So you’ve overcome all the customer’s objections and asked for the sale. And you made the sale! Congratulations! Now what? You’ve got a little bit more to do to be a truly skillful salesperson. You’ve got to wrap-up the sale.

How do you wrap-up a sale that is already done? Well, you can start by thanking your customer. Always thank your customer. It also doesn’t hurt if you compliment the customer on the wonderful choice they just made by buying your product. And even though you may think it goes without saying, invite the customer to return. Offer them something that will help keep your name on the forefront of their mind when they are looking for products. A business card of sorts. Maybe you can get them to sign up for a “special deals” mailing list.

Much like all of these skills, the wrap-up seems overly simple. If you’re like me, you’ve been looking for the catch the whole time. There isn’t one. These really are some basic sales skills that will help you make a sale every time and improve your bottom line from here forward.

Links for Adoptees

Click any of the topics below to reveal a list of related links.

If you have a link you think may be of interest, feel free to send it to joi@pointmade.com.

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This Sunday, Daylight Saving time goes into effect. Remember the concept “spring forward” and set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night. Fire department officials also suggest you replace your smoke alarm batteries at the same time.

We’re all tired of the professional D300 reviews, after all, how many of us actually earn much money with our camera? As for me, fighting the computer all day to get it to dance pays a ton more, so it’s nice to see reviews like this:

All I know is I am now confident of shooting at ISO1600 and ISO3200 if I must. The reason the images you see on the internet using a D300 at ISO3200 seems so bloody good is because they are ALL resized for web use (72dpi and less than 2MP). Viewing ISO 3200 images at 100% on a monitor at home is still bad in my humble opinion and I would NOT even print them anything bigger than 5R (maybe I’m just too demanding now).

The Indian Express calls for the truth:

If the results from the negotiations between India’s National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and the Chinese Vice Minister Dai Bingguo have been disappointing, the situation on the ground all along the border with China has been alarming. Having rapidly modernised the transport infrastructure in Tibet, and probably sensing a tactical advantage against India, the People’s Liberation Army has resorted to aggressive actions on the border.

It is worrisome that the Centre has been less than honest in sharing with the public the new turn of events on the border. The nation is only partly reassured by the UPA government’s reaffirmation that the entire state of Arunachal belongs to India and by the PM’s promises during his recent visit on accelerating the state’s integration with India. Whether it is the fear of offending its communist partners, who refuse to countenance anything unpleasant on China, or the furtiveness of the security bureaucracy, the government seems reluctant to reveal the gravity of the current situation. India paid a heavy price in 1962 for placing political correctness above truthfulness. If the UPA does not come clean with a comprehensive account of the situation on the China border, it is the duty of the opposition to demand it in the collective interests of the nation.

p2pnet news | Freedom:- Icelandic singer Bjork has touched a famous raw nerve in China.

China said its feelings were hurt when Bjork several times shouted Tibet! Tibet! after her song Declare Independence during a concert in Shanghai.

Now it’s, “to impose stricter rules on foreign rock and pop stars,” says the BBC.

Following Bjork’s outburst, “We will further tighten controls on foreign artists performing in China in order to prevent similar cases from happening in the future,” the culture ministry says in a statement on its website.

“We shall never tolerate any attempt to separate Tibet from China and will no longer welcome any artists who deliberately do this,” it declares, according to the Beeb, noting:

“Many Tibetans feel loyal to the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom China considers a separatist threat.”

But CTV’s ShowBiz blog reckons it was an “idiotic move” for several reasons, to wit >>>

Firstly, China, for all intents and purposes and for better or worse, has its own set of standards and rules when it comes to what is appropriate political commentary on their soil, so when you’re invited to a country as guest, prudence dictates you follow their ascribed rules and avoid controversy, i.e. stay mum with your views on Tibet or Taiwan.

Secondly, when did the Icelandic chanteuse get her seat on the UN Security Council? Her Ph.D in geopolitical relations? While no one condones any type of brutal repression, the last time I checked into things Bjork was paid to perform and entertain not stump with political views. There are those, such as Bono, who have built concurrent careers as humanitarians and musicians, and their authority in this area is build up over time, so we grant them latitude. While it’s possible Bjork, in her private time, may in fact be the world’s most dedicated advocate of freedom, it still doesn’t mitigate her misguided decision to use Shanghai as a soapbox upon which to share her opinions.

Lastly, this is a clear cut case of one idiot throwing sand in the sandbox and ruining playtime for everyone else.

But, adds CTV, “What’s most galling about her ridiculousness is that her antics smack of a has-been opportunist grasping at straws, trying desperately to disingenuously bring attention to herself - last week she dedicated the same song to Kosovo while performing in Japan.”

However, “In a garbled, typo-ridden statement, the eccentric singer today defended her actions,” says Times Online, quoting her as saying >>>

i would like to put importance on that i am not a politician, i am first and last a musician and as such i feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions.

the urge for declaring independence is just one of them but an important one that we all feel at some times in our lives. this song was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure. i would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence.

She signed the statement off with: ‘justice!’ says the story.

Here’s a YouTube video of the incident:

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Also See:
Tibet! Tibet! - Bjork’s ‘Tibet, Tibet!’ China song, March 7, 2008
BBC - China to crack down on pop stars, March 7, 2008
ShowBiz - Shut up and sing, Bjork!, March 7, 2008
Times Online - Bjork defends Tibet outburst, March 5, 2008

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In episode six of Couch Surfing, John and Scott contemplate what it means to be a Real Hero, and then give their thoughts on the film, Cloverfield. Some points of debate include believable characters, motion sickness and magical cameras. Spoilers abound, so proceed with caution. The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Wiseguys, David Bowie, Bjork, Bonnie Tyler, Elmer Bernstein, Chemical Brothers, Static-X, The Smiths, Psapp, Josh Joplin Group, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Dashboard Prophets, BT & Sarah McLachlan, Smashing Pumpkins and And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

p2pnet MPAA News | RIAA News:- “The RIAA may be merging with the IFPI,” p2pnet posted at the beginning of the year, going on, “No, this isn’t a p2pnet spoof similar to the one in 2004 where we had the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) merging with the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America).”

The RIAA and IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry) are nought but Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG enforcement outfits, so putting the two together doesn’t require a huge stretch of imagination.

And when you get right down to it, an RIAA / MPAA merger isn’t so far-fetched either. After all, the two entertainment cartel ‘trade’ associations are mirror images of each other, working to plant dis- and misinformation in the minds of the general public, and scam the media into carrying heavily spun, and highly inaccurate, PR puff pieces dressed up as press releases.

The two often pool resources for the common bad and now, “Yesterday, while researching an old New York Global Times edition of April 1, 1910, I discovered this amazing article, which I can reproduce here, not because the article’s copyright has expired (they never do) but because the New York Global Times no longer exists due to the collapse of paper based newspaper readership in America,” says a p2pnet Reader’s Write.

Slugged RIAA Aand MPAA join forces against music sharing, it goes >>>

Reporter for New York Global Times: Robert Von Haggard

The Restaurant Industries Association of America (RIAA) and the Music Performers Association of America (MPAA) have, we have learned, joined forces to prevent the sharing of music though the new device known as vitrola, an invention of Thomas Edison and radio, an Italian invention, a fact denied by most Americans.

Mr. Al Capone has been hired to represent RIAA and MPAA.

John Rice, a restaurant owner and the president of RIAA, and Bill Singer of MPAA have issued a joint letter to the membership of RIAA and MPAA. We have obtained a copy of the letter from a RIAA employee that asked that his name not be given because he has not been authorized to speak of the letter. This is the text of the letter

Dear RIAA and MPAA members:

Our industry and jobs depends heavily on the music performed at restaurants to bring in customers. We see this new device invented by that phony and unschooled inventor, Edison, as a threat to the livelihood of the artists and chefs that we develop and work in our restaurants. Our consultant, Mr. Albert Capone of Capone Law (Capone), of Chicago tell us that each song shared to the public by the recording companies will result in 10 less customers visits to a restaurant, as customers stay at home to listen to music. The customer loss could be as much as 100 customers per record sold, Capone tells us, if that other new invention, the radio, is purchased by as low as 10 percent of the population. We, and the American economy, could, says Capone’s statistics, loose 44 percent of restaurant customers and jobs.

While Capone advises that it is very unlikely that radio will be successful he suggests that we be on the watch, just in case.

Because the livelihood of musical performers that work in restaurants is at risk, the Restaurant Industries Association of America (RIAA) and the Musical Performers Association of America (MPAA) have joined forces to fight the illegal sharing of music through new technologies such the vitrola and the radio. Capone estimates that about one million music performers will loose their jobs as restaurants and clubs and piano bars are shut down as customers stay home to listen to a vitrola to satisfy their crave for music.

Therefore we announce that we have designated Capone as our congressional lobbyist and legal representative. Capone will also advise us on tax and general legal matters. We picked Capone because of their experience and reputation. Capone’s mission will be to obtain changes in the copyright law and judicial decisions to make sure that sharing music through new inventions is prohibited. Capone will also identify and make settlement offers on our behalf to persons that may already be sharing music by playing their vitrola or radios in public places such as offices, workplaces and living rooms. Settlement offers will be made too to companies that manufacture the vitrola and radio devices and the records played therein.

Capone will pursue, in the event that vitrolas and radios are allowed to share music, legislation to add a Restaurant and Performer tax levy to the devices.

Capone will also advise us on the possibility of buying the vitrola and radio patents. We then would not license anyone for manufacturing the devices. This of course would be a temporary solution, as patents, unlike copyrights, do expire in a reasonably short time Capone is already negotiating with the inventors.

We are defending the rights of performers and chefs and our investments in their careers as well as protecting the American economy from a possible depression due to reduced eating by the American public.

As Capone makes progress on this pursuit, we will keep you informed.

Please keep this letter is confidential.

Sincerely

John Rice (RIAA) and Bill Singer (MPAA)

The New York Global Times tried to contact RIAA and MPAA for comment and were referred to Capone Law. The New York Global Times tried to contact Mr. Albert Capone.

A Capone Law employee who answered the telephone said Mr. Capone was doing time on some tax matters and was unavailable.

Stay tuned

Jon Newton - p2pnet

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David Hoffman at InvestmentNews.com has the scoop on the news of Rydex being up for sale. He has one story that mentions multiple suitors and then a quick follow up story that specifically mentions again Invesco but also mentions E*Trade Financial.

Invesco makes sense to me as they’ve already started down the path of acquisitions in the beta space with their purchase of PowerShares in 2006. One of the articles mentions that there’s some overlap between Rydex and PowerShares so this acquisition would be a bad move for Invesco. I don’t think so. Rydex focuses on levered and inverse exposures similar to ProShares, not PowerShares which is going after the niche sector ETF market as well as quasi-active strategy ETFs.

Rydex has yet to do what ProFunds has done by creating an ETF-centric organization (ProShares) to go along with its open-ended fund business. Why has Rydex been slow to follow? We know of filings with the SEC as I and many others have discussed the long list of ETFs that are in the pipeline from Rydex. PowerShares has had a fantastic track record of pushing products through the pipeline with very little friction. Maybe the people at Rydex will gain something on that end should this acquisition take place. Another good reason.

Furthermore, I wonder if scale will help both the PowerShares and Rydex families bring fees down. That could help in the Rydex battle against ProShares. PowerShares has multiple competitors in WisdomTree (for its fundamental weighted index ETFs) as well as Claymore and First Trust who both also have interesting niche sector funds as well as quasi-active strategy ETFs. A future pricing war between these firms would signify to me an important evolution in the industry. Saturation would also become a concern in my opinion but I have a feeling that we’re still pretty far away from that, believe it or not.

The tone of David’s last article seems to suggest that the purchase is basically a done deal. I don’t think it’s significant news in the bigger picture but I wonder what the next steps are? Who’s looking to scoop up Claymore or First Trust or Van Eck? There aren’t that many of these lower tier firms to choose from. When I say lower, I mean by assets compared to BGI, SSGA and Vanguard. But there will likely soon be many more new entrants in the ETF provider space. These new entrants will surely bring new ideas to the ETF marketplace as most of the traditional space (broad asset classes, sector exposures, levered/inverse) has been covered. We’ll likely see more target date programs and other “funds of ETFs”. Also expect to see more in the alternative investment space including more in private equity as well as hedge funds. With so much coverage of highs in the S&P 500 and other benchmarks, perhaps the timing of these alternative investments will be right.

Final thought: What if State Street Global Advisors got into the acquisition game? According to this story also from InvestmentNews, SSGA has revised its compensation formula for wholesalers in an effort to focus more on ETF sales efforts instead of mutual funds and SMAs. I don’t think BGI’s shaking over this. There’s a comment in the story about recent strong numbers due to new offerings like their new international real estate ETF. I’m thinking that you put some interesting products in front of the wholesalers and they’ll be quicker in pushing them out the door. Until recently, SSGA wholesalers must have been feeling like domestic auto dealers. Dealer management can somehow try to pay a bit more to sell whatever’s on the lot but if they’re driving an import or have one on their screensaver, you know it’s a losing battle. Maybe SSGA will continue their recent roll of introducing interesting new products (and it’s been good) so it would be unnecessary to even considering purchases. But it makes much more sense than BGI or Vanguard who I don’t see acquiring any of these smaller names at any point in the future.