brother twist to have them in the house together and see where it led.  It lead to a fabulous reunion with both of them winding up as the “last two standing!”  Evel Dick won the grand prize of half a million dollars with Daniele coming in second with $50,000.  But they both shared the biggest prize of all… the reconciliation of a father and daughter!

EVEL DICK UPDATE:  It did not stop there… Evel Dick Donato (he’s really a love) won two awards at the Fox Reality Show Awards viewed on the Fox Reality Station – Saturday, October 13, 2007.  As well… Evel Dick (not so evel/evil) as he is the VERY FIRST Big Brother winner who cares enough about his fans to keep them updated on his MySpace.com website!

I will admit I do not think I will ever get that involved in anything as it was terribly draining. Imagine getting so emotionally involved with people one does not even know!  For me… I think my own life experiences got in the way and I wanted the two of them to make up before it was too late. The only regrets I have with my own parents who are now long gone is that it could have been so much better, but it was their choices and not mine.  That does not make it any easier.  It is a subject I have come to terms with and do not discuss often.  However, it made me a stronger person and more compassionate and empathetic toward others.  I truly believe it is why I am so wrapped up in my online communication site Say It With eCards.  It is all about the feelings!

Secondly I have spent the last year updating and upgrading my Judaic eCards Club Say It With eCards. The site does not even look like a distant relation to his predecessor Graphics Schmaphics Exclusive Judaic Greeting Club.

Say It With eCards has a new — more professional — look, a new name and the new hi-tech ember features and benefits the big guys offer.  I am so proud and was so inspired — still am —  that I designed almost non-stop and Say It With eCards offers more than 3,400 Judaic eCards — the largest assortment of Judaic eCards on the entire web.

Let us not forget “my health scare” 1 1/2 years ago when I almost lost the sight in my right eye from a sudden retina detachment.  After about 10 days of running back and forth to the doctors and things progressing for the worse instead of better I had outpatient surgery by a fabulous retina specialist in the Bronx, NY – Dr. David Haft.

With God’s favor and guidance over my doctor’s skillful hands my eyesight was restored and I am here typing with clear vision.  It is a miracle at best!  The biggest miracle aside from my eyesight being restored was that during my convalescence I was able to start work on the new eCard Say It With eCards.  That in itself was a challenge, but the doctor assured me it would not hurt me as long as I felt well enough to do it! It was not always easy, but it was a better diversion than wringing my hands wondering when I would see again!  Let me tell you, it made me lots more compassionate and sensitive to those who have vision problems.  By the grace of God mine were only temporary! However, I was told… because I had a torn retina in one eye the chances of it happening in the other eye were increased dramatically! 

Saturday was so productive that I am still wired at 5:50AM EST on Sunday morning.  Not good!  Well, I am off to rest for a while.  I am not sure about sleep, so I will settle for resting!

See you again VERY soon!

Roz

Posted by Roz Fruchtman / BlogViewsByRoz.com & SayItWithEcards.com

The company I am talking about will remain nameless, as my article is more on the importance of keeping customers/clients informed as to what is going on – especially when they are paying for your service.

NOTE:  It has always been my understanding that when one signs up for a “trial period” that trial period is to ENTICE the customer to STAY ON and to demonstrate how the service IS ESSENTIAL to them.  Recently I have had an experience quite opposite to what one would expect.

I recently signed up with a brand new service.  It was not until I actually signed up and paid the money for the 30-day trial that I found out the service was “still in beta!”  For sure… had I known I would not have bothered and would have waited until the service went live – for real!

The company running the service is obviously experiencing some major problems.  However, instead of informing their founding/charter members they are just ignoring them.  Support tickets go unanswered, and everyone is sitting in darkness wondering what is going on.  In my case my service is NOT working so I really can’t do anything. 

As my 30-Day Trial draws to an end, I am hanging in to see if things change.

MY POINT…  When you are running a company/service, or whatever… It is ESSENTIAL and common courtesy to keep your customers informed.  People can be more understanding than you would think!  Customer Service SHOULD BE #1 with any company, no matter what!  Those that forget their customers will pay the price in the end.

MY MOTO… “Things happen, it is NOT the things that happen…  BUT THE WAY THEY ARE SOLVED!” (ignoring your customers, new or old, is NOT solving anything!)

Posted by Roz Fruchtman / Blog Views By Roz

I’ve come a really long way since I started “living a life of gratitude” instead of regret and bitterness at what I did not have or missed in my life.

A small example:  Last night I went to the variety drug store.  An item I wanted had been out of stock the day before (while being on sale).  I was given a raincheck and told to come back the next day as there was a possibility it would be in. 

Being out for my daily walk I decided to stop in to have a look.  Lo and behold – after searching all over – behind some other boxes there was “my item!” 

BEFORE:  I would have said: “They ONLY HAD ONE!”

NOW:  I said:  “One is better than none!”

I bought my product, continued my walk and went home grateful I had at least one.  (AND… I still had my raincheck to come back for more when they were in stock!)

It’s such a small thing/example, but I felt I wanted to share it.  It is significant to the way I live my life today.  A much happier and contented life – AND… more productive too!

SIDE NOTE:  IF I learned nothing else from Tony Robbins, the one thing I will always remember is:  YOUR PAST IS NOT YOUR FUTURE!  That one statement freed me from the baggage I lugged around for almost 60 years!  I have since learned to draw on my past to make things better for others through my eCard designs.

Remember… Be good to yourself!  YOU deserve it!

Posted by Roz Fruchtman / BlogViewsByRoz.com

UPDATE: Today is Wednesday, January 31, 2007.  I did hear back from AAA-logo within a few hours after writing here and sending them the link to the Blog entry.  The answer was quick and to the point, NEVER addressing their lack of Customer Service/Contact to my previous questions.  I had one last question… which was more than legitimate and once again I have not heard back.

UPDATE: Today is Saturday, January 27, 2007.  To date I have NEVER heard back from AAA-Logo in response to my many requests.  I am trying again right now.

UPDATE:  Today is Friday, January 5, 2007 and I have NEVER heard back from AAA-Logo Software.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!  Thank God I NEVER gave them my money!

I am in desperate need of a logo.  So I went web surfing and came up with AAA-Logo Software.  What a find, I misguidedly thought!  Downloaded the AAA-Logo Software and played around for an hour or so.  I got really excited until I could not find a way to “kern” specific text characters like:  Wa, Va, Ta, etc.

I thought, no problem, I will write and ask if I am missing something and how it can be done.  I went to the help page and could not find anything so zipped off a message from their support page.  The page said they respond within 48 hours.  I thought that was a bit long, but what the heck… It seemed like what I wanted/needed and would WAIT… AND WAIT… AND WAIT… AND WAIT…  I am STILL waiting, about 10 days later.

I wrote three different times, to three different departments as well as to tech support again… but NO ONE responded.  I am so glad I did not give them my money, but in all honesty, I would have purchased the program had it had a way to kern the text characters and would never have known that this company DOES NOT respond to its customers or prospective customers.  What a disappointment!  The software really looked great!  I had a lot of fun playing with it and thought I truly hit on something!

NOTE FROM ROZ:  I am still hoping that I hear back from them as the AAA-Logo Software website looks really professional and the program was out of sight in my opinion.  I find this entire episode peculiar to say the least.  Had they had a USA phone number I would have tried to call, but I could not find an address or phone number at all.  Should I ever hear back from them I will post and update. 

Posted by Roz Fruchtman / BlogViewsByRoz.com

Pardon me for being away so long.  At the end of April 2006, the retina in my right eye detached and that brought on a whole new chain of events. We’ll keep that for another time, but I will happily report things seem to be going in the right direction and with God’s blessings I am back stronger than ever.  Each day I give thanks to be blessed with my eyesight, relatively good health, a good mind and a dream.  We don’t realize how precious the things we take for granted are, a scare like I had usualy does the trick, but it should not have to come to that!

Moving on…  I am furiously working on upgrading or more accurately converting my current Judaic eCards Club “Graphics Schmaphics Exclusive Judaic Greetings Club” to a new and improved website.

Say It With Ecards, http://www.sayitwithecards.com/

Timed to coincide with the upcoming Jewish New Year 5767,  September 23, 2006.  The site will open with a new name, new look, be feature-rich with member benefits and freebies, plus an abundant amount of artsy, unique and tastefully created Judaic eCards compliments of yours truly – Roz Fruchtman.

You are probably thinking, what does all of this have to do with colors. Well, it has everything to do with colors as I am searching for a new color scheme and it just seems to be eluding me.

In my quest for a color scheme I have come across many color scheme programs, some free and some paid. I will share my findings and opinions with you. Stay tuned…

Posted by Roz Fruchtman / Sunday, August 6, 2006