Anting

I was told that it's Costco's company policy that their 2 new tyres are fitted to the rear of the car (swap current 2 rear tyres to front). I asked why - all I got was company policy. I said I'm the customer and wanted the new tyres on the front, winter etc - all they kept saying was company policy. Anybody know the real reason - or a good reason for me? Thanks... A

I can - so can loads of others, otherwise why would they put one there?

Wasn't that bad at Waitrose.

Madam, it's not your fault if they cannot explain their offerings or their website is confusing. You are the customer they should make it easy for you to buy from them. What would Gordon say? T

Please - NOT the old vicarage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How on Earth did that get a star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a great time at Milanos - They just couldn't do enough for our party of six. Food excellent, service brilliant and a very memorable evening.

All the above places - the service is far better and I have never sent anything back - except for Milestone, dreadful Yorkshire bargys(?), another, a cold plate of food - and had to ask for it to be hot.

I'm a bit shocked that Milestone is considered one of the best restaurants in the UK. I know it's only TV but come on!!! I've been to much, much better places in Sheffield let alone anywhere else. Milanos, Morans, Kitchen, Cross Sythes, any one of Richard Smith's places & even the new refurbished Prince of Wales... Milestone - always has been very hit and miss, just as the programme showed. T

Unfortunately, Milestone have increased their prices - £7.50 to £9.50 for a breakfast (25% plus). We went 2 weeks ago. Waited over 45mins. Eggs over done. Black pudding very fatty, sausage not good. It used to be our favourite place on a Sunday morning. No longer. A

Surely, being a contractor you'd be travelling first class! A

Laura16 Mobile Nail Technician - Nail extension in Silk, Fiberglass or Acrylic - £20 Take a look at my website/facebook for more information. Website Facebook Discounts for groups.

Hi, Just wanted to advise everybody about this. I know it's been around a while but it's worth a mention just in case anybody is new to business. This week... Someone rings up offering a great deal on advertising, local community, local charity - blah blah... it's a well known scam! I remembered something about it years ago - when the telesales woman rang - I just shouted that it was a total scam and they can take me off their list and how can she sleep? She just laughed and hung up. Normally, phone calls start demanding payment even if you said no to advertising - threatening court action etc etc... DON'T PAY - just put the phone down!!! You have been warned!! A

Isn't this just a fad? Will these places be open the other side of Easter? I doubt it. A

When sales slump due to a slow economy, a business owner’s first inclination is often to cut the marketing budget. After all, one has fixed costs and cash flow can be irregular. But marketing should be the last activity you eliminate or you risk an even faster downward spiral. Advertising your business and attracting new customers should be an ongoing process, and there are many things you can do that cost absolutely nothing. In these times money might be tight but the need for revenue is continuous, here are just a few suggestions. 1. Become the expert Submit articles related to your business to the local paper, trade journals and professional organization’s newsletters. Choose a topic that reflects your expertise on the subject and make sure your business is mentioned. You might also find a website that may be interested in letting you host a guest column. Whenever you get published, make copies and send them to all your current and potential customers. 2. Be a great public speaker Professional meeting planners are always looking for presenters and workshop leaders for conferences. Research contact names in the Directory of Meeting Planners or start with your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club. If, like most people, you dread the thought of public speaking, join your local Toastmasters www. toastmasters. org club; this is also a great way to meet potential customers. When you do get the opportunity to make a presentation, be sure to collect business cards for a drawing to win a book or other prize related to your business. 3. Teach an adult education course This is an excellent way for customers to see you as an expert and help advertise your business. This works especially well for service-oriented businesses such as financial planning, healthcare or tax preparation. Simply call your local school district or community college where adult education courses are offered. Better yet, offer free or inexpensive seminars at libraries, restaurant event rooms or a friend’s office. 4. Reward referrals One of the best ways to get new customers is to enlist the help of your current ones. Offer a reward of free merchandise or services for any lead that turns into new business. If you publish a catalogue, include a card where customers can provide the name and address of someone else who might want to receive one. When you get a new customer from a referral, be sure to send the source a personalized thank you note along with their reward. 5. Send out an e-zine It’s crucial to keep in touch with your current customers as well as potential ones, and what could be easier than sending out a regular newsletter? After you obtain permission from the recipients, you can describe new products, offer coupons and provide links to articles online your customers might be interested in reading. Keep it simple with pure text or include photos and other graphics. 6. Make the most of (free) public relations Whenever there is an event of any significance in your business, be sure to send a press release or a simple e-mail to all the local newspapers and TV stations. Whether it’s a new product, a big order or expansion plans that might result in new jobs, they will probably want to hear about it. Local radio stations also look for interesting people to interview, so find the producers’ contact information and let them know you’re available. 7. Give back Any time you do anything for a charity such as sponsoring an event or donating free materials, make sure the press knows about it ahead of time. They might send a reporter to cover the occasion, but if not, send them photos to publish afterwards. 8. Start a blog or contribute to a forum This can be a great way to drive traffic to your website and keep a conversation going with your customers. There are several free blogging sites to get you started, I recommend Blogger, WordPress or Tumblr. Here you should post any type of news, promotional messages or information related to your product or services. Another way to get your name out there is to contribute to online discussion groups (without making it obvious you’re advertising). Find the forums that relate to your business by typing in keywords at the top online group websites. I recommend Google, Yahoo and MSN groups. Be very careful when using forums to advertise. Many discourage users from bombarding discussions with their own links or promoting their business. Find a forum built for this type of promotion, otherwise you could lose credibility. 9. Partner up If you sell any type of product used by families, contact your local PTA and offer a special shopping night where a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the school. Think there’s no time for all this? Or you made plans but got too busy? Try scheduling one to two hours per week or a specific date and time to focus on advertising your business. When the phones start ringing with new orders, you’ll be glad you did. From the Entrepeneur Magazine - I thought you might find it useful - or not? A

Fill up the tank - drive 200 miles and then go to the petrol station again and fill up and pay. That's exactly how much it costs. A