Get your WAY the NICE way...live by the Golden Rule and get Royal Results!

I think we are pretty "nice" people...we're told that often enough so I believe it to be true! I think it's fun to be nice. It feels natural and right to be nice. Niceness usually means that you get niceness back - and that feels great to receive! Are we perfectly nice 100% of the time? No, nobody is, but we sure try our best! But what IS niceness? Let's explore this topic to see if we can agree on what "nice" behavior is, then see if it's as effective as being aggressive in a sales or service situation. Oh - and what does this have to do with vacuum cleaners? You'll see...   I enjoy producing articles that teach a "bigger" message. But to answer that last question, remember that your vacuum is a machine.  Like many others you have it frequently requires professional service and replacement parts. With that comes personal interaction between you and your service providers (like us!) And when everyone plays nice it makes every experience SO much more enjoyable and rewarding for both parties! If you work in retail you surely know what I mean!Just remember that we all are consumers also and we can all-too-quickly forget what it's like to be on the other side. So this concept applies to your vacuum cleaner and to a multitude of areas of your life!   I believe that "nice" behavior is a cocktail of several different qualities expressed in an exchange between two or more people. If even one of these elements are left out the situation can get heated, stressful, be difficult to resolve the problem and/or cause an irreparable blowout! So, what should be in this ideal mix? In my book, the requirements are: Gentle tone of voice, a smile, patience, carefully listening to the other's perspective or/or needs, sincerity and honesty, relaxed body language, respect for the other's time... Be sensitive to the other person's feelings and perspective - yet aim to NOT be so sensitive personally (i.e. have a thicker skin.) For example, here at Queen Vacuum, most of our customers are absolutely amazing; the most delightful and appreciative folks! Yet we must remember that when a customer comes in frantic, upset, demanding or angry that their vacuum isn't working that we shouldn't take it personally. And like every business, we have systems in place that keep the work flow orderly, efficient and allow for thorough execution of each job or transaction. It makes work easier when customers respect that our systems are in the best interest of all of us. We of course try to be flexible and super-helpful for those who some in with true "emergencies" or special situations. BUT - badgering, questioning and extreme, on-the-spot demands are discombobulating, stressful and unfair to everyone, including other customers - like, duh LOL!!    If you ever have a real predicament, special need or lots of questions - feel free tocall in advance to kindly explain and see if/when/how we can arrange a solution. We're happy to help you any way we can! But it might be too hard for us to help and think critically when our benches are already full of complicated repairs AND the showroom is full of active sales appointments AND the phone is ringing off the hook!NO, we may not be able to unclog someone's Dyson RIGHT NOW while they wait no matter how much they beg/make a scene/threaten to never come back again LOL!!  MORAL OF THE STORY: We all get cranky and impatient sometimes. But I genuinely believe our lives would be so much better if we were all a little nicer. Our encounters in life are often brief and with little or no background. We don't know each other's situations or hardships and one tiny straw can indeed break the camel's back.  So whatever side of the sales counter we're on, let's ditch the 'ol "chip" on the shoulder and choose to be happy and kind! Instead of being aggravated, impatient, demanding and/or accusatory let's all pledge to assume the best, give the benefit of the doubt, be patient... you know, "golden rule" stuff! A little respect and a friendly smile can go a long way to getting everyone what we desire! By the way...if YOU are a nice person too - STOP IN and be sure to send in all your FRIENDS if they're anything like you!

Beauty and the BEACH...Don't let bothersome beach SAND ruin the beauty of your floors!

It's officially summer - woo hoo!! So pick a sweet spot in the sand, slather on some sunblock and grab your umbrella drink. You're about to learn some awesome tips for making your life a lot easier when you get home! Sure you're relaxing now...but you know your patience will come a little undone as you schlep home in heavy traffic trailing half the beach with you in your bags, towels and bikini bottoms!  IT will be in the car, the garage, in the bottom of the washing machine, all over the hard floors and deep in the carpet. That's right... SAAAAAAAND!   Ugh, now it's time to make dinner. The kids are starving. You hastily shove everyone's gritty gear in their respective places while the kids get washed and the BBQ heats up. As the Mr. flips some burgers you resolve to ditch the dusting of Sea Bright beach that's invaded your bare dining room floor. You reach for your trusty Swiffer and get sweeping. 1-2-3 quick swipes...looking good...4-5... scccrrraaaappe.... kkkkkkk... AAAGGHH! What's happening?! That, my friend, was the telltale sound of a saturated Swiffer. In other words, the A Swiffer or a sanding stick? Oh, who can tell? cleaning cloth filled up with all that grit to the point where it's now acting like sandpaper - NOT  good for your floors! Furthermore, much of the sand will slip down into the cracks and crevices of the boards and the grout lines of tile. Brooms and Swiffers have their place in the world, but it is NOT in-place of your vacuum cleaner.Simply put there is no better, safer, more effective way to remove fine dust, hair, crumbs and grit/dirt particles from your bare floors than vacuuming! Just make sure it's the right kind of vacuum. Some are designed to clean only carpets and rugs or have attachments that most be switched around to work correctly.   [Check out this  article that explains more about correct type of vacuum to use] Sand may indeed be beautiful and feel great between your toes, but have you ever asked your FLOORS how they feel? To your poor carpets and wood floors, sand is the enemy! We just learned how it can wreak havoc and dull wooden surfaces if not removed carefully. But did you also know that sand is destructive to  Keep a spare little vacuum in your cabana, beach house or RV! your carpets and rugs? Sand is dense and quickly works its way into the deep recesses of carpeting. Ever notice how sometimes it goes through the back side of an area rug and starts digging into the flooring below? Sand is also microscopically sharp!The embedded particles slowly cut into the base of the rug's delicate fibers as we walk over the top. This breaks the fibers apart destroying the rug form the bottom up! The most effective way to remove this dangerous grit is by slowly and thorough vacuuming with a high-quality machine.However, the vacuum must be equipped with a spinning brushroller/ "agitator"/ "beater bar" to move the carpet strands apart and deliver suction deep down where the sand is hiding. Straight suction (like you'd use on bare floors) just will not cut it on carpets. CONCLUSION Sand is beautiful, but belongs at the beach! So be armed with a great vacuum that can eradicate sand (and other offending particles) from your house in order maintain the original beauty of your floors, rugs and furnishings. There is beauty in cleanliness... it's next to Godliness, some say! So, for heaven's sake, can we take time to stop and smell the rose-scented countertop spray? Take not for granted the glisten of exquisitely polished granite, stainless steel and freshly-scrubbed grout. Consider how much heck you're putting your poor floors through and stop treating your living room rugs like a doormat! Keeping your home clean and healthy is work, no doubt. But we all know that the right tools get each job done more quickly, easily and thoroughly!  And that's what WE'RE here for!!  Enjoy your summer and we'll be seeing you soon....