El día de ayer tuve el disfortunio de haber llamado a una compañía de plomería de Puebla para pedir un presupuesto o cotización para que me cambiaran un boiler o calentador de agua de la casa que ya no sirve. Pues bien, la señorita de esta compañía que se llama Destap y que pertenece a los plomeros de la familia Cano, me dijo que el presupuesto era totalmente gratis. Pero que tenían que enviar a un plomero para que hiciera ese presupuesto.

Pues bien. Llegó un plomero que se llama Fidel, quien empezó a quitar totalmente los calentadores de agua para ver cuanto me iba a costar cambiar uno! Yo me imaginé que esto era normal y que al final Fidelito los iba a poner de regreso. Después de que ya los tenía en el piso y de mirar las tuberías me dijo que me iba a cobrar $6,000 pesos por reparar los calentadores!!! (Me vio la cara de rico o de otra cosa) Yo le dije que no. Que lo único que yo quería era reemplazar uno de los calentadores por uno nuevo. El me dijo… “Pues yo le puedo vender un calentador por $5,000 pesos.” Nuevamente yo le dije que no. Qué lo único que yo quería era reemplazar (quitar un calentador viejo por uno nuevo) — además de que ya había comprado el calentador de paso marca Bosch en Costco por $3,200 pesos.

Finalmente me dijo que para cambiar el calentador me costaría $1,800 pesos!!! Si. Escuchaste bien. $1,800 pesos. Ahora, no se si tú tienes mucho dinero, pero para mi $1,800 pesos era casi, casi un crimen. En otras palabras, Fidelito Cano que es plomero de Puebla, es un ladrón – mejor le ponemos abusivo para que no se oiga tan mal.

Le dije a Fidel que no. Qué gracias. Que pusiera todo como estaba.

Pero Fidelito, no contento me dijo que me iba a cobrar por la checada y desmantelada de los boilers.

Llamé inmediatamente con la señorita de Destap – Alfonso Cano y Compañia – y me dijo: “No señor. No se preocupe. El presupuesto y revisión es totalmente gratis.” Yo le dije: “Pero Fidel me quiere cobrar!!!”

Cuando todo esto estaba pasando Fidel que es el Plomero se fue! Me dejo todo tirado en el patio (así como está en el video)

En este momento me acorde de un amigo que nos pone gas que se llama Humberto. Le pregunté que cuanto me cobraba para instalar un boiler nuevo y quitar el que no sirve. Me dijo que me cobraba $150 pesos! Mucho menos que los $1,800 pesos que Fidel Cano me quería cobrar!

Ok. Llamé de regreso a Destap (destap.com.mx) y ahora hablé con el dueño que es Don Alfonso Cano. Me dijo que iba a enviar a otro plomero por la tarde como a las 5 PM.

Estuvimos esperando y no llegó.

Es más, Don Alfonso Cano me dijo que el mismo iba a ir a la casa a las 2 de la tarde pero que nunca llegó. Me dijo que vivía en un Fraccionamiento de Lomas de Angelopolís de Puebla y que ahí estudiaba su hijo a quien iba a recoger y que de por ahí me iba a pasar a ver para ver cual era el problema.

Pues bien. Hoy viernes por la mañana volví a hablar a Destap. Platiqué nuevamente con el dueño para ver como se podía resolver todo esto. Me dijo que iba a enviar a su tío para poner los calentadores de regreso.

Llegó el tío como a las 11 de la mañana junto con alguien más. Le comenté todo lo que había pasado. Qué yo ya había conseguido a alguien más que me iba a poner el calentador pero hasta el día lunes. Y que mientras tanto no me quería quedar sin agua caliente. Él me dijo que si quería los calentadores instalados de regreso en la pared y conectados y todos me iba a cobrar $650 pesos!

Yo me pregunto: ¿En donde está el servicio al cliente?

¿La moral?

¿La razón?

Yo simplemente hablé a una compañía que aparece en la sección amarilla, porque pensé que me iban a dar buen servicio. Mi intención era hablar a otras dos compañías más y escoger la más barata o la que me convenga más.

Volví a hablar con el jefe Alfonso Cano. Le dije que ¿Por qué iba a pagar algo ($650 pesos) que yo no hice. Le dije que si quería le cobrara los $650 al plomero que me quito los boilers. Yo sólo llamé a esta compañía para que me dieran una cotización. Si ellos me hubieran dicho: “Mire, para hacerle la cotización, tenemoso que desarmar los calentadores y le tenemos que cobrar $650 pesos quiera o no quiera nuestros servicios.” Yo les hubiera dicho que NO!

Si el plomero me hubiera dicho: “Pues, mire don. Soy medio estupido. Y necesito ver bien que hay atrás de los calentadores. Y tengo que bajarlos. Y le voy a cobrar la bajada y subida de los calentadores $650 pesos.” Yo le hubiera dicho que NO.

Pero tristemente en nuestro querido México aún hay gente aprovechada. Gente que se quiere aprovechar de uno.

Mientras yo hablaba con Mister Alfonso Cano, el tío que había venido para arreglar los calentadores, se subió en su carro y se fue.

El el teléfono Alfonso Cano me dijo que tienen que cobrar caro porque tienen varios anuncios en la sección amarilla. Tienen más de cinco o seis.

También me dijo que me iba a perdonar no cobrarme la gasolina que se habían gastado. Porque según él se gasta mucha gasolina.

Todo ha sido un relajo. ¡Plomería y Caños Cano me quiere cobrar $650 pesos por poner de regreso unos boilers que ellos mismos bajaron!

Yo no voy a escribir más porque me voy a enojar más.

¿Me pregunto si a ti te a pasado lo mismo?

¿Si has tenido trato con Alfonso Cano y te ha tratado bien?

¿Han ido a hacerte un presupuesto a tu casa que supuestamente era gratis y al final te quieren cobrar?

Since the 20th century, camping has become a recreational activity for people of all walks of life. Often, it includes activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, mountain biking, mountain climbing, hill walking, and kayaking.

Some campers may opt to use a tent and a Coleman air mattress. There are some, however, who would prefer to camp out without these amenities. Depending on the individual or the group having the activity, camping can be done in many different ways. They could choose to go car camping, motorcycle camping, canoe camping, backpacking, or tent camping. For the more adventurous type of campers, they could opt to go for the specialized type of camping which includes winter camping, survivalist camping, or adventure camping. The specialized type of camping involves more rigorous activities and requires campers to have the extraordinary skills of getting their own food from the wild, the ability to adapt to extremely cold temperature and limited mobility, and the capability to camp in a minimalist way. Whichever they will choose, the bottom line is to have a fun and exciting time.

There are many ways to enjoy camping. However, to ensure that the outcome of the activity would really be enjoyable and exciting for the group or individual, it is imperative that thorough planning is made before pushing through with the activity.

The first thing to do to enjoy camping is to prepare. As with any other activity, preparation is a must. At the planning stage, determine the kind of camping you want to have. Would you want to have a mobile type of camping, specialized camping, or social camping?

Once you determine which kind of camping you like, you may start scouting for the best camping site. In today’s society, campers can choose from a wide variety of camping sites. There are campgrounds which already have some of the facilities necessary for the camping activity such as barbecue grills, bathrooms, utilities, fire rings, as well as close access to recreational facilities, and electricity.

After you have chosen the best campsite, find the perfect camping gear to make yourselves comfortable throughout your camping activity. The following are a must for campers: tent, flashlights or lanterns, axe for cutting firewood to build a campfire, box of matches, first-aid kit, hiking boots, Coleman air mattress, cooler for your perishables and drinks, sleeping bag, chuck box, insect repellent, sunscreen and other personal products used for skin care, basic personal items such as toothpaste and soap, raincoats, a portable stove in case campfires are not allowed in the area, a tarpaulin, rope, and the most important, food and individual cans of beverages. Survivalist campers, however, may not bring their own food and beverages.

Camping is an enjoyable activity especially if you know what to bring and what to do. Aside from the pleasure it brings, it teaches campers self-reliance and enhances their sense of responsibility and their ability to work within a team. Furthermore, it gives the individual the opportunity to commune with nature and appreciate its beauty.

We may have stridden past the path of childhood and forgotten most about what made it colorful-toys in boxes. Chances are we do not dump these containers since they relieve nostalgia. No worries, you can still keep those boxes to reminisce the healthy, young moments while you keep yourself stand up from the rest.

1. AS A RING BEARER
Some toy boxes are sleek and petite. Bring the box to your dresser and save your jewelries in it. If you love organizing your precious glimmers, purchase some of those boxes in toy shops that are designed with unusual patterns and keep the rings in the circle boxes, the necklaces in the rectangle, and so on.

2. AS A FILE RECEPTACLE
How about that big toy box? Bring it to your office and stuff your files and folders in it. You can make out some lettering of your name and your company, stick these on the toy box and flaunt it on top of your table. This will surely draw oohs and aahs from your colleagues.

3. AS A GIFT PARCEL
Is your sister going to marry? Or are their holidays nearing? No matter the occasion, save your money from gift wrappers and put your gift in a toy box. This will be peculiar in the sea of gifts and will seize attention. Tip: Get a memorable toy box for somebody’s birthday or special day, like your sister’s toy box for her birthday gift or your daughter’s on her debut.

4. AS A RECYCLE BIN
You are helping the environment by saving your toy boxes and it will be more eco-friendly of you to put your huge toy boxes in your study or behind your desk as a recycle bin. Place papers that are clean on the other side and save it for further use as message papers or meeting notes-anything for the environment!

5. AS A MAGAZINE VESSEL
When the magazine stand or rack in the sitting room is full, why not stash the older copies in a toy box and situate it in the attic. Your children could use the magazines some other times for collage and scrapbooks and may even inquire you what the toy box means to you. Talk about dynamic dual purpose: keeping stuffs while bonding with children.

6. AS A TREAT ON HALLOWEEN
On Halloween, give your children the toy boxes and let them use it for trick or treating. It may not be so scary but you can attach a Dracula mask or witch hat to it and it can do around the neighborhood. Lucky if you have a bigger toy box, it can store delicacies for a whole nights treating.

You see, your toy boxes-or your children’s-are not to be thrown or put away in the attic. Bring it out and make it functional. We may have given you six but you can add up more to the list. But always remember that these memorable stuffs can still make you feel young again-even just by the heart.

How can you get what you want in life? Some of the main ingredients include diligence and sacrifice. However, another key element is communication skills. Knowing what makes people tick and how to talk to them effectively can help you to get what you want.

For instance, when making an offer on a property, here are some tips that can help you to get the house that you want, at the price you can afford:

1. Appeal to the seller’s emotions
Of course, this should not involve any disingenuous motives or lies. However, many real estate transactions have fallen through, because emotions went awry. While you want to elicit emotions from the home’s seller, you do not want him or her to start World War III. Instead, it is important that the seller takes an interest in your welfare. If he or she can do that, then you are more likely to get the price that you want.

2. Convince the seller that their home would be in good hands
Is the house itself an important factor when negotiating with a seller? Sure, it is relevant. The house’s location, home improvements made, and the number of stories it has-all impact the market value of the house, including Carlsbad Real Estate. However, the homeowner also wants to know that his or her house will be good hands. Home is where the heart is, and is a container for all of our “stuff,” as the late comedian George Carlin accurately explained.

3. Make your offer letter personable
To create some rapport with the home seller, write a letter, demonstrating how important it is for you to purchase the house. Combine logic and emotion, to argue effectively that you are an ideal buyer. Make sure to include the following information:

• Information about your past home(s), and a link to the “new” home
• Information about why you specifically like the home
• Information about how you would care for the home
• Information about the tentative occupants (name, age, relationship)
• Information about your education, occupation, and life goals

4. Make your written offer clear and upbeat
The written offer must be crystal clear and positive. Your goal is to avoid having the seller create a counter offer. You have the “burden of proof.” If you write the offer properly, such as for Carlsbad Real Estate, the home seller will be willing to sign on the doted line. Make sure that all of the details are correct, such as the address of the home, the closing date, and figures regarding loan amounts.

5. List specifics about the credentials of the selling agent
The selling agent should also appear personable, in your offer letter. Include details, such as his or her training and experience, and services the selling agent can offer, to speed up the transaction.

Communication skills are vital in any type of business transaction. Using the aforementioned techniques will help you to land the house you need–at the price you want!