It’s a Joke, But it Ain’t Funny!

Customer service is pretty much a joke here in the United States. We take it for granted that when we have a problem with a product we have purchased we are going to have to call in, push this key and that key to navigate the ridiculous phone menu, then wait for an eternity before we can talk to a live person, who most of the time is not even a native English speaker. All this leaves us frustrated, and often we just give up on a defective product and chalk it up to experience.

When in Rome . . .

Caveat emptor, the old Romans advised: “Let the buyer beware.”

This can also apply to our modern practice of purchasing items online. The Pew Institute estimates that today 49% of all purchases take place online in the United States. That means that Americans really do love to shop online, and we do it despite the problems that can arise. Whereas when you stroll into a shop or store you can handle the item and get a feel for it, all you can do online is view a picture of it and read reviews. Not quite the same thing.

So Where Can I Get Great Customer Service?

So when you decide to shop online, perhaps because you don’t have time to drive to the store or don’t want to hassle with the traffic, you should make sure you are dealing with a company that has your best interests at heart first and foremost. That is what great customer service is all about! Also, you may want to especially patronize a store that is run by our country’s military veterans. Why? It’s simple. They know how to give strict heed to every order they receive; that’s what they’re trained to do!

We Live in Uncertain Times.

All this brings us to your camping/outdoor/survival needs. Because when it comes right down to it, it’s the basic necessities that you need to be thinking about for you and for your family. All prudent people, no matter what their political or religious beliefs may be, know that we live in uncertain times. A political upheaval or a natural catastrophe can occur at any time, in any place. So it’s best to be prepared.

Hikingware.com

You simply may not have the time or inclination to go out shopping for your camping and survival needs, and so you need a reliable, dependable, company that is dedicated to GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. That company is hikingware.com. Their growing customer base is proof positive that they know how to get the job done, and they can make it right – whatever your specific needs may be.

Great Inventory at Reasonable Prices.

Hikingware.com features nothing but quality products. Their tents include recognized brands like Texsport and Snugpak. Their sleeping bag brands include Multimat and Caprock. They have a wide selection of MRE meals, garden seeds and first aid kits. They feature the latest technology in water filtration systems and canteens. Hunting knifes. Cook stoves. All products are personally vouched for by the company owners.

So remember, when you want the best online prices and the greatest customer service for your camping and survival supply, use Hikingware.com – once you buy from them you’ll never buy from anyone else!

Visit us at www.hikingware.com

Email: sales@hikingware.com
Telephone: (703) 496-5500

www.facebook.com/pages/Hikingware/183290271848107

https://twitter.com/Hikingware

written by Tim Torkildson

For many people enjoying the outdoors is spoiled by their fear of biting and stinging insects. While there are some exotic, mostly tropical species of insects that carry a deadly or extremely painful bite or sting, for the most part in North America there are very few bugs that have life-threatening venom. Among them are the black widow spider, but that creature is almost entirely found indoors, not outside.

Of course, if you are allergic to stings and insect venom you should always carry your doctor-prescribed prophylactic with you.

This brief list of some of the common biting and stinging insects in North America will hopefully help you to deal with camping and other situations, such as natural disasters, when you might have to be outside despite your own desires.

Hikingware.com suggests that you always have plenty of bedding, water and food on hand and available in case there is a disaster in your area that forces you outside and away from you normal shelter, comforts and necessities. They also recommend that you always have on hand a good first aid kit in case of a bit or sting.

· All scorpions sting, but very few inject anything that even approaches a dose that would be lethal to a human being. The exception is the Arizona Bark Scorpion. It is found in dry regions of the southwestern part of the United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. They are a pale straw color and sometimes have 2 black bands running down their back. They rest under litter and rubbish during the day and actively hunt at night, often climbing up tree trunks, walls and fences.

· Saddleback caterpillar. This caterpillar is easy to spot; it has long feathery bristles on its back and a bright green ‘saddle’ that covers its back. It is commonly found throughout the eastern United States. The bristles are poisonous and produce large welts and extreme itching. They never attack, but children may want to pick them up because of their curious appearance. You can treat their sting as you would that of poison ivy – using calamine lotion or baking soda with water worked into a paste.

· Mosquitos can be a major nuisance, not to mention a health hazard, during the spring, summer and even on warm fall days. The Asian tiger mosquito is the main culprit in spreading malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis, and West Nile Virus. They also spread heartworm in dogs. They have infested the eastern half of the United States, and are on their way to becoming acclimated to the rest of the country west of the Mississippi River. Their most noticeable characteristic is the white and black bands on their body and legs. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants during the hours of dawn and dusk to avoid the greatest hazard of being stung by one. There are many commercial mosquito sprays to repel them, but if at all possible you should stay out in the open if there is any kind of a breeze, as they cannot navigate in wind of any kind.

· Fleas, bedbugs and lice. These nasty critters are normally thought of as being a pest indoors, but they can also cause problems outdoors if you are using any kind of bedding or clothing that has been invaded by them. Make sure all your sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, and even tents are thoroughly aired out and washed, if possible, after every camping trip. Wool watch caps are especially attractive to all three insect types, so do not wear a cap if you do not know where it comes from.

(Tim Torkildson lives in Provo, Utah, and writes for Deseret News Services.)

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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

WHAT IS GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE?