I am finding the same issue with Dealfind© as with Groupon©. The original deals, even a year or so ago, were real deals and worth the time to purchase. Now, personally, all I am seeing is deals that are worded “save over 50%” etc. but in fact, inflated pricing is reduced to normal pricing and this is the saving portion.

Let’s take today’s deal from Dealfind©  as an example. It was for frozen food products and the Deal stated…” Get 200 dollars worth of product for 25 dollars”. Wow, that is a great savings right? Well here is the fine print:

-$200.00 was 4 coupons of $50.00 each (not to be used at the same time)
– Had to buy @ $240.00 worth of product to use the $50.00 coupon PLUS @ $30.00 in shipping would be added. So you pay @ $270.00 (with shipping) and take $50.00 off and you save a grand total of @ $20.00!!
– How they justified the ‘deal’ was to state a normal price for their meat product, but if your bought the required 8 packages, you got a reduced price. So really your coupon was based on the lower price.
It get’s better! The lower cost on one product, frozen sirloin steaks, turned out to be OVER $25.00 a kilogram for the steaks at the special price!! Heck, Costco © sells AAA beef strip loin for @ $17.00 a kilogram all day long.

In reality, allot of these coupon deals end up with a net savings between 10-25%. You know what…Department stores do this all the time and it is annoying. The amount of restrictions are also increasing and the novelty of “bulk savings” by having allot of people participate, just does not add up anymore.

Maybe I am alone in my thinking but I don’t think so.

Larry J Clark

P.S..I asked for a refund once I did the math. Now what do I do with my credit?

Visit http://postframeconstruction.ca for information on the new post frame construction method for garages, agriculture, commercial, retail buildings. Now being used for residential projects as well.

Received a call a few weeks ago from a Calgary Contractor, Thierry (Terry) Schandelmeyer from Schandelmeyer Construction. He was looking to improve his web presence and increase his reach online.

Like allot of Companies I have consulted, his website was a bit outdated and with the increase in competition in the Commercial and residential contracting field, Thierry wanted to separate himself from his competition and introduce the Alberta market to “post frame” construction.

Post frame construction is not new. In fact it has been used in Europe for decades and is quite prevalent in large Agriculture and Commercial buildings in Canada. Schandelmeyer is an expert at this type of construction that uses embedded posts as support and can allow huge roof spans and wall heights. Now Thierry is using this building technique for residential garages and housing. Recently approved by the City of Calgary, this is a great time saver for getting a garage built in Alberta.

I was extremely impressed with Thierry’s vision for his Company as well as his over 80% referral and repeat business! That say’s allot about a person’s credibility, quality and customer care.

I have already started optimizing the Schandelmeyer website and will work on a new presence for Thierry’s business. Give Schandelmeyer Construction a call today at 403-333-8966 to discuss you next project. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark

I am of the firm belief now, after watching most of the Stanley Cup series between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins, that there is a definite conspiracy from the NHL to do whatever they can to have the American teams win the Stanley Cup. Here’s why:

Back in 2004, the Calgary Flames were playing the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup and it was game 6. Martin Gelinas scored what obviously was a goal and once reviewed by the “powers to be” , disallowed the goal. This would have ended the series into Calgary’s favour but instead, the series was extended to game 7 (more revenue for the league and the networks) and Tampa Bay wins.

Now we see Boston “hacking and whacking” the Canucks and no calls. We see Alex Burrows and Tim Thomas get into a scrum and a Boston player comes in and throws Burrows to the ground. No call. Back in the day, that would have been a 3rd man in call and the player ejected. Let me be clear, I am not a Vancouver fan…I am a fan of the Canadian teams and for a Stanley Cup to come back to Canada.

Now we are in game 5 and I see 4 penalties to the Canucks and one to the Bruins. I see a obvious too many men on the ice against the Bruins…no call. Here we go again. I honestly believe that Gary Bettman is so concerned about American ratings that he either directs or ignores  policy and calls that would favour Canadian teams in favour of the U.S Teams.

You can make your own assumption but the more people raise the issue the more ‘balanced’ these series will be.

Go Canucks Go!

Larry

Working on a contract with Developer, Solterra Group in Vancouver. Their new project, “Sunspring Estates” in Abbotsford. A 59 lot Strata Development with a mix of both single family and duplex units with estate finishing both inside and out. Located near the historic Old Clayburn Village, the views from Sunspring are spectacular!

Here is the video of the ribbon cutting with Mayor Peary of Abbotsford doing the honors.

Vancouver vacuum sales and service video for www.neatfreakz.ca in Abbotsford BC. Central vacuums, upright vacuums, cooking classes, kitchenware.

First video for Action Hot Water Tanks in Calgary, which is a division of www.actionfurnace.ca

This is a second video I just produced for my Landscape client, www.courtyardlandscape.ca , that has a before and after scene as well as a process that shows a “start to finish” landscaping project.

Just uploaded a new video I produced for www.joinafranchise.com

In Abbotsford BC and my Daughter in Law, Rebecca, invited me to visit the Neat Freakz Vacuum and Kitchen supply store in the heart of Downtown. I met with the owner, Remco, and we discussed his success in Abbotsford and his loyal following of vacuum system clients as well as the kitchenware and cooking classes. Cooking classes? yes, they invites chefs and local ‘foodies’ to come in a fully functional, interactive, kitchen to learn from some of the best local chefs. Great idea and is really popular. Sometimes they sell out within a day of the announcement of the event!

Remco would like to take Neat Freakz and it’s concept to the next level, so I have been asked to help them grow their online presence and gain a new loyal following.

I look forward to the challenge and to the future success of Neat Freakz.

Kind Regards,

Larry J Clark