ON LINE TRAVEL SERVICES - Waste of time? Exercise in futility? - "Bah Humbug! BRING BACK TRAVEL AGENTS! 

Good Grief Charlie Brown, my LOVE /HATE relationship with the internet is beginning to tip into less LOVE - more HATE. Maybe I mean aggravation or irritation, but the result is the same.

THAT"S IT FOR ME.....newer isn't always better. Internet sites are the 8th circle of hell in many cases. Just because you have a computer doesn't mean you always have to use it. People have spent their working lives becoming experts at their craft - I CAN LET THEM HELP ME - I DON'T HAVE TO TRY & BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT ON MY OWN! 
THAT"S IT FOR ME.....newer isn't always better. Internet sites are the 8th circle of hell in many cases. Just because you have a computer doesn't mean you always have to use it. People have spent their working lives becoming experts at their craft - I CAN LET THEM HELP ME - I DON'T HAVE TO TRY & BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT ON MY OWN! 

By the time I check EXPEDIA, HOTWIRE, Travelocity, CHEAPAIR, TripAdvisor, just to mention a FEW of the many, I realize there is such a thing as TOO many choices.
Where to stay - and it begins again....thousands of deals....all THE BEST. (Yeah, right) Then print it all out....check dates....recheck dates, recheck flights, check and recheck car rental - it never ends! My credit card is hot from typing in the numbers and still it's not turned out right. WORST PART - I have only myself to blame, cause when I tell a friend what a deal I got - they got a better one! EVEN WORSER PART - I have spent hours, days, of my limited life span doing this - using all the ink in the printer, losing phone numbers, and now I travel with a 3 ring binder the thickness of the BIBLE.

I liked it better when I simply called Alec Cross or MaryAnn Cross (Crossroads Travel), - their on FB and told them what I wanted, gave my budget, and let them do all the work. If I had a question - THEY did the research and gave me multiple answers. Change in plans - THEY did all the work - and it all had to meet my approval! Where to eat, what to see, how to commute on arrival - they had experienced answers. THEY DID IT ALL! I could change anything anytime and they were ready, willing & able. 

There......I feel better. By the way the picture here is from a trip they planned!!!! A wonderful time was had by ALL!!

Are the BIG BANKS "computerizing" CUSTOMER SERVICE to its death?

Just because some large corporation has a voice mail tree that make a sequoia look like a 3 gallon ficus doesn't mean they actually "care" about your business. Have you ever noticed that all the large banks, BofA, Wells Fargo, CitiBank, & Chase - yes I'm talking to you giants, are insanely advertising - on TV, radio, internet, and any electronic device you own, about how they want your business. 

They want you. They love you. They want to be your wealth managers. (They managed "our" wealth into "their" wealth - maybe that's what they mean) They are the answer to all your problems.
They contribute millions to various non-profits & charities....blah...blah...blah. 

It's kind of like being wooed by a suitor....wonderful until the reality of the "relationship" hits a "teensy" misunderstanding. You know how it bobsleds downhill from there.

It might go something like this; "I'm sorry, but that credit line we lured you in with,  is not available, or cut by 75%, due to your company's lack of obscene profits ---we're used to dealing with companies much larger than you."

"I'm sorry, but we can't take that service fee off the account because you had negative report on your credit rating 2 years ago". or, "I'm so sorry, but our POLICY is to only refinance home loans that meet our new stricter guidelines."

Where were these guidelines when these guys were absconding with BILLIONS in faulty loans, and buying private estates with fences to keep the riff-raff (that would be most of us) out?" 

"I'm as sorry as I can be, but our overdraft policy is to charge $ 35.00 - $40.00, for every time you screw up. We, however, do not need to be penalized for screwing up, we are "SELF REGULATING". Our screw-ups are YOUR problem. "Where do you think we got the money to make these generous donations to charity anyway?"

So, GET UP, GET IN YOUR CAR, and go to a small local bank, or customer owned credit union and you will be greeted with real smiles, honest discussions of policy, and you probably live within a couple of miles of the very people you see at the bank.

Here in Riverside, Corona, Norco and surrounding areas we have American Security Bank, Altura Credit Union , Citizens Business Bank, Premier Service Bank, and many  more. There are actual people there....Jim Verplancke of American Security Bank, a man with enormous knowledge of his industry and the and amazing ability to answer a straight question with a straight answer. 

Or Tim O'Brien at Premier Service Bank, same decency, smarts and ability to discern fact from fiction. He actually wants to help.

Maybe you know Steve Caseldine of Citizen Business Bank - another person who will not just slough you off to voice mail...he will return your call and answer your questions.

These are just a few of the many local bankers you might want to visit and trust with your money. Ask questions, have some goals in mind. At least if you have a problem, they LIVE here and you can probably see them at local charity events, Rotary's, Lions Clubs, and softball games. They & their companies also contribute to local events, non-profits and the like -- right here where you live!

ITS YOUR MONEY....put it a local bank!!! WATCH WHAT HAPPENS!! 

Do you know any other local bankers or bank associates who you want to recommend? "Share" & "like" --- it matters.