I love email alerts I just don’t usually talk about them.  But this week I’ve been improving my systems to be more efficient - more efficient for clients, family and dammnit, for me.  So today when I see a few email alerts that save me time and aggravation, I have to grab the bullhorn and talk about a few things that are helping me grab life’s bull by the horns.

First up, vehicle diagnostics email from GM.  Both right side tires are 2lbs low - gotcha.  Next gas trip, I’m on it.

Next up, quick link to BaseCamp reports for time sheets - tomorrow is payday and these new reports allowed Julie and I to quickly review everyone’s time and get everybody paid in less time/effort.

Finally, Kohl’s statement alert - this is a big one folks because we just opened our first ‘charge’ account in, I don’t know, 10 years??  You know how every store clerk asks the obligatory, ‘would you like to save 10% today?’?  Well, I usually respond with ‘what, so you can try to hook me for 30% tomorrow?  (I smile when I say it, I think it’s cute but maybe it’s not.) Well, I was ‘in the mood’ at Kohl’s last month.  See, I don’t shop and we’re pretty low key when it comes to shopping and I don’t give a squat about social norms.  We buy what we need when we need it (like NFL Sunday Ticket) and we pay cash.  BUT - Kohl’s offers really exceptional, ongoing deals to credit clients sooooooo, we did it.

So why did I really appreciate that email alert today?  Because it was our first one and it quickly dawned on me, whoa, it’s been about 5 weeks since we opened that and, whoa, their automated system used our old driver’s license address (we moved 6 weeks ago) and we had to call to have them cancel/resend new cards and, WHOA, I’ll bet those bastards hit me for 30%!!!

Yep, payment turns out was due last week and we weren’t in the system for last month’s notice.  Well to Kohls’ “credit”, they quickly reversed those charges and I promptly paid the account online ‘in full’ - no finance or late charges.  Whew - that was a close one.

So, email alerts, because you this week we will get our team paid with a record minimal effort, improve the safety, fuel efficiency and wear/tear on the suburban and we won’t get jacked up by ridiculous finance/late charges.  I love you man.