Cyber Monday: Whats the Deal?

Okay, I missed out on some major Black Friday shopping because I was selling some fabulous cupcakes to weary shoppers. Am I a tad bit sad? You bet your butt I am! After spending the past 3 days talking to everyone else about their fabulous steals and wonderful purchases, I am lamenting my lost chance to spend mayjah dough on fluffy sweaters, nifty electronics, and whatever else I could possibly imagine. So I was the teeniest bit pumped to actually do a little bit of internet shopping on what has come to be known as Cyber Monday.

But it's 6:42 on this supposedly fantastic day and I have yet to find the glorious steals that my friends had the chances to find on Friday. I mean while there is no replacement for coming across the most luxurious cashmere sweater at 75% off in store and racing to try it on in the fitting room, only to buy it even if it doesn't fit. Because hey, WHO CARES, when its that cheap!?! However I was at least expecting some glorious cyber steals. I am left disappointed with what I have found today!

To give a little taste of my Cyber Monday experience, here a few of the email offers I recieved:

Aveda: 5 FREE samples
Anthropologie: FREE shipping
J.Crew: 25% off ALL men's and women's sweaters (plus, FREE shipping)
Barnes and Noble: FREE shipping

So the gist of Cyber Monday is FREE shipping. OH MA GOSH!!! Who can believe it, if you spend the regular amount of money per usual you get to save about $10!! Shocking. This is a world changing offer. Mind you this is an offer that is usually offered after you spend $50, depending on the website. Excuse me, but isn't the entire point of Cyber Monday to be the online version of Black Friday. I see very little correlation here.

If I were a company that was going to participate in Cyber Monday, I would offer better deals than just free shipping. Just because you can send me by book for free Barnes and Noble, doesn't mean I am going to order from your website. I could easily walk the few blocks to Barnes annd Noble, pay the same price for the book without having to wait for the shipping time. Unlike the shopping that occurs on Black Friday, there is no instant gratification from online shopping. I bought a pair of L.L. Bean boots two weeks ago and have yet to recieve them!

I wonder if other shoppers are enticed and fooled by the offers of measly free shipping? Am I being to picky here or do people agree that retailers should take more advantage of Cyber Monday and offer better steals to increase sales?

The Power of Youtube

Social Media truly has revolutionized the way the world works. Back in the day in order to spread the word, public relations professionals went straight to traditional media. But going beyond the public relations and business spheres, social media has changed other industries remarkably. In this case, I want to bring attention to YouTube. There is more to YouTube than just cute, fuzzy cats and lyric videos. This is a way for any person to create an account and establish an outlet for their talent beyond the shower. According to the YouTube fact sheet: "Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the world's most popular online video community, allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small." I think this puts it quite nicely.

YouTube has launched several huge names in the entertainment industry. Today, the biggest name popping into mind is Justin Bieber. "The Biebs", as I so affectionately call him, just won AMA's Artist of the Year award. This just goes to show the power that thousands of preteens posses. Bieber got his start on YouTube with this lovely video. He got so many views on his videos that he garnered the attention of music industry folks and promptly blew up. Now he is the fantasy of millions of teenage girls worldwide. I am not one of them, though his tunes are quite catchy.

While YouTube has become so incredibly huge now, according to the site people are watching 2 billion videos a day on YouTube and uploading hundreds of thousands of videos daily. In fact, every minute, 24 hours of video is uploaded.

My all time favorite YouTube story is about a little boy named Josh Sacco. Josh's father uploaded a video of him reciting the Miracle speech.

Yahoo's Puck Daddy does a fabulous job explaining the story behind the video and the resulting outcome for four-year-old Josh. But perhaps the best result from this adorable, inspiring video is that Josh performed an edited version of this speech at the 2010 Red Sox Home Opener. Which as any die-hard Sox fan will tell you, is a dream come true. From your living room to Fenway Park, life can't get any better than that!

Budding artists can utilize YouTube to launch careers and gain the crucial following in order to make it in today's dog eat dog industry. What I love about all social media is that it allows anyone to create a unique online voice and be heard, or not. Social media allows a creative outlet whether in the form of a microblog, Facebook, videos, what have you. People can for relationships and make friends from all over the world through social media. The power that lies within your keyboard is amazing and revolutionizing.

Have a Comcastic Day!!

Now that I am a big girl with my own big girl apartment and bills to pay, I have my own cable and internet service...thank you, Comcast. When my roommates and I debated what service to use, there really wasn't much of an option. Verizon doesn't service Allston and Comcast seemed like the next best option. So off I went, taking one of the many steps towards becoming an adult and ordered my very own cable/internet package. This growing up process is beyond daunting...it scares me. shhhh, don't tell! I had my doubts. I've heard the horror stories - waiting for hours on end for the installation guy who never even shows up, arguments with the billing department over some insane charges - it seems like there are a never ending amount of problems when it comes to customer service and cable companies. Comcast especially, just after I ordered the service I was hearing stories from my professor about how awful Comcast and Verizon are when it comes to customer service. So when the day finally came to have everything installed, I woke up that morning and put on my battle armor, ready to take down anyone trying to scam me.

But shockingly, everything went swimmingly. What problems I've had with my internet and cable have been easily solved and I couldn't be happier with the service. My experience with Comcast customer service has been surprisingly positive. They offer numerous ways to help solve your problem. By far the best, in my opinion, is the live chat with a representative-  it couldn't be easier.

I've had two major issues with getting started. The first being that I didn't have a wireless router for my apartment to have the evercomforting wifi. But that was easily solved. As soon as I realized my dilemma, I logged onto the Comcast website and choose to do a live chat with a customer service representative. It was so simple, I couldn't believe it! The lady who answered all of my questions was helpful and was beyond willing to solve all of my problems for me. No wireless? Simple, I'll send you the router for free! All I had to cover was the $5 shipping cost. Nbd.

Next came the real challenge. This past weekend I discovered that I didn't have any HBO or Showtime as promised!! How is a girl supposed to survive without her daily dosage of Ari, Vinny, Turtle, Eric, and Johnny?? Let alone get her vamp on without any True Blood. Despite the easy handling of my previous problem, I was a little nervous about my upcoming chat with a Comcast representative. Premium channels are a whole different ball of wax than wifi. I nervously logged on and explained the situation. In no other terms, I declared that I wanted my HBO and Showtime as promised or this girl would be having a major fit. After telling me how great a person I was just from the few words I had exchanged with the chat guy, he explained to me that these channels were not a part of my service. UMMM, EXCUSE ME SIR BUT I DO NOT THINK SO. I promptly explained that this was not true because I had the physical flyer and confirmation that I was getting both of these channels. But before I could even break out the big guns, Comcast dude told me he had already given me both channels and was sorry for the inconvience. Color me shocked. I had prepared to enter battle with all guns ablaze and was kind of upset that I had to retreat so quickly. But before I could even comprehend what had happened, Comcast dude told me that I was his best customer all day long and that he wished all customers were just like me.

Exhibit A: Toby > Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your kindness. Just by chatting with you, I know that you are a good person. You are so cool!

Toby > Thank you so much for patiently waiting, Karissa.As I have checked, HBO and Showtime is not included to your packages. 

Karissa_ > When I searched my area online and talked with the numerous comcast people who were handing out fliers in the area, it said the package that I was signing up for inlcuded HBO and Showtime for the first 9 months at a discounted price. The package that I purchased specifically said HBO and Showtime were included. I'm pulling up the package at the moment. Just one second.

Toby > Thank you so much for the details. 

Toby > Let me check further. 

Karissa_ > I have the concrete flyer in front of me. The xfinity double  play packege and it blatantly says HBO and Showtime are included. In big bold print. 

Karissa_ > It was the university of more deal adertised everywhere in the local area. 

Toby > Thank you so much for patiently waiting, Karissa. 

Toby > Please do not worry. I have already added your free HBO and Showtime.

Karissa_ > Yes thank you!! You were very helpful!

Toby > It has been a pleasure chatting wiht you today. Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything else I can assist you with? I will be glad to assist you further.

Karissa_ > Everything is all good. 

Toby > Thank you so much. You are the nicest customer that I have chatted with today. i hope all my customers are as kind as you are. I thank God for having customers like you.For any other concerns, please chat with us again or please call us at 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278) 

We value your business with us. 

Have a Comcastic day!

Thank you so much!

Now, at first I was kind of creeped out by these statements. But soon I came to realize that these were compliments and not only by telling me these things and giving this happy girl her fill of Vampires and drug addicted actors, Comcast had truly won me over with their excellent customer service.

In this day and age, companies need to realize that customer service is a major part of their brand. As we have talked about in my New Media class, customer service is the new public relations. With the invent of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, YouTube and blogs, every consumer has their own voice and are hungry to take part in a conversation whether good or bad. When someone is displeased with something, where do they go to vent? The internet.  As seen with numerous brands, in this day and age it is hard to escape the far reach the internet can have on your business. SO listen up and learn that when it comes to business, customer service truly does matter and will profoundly affect your business. After all when it comes to public relations, we are in the relationship business.