Mark asks…

I have a question as to how much you are really in control over your own business when working in real estate?

I recently got hired at a real estate agency and of course I wanted to pursue this career because of the flexibility in being my own boss. However, the broker is now saying I do not spend enough time in the office. I did explain to him all that I am doing when I am not in the office. We are not supplied with a computer at our desk so it is much easier for me to do most of my work at home any way. I have complete access to my voice mail and email from home too so I would never miss any opportunities should they arise. Also, I do have another job which is part time. I have been there for many years although the last 2 years has been on a casual basis due to the economy. So when they call, even on short notice, I go in for them and work. Well, I ended up missing a training meeting with the agency I work for in order to go to work at my part time job and they really got upset with me. I can not understand how they should be upset because I want to work and make some money, real money, not like I am seeing in real estate! If this is suppose to be considered my own business I do not see how they can dictate what I do. Please, someone explain this to me that is in the real estate business themselves. Is this typical or might I be better off trying to work for another agency? Thank you.

Tom & Susan answers:

I have never worked as a real estate agent but I do work in insurance. It is the same model where you get to be your own boss (aka you are a commissioned salesperson). Unless you are being paid some sort of fixed salary or wage, I don’t see how the agency could get too upset about your not being there all of the time. My company actually encourages us employees to go out and socialize. You don’t meet people and make sales by sitting around in an office.

If the company is providing you with certain benefits (office space, internet access, etc.) and your volume is low – and the company’s office space is at capacity, the combination of all of those situations might be a reason to complain. However if you aren’t being paid a wage and you would be just as happy with a different agency, let them fire you. You are a commissioned salesperson. That’s the best part about it, you aren’t obligated to do anything. Nobody pays you unless you choose to work.

It might also just be that your broker is trying to re-motivate you. It is in his or her best interest that you keep in touch with the company and continue to work hard to produce results, but he or she may not really have a lot of leverage.

John asks…

Where do you buy fish and fish supplies?

I have the opportunity to purchase a pet store. It is about 50% fish, 25% dog supplies and 25% everything else.
They have about 50 tanks with livestock. Most racks are 30″ or 36″ wide. The 36″ racks are very interesting, they have 30 gallon tanks, 38 gallon tanks and even 33 gallon “flatback hex” tanks. shaped like this… http://www.homeaquariumtanks.com/images/flatback-hex-s.png of only freshwater fish and goldfish. They used to have a limited selection of saltwater fish, but presently none. In the back, they have about 20 tanks only 24″ wide, mostly 20 high size that are used for quarantine, grow out and even some breeding.
They tell me sales have been poor since 2006 off about 25-35% from 2000-05. They hit rock bottom in 2007-08, but 2009-10 aren’t much better. They think it is partly due to the economy. Part of it is due to Petsmart moving to within 15 minutes of them. There has always been Petco about 20 minutes away. There were only 2 WalMarts within an hour in the 1990′s. today there are 4.
Do you shop at local independent or small (regional) chain stores?
Do you choose the mega-size national chains?
How about pet departments in large national department stores?
Maybe even grocery stores?
Do you do mail order?
I want to buy the business because I like it and it is priced low. I don’t know if the average buyer shops at a place like this and I will be able to straighten it out. Knowing where you shop and why will help a lot. Thanks.

Tom & Susan answers:

I shop all over the place, honestly. For supplies I mostly stick to Petsmart, partly for their prices and partly because they are down the street from my campus. I also buy some supplies at Walmart since their prices on fish paraphernalia are very good. I’d never buy fish from Walmart, of course, nor from and other department store or grocery store. (Unless it was a filleted fish I was planning on eating, of course.)

For the fish themselves, it depends upon what I’m looking for. Some species I simply can’t find out here in the desert, so I do mail order but rarely. I mostly shop at my local store of choice, which has a great selection even if their fish staff are morons. Since there is a Petsmart not too far that has a very well-taken care of fish department with knowledgeable staff, I occasionally get fish there too. For example, the rainbowfish I bought at the local store ended up being hybrids, so I purchased some from Petsmart because I knew they weren’t mixed.

I love buying from my main LFS, which sounds fairly similar to yours. It is a single, independent store that is about 40% fish/supplies and 60% everything else. They have probably around 100 tanks, including a respectable selection of saltwater fish and eels. They seem to do a pretty good business, mostly because they’re willing to special order things for customers and buy fish back. Their biggest detriment is, like I mentioned, the lack of knowledgeable staff.

You’ll always have the more serious fishkeepers/hobbyists in your area that only go to local stores for their needs. I don’t know what type of area you live in, but one of the best things you could probably do to draw in more customers is to increase the selection of species you offer. The local store I frequent has a huge selection of cichlids, for example, which are very popular and give them a lot of business.

Chris asks…

Why do Postal Services deny unsigned and independent musicians the right to own a private mailbox?

Hello,

I would like to make a brief introduction about myself. I am the lead singer/vocalist in a rock/pop band, The Embezzles, (name have been changed quite a few times within the past few months)and we’re very similar to Paramore and Linkin Park. We’re sort of a big deal in East Texas with an increasing fan base which continues to grow expendably great but we have a big problem communicating and contacting fans. We’ve tried everything from Post Office boxes, Private Mailboxes and social networking sties. Unfortunately, the Postal Services are on shaky ground. Postal Services have rules and regulations to combat mail fraud and other crimes committed using postal and private mailboxes which sounds convincing but the postal services are on the wrong side here.

Rather than protecting privacy they are seeking to invade it and rather than allowing some consumer choice they are looking to stifle what little competition exists. Unfortunately, scam artists also utilize the convenience of private mailboxes to hide illegal activities, such as credit card fraud, identity theft and schemes to swindle the elderly. In other words or simple terms, P.O. boxes and Private Mailboxes are growing concerns of the postal services used in order to single out P.O. boxes and PMB(private mailboxes) who have personal accounts instead of business accounts.

We would like to have an address rather than using one of our own physical home address because you guys are aware of fans(groupies) can be a bit psychotic at times when bands are in the limelight destined for stardom. Instead of selling merchandise, passing out flyers, etc. from our tour van/hotel (lol) J, we decided that we want to be able to reach fans outside of our 100 mile radius giving fans the opportunity to write personal letters to one our band members, pics or whatever the fans want to give their favorite band (The Embezzles ) <<<<>>>>,in order to converse on numerous occasions, but we do not want to give the government or postal office or any carrier service speculations or any misleading ideas that we are subjecting to a scheme to earn money or somehow get personal information from individuals. All we want is to build a connection with our fans in order to solidify our relationships to remind them of upcoming tour dates, nearby performances, or any updates we might have in order to refresh the memories of our fans.

We were recommended on some international mail forwarding service sites but getting an international P.O. or Private box seems a little suspect, wouldn’t you agree? Although they offer great services they only require your personal information….sometimes to much information. I have scavenged many postal services sites and some websites seem a bit puzzling. Even though they have U.S. Postal Forms and identification requirements they false advertise and some sites even have numerous complaints from previous customers. If I were to come across one of these misleading websites how would I be able to recognize a true and faithful postal or forwarding service from any other website posing as a legit mail forwarding service? Are there any services that allows you to apply online if so this would be my first option to cut out the hassle and run around the postal services have been giving us.

Thanks for your all your time and help.

Tom & Susan answers:

I am a letter carrier with the USPS for going on 30 years who has had a PO box for more than 20, and can tell you that regarding PO boxes from the USPS, you do not know what you are talking about. Businesses open and close PO boxes that are used strictly for commerce all the time. An individual can use their box for personal or business use. I do. I receive my personal mail as well as all mail for my eBay business, and no one at the PO has ever asked me for anything other than the info I signed up for it with in 1987, which was my name, street address and phone number.

There is a local band with a large following that has a member of it living in my zip code. That person happens to be the business manager for the group and receives all of the mail addressed to the group at his personal residence, but if he were to open up a PO box to handle this mail, he’d have no problem at all.

I don’t know what kind of problems you’ve had with private outfits, or their policies, but the PO is no problem at all. Just go there and tell them that you want to open a box with you as the owner, representing your business, the band, and make sure the clerk understands that mail addressed to you or the band is to go there. They won’t care if you’re making money from it, that’s the whole idea of business, and the PO isn’t in business to turn business away. Just so you don’t run into problems getting everything, make sure that any advertising you do instructs fans to send mail for individual band members IN CARE OF the band, or the clerks may not recognize the name and ‘kill’ the piece, ie, send it back.

Lisa asks…

is anyone interested in a work from home opportunity?

Is there anyone interested in a work from home opportunity?
I just wanted to post some information for all who are interested! I am self employed through a company called ameriplan usa i provide medical and dental plans at affordable prices! i wanted to talk to ya’ll about two things i’ve always believed these work from home things were scams well this one is different we are with the better business bureau among other things! ya’ll im having so much fun and for the month of november we are having a $1.00 enrollment you don’t pay this company to work for them unlike other companies you only pay to keep your website up running and available! you train at home (i help train you) and you recieve a training kit in the mail which includes $50.00 in coupons to order supplies from the company to help get you started! check out my website if you think this is too good to be true http://www.deliveringonthepromise.com/ti… youre not interested in the work opportunity then please check out our medical and dental plans!

Tom & Susan answers:

Reported. For spam . And I hope others will do the same.

Any person with half a brain knows would not persue a business oppertunity that was spammed to them. It is not ethical and obviously the business is not a good one if you have to resort to these measure to get leads. Find people who actually may want your business.

Daniel asks…

Is this job opportunity legitimate or a get rich quick scheme?

I found this ad for a company called CSG claiming that you can make 5 dollars per envelope by sealing up advertisement information for some company and mailing it out possibly making up to a $1000 a month sending out envelopes!?! I took this quote from the website and its just a portion of how they say it is possible:
“Many mail order companies want to generate more business, but most are not willing to take on the added expense. There is the cost of adding office space, higher taxes and insurance, not to mention the time it takes to find people.” I am leaning towards getting into to this if it is legit but the company wants 42.00 to start and they say that you get it back after your first 500 envelopes are sent out. Please Help

Tom & Susan answers:

Envelope-stuffing is a scam that’s been around for generations, much longer than there’s been an internet. You’ll send them your $42 and you’ll never see a cent in return. The “advertisements” you send out are simply more of their spam.

Real companies stuff and mail envelopes by machine. They don’t hire random strangers off the internet.

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