Recently, we ran into a situation that I am sure is common across America. We have a swing set and our neighbors don’t. When we first put it in, our neighbors behind us (whom we don’t know very well) came by, and we—in an effort to be friendly—said they should feel feel free to use it. It seemed like the right thing to say at the time.

Everything started off fine, but we soon noticed that these neighbors were using our swing set and backyard as if it were their own. Our swing set is not very fancy, and it cannot take weight from more than a child or two at a time. I had to ask the husband not to hang off it one of the first times he was out there. One a few occasions, they sent over their kids to use the swing set with someone else such as their grandparents or a babysitter (who also hung off the monkey bars until I came out and asked her not to). They also left some toys in our sandbox and came over and used the swing set one night while we were eating with guests on our deck (who commented that it was very awkward). We also saw their kids bike through our yard on several occasions, which is something we don’t even let our own children do. And these are people we don’t even have any real social relationship with.

I was initially reluctant to say anything because I did not want to make things awkward or come across as unfriendly. And while I worried about people getting hurt, I hate the litigious nature of our society and did not want to hide behind the liability angle. Then, last Sunday, our neighbors held a big party for friends with children, and we came home to find unsupervised kids playing and biking in our back yard. Several kids were on the swing, and some were way too big for it. They were climbing on top and creating a very notable bend. We watched for a while from our window and most of the time no adults were supervising them. This was the breaking point for me. I went over and made a somewhat regrettable scene in the middle of their dinner party. I was angry because I felt they were being completely disrespectful of our property and our space. It’s one thing to invite a neighbor to use your things; it’s another for them to extend that invitation to others without your permission.

So now things are, as predicted, a bit awkward. When cooler heads prevailed, I told them I was happy for our kids to play together on the swing set, but I’d appreciate it if they wouldn’t use it without us there—so now the boundaries have been set. I also told them I don’t care if people run through our yard, but I would prefer that they keep their bikes in their own yard or driveway. The odd thing is, they don’t seem to feel as if they did anything wrong, which I just can’t understand. But, I guess that’s how we got into this in the first place.

So my question to you all is, what is the protocol when one neighbor has a swing set and the other does not? When you extend an invitation, do you need to set limits? Should the neighbor without the swing set ask each time? I’d be curious to hear people’s own stories and suggestions about how they have dealt with this issue.

Beware the perils of Reputation Lag! Too often, companies continue to be perceived by how they used to make products, provide customer service, etc., regardless of the current reality.

Consider Dell and Hyundai, companies at two ends of the reputation spectrum. Dell once earned its reputation for well-priced computers and exemplary customer service—but times have changed. Talk to someone (such as myself) who has had a recent issue with a Dell computer, and you’ll learn that Dell’s customer service is now horrible—an endless loop of tiered and outsourced service reps who pass your problem around like a hot potato. I would never buy a Dell computer again, especially for my business, but Dell is still benefiting from its outdated reputation as a great service company.

Hyundai, meanwhile, continues to struggle to overwrite its reputation as a maker of cheap cars. About 10 years ago, Hyundai started its rebirth by offering 10-year warranties to inspire consumer confidence. At a time when Korean cars were the joke of the car industry, Hyundai poured money into R&D and worked to design cars that people actually want to drive. The company’s newest cars are packed with technology and safety features well beyond comparable models at the same price point, and Hyundai has won numerous quality awards from J.D. Power and Associates. This formula is very noticeable in the Hyundai Genesis, which at $30,000 has features and a design that compares favorably to cars from BMW and Mercedes that cost almost twice as much. Nevertheless, many people don’t consider a Hyundai because of the company’s reputation. And, although car quality has improved dramatically, depreciation rates remain poor, reflecting past performance. This factor does hurt the cars’ marketability.

The moral here is to do your homework. In today’s fast-paced marketplace, companies change rapidly both for better and for worse. Don’t buy a product based on reputation alone. And if you’re running a company, keep in mind that customers have long memories.

If you haven’t noticed from your junk mail, there is a lot of competition these days for your phone, internet and television business as the lines blur between the companies that offer these services. Additionally, these companies have spent so much money to acquire new customers that they will go to great lengths to keep you. If your current phone, cable or internet plan is over six months old, chances are you are overpaying. Call your provider and tell them that a competitor has offered you a better deal to switch over and you are thinking taking the offer unless they can match it or do better. A good rule of thumb is to shoot for 20-30% below what you are paying currently and to name the competitor i.e. Comcast, RCN.

If they won’t budge, ask to speak with the cancellation department and tell them you want to cancel your service. These are the folks who are empowered to make a last ditch effort to keep you. Case in point, when I recently switched to Verzion’s new FOIS service, the retention department at RCN called me and offered a package that was 50% of what I was currently paying. You may have to go all the way with the bluff, however you can always pick a cancellation date a few weeks out and then call and change your mind. They will be more than happy to keep you as a customer, so you have nothing to lose.

See More Tips & Tricks Like This

Yapta is a very cool new website tracks fluctuations in airline ticket prices, similar to a stock ticker and notifies you when a ticket you have already purchased or are interested in buying drops in price, so you can get the best deal. If you have already purchased a ticket, Yapta will tell you how to contact the airline to for a refund or will make the request automatically. I saved $80 the first time I tried it. It couldn’t have been easier, I got an e-mail telling me the price had dropped and they also sent me Jet Blue’s phone number and told me what to say. The price went back up the next day.

See More Travel Tips & Deals

Reduce Your Junk Mail in Time for the Holidays

If you are frustrated by all the junk mail that you receive and just throw away, here is a two step remedy which will help reduce your unwanted mail and spare a few trees. The two biggest sources of junk mail are from catalogs and credit card pre-approvals.


Credit Card Opt-Out   www.optoutprescreen.com
Run by the credit card industry, this service will reduce the pre-approvals you receive by about 80% after a few months. It’s mandatory for the large issuers to purchase this list.

DMA’s Mail Preference Service   www.dmachoice.org/MPS
All large catalog mailers must update their records against this opt-out list every few months and add you to their do not mail list if your name is included. Remember to do this for each person living at your address. Registration lasts five years.

You can see more tips like this at the Bobby’s Best Tips and Tricks Page