Doing E-Business Makes One Realize Who You Can Count On In a Short Time!

Recently I sold one of the last of my Harmony guitars through eBay to a great buyer from the Chicago area, Michael O'Gorman. Here is a copy of our correspondence:

From: Lawrence Heagle
Subject: Silvertone Has Shipped
To: michaelo1010@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 2:41 PM
Michael:

Just returned from Fed Ex. Your tracking number is as
follows:
045752710054684.

Larry Heagle

Larry,

Thanks so very much.

I just reread the auction--I saw the guitar and pulled the trigger very quickly and then paid for it pronto--that I failed to see the text that says the shipping calculator would not be adequate for coming up with the true cost of shipping the guitar to me.

My point is that if you took a significant hit on shipping, say seven or more dollars to ship it than the $17 something that calculator came up with, please let me know. Within reason, of course, I'd be happy to mail you a check for a few bucks to help make up for that.

I'll let you know when the guitar arrives,

Michael

Michael:

You are very considerate! But don't worry about it -- I will take the extra bit it cost -- it wasn't all that much -- not even a large pizza - besides with a name like Michael O'Gorman you've got to be a good Irish lad like me and we Irish stick together as brothers! Please do let me know when the guitar arrives!

And when you get a chance, check out my web site at www.larryheagle.com and click on "The Wood Tick" video -- Benny Hill lives on in Wisconsin!

Larry


Now, ladies and germs, contrast that with the correspondence I had today with OnField, who sell football helmet accessories online. Over a month ago I ordered two face masks to finish making up two Green Bay Packer helmets and made the mistake of contacting OnField for them instead of Frank Levenick, whom I have bought through many times before.

Check the contrast in correspondence:

-----Original Message-----
From: feedback-form@mail.zoovy.com [mailto:feedback-form@mail.zoovy.com]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 1:01 PM
To: Scott Gladen
Subject: FEEDBACK: Order 2008-05-7184 : Questions on order


Sender Email: lheagle@larryheagle.com
I have had two facemasks on order since May 28 (SchuttEGOP-II) and (Schutt
ROPO-UB-DW)

I wish to cancel this order effective immediately.

Lawrence Heagle 4888 Hobbs Road
Fall Creek, WI 54742

I then went to Frank Levenick's website at "Real Stuff" and ordered the two face masks that I had waited for since May 28th with no response whatever from OnField.

I no sooner had sent out my order for the two face masks when I get the following from OnFieldl"

I am sorry, Lawrence... but the shipping terms clearly state to allow 4+
weeks for shipment. Your facemasks have been ordered and will be arriving
shortly. We do not cancel orders once the item has been ordered from the
manufacturer.


OnField Productions, Inc. (visit us at realhelmets.com)
Scott Gladen
PMB #336
501-8 Old Greenville Hwy
Clemson, SC 29631

(865) 850-2890
(201) 526-4192


Now I am between a rock and a hard place! All I really can do is write to Frank at Real Stuff and ask that he be kind enough to cancel my order. I write to him:

Frank:
I just received this message from OnField!

OnField is playing hard ball with me on this order even though it has been four weeks. I have been a good customer of yours in the past. Will you allow me to cancel the orders I just made?

Larry Heagle

Within minutes I receive this from Real Stuff:

No problem Larry. I have no idea why you would ever order anything from them in the first place, - but that's just my opinion...

After apologizing to Frank at Real Stuff I decide that this needs to be put forth in today's blog. Now, I ask you -- which of these e-businesses would you want to do business with?

You can rest assure that OnField will never hear from me again as a customer and that Real Stuff has gained a loyal customer.

I give you the example of Michael O'Gorman and Frank Levenick to let you know that there are really good people out there who are willing to go half way with you -- to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Whatever happened to "the customer is always right?"

Thank you Frank Levenick of Real Stuff! If anybody out there who reads this has the hobby of collecting and re-doing football helmets, Frank is the man you want to go to to buy the extras that you need! He is reasonably priced, delivers the goods, and is willing to cut you some slack if need be.

Steer clear of OnField. They are incredibly slow in filling orders and as I have illustrated, do not really give a shit as long as they have your money!

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Cell Phone Popping Corn A Hoax

I received the following e mail from my friend Suzi Kittson of Wausau, Wisconsin, concerning the URL I put up recently about cell phones being ab le to pop corn:

I checked it out on Snopes, it led to a company that made Bluetooth headsets and used these catchy commercial videos. Kinda scary until you know it is fake!

http://www.cardosystems.com/pop/

Suzi


More and more the adage "Don't believe anything you hear and half of what you see" is true.

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We got together yesterday in Fall Creek at Tiit and Ann Raid's house with friends Steve Rogers and Mary Hatleberg, and Robert "One Man" Johnson and his wife Marge for roast leg of goat.

It was our first experience with goat and it was entirely delicious. Not only was the meat succulent and flavorful, but the juices were golden-hued and heavenly.

The leg of goat came from an extremely young animal and was very tender.

Ann Raid told me that the Mexican restaurant Tacos Juanita on Eau Claire's south side carries goat tacos and only on certain days a goat soup that is very addictive. From what we tasted yesterday, I can see why. We'll have to check that out.

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With all the rain we keep getting, it looks like today is another lawn mowing day, so I had best get cleaned up and get at it!

Do You Have a Cell Phone? Must See Video

http://www.koreus.com/video/telephone-portable-mais-popcorn.html


Check this out if your head has not as yet exploded.

My Letter To The School Board: Fire Klaus!

The Bill Klaus fiasco is reminiscent of our present federal administration who seem to think that they can damn well do anything they please (as long s they just claim that they "cannot recall") which makes them somehow above the law.

Now the school board membership of seven are split 3-3-1 regarding Klaus' firing. -- Mary Kneer being the one who has no opinion because, well, "she cannot recall" what went down in the board meetings.

How very embarrassing to give a quote like that to the newspaper! And she's blonde. She might have used that for an excuse as well.

Bill Klaus must be dealt with severely and fired immediately! He has damaged the reputation of Eau Claire's school system. Who knows how long it will take to recover?

I have not spoken with anyone who is not outraged with this situation. it is time for the board members to do what is morally right so that the healing may begin.

If not, the next step is a complete recall of our board of education membership.

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Harmony Guitar Collection Now Officially Gone

Today I bade farewell to the last of my Harmony guitar collection that I had hoped to keep and pass on. I really didn't want to let this one go as it is a Harmony Sovereign that was made for the Sears-Roebuck Company catalog and so the headstock carries the Sears "Silvertone" logo. That coupled with the "tobacco" sunburst makes the guitar really a bit more special as they are more difficult to locate.

I put it on eBay in the "Buy It Now" category only, and after about four days, I packed it for shipping because I knew from the response I was getting (172 hits! and 6 questions) that it was just a matter of time before it sold.

Hopefully it is going to a good home down near Chicago.

Tomorrow morning I go down to LaCrosse to the Mecca of Guitars -- Dave's Guitar -- I am picking up a Seagull 12 string guitar to keep my big old Harmony 12 (oops -- forgot! I still have that one and I am NOT selling it!!! -- I had store credit of $121 and for $84 more I am adding the Seagull to my diminishing collection.

What I am really hoping is that it will give me a creative kick in the ass to have a new instrument around.

See the guitar strap in the photo? One of the ebay questions was do they get the strap? Now I am glad I said no. I will need it for the Seagull.

Can you believe that June is nearly gone!!?

And I still don't have a fishing license. Just found oout that senior citizens license is only $7.00. I promise you I am going fishing/camping on the Jump early in July. There will be photos to prove it!

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Hey! Friends of the Forest Floor: BITE ME!

7:23 A.M. -- I'm over here early to do a call in with Jay Moore on Moose Country (106.7FM) to discuss this summer's campaign against the nefarious wood tick infestation of the month of June.

Not only will I be talking abut recent tick attacks, but I will be introducing the Larry Heagle Wood Tick Rescue Tick -- a clear plastic tube containing the following:

1 tweezers
2 band aids
2 alcohol swabs
2 matches
2 mints
Complete directions for use

Recently, I received "hate mail" from some fringe group called "Friends of the Forest Floor":

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Environmental Group Protests Treatment of Wood Ticks

The environmental group Friends of the Forest Floor is targeting Larry Heagle for promoting inhumane treatment of wood ticks. Since Heagle declared June National Wood Tick Month, the group has become concerned that he is encouraging people to bag their limit in ticks, offering them a Wood Tick Rescue Kit, and telling them how to do away with the critters. The group cites Heagle's suggestion of whacking ticks with a meat cleaver as heavy-handed and cruel.

"Wood ticks are important to the environment as a parasite link between bacteria, animals, and humans," comments the group's spokesperson. "We are already concerned about the tick's welfare. We don't need Larry Heagle inciting the public to find and destroy more ticks."

The group finds Heagle's new video on YouTube tasteless. "That video goes way too far," notes the spokesperson. "Getting naked in the woods is not a safe practice. If Larry Heagle doesn't cease his attack on wood ticks, we will boycott him and his song."

Heagle dismisses the group's concerns. "I've already picked seventy-five wood ticks off me this year, and it's only midway through wood tick month. This group needs to worry about some other friend of the forest floor, not wood ticks. My video and song give people ideas of how to check for ticks and how to get rid of them. I'm speaking from experience. After all, I am a super-charged tick magnet. Last week a tick attached itself to my t’aint region."

BUSY BODIES!

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The George W Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning
stages. You'll want to be one of the first to make a contribution to
this man's unforgettable legacy.

The Library will include:


The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.


The Alberto Gonzales Room, where nothing is remembered.


The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you'll get credit for attending
even if you don't show up.


The Walter Reed Hospital Room--admission is usually denied.


The Guantanamo Bay Room--civil rights are not in effect here.


The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to
find.


The Iraq War Room. After completing your first tour,
you will be forced to go back for a second, third, fourth, and
sometimes
fifth tours.


The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete
with shooting gallery.


Plans also include:The K-Street Project Gift Shop- Where you can
buy (or just steal) an election.


The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite
Republican Senators.


Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8
scale model of the President's ego.

To highlight the President's accomplishments, the museum will have
an electron microscope to help you locate them.

When asked, President Bush said that he didn't care so much about
the individual exhibits as long as his museum was better than his
father's.

_________________________________________________________________

Although a definite date has not yet been set, I will be releasing a comedy CD sometime in the month of July entitled: "Living On the Edge". We have been in negotiation with Bill Mitchell (Rhinelander radio station) as the location for the CD release.

Look for more detail on my site later on!

Also, work is in progress to add the Wood tick video to YouTube -- as of now it is only available on my site.

I got an interesting telephone call from a gentleman in California earlier in the week. Turns out he is a member of the lighting crew for "The Brothers Four" and really dug "The Wood Tick Song" (as well as "The Vasectomy").

The question is -- does anyone remember The Brothers Four?

Once there were green fields
kissed by the sun
Once there were valleys where rivers used to run

etc.

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Talking about temps near 90 degrees today. Sounds like a good day to hide out in the house.

June Declared Wood Tick Month -- Rightfully So!

I suppose it's al the rain and damp weather we have been having but Holy Sheissmeister are the wood ticks running rampant at your place, too? Or is it just me? Sometimes I get a little paranoid because of the Wood Tick Song that they are out to get me.

And once I find one, I spend the rest of the day with the creepie crawlies -- thinking that I can feel one moving up my neck or down my leg or God knows where! A couple of days ago, out of my frustration, I made up the following list:

Twenty Five Ways To Destroy Wood Ticks

1. Hack the little buggers with a heavy meat cleaver
2. Seal the entire tick in heavy axle grease
3. Flush the tick down the toilet screaming: “Swim, vermin, swim.”
4. Follow instructions for #3 but do #2 into bowl first!
5. Light a candle, allow wax to accumulate, drop tick in to melted wax, screaming: “Wax, vermin, wax!"
6. Multiple freezer method: using scotch tape, collect up to a dozen ticks, adhering them to the sticky side, Put in baggie. freeze!
7. Pick tick up with tweezers, light cigarette lighter and listen for distinctive “POP”!
8. Pour a shot of tequila, drop tick into liquor while doing Pee Wee Herman’s “Tequila” dance moves - light tequila afire
9. Capture and save any wood ticks that my attack you, release in appropriate locations-- i.e. neighborhood busy body’s couch, squad car of ticketing officer, etc.
10. Dip in Dippety-Doo while singing “Zippitey doo dah”
11. Independence Day Ticks: scotch tape to bottle rocket
12. Glue to fire cracker
13.Take a tick fishing: string about a dozen on a small blugill hook
14. Feed a tick to a pet gold fish or any bug eating fowl
15. Hammer and anvil method -- see how flat you really can make a tick using a heavy hammer
16. The too easy method: spray thoroughly with bug spray
17. Place tick between two magnets -- leave them for the summer
18. Tape several ticks to a red circle target, practice with shot gun (Do NOT invite Dick Cheney!)
19. Using a tweezers, remove all but one leg. release
20. Gather ticks live in a big jar all summer -- come September have a “Tick Stir Fry!
21. Roll a tick in a "funny cigarette" and share him with friends
22. After three sticks of bubble gum, add a tick, continue to chew, blow him into a bubble!
24. Tape tick to tire and "peel out"
25. Insert hypodermic needle into tick thorax and suck on wood tick until HE collapses!

I felt better for about 15 minutes before the creepie crawlies once again set in.

So I have taken it upon myself to declare the month of June as "Wood Tick Month" to raise everyone's awareness to the ever growing dangerous presence of disease carrying, blood sucking parasites.

Disease carrying, blood sucking parasites: sounds like our government, doesn't it?

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THE HITACHI HARANGUE CONTINUES

Please, please, please DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM HITACHI ELECTRONICS! I say this for your own peace of mind and welfare.

If you have been following our long day's journey into night with these incompetents, you will know that we have been trying to get a new HD TV set from them since last March!

Here's an update: They finally had a freight service pick up the piece of junk on May 29, 2008. The final step? we are supposed to be getting a refund check from Hitachi Electronics. Here it is, nearly a month later, and they still haven't settled it with us!!!

I finally went to Sam's Club and purchased a new set with my credit card and thanks to Hitachi, I am still carrying a high balance because they haven't sent us the check.

So please remember -- if you are buying a new set to beat the digital invasion of next February, DO NOT BUY A HITACHI.
You better believe we didn't.

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