Father and Son motorcycle trip (Pt. 2 w/ videos)

So after our two day ride to North Carolinamy dad and I were gearing up for our first full day of riding.

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Little did we know how much we would be missing that morning fire. Let's just say it was cold that October morning as we set out in full leathers. We started our ride and set out for the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had to stop at the first overlook just to warm up.

100_0032.MP4 Watch on Posterous

 

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Once we warmed up we continued our trip stopping at more of the overlooks. We got off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed into Maggie Valley. It was time to buy some "Chochkees!"

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It was a phenomenal first full day riding in the mountains.

Hope everyone enjoys the videos of my dad and I! Don't forget to let me know what you think, and pass my story along if you like. More to come from my Father and Son motorcycle trip...

~bbryon

Father and Son motorcycle trip (Pt. 2 w/ videos)

So after our two day ride to North Carolina my dad and I were gearing up for our first full day of riding.

100_0033.MP4 Watch on Posterous

Little did we know how much we would be missing that morning fire. Let's just say it was cold that October morning as we set out in full leathers. We started our ride and set out for the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had to stop at the first overlook just to warm up.

100_0031.MP4 Watch on Posterous

Once we warmed up we continued our trip stopping at more of the overlooks.

100_0032.MP4 Watch on Posterous

We got off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed in to Maggie Valley. It was time to buy some "Chochkees!"

100_0034.MP4 Watch on Posterous

It was a phenomenal first full day riding in the mountains.

Hope everyone enjoys the videos of my dad and I! Don't forget to let me know what you think, and pass my story along if you like. More to come from my Father and Son motorcycle trip...

~bbryon

 

Father & Son Motorcycle Trip pt. 1 (video included)

Over the next bunch of posts I will be talking about my motorcycle trip to N.C. with my father.

We were fortunate enough to plan and take a trip to a little town called Sylva, N.C. where we would spend 4 full days riding in the beautiful mountains and generally enjoying one another's company at the Mountain Brook Cottages. This was in the beginning of October 2011 so that we would see some of the fall changes.

I highly recommend doing this to anyone. Go somewhere with one or both of your parents. Get to know them as an adult and document the occassion.

My dad is somewhat of a character. So I'll also be introducing him to you as I write these posts.

He just retired in September 2011 at the age of 61. He is Kenneth Gus Beck, now going by Kenny when he is being funny, "Kenny Beck" mimicking William Shatner's character "Denny Crane" from Boston Legal.

My father rode up from Port St. Lucie, FL to my place in Orlando the day before we would leave on our trip.  We would be taking two days to get up to our cabin rental and we would be riding the whole way. Taking pretty much back rodes, so once in Georgia all the way to our destination would be on U.S. 441.

The videos will be uncut but I think you'll enjoy. Here's my pop on my porch the evening before our journey begins:

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Share some of your stories with me about any adventures you might have shared with one or both of your parents. As always I love hearing your thoughts!

~bbryon

 

 

Tis the Season... a scam by ProFlowers & Easy Saver Rewards

Never really thought that I'd become some kind of online advocate about scams that companies pull. I promise I'll get back to the music, hockey, racing and marketing posts after the holidays.

So ProFlowers. I've used them and apparently too well. Signed up for free shipping or something and got SCAMMED for $14.95/month. The complaint board linked to ProFlowers goes back to 2009.

The affiliate they use is Easy Saver Rewards. I don't actually know what I was paying for since 2009. Here's my complaint to the BBB:

So now the only thing I can really do, since being refunded and having the interest taken off my statement; is to make my post public.

I'll also ask anyone reading this who feels slightly P.O.-ed by this type of thing to NEVER use ProFlowers again. Tell your friends and family too! Use the local florist in the neighborhood. Give the small business the money.

Any scams you've found or have been a part of lately?

~bbryon

Direct Marketing - Continuity/Subscription Scam: Synapse Group, Inc.

We all know I love hockey, marketing, music, & NASCAR. So at times I use a brand we all know to purchase tickets to many events: aka Ticketmaster.

In April of 2010 I made such a purchase. Wouldn't ya know at the end of this transaction here's an offer to get four magazine subscriptions for $2 each. I'm like o.k. buyer-beware; but still I'm curious. Good magazines of which I read: Fortune, Inc., Time, & BusinessWeek. I read over everything... no other obligations and no disclosure about cancelling at any time.

I'm a pretty decent consumer and I purchase the special offer. I trust Ticketmaster and most brands who are large and recognizable that operate online, whom I use. I don't believe they are (for the most part), using sneaky tactics anymore to take my money. I also didn't believe they'd use or allow sneaky companies to operate on their behalf.

Without further adieu here's portions of the letter I wrote to the Better Business Bureau about how Synapse Group, Inc. is currently operating. (Wouldn't ya know it, Synapse Group, Inc has the BBB Reliability Program logo on their site).

Synapse Group, Inc. is a Direct Marketing - Continuity/Subscription. I purchased tickets through Ticketmaster in April of 2010. Synapse Group, Inc. is the company responsible for offering four magazine subscriptions for $2 apiece for one year with no other obligations. The terms in the email I received, never stated that I would be charged once a year for the full price of those magazines in subsequent years.

This all occurred without knowing I signed up to a direct marketing - continuity/subscription. The state of Florida is cracking down on companies such as Synapse Group, Inc. because they tend to take advantage of an older demographic. If I hadn't checked my credit card statements from earlier this year I wouldn't have known they were charging me (and would continue to do so for as long as that credit card was open).

So once a year Synapse Group, Inc. was starting to charge me full price subscriptions on all four magazines I purchased. $12 dollars for all > now became $188; that's a 1566% increase.

The really sad part is they are a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc.  

Then the BBB asks for a "desired settlement description." So I gave them mine:

I would like a full refund from Synapse Group, Inc. I would also like the Better Business Bureau to remove Synapse Group, Inc. from this "Reliability Program BBB Online." The Better Business Bureau protecting consumers from businesses that take advantage of people and their information.

Aren't companies past this? Why would you want to take advantage of a customer? If you make me happy I'll be with you for life; probably. Keep my trust. The scariest part of this is knowing this is happening as my parents (baby boomers) are getting older; and that's right folks, living in FL where these scams run rampant.

It's not always perfect marketing for a university, but at least I'm pushing accredited education.

As always I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments.

~bbryon

Phishing Trip

Got to connect again with one of my best friends from MI and OH! Of course I was jumping out of my seat since March or so when I won the Phish ticketing lottery! Living in central FL I'm usually more apt to travel in the state to see concerts. But since Pete made the offer I was able to stay in Cleveland.

Not since 2000 in Atlanta have I seen my favorite jamband on their epic summer tours. I consider myself somewhat of a New Year's snob; having seen them for the first time at Big Cypress (1999-2000), then Miami (2003-2004) 3 of the 4 nights, and lastly this past New Year's at Madison Square Garden in NYC! I've been blessed, what can I say.

This summer I got to see the boys play 6/3 (Mike Gordon's Bday in MI), 6/4 Cuyahoga Falls OH, & 6/5 in Cincinnati OH! Plus because Phish is so awesome you get a download of the shows with your ticket stub's UPC!

What an awesome experience, so here's some pictures to help tell the story:

See the full gallery on Posterous

Any other tour stories from the summer to share thus far? Doesn't have to be Phish...

~bbryon

 

What's your business thought?

So I finished the article "Steve Jobs' iCloud: The View from 10,000 ft" by Philip Elmer-DeWitt from Fortune magazine.

There was one anecdote that stuck out to me after reading this article. Jobs tells a story, apparently if you're an Apple employee you've heard the story more than once.

The story is about a janitor that doesn't empty the trash. The janitor is asked why the trash wasn't emptied. His response was that the locks to the office were changed and he didn't have the new key. There's a reason why something didn't get done. Jobs' makes the comment that at this level "reasons" matter. Jobs' goes on to comment that somewhere between the janitor and CEO, reasons stop mattering. He says; that Rubicon is crossed when you become a V.P.

I love this story for a few reasons:

The first being that I feel I'm part of the tail end of Generation X; and I'm one of the few who doesn't feel that he is entitled. The whole hard work, dedication type mentality that I was brought up with. Though I don't necessarily feel any loyalty toward a particular organization.

The second is that in my career at points I know that I've had "reasons" that were valid as to why a task or project was not up to par.

The third is that even where I am now within the hierarchy of my organization, I have responsibility and accountability.

Why then do I see more people around the same level, or demographic, in mine and other organizations still looking for "reasons?"

When you're courteous and pleasant in business no matter at what level it goes a long way. Couple that with doing your job and a winning combination starts to manifest itself. Sometimes it does take a steadfast leader to steer an organization. It also takes employees who want responsibility and accountability.

So my business thought for myself is Be Responsible and Accountable. It has also served me well in life.

What's your business thought?

~bbryon