You may have seen recent reports on television news or in the newspapers of a weakness in the locks on PVCu doors. The weakness is currently being exploited by burglars in some areas of the UK, notably the West Yorkshire Police area. To our knowledge, such attacks are not yet common place in the Hampshire, West Sussex and Dorset areas.

This is a problem which is growing around the country; various methods are used by the burglars using simple everyday tools, allowing them to exploit an inherent flaw in the design of these Euro Profile Cylinders. The cylinders can be overcome in a matter of seconds and although we know the methods used we will not disclose these methods in any detail, as a precaution against “copy-cat” burglaries.

The lock in question is not of any particular make, but is the type of lock fitted to the majority of UPVC, PVCu and some wooden doors throughout the world, it is commonly known as a Euro Profile Cylinder. It is the part which provides the key operation to the multi-point locking mechanism fitted to the door. No matter how secure or elaborate the multi-point locking mechanism is, if the cylinder is compromised the multi-point lock can be opened in seconds without difficulty.

All major Lock Manufacturers are now working hard to find solutions to the problem.

Currently there are limited products on the market to combat this form of attack. Two major lock manufacturers notably Mul-T-Lock and Squire have produced a new design of cylinder which ensures the cylinder snaps at a predetermined position leaving the door still secured and requiring the use of the correct key to unlock the door. Mul-T-Locks range of anti snapping cylinders are called ‘Break Secure’ and Squire’s range are called ‘Snapsafe’

Although this design of cylinder is still not 100% guaranteed to prevent all the methods of attack used on PVCu doors. It will prevent the most common methods slowing down the burglars attempts and making it considerably more difficult, therefore increasing the chance of him giving up.

In addition to these cylinders some manufacturers notably Squire and ERA are producing cylinder enhancers or cylinder security devices. Various designs are available to suit PVCu and composite doors these consist of a metal surround which is secured to the existing cylinder underneath the door handle. ERA’s range is possibly the most secure, with the designs securing through the door to sandwich the cylinder in place making it virtually impossible to remove the ’snapped’ cylinder. These devices used in conjunction with a Break Secure or SnapSafe cylinder will ensure the methods currently being used are ineffective.

The risk of forced entry via the methods used is reduced if the cylinder fitted is of the correct size and properly fitted. However often when cylinders have been replaced in the past it is found that an incorrect size has been used leaving the door vulnerable. It is recommended that the euro profile cylinder should not protrude outside of the door furniture any more than 2-3mm.

Remember burglars always choose the easy option!

In order to ensure you do not become one of the many victims of this type of forced entry review your current door cylinders now and consider upgrading your cylinders to the newly available ‘Break Secure’ or SnapSafe ranges currently available or fit an additional Cylinder Security Device or Enhancer to your existing cylinder.

In the meantime, ensure you DEADLOCK your doors whenever your home is unattended. We also advise that a door chain be fitted and used on the main entrance door when the house is occupied and if PVCu doors are fitted to other areas consider fitting additional internal secondary bolts as an alternative to replacing the cylinders.

Other sensible precautions include ensuring that any keys (particularly car keys) are not left where they can be found by burglars. (The most common method of car theft is by breaking into homes and stealing the keys). Other portable valuables should also be removed from vulnerable areas.

A safe will compliment any form of security to the property by reducing the risk of sentimental and valuable items being taken should a burglar gain entry. Securing small valuables can save a great deal of inconvenience and upset and it is recommended that you keep spare keys, passports, jewellery, cameras etc. locked in a safe.

For guidance and advice from reputable qualified locksmith’s only choose a locksmith that is a member of the Master Locksmith Association whose members would be pleased to offer advice and guidance, without obligation on any aspects of your properties physical security.

By using an MLA approved company you are assured that the locksmith you employ is of the highest standard of Integrity and that the work undertaken will be carried out to very high standards. All Master Locksmiths have undertaken and passed an independently assessed BLI examination to ensure they are qualified and competent to carry out all aspects of the Locksmith trade. And every Approved Company undergoes stringent, regular inspections, thus ensuring that it maintains high standards in workmanship and administration. Additionally members are expected to conform to legal requirements and follow a customer charter to service customer satisfaction.

The Master Locksmith Association has a freephone call line allowing people to locate and authenticate locksmiths claiming to be members. Tel: 0800 783 1498 or visit their website @ http://www.locksmiths.co.uk

The UK’s leading independent security company and the very first company to be awarded the NSI NACOSS Gold Medal. As an MLA (Master Locksmith Association) approved company you can rest assured that our Locksmiths are highly skilled, reputable engineers installing to the highest standard.
Visit our website at www.christieintruderalarms.co.uk

Landscape gardening has often been associated with the painting of a picture. Your art-work teacher has told you that a good picture should have a point of interest, and the rest of the points simply go to make the piece more beautiful. So in landscape gardening there must be a picture in the gardener’s mind of what he desires the whole to be.

From this study we will be able to work out a little theory of landscape gardening.

Let’s start with the lawn. A good extent of open lawn space is always beautiful. It is restful. It adds a feeling of space to even small grounds. So we might generalize and say that it is good to keep open lawn space. If someone to cover his lawn with a lot of trees, with little flower beds here and there, the general effect is choppy and fussy. It is a bit like an over-dressed person. One’s yard has lost all individuality. A single tree or a small group is not a bad arrangement on the lawn. Do not center the tree or trees. Let them drop into the background. Make a pleasing side feature with them. In choosing trees you must keep in mind a number of things. You should not choose an overpowering tree; the tree should be of good shape, with something interesting about its bark, leaves, flowers or fruit. While the poplar is a rapid grower, it sheds its leaves early and is left standing, bare and ugly, before the fall is old. Mind you, there are places where a row or double row of Lombardy poplars is very effective. But I think you’ll agree with me that one lone poplar is not. The catalpa is quite lovely by itself. Its leaves are broad, its flowers attractive, the seed pods which cling to the tree until away into the winter, add a bit of picture. The bright berries of the ash, the brilliant foliage of the sugar maple, the blossoms of the tulip tree, the bark of the white birch, and the leaves of the copper beech are beauty points to consider.

Placement makes a difference in the selection of a tree. Suppose the lower portion of the yard is a bit low and moist, then the spot is ideal for a willow. Don’t group trees together which look awkward. A long-looking poplar does not go with a nice rounded little tulip tree. A juniper, so neat and prim, would look silly beside a spreading chestnut. You must keep proportion and suitability in mind.

I would never advise planting a group of evergreens close to a house, and in the front yard. The effect is very gloomy. Houses surrounded are over capped and are not only gloomy to live in, but truly unhealthy. The requisite inside a house is sunlight and plenty of it.

As trees are chosen because of certain good points, shrubs should be also. In a clump I would plant some that bloom early, some that bloom late, some for the beauty of their fall foliage, some for the color of their bark and others for the fruit. Some spireas and the forsythia bloom early. The red bark of the dogwood makes for a bit of color all winter, and the red berries of the barberry cling to the shrub well into the winter.

Certain shrubs are good to use for hedge purposes. A hedge is prettier usually than a fence. The Californian privet is excellent for this purpose. Osage orange, Japan barberry, buckthorn, Japan quince, and Van Houtte’s spirea are other shrubs that make great hedges.

I forgot to say that in tree and shrub selection it is usually better to choose those of the locality where you live. Unusual and foreign plants do worse and often harmonize but poorly with their new setting.

Landscape gardening may follow along very formal lines or along informal lines. The first would have straight paths, straight rows in stiff beds, everything, as the name tells, perfectly formal. The other method is, of course, the exact opposite. There are danger points in each.

The formal arrangement is likely to look too stiff; the informal, too fussy, too wiggly. As far as paths go, keep this in mind, that a path should always lead somewhere. Its job is to direct one to a definite place. Now, straight, even paths are not unpleasing if the effect is to be a formal garden. The danger in the curved path is an abrupt curve, a whirligig effect. It is far better for you to stick to straight paths unless you can make a really beautiful curve. No one can tell you how to do this.

Garden paths may be gravel, dirt, or grass. You may see grass paths in some very lovely gardens. I doubt, however, if they would serve you nearly as well in your small garden. Your garden areas are so limited that they should be re-spaded each season, and the grass paths are a great bother in this work. Of course, a gravel path makes a fine appearance, but again you may not have gravel at your command. It is possible for any of you to dig out the path for two feet. Then put in six inches of stone. Over this, pack in the dirt, rounding it slightly toward the center of the path. There should never be depressions through the central part of paths, since these form convenient places for water to stand. The under layer of stone makes a natural drainage system.

A building often needs the help of vines or flowers or both to tie it to the yard in such a way that it forms a pleasant whole. Vines lend themselves well to this work. It is better to plant a perennial vine, and let it form a permanent part of your landscape scheme. The Virginia creeper, wistaria, honeysuckle, a climbing rose, the clematis and trumpet vine are all satisfactory.

Close your eyes and picture a house of natural color, that mellow gray of the weathered shingles. Now add to this old house a purple wistaria. Can you see the beauty of it?

Of course, the morning-glory is an annual vine, as is the moon-vine and wild cucumber. Now, these have their special function. For often, it is necessary to cover an ugly thing for just a time, until better things and better times come. The annual is ‘the chap’ for this work.

Flowers go well along the side of the building, or bordering a walk. In general, though, keep the front lawn space open and unbroken by beds. What lovelier in early spring than a bed of daffodils close to the house? Hyacinths and tulips, too, form a blaze of glory. These are little or no bother, and start the spring right. Some make bulbs an exception to the rule of unbroken front lawn. Snowdrops and crocuses planted through the lawn are beautiful. They do not disturb the general effect, but just blend with the whole. One expert bulb gardener says to take a basketful of bulbs in the fall, walk about your grounds, and just drop bulbs out here and there. Wherever the bulbs drop, plant them. Small bulbs as those we plant in lawns should be in groups of four to six. Daffodils may be planted, too.

The place for a flower garden is generally at the side or rear of the house. The backyard garden is a lovely idea, is it not? Who would want to leave a beautiful looking front yard, turn the corner of a house, and find a dump heap? Not I. The flower garden may be laid out formally in neat little beds, or it may be more careless, hit-or-miss sort. Both have their good points. Great masses of bloom are attractive.

You should have in mind some notion of the blending of color. Nature does not consider this at all, and still gets wondrous effects. This is because of the tremendous amount of her perfect background of green, and the limitlessness of her space, while we are confined at the best to relatively small areas. We should not blind people’s eyes with clashes of colors which do not at close range blend well. In order to break up extremes of colors you can always use masses of white flowers, or something like mignonette, which is in effect green.

Finally, let’s sum up our landscape lesson. The grounds are a setting for the house or buildings. Open, free lawn spaces, a tree or a proper group well placed, flowers which do not clutter up the front yard, groups of shrubbery these are points to be remembered. The paths should lead somewhere, and be either straight or well curved. If you start with a formal garden, you should not mix the informal with it before the work is done.

About the author – Melissa
Albright is the webmaster for the website Know More Get More www.knowmoregetmore.com/landscape
Giving you the information you need.

To most riders, motorcycle helmets do not fit into their dream accessory. They feel helmets are restrictive and unnecessary and do not add to their aesthetic appeal. But it is important to know why you need to wear a helmet while riding a bike and what it does for you.

Motorcycle helmets act as a protection device for your head. Nearly all motor crashes in which riders do not wear helmets, result in major head injuries. To drive this point further, according to a survey done in the state of California, in 900 crashes, there were 980 head and neck injuries. The major factor was that most riders were not wearing proper headgear.

Canada has made it a mandatory rule for motorbike riders to wear helmets after seeing the way people die in these accidents. But in the USA, in some states, it still remains a choice for the rider – so it is for you to decide what is more precious to you.

Hopefully, now that you are convinced about purchasing a helmet, let us see some of the things that you should keep in mind while buying a motorcycle helmet.

All helmets have an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell is meant to protect the head from initial impact and undertake all the abrasions onto it. The inner shell is basically a lining of foam that aims at minimizing the impact of the shock by absorbing it as much as possible. It is also supposed to provide comfort to the rider as well.

In order to ascertain whether your helmet is safe enough for you or not, you must check whether it has the Department of Transportation sticker or not. A globally accepted safety standard for helmets is a sticker by the Snell Memorial Foundation.

Besides these safety stickers, the other important thing is to ensure that the motorcycle helmet of your choice gives you a proper fit. It should not be loose or too tight. You must be comfortable with it, as remember that you will be wearing it for quite some time. There should not be any red marks on your head or face – otherwise the helmet is too tight for you. At the same time, it should not come off your head or it just might fall off in an accident- providing you with no protection.

Also, you must choose between the various types of materials of which motorcycle helmets are made. Heavy helmets are made of fiberglass but it can crack if dropped. Another type of material used is injection-molded plastic. This is cheap and light but requires a lot of care. So think before you decide.

Enjoy the ride!

Daniel Levy

Daniel Levy is the owner and contributing writer of http://www.Japanese-Motorcycles-Only.com . He loves motorcycles, Web development and Marketing. For more great info on motorcycle helmets visit http://www.japanese-motorcycles-only.com/motorcycle-helmets.html .

Nothing makes clearer the importance of water than a large disaster; clean, fresh water becomes more valuable than gold. It’s easy to forget that without water, we just can’t survive. 60 percent of our bodies are water, in fact for infants, water makes up about 80 percent of their body, so it is even more vital they have access to clean drinking water.

Unfortunately, following large-scale disasters, it’s not unusual that water supplies may be cut off temporarily or be rendered unfit for consumption. Everyone should know the following tips about safe drinking water in emergency situations.

Preparedness is Everything: The advice comes over and over, but most people still are not ready when disaster hits. You must maintain a supply of clean drinking water someplace safe in your home. You can survive a week without food, if necessary, but even one or two days without water can be fatal.

In terms of how much water is needed to be stored, you need to drink at least two quarts a day of water. Enough water for all the members of your family for at least a few days is a good idea. You can store water yourself in your own containers; anything glass, and clean, thoroughly washed plastic containers with caps work well. Seal water tightly in their containers and store them in someplace cool and dark in your home. Make sure to change new water regularly; once every six months.

Finding Safe Drinking Water: If you do run out of water during an emergency, or are trapped somewhere without ready access to clean drinking water, you’ll need to know what’s safe to drink, and what isn’t.

After a disaster, possible sources of safe drinking water in your home include the water from your hot water tank, the water from your toilet tank (not the bowl, but the water from your tank, but if it is chemical-free), and water trapped in your water pipes. Melt any ice cubes that you may have stored.

Avoid using water from waterbeds as drinking water, since they are treated with chemicals unsafe for drinking. You can use waterbed water for washing, though. Outside your home try to locate streams, rivers, lakes, or other sources of fresh water. Never drink floodwater; it is usually contaminated with bacteria and chemicals. Do save rainwater that may fall for drinking.

Purifying Water in an Emergency: If you cannot locating safe drinking water during an emergency, then any water you find that does not look clear, or which you believe may be contaminated, should be purified before drinking.

The best and easiest way to purify water is by boiling. Disease-bearing microorganisms cannot survive in high temperatures. Boil the water for about one minute. For improved taste, pour the water back and forth from one clean container to another.

If you’re unable to boil your water, treat it chemically before drinking. Household chlorine bleach can be used to treat your water. Use an eyedropper, to drop eight drops of bleach into each gallon of water to be treated. Make sure the chlorine you use lists hypochlorite as its only active ingredient; any extra chemicals or fragrances will only further contaminate the water. Stir the water and allow it to stand at least 30 minutes. When the water appears clear, it is likely safe to drink. If it is still murky or clouded, put in eight more drops and let stand another 30 minutes.

Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on
home alarm monitoring, and home security services and products

I love to buy shoes but I hate to shop for them.

Driving and walking from store to store can be
exhausting. In fact, most neighborhood shoe stores
carry limited styles, fashions and sizes, so I often
come home tired, discouraged and empty handed.

So it’s no wonder that the internet has become
my choice for shoe shopping. Try finding a
size 10, double narrow pink pump with a 2 inch heel
at your local shoe store. You may have to shop
around awhile.

On the other hand, a few keystrokes on your computer
will find your desired item and find you the best price.
And, of course, it so much easier to let my fingers
do the shopping than my poor tired feet.

Shoes may not be something you would consider
buying online as most people like to ‘try on’ their
shoes, and yes, that’s a big benefit to shopping
in stores, but online shoe stores have worked hard
to make your shoe shopping experience as easy
and pleasant as possible.

Here’s some of the benefits:

Free Shipping and Free Returns
Your shoes are delivered free and if you don’t
like them, they take them back free. This is a big
incentive that many online shoe stores offer. You
get your shoes in 3-5 days, try them on at home.
If you don’t like them or they don’t fit, you send them
back free of charge. They even supply the labels.

Better Pricing
Prices are often better online as well. What I
find the most appealing is that the internet provides
a forum for shopping around. If you find a pair of shoes
you like, make a note of the brand and style and shop
around at other online stores. In the time it takes to
drive to your local shoe store you can shop for a
wardrobe of shoes and have them delivered to your
door in just a few days.

110% price protection
Many online shoes stores offer price protection which
means if you find a shoe for a lower price on another
web site or in a shoe store, they will refund you 110%
of the difference between the lower price and our price.
Definitely something to look for when you shop.

You have 365 days to return your shoes
No hurry, if you can ‘t get out to return your shoes
right away, you have a whole year to send them
back.

Not all online shoe stores offer these exceptional
shoe buying benefits, however more and more of
them are jumping on board.

So, if you’re like me and you love to buy new shoes,
but hate the walking, check out shopping for them online.
It could be one of the best shoe buying experiences you’ll
ever have.

Elizabeth McGee offers a directory of America’s Finest
Online Shoe Stores with Everyday Low Prices on
Famous Brand Shoes, Sandals and more.
Visit her site at: http://www.famous-brand-shoes.com

The primary goal of this article is to provide insightful information to help you make a calculated and wise decision regarding which beds would work best for your rustic-themed bedroom’s requirements and needs. After all it’s the furniture that sets the tone and dynamics of a beautiful room, and rustic log beds are one such attribute.

When considering rustic log beds it should be stressed that price is not always the determining factor between quality and mediocrity. Due to the nature of and materials used in the making of rustic furniture, you can often find beautiful pieces at bargain prices. While it’s true that you often “get what you pay for,” rustic furniture allows for more exceptions to that rule… so shop around!

Another handy tip for the price conscious is: buy used! Rustic furniture is often more study than their contemporary counterparts, so when treated properly a rustic piece can easily last generations.

Before moving on I do want to quickly mention that commitment to quality should never come second to anything in the log furniture industry. While it’s great to save a dollar here or there, if you spend the time and money to select the right piece at the start it can serve you well throughout the rest of your life. Rustic log beds are no exception.

While purchasing a rustic log bed you should look for innovativeness in their designs to match your individual tastes. One misconception among many people is that all rustic log furniture looks the same; this misconception couldn’t be further from the truth!

Rustic log beds are crafted from a variety of woods such as cedar, lodgepole pine, Douglas fir logs, etc. Each wood possesses a distinctive appearance, grain and atmosphere, so just the materials alone present a diverse realm of possibilities for your bedroom. In today’s growing market for designer and cool rustic log beds, the styles these beds are offered in also differ significantly, ranging from classic log bed designs to wild custom log bed designs.

There are obvious reasons as to why these rustic log beds are becoming more and more popular among people and individuals. A good deal of us desires a home that radiates warmth with a natural elegance. We want a home evocative of prior times; one that brings forth the charm of days past, but still keeps with the style of the modern day. Rustic log beds merge the past with the present perfectly, lending warmth without looking entirely out of place in a modern setting.

Rustic cedar and pine beds can be ordered in natural unfinished wood or can be completely finished with colored stain to match most any interior design. Hence it can be said that with a keen understanding of quality and design, coupled with knowledge of the fair prices of log furniture, rustic log beds can accommodate nearly any individual’s home to give it the perfect look and feel of the past and the present all collaged into one room!

Copyright ? Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Poetry World is a poetry website list I’ve put together that features so many great poetry forums and poets for your reading pleasure. For example some of the newest members of the site to join and include their work on the list are people like Marine and famous poet Thomas L. Vaultonburg of Zombie Logic Press and Janet Kuypers who has written many books and Brian Douthit who is enjoying great success with his book Perfectly Said when words become art. Also people like Carolyn Edwards you can find listed on the site so check it out because it’s jam packed full of poetic talent.

Visit Vaultonburg’s site and just see the good things celebrities like Gary Busey and Henry Rollins had to say about the man and that alone is worth the click. So come and enjoy the many poetry resources you can find at Poetry World.

Here is a poem of mine for your enjoyment and I hope you do like the poem and decide to visit Poetry World.

I could Really Love You

There’s something right in front of me that I can’t leave behind
It’s always in my dreams and keeps on dancing in my mind
I don’t know if I’ll lose it just because of circumstance
Cause I could really love you if I only had the chance
I could make you happy and I’d chase away your fears
I could hold you close to me and wipe away your tears
And I could hold your heart and show you love that’s pure and true
Cause I could really love you if you only loved me too

Jeffrey Michael Miller

jeffreymichaelmiller.topsiteworld.com

When I was in the Armed Forces we were always being issued with “Survival Guides”. How to survive in the Jungle, the Desert, and the Sea are just 3 titles that I remember. But if there is one environment that has been crying out for a survival guide it is eBay.

So I was intrigued when I got my hands on Michael Banks latest book “The eBay Survival Guide”. I soon realised that it was a cut above many of the recent eBay books. As the webmaster for UK auctionline I comes across literally hundreds of books and reports about online auctions every year. I expected this would just be another expanded version of the eBay site map. But I was wrong; this book is an informative and riveting read.

It is a fact that it is possible to make a very good living selling products through eBay. However, it is equally true that if you either go about it in the wrong way or in some cases are just plain unlucky you can lose money. One of the biggest causes of this happening is the person not fully understanding how the market place works or knowing what to do if things go wrong. After reading the “The eBay Survival Guide” you should be much better equipped to tackle the day to day business of buying and selling on eBay.

One area that Michael covers in full detail is a subject that other books hardly mention and that is how to get the most out of the eBay search function. There are two detailed sections on buying and selling on eBay. The “Do’s and Don’ts chapters for both buyers and sellers not only show you the correct way to approach the task but also the traps to avoid.

The book is written in an easy to read no nonsense manner and you will find plenty of useful tips. One in particular that I liked was Michael’s suggestion on how to react to a customer who claims that a sent item never arrived. To find out what it is you will have to buy the book.

There are two chapters that everyone who buys or sells on eBay should read. They are “Shills, Sleazes and Seller Scams” and “Bogus products and Money making Scams”. Being forewarned is being forearmed and after reading these chapters you should be able to avoid the pitfalls that can trap the unwary.

The book covers a wide range of subjects including effective bidding strategies, buying stock to sell a dhow to create compelling listings. Whether you are new to online auction or an old hand this is one item you should definitely add to your eBay Library. This 260+ page paperback is published by No Starch and is available from Amazon.com for $13.57 (?7.99). And whether you are a new comer or an experienced eBayer I think you will find this book interesting.

Dave Bromley is the webmaster and publisher of the UK Auctionline web site and newsletter.This is an information packed site for all users of eBay. You can register for his newsletter and 6 part mini course at www.ukauctionline.co.uk

The facsimile, or fax as we call it today was one of the earliest concepts in modern technology. First patented in 1843 by Scottish physicist Alexander Bain, the fax is an encoding and/or imaging method that reads text and/or images in small areas at a time, assigns numerical values based on darkness and lightness and then transmits them to a receiver. The receiver produces corresponding marks on paper as the transmitting fax proceeds to scan the next lower line continuing until the entire document has been scanned, digitized and transmitted.

We typically think of the fax as transmitting documents via telephone line, but history verifies that Bain patented his original invention 33 years before the telephone and Morse code became standard transmission methods. The facsimile made its official debut at the 1853 World’s Fair in London with English physicist Frederick Bakewell conducting the first public demonstration of fax transmission. By 1865, Italian physics professor Giovanni Caselli had launched the first commercial fax system linking Paris with other French cities.

Not to be outdone by the Europeans or by having just missed the patent for the telephone by three hours, American professor, Dr. Elisha Gray of Omnifax sold his facsimile patent to the Gray National Teleautograph Company. A demonstration of his fax system generated record-breaking crowds at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

The fax continued to advance and was significantly furthered by the work of German scientist Dr. Alfred Korn. Though not to be outdone by the Europeans, In 1922, his facsimile system was utilized to transmit a photo of Pope Pius XI from Rome to the state of Maine in the U.S. enabling the New York World newspaper to publish the photo the same day. The military drafted the fax for use in 1941 to transmit weather charts, maps and orders during World War II.

Newspapers relied on faxes to provide them with up-to-the minute details and photos from political conventions and other news-worthy events from around the world. Although the FCC authorized the development of commercial fax technology in 1948, it would be the mid 1970’s before it caught on in the mainstream of daily business operations, but even then only in limited industries due to complicated technology and expensive costs. By the mid 1980’s though, fax operations were simpler and less expensive and set the world of big business ablaze in a way that forever changed the way the modern world does business.

Corporations and large organizations worldwide began implementing the fax as their primary method of communications. Authorizations, customer orders and verifications could be delivered within minutes instead of waiting for postal pickup and delivery, which took forever. The cost to productivity ratio proved a profitable investment for sizable enterprises.

Faxing can still be a heavy expense on small businesses, especially for professionals who work from home. There’s the cost of the fax machine itself and the cost of ink cartridges, toner and paper, not to mention the cost of additional phone lines and/or expensive software if small business owners opt for strictly computer-based faxing. While e-mailing documents is an option, e-mails often go astray and frequently the computer receiving an attached document does not feature the software application required for opening the document. Thousands of home based businesses rely on faxing for document editing that bypasses the need to have compatible, expensive software.

With faxing being a necessity in today’s business world instead of a luxury, how can small business owners and work-from-home pros offset the high cost without passing it along to their clients? There has to be an affordable fax option that keeps them competitive with other businesses.

And there is … once again the Internet-age comes to the rescue with cost-effective faxing for small business owners and work-from-home pros leveling the playing field so they can be not only more productive, but also more competitive in their markets. Online faxing gives them a decisive advantage in doing business.

I’m sure you’ve heard about online faxing, but you’ve also heard about the expensive set-up fees that go along with it. Your budget is stretched to the limit now and a hefty set-up fee just isn’t in the cards.

Well, you can scratch that expense off your list of luxuries by visiting http://www.faxitnice.com for a simple, affordable option. They’ve broken the well-kept industry-secret that there is NOTHING to be set-up on an individual basis in Internet faxing, which means that there’s no reason for online faxing to be expensive.

In business since 2003, FaxIt Nice offers its clients two affordable service options, the OnceOff Fax and the FaxIt Credit. OnceOff Fax is designed for someone sending a one-time and/or occasional fax. FaxIt Credit offers a FREE membership with NO monthly fees. You simply purchase a pre-determined amount based upon your individual business needs in $20 increments at valuable per page savings with deep discounts for volume purchases.

Give your small business the big business advantage by using the FaxIt Nice services developed by 350 Nice and ditch the last minute trips to the office supply store for expensive toners and drums. It’s a cost-effective way, available 24 hours a day to any country in the world to give your business the competitive edge it takes to be successful in today’s market!

(c) 2005, Angelina Jordan. Reprint rights granted so long as article and by-line are printed intact and all links made live.

Angelina Jordan is a freelance writer and editor specializing in serving the needs of small business owners. She offers over 15 years’ solid experience in drafting quality content and providing comprehensive copyediting in the business and non-profit arenas. Contact her via e-mail message to apjordan@adelphia.net to discuss your business writing and editing needs.

Relax Your Customer

One of the most important skills a doctor can posses, is that of a bed side manner. In the same sense, it is important that sales people posses the same type of skill, to be able to put their customer at ease.

Relaxing your customer is important to any type of sales situation you may find yourself in. Remember, think of the customer as a guest in your house, you are the host, so you want to make them as comfortable as possible in your house. The more comfortable they are in your house, the easier it will be for them to talk to you.

In sales, trying to persuade someone we have never met before to buy our product can be very challenging.

It can be challenging for a number of reasons, mainly the fear that consumers associate with sales people.

The fear that we are all alike, comparing us to the unfair stereotype of the used car salesman. They are afraid of being convinced to buy something they don’t need at a price they can’t afford.

You need to find a common denominator with your customer, something you can both relate to, something non-business.

A non-business conversation is a great way to break the ice with your customer. We all want to make a sale, but since when is it a crime to get to know your customer?

This is easier than you may think, people love to talk, especially about them selves.

So ask questions. Ask about their pets, their families, their work, and their hobbies.

When I was in banking, I managed a branch inside of a supermarket. Our daily goals consisted of going out into the aisles, approaching customers, and trying to convince them to bank with us.

We applied certain techniques to this type of sales that worked rather well.

For instance, the pet food aisle was a good place to talk to people, because people loved to talk about their pets. A simple question such as; “What kind of dog do you have?” would get them talking with the greatest of ease.

The junk food aisle was also a good place to talk to people. For some reason the presence of candy and junk food put people in a good mood, and they were more prone to talk with a stranger.

One place we stayed away from, was the frozen food section, because people didn’t want to talk where it was cold. Understandable.

My point is, people love to talk as long as they can relate to the subject manner, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, and get to know your customer beyond that of the products they need.

The more relaxed you can make your customer in your setting, the better off the two of you will be, and the more sales you will walk away with.

This article may be reproduced by anyone at any time, as long as the authors name and reference links are kept in tact and active.

Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.