KevinSchwarm.com
Consumer Advocate who adds Value by Evaluating Products, Services and Information
May 17 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, College Info for Families, Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion | Read more
May 14 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too? | Read more
May 10 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Sports World | Read more
May 7 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Fumbling Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
May 3 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too?, Empathica-Great Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 30 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 26 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Empathica-Great Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 23 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Living Well (Health & Fitness), Retail & Service World | Read more
April 19 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too?, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 15 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | difference, issues, perspective, Planning, proactively, solution | Read more
April 15 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Fumbling Service, Penny Wise & Dollar Foolish | Read more
April 11 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too?, Fumbling Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 7 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Retail & Service World | Read more
April 4 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Miscellaneous, Peel The Onion | Read more
March 31 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Retail & Service World | Read more
March 28 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too?, Miscellaneous, Retail & Service World | Read more
March 24 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Sports World | Read more
March 21 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Empathica-Great Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
March 17 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Peel The Onion, Save Time, Money & Aggravation | Read more
March 13 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Retail & Service World, Save Time, Money & Aggravation | Read more
March 10 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Sports World | Read more
March 6 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Miscellaneous, Retail & Service World, Save Time, Money & Aggravation | Read more
March 3 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Business and Job World, Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
February 29 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
February 25 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Miscellaneous, Retail & Service World | Read more
February 21 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Sports World | Read more
February 18 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Miscellaneous | Read more
February 15 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Fumbling Service | Read more
February 12 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Fumbling Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
February 8 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Living Well (Health & Fitness), Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
February 5 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Sports World | Read more
February 2 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Fumbling Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
January 30 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Empathica-Great Service, Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
January 26 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Do Customers Have Responsibilities Too?, Miscellaneous, Peel The Onion | Read more
January 23 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Sports World | Read more
January 16 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Empathica-Great Service, Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
January 10 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
January 3 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Corporate Life & Lessons, Empathica-Great Service, Miscellaneous | Read more
December 27 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Retail & Service World, Sports World | Read more
December 24 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Empathica-Great Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
December 21 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Business and Job World, Corporate Life & Lessons, Empathica-Great Service, Miscellaneous | Read more
December 18 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Contrarian Consumer, Fumbling Service | Read more
December 14 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | Contrarian Consumer, Peel The Onion, Retail & Service World | Read more
December 10 | Posted by Kevin Schwarm | A Better Way?, Empathica-Great Service, Retail & Service World | Read more
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Kevin’s Feed is value indeed- It’s Time to Take Revenge on the Word ‘Revenge,’ Especially During Pro Sports 05/18/2012If I had my druthers, Revenge is a word I’d yank from professional sports' vocabulary. You often hear it discussed on sport’s radio, during sports’ broadcasts, and during the analysis of sports. Living in Chicago, this is what I hear from t... […]Kevin Schwarm
- Bring Toastmasters to All College Curriculum? 05/17/2012As you may know, the organization, Toastmasters, helps adults improve their speaking skills in public. This organization has many chapters and speaking levels and one of their primary goals is to help people improve their communication and in particular, their verbal and listening skills. Effectively speaking in public or being effective at facilitating meet […]Kevin Schwarm
- What Other Public Service Campaigns can we use in Illinois Besides ‘Click it or Ticket?’ 05/14/2012This afternoon, I heard a public service announcement on a Milwaukee radio station about safe driving. It quickly captured my attention. They mentioned the hazards of driving too fast, tailgating, aggressive driving and passing on the right. What a pleasant surprise for a public service announcement to talk to motorists about becoming a safer and […]Kevin Schwarm
- It’s Time to Take Revenge on the Word ‘Revenge,’ Especially During Pro Sports 05/10/2012If I had my druthers, Revenge is a word I’d yank from professional sports’ vocabulary. You often hear it discussed on sport’s radio, during sports’ broadcasts, and during the analysis of sports. Living in Chicago, this is what I hear from time to time: It’s time for the Blackhawks to exact revenge against the Detroit […]Kevin Schwarm
- Show me some love, Pauly Honda 05/07/2012A few months ago, my wife, daughter and I were stranded in our Honda Odyssey at a rest stop in southern Illinois (coming back from Florida). After calling road side assistance and a $75 fee, the mechanic reviewed my battery (damaged cells without water) and said it needed to be replaced. After the jump, I drove nervously […]Kevin Schwarm
- Excelling in Service at Home Depot 05/03/2012I bought a new Honda lawn mower from Home Depot in August ’11. That was not my first Honda I purchased although it was my first Honda lawnmower. What an improvement from my Scott’s push mower I used for a few seasons! My new mower was used about 10 times – mostly in the fall […]Kevin Schwarm
- Do most people have a negative view of the post office? 04/30/2012Is the post office conjure up a negative connotation and something to avoid? I was thinking about this recently as a result of a radio ad sponsored by Stamps.com. You see, over the last 6 months, especially on Sports Radio, I’ve heard this ad by Stamps.com which boasts about being able to do replace the […]Kevin Schwarm
- Making Things Right at Mario Tricoci 04/26/2012About a week ago, I got a haircut at the Mario Tricoci Beauty School in Libertyville. I’ll stop in once every 4 to 6 weeks. This salon is actually the Mario Tricoci Beauty School where students, on their way to certification, practice on clients. It’s a win-win, clients receive very inexpensive salon services and students get […]Kevin Schwarm
- Why not mitigate the transmission of germs by improving public bathroom design? 04/23/2012Common Sense Restroom Design… How many public restrooms have you used over the last few years where the restroom’s handle (to leave) is on the inside of the exit door? Restaurants display the sign employees have to wash their hands after use but what about those customers who use the same facility but don’t follow […]Kevin Schwarm
- Dental Service Opportunity 04/19/2012For discussion sake, let’s say you’ve gone to the same dentist for the last 10 years. Let’s also say you know him well, you also know his dental hygienists and his office personnel quite well. Let’s also say you lost your dental coverage and temporarily stopped visiting your dentist, how will their office respond? […]Kevin Schwarm
- Is Feedback Welcomed? 04/15/2012I work for a public center that provides a platform/facility for both academic and corporate/community events. Typically, these classes or events occur in rooms or classrooms of varying sizes and many guests may have different expectations in terms ... […]Kevin Schwarm
- Penny Wise and Dollar Foolish at the Pelican Resort? 04/15/2012At the Pelican Resort in Destin, FL, a few hundred feet from the warm breeze off the Gulf of Mexico, there’s a cafe that sells sandwiches, beer, soda and other beach items. A few days ago, as I was waiting in line for coffee in a wet, sandy bathing suit, a woman, a guest […]Kevin Schwarm
- Is Feedback Welcomed? 04/11/2012I work for a public center that provides a platform/facility for both academic and corporate/community events. Typically, these classes or events occur in rooms or classrooms of varying sizes and many guests may have different expectations in terms of start/stop times and how the room is handled overall. I want to highlight one recent […]Kevin Schwarm
- Could the Best Western be more Eco-Friendly? 04/07/2012At the Best Western hotel outside Nashville in Brentwood, I see a small sign on my night stand that says “Please leave this easel on the bed if you want your sheets changed.” Great idea, I’m all for an individual or business being environmentally conscious whenever they can. For those who stay multiple nights, […]Kevin Schwarm
- Can the Weather be Inclimate in many Midwestern towns and not just Chicago? 04/04/2012Mind you, living in Chicagoland for over a score and wouldn’t you guess – the topic of conversation, especially October through May is Mother Nature. On Leap Year Day this year (which wasn’t very special except to read about those poor souls who only have a birthday every 4 years), the temperature in some […]Kevin Schwarm
- If you’re hungry, should you frequent the all-you-can-eat buffets? 03/31/2012How do you get your money’s worth at the all you can eat buffet? Should I worry about getting my money’s worth? Is it healthful? Years ago, I was more likely to frequent these types of buffets – especially when I was younger (with a higher metabolism) and lived in Wisconsin’s Dairyland and cared […]Kevin Schwarm
- Demoing one item at a time… 03/28/2012True confessions, I’m a regular shopper at the Mettawa Costco. In the past year or two, I’ve seen CDS (Club Demonstration Services) employees at Costco doing product or food presentations in various parts of the store. Questions arise in my mind: What motivates these employees to work with the public? Does it get tiring repeating […]Kevin Schwarm
- Aw, the friendly, but expensive confines of Rooftop Baseball near Wrigley Field 03/24/2012So Google Alerts is advertising one rooftop ticket near Wrigley Field at 40% off. I like the idea it’s 40% off but let’s dig deeper to get the true price. Unfortunately, it’s not 40% off a $50 or $75 ticket, the regular price is $133.31. Does this include parking? Silly question as parking is a premium […]Kevin Schwarm
- Valentine’s Day Marketing 03/21/2012My cousin, a financial planning advisor in Chicago, is always looking at ways to market to existing and new clients. She’s tried Chicago Botanic Garden tours, dinners with guest speakers on special financial related topics and other events with nominal success at best. Often, marketing is hit or miss – you may read about […]Kevin Schwarm
- A Time for Creating and a Time for Editing… 03/17/2012Creativity versus Critical Thought… Years ago, writing as a hobby, my writing approach was non-existent. Regularly, I’d write, edit, and worry about punctuation and grammar at the same time attempting to be creative. A recipe for mediocrity at the very best. The writing school of hard knocks taught me a valuable lesson – don’t […]Kevin Schwarm
- It’s Time to Take Revenge on the Word ‘Revenge,’ Especially During Pro Sports 05/18/2012
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