That's my intent. I just wanted to vent. It is more than disapointing that the majority of the people I've contacted take the stance that they know what I need and refuse to answer a simple question until I agree with them.

Value cannot be separated from price.

There is no free lunch.

Go figure.

They have my name and email address.

What, they are going to charge me more if I want the thing for non business use?

By your own research you have proven there is more than one definition.

Why do YOU choose to infer the guy is dishonest?

Go figger.

Then this message is no longer necessary either.......

Does anybody REALLY know what time it is?

Chuck,

For you, it's time to head to the beach.

When you go to the beach do you forward your phone to a cell phone or just let the answering machine take messages?
If you forward to the cell how do customers take to the sounds of the beach in the background?

James,
All joking aside, the beach is a morning thing before business hours.

Well that's too bad.

I was wondering because I am a one man shop and have 11 and 13 year old boys who want to go to the pool. Mom works at a "Real" job with a regular paycheck so the boys are home for the summer with me. I do forward the phone to the cell when I have to go out on sales calls and such but was wondering about whether to do so when I take them to the pool.

Well, is it work time, or is it your kids' time?

Sei

James
If I were in your position, I would most certainly do that forward to my cell if it meant having some quality time with my boys.. I have a VERY FIRM belief in FAMILY FIRST..... without your family none of the rest of it matters......to ME missing time with you boys at the pool is far worse than any time missed working....life is short......

Sooo... were I in your shoes, I would DEFINITELY go to the pool (or beach) and forward to my cell.

Just my two cents worth. Want Change?

Sei,

I would like for it to be both. After regular business hours is when everybody shows up at the pool and it is too crowded to have any fun when you are used to the wide open spaces of the country where we live.
I will take trade magazines or manuals with me and I usually have catalogues and such in the truck or car so I can answer questions. I was just wondering if anyone had experience with the situation.

Chuck,

Family is why I am in this mess (opps I mean business). My former employer was a firm believer that the company came first. I was told I was not a team player because I kept my mornings, evenings and weekends to my family. I would work from 8 - 5 because that is what I was being paid to do. Travelled when it was required be he wanted me to come in early, stay late and work Saturdays - for free. Wouldn't you hate to be his kids? Part of the beauty of working out of a building on my property is that I can slip out here when the boys are reading or playing computer games. I do not have the 1 hour commute to and from the office. I can work 10 hour days here in the same time I was gone from home working for my former employer.

I will be forwarding the cell and, like I told Sei, taking trade pubs and stuff with me. Once we get to the pool they leave me on the chaise and run and play in the water.
An hour at the pool for them is heaven and I know that makes the time worth every second.
I guess I will see how the customers react and answer or not depending on who it is. I have voicemail on the cell too.

James,
I don't know your situation, but it hardly seems a mess. Self employed? Shop on your property? Time with you kids? How cool is that. Personally I think your former employer had his head so far up his butt he was looking out his nostrils.
Anyway, when you are the pool, put the trade rags down, let your voice mail do it's thing, get IN the pool, cool off and play with you boys, ( unless they are playing with girls of course). It will make you feel better too.
How does it work for anyone else? It doesn't matter as long as it works for you. Pretty soon, you boys will not want to go to the pool with their old man....so DO IT!!!!
In my previous life, I used to worry about work all the time, when we did not have any I would go pound the pavement, my wife, who ran the business with me would go to, griping all the way, saying we should enjoy the time off, but Noooooooooooooo I had to go get more work...oh for the times we could have had. Another friend of mine, a doctor, always told himself he would make time to play golf when he retired...well he is retired, but hurt his back and can't play golf..... today, right now, this minute is ALL we have...... lets go swimming!!!!!

Again, just my two cents.

Chuck,

Two things I don't do in public: sing and go around without a shirt.
And the world is a better place for it. :-) 

Thanks for your kind words and all the advise you have given and asked for. We all have such a great opportunity to learn from the questions of others.

Well James,
Is the a rule in the pool ( HA! I'm a poet and didnt know it, my feet are Longfellows ) about swimming WITH a shirt? ( insert laugh here)

Yea no shirts in the pool. Might be too heavy and make someone drown. They empty out the pool at least once an hour to check for bodies ???
I have never been much of a water person so I am not missing anything. Do like the beaches of the panhandle of Florida - or I did until Hurricane Ivan took out the condos my mother-in-law used to rent for two weeks every summer for us to enjoy. Of course I don't get two weeks vacation anymore anyway. Do take a week for Boy Scout camp every summer. Not really vacation but well worth the time.

James,
I didn't think the boy scouts let people your age in :D (insert laugh here).

James,
Speaking as a grandmom take the boys to the pool and enjoy them. You can answer your cell or let the voice mail take a message. My guess is that your customers will probably be jealous of where you are. Anyway, who says you have to tell them. Put a headset on your cell and they'll never know - but your kids will always remember the things they did with dad.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)