I'm Better Than You!

To contact us Click HERE
Hard to believe that people would brag about an RV, when so many other people consider them to be, well, white trash.
Mark had an interesting experience on Rich People's Island the other day.  We call it "Rich People's Island" as a joke, as the people who live there only think they are rich, as most are merely middle-class, and in fact many are in debt up to their eyeballs.  It is next door to Really Rich People's Island, and yea, half of those people are bankrupt as well and their homes in foreclosure.

But hey, they certainly put on a good show!

Anyway, this lady he was talking to spend a half-hour trying to impress someone she didn't know.  Mark was introduced by a friend, when she mentioned she had visited our island.  The conversation went something like this:

Lady:  "So why do you live there, instead of rich people's island?"

Mark:  "Well, it is very quiet and not as crowded."

Lady:  "We went there once, it was so dreary!  I couldn't imagine living there!"

Mark:  "So, our friend says you have an RV, what kind?"

Husband:  "We have a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "Really?  What kind?"

Husband:  "I said, a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "But what brand?"

Husband:  "(Inexpensive Brand Name, now Bankrupt)"

Mark:  "Oh.  Did you ever camp at our island?"

Lady:  "We never stay at anything but a high-end resort!  We don't camp!  If there isn't a swimming pool and a tennis court, I'm not staying!"

Mark:  "Well, that's RVing, I guess.  Staying at a resort one night, a Wal-Mart parking lot the next!"

Lady: "I never would stay at such a place as Wal-Mart!"

Mark:  "Of course.  You still use the RV?"

Husband:  "Not since we bought our house here.  It's been in storage a year, now.  Say, honey, we should probably put it up for sale this weekend, right?

(Lady gives Husband a glare of hostility)

Lady:  "Not this weekend!  We are going to a friend's house.  Did I mention they have a large home here on the island!  It's very large!"

Mark:  "Really?  Where is it?"

Lady:  "Oh, I can't remember exactly where.  They showed us, of course.  They are very important people here on rich people's island and they invited us to their home!"

The conversation went on like this for a while longer.  It was pretty shallow stuff - not enough to get your ankles wet.

What was interesting to me is that they have a motorhome that they paid $250,000 for, and likely is worth half that right now.  And yet it has been sitting in storage in the hot sun, depreciating, for a year now.  I suspect they are "upside-down" on it.

What was really fascinating to me was that this lady was so obsessed with making an impression on a store clerk - someone she hardly knew and would not know for more than the length of the conversation.   But she had to "win" - and show that she was wealthier and more important.

And yet she failed to realize that she was talking to a Millionaire.

And likely, she and her husband were still in debt, not only for the motorhome, but for their house on "Rich People's Island" which actually can be rather inexpensive, particularly if you buy a land-locked home hurriedly made of vinyl and stucco, back in the late 1990's.   In fact, despite its reputation, "Rich People's Island" has some real hovels and shacks - and a crime rate to go with it.  It is very odd.

Status-Seeking.  It is ridiculous behavior, yet we all do it, to some extent or another.  Yes, all of us, even you and me.   We all like to think we are "better" than others, whether it is by dint of wealth, sophistication, moral values, political views, taste, or whatever.   It is about as human as breathing.

Perhaps it is our innate urge to say "I am important!  My life means something!  I am somebody of consequence!"   We all want to think our lives have deep and rich meaning, when in fact, even the most famous of us will find fame a fleeting thing.

My Mother harbored these sorts of illusions of grandeur.  She always said she wanted to write the "Great American Novel" but was never able to put pen to paper.  And likely this was because she had no story to tell.  Or the stories she had to tell, she was embarrassed to tell (usually those are the good ones, consider the greater body of English Literature, or any episode of Seinfeld).

And sadly, or should I say inevitably, she died and few will remember her.  Most of her friends are dead and once all of her children and grandchildren are dead, no one know she existed.  In fact, perhaps her only lasting legacy will be my words written here, preserved on the Internet for all eternity.  Sorry, Mom!

But the same will be said of me as well.   I am as insignificant as a grain of dust, just like most people on this planet.  If my name is remembered in 50 or 100 years, it will only be because I am listed on the United States Patent Office database on a number of Patents, as Patent Attorney, Agent, Examiner, and yes, even Inventor.  In fact, my stature as co-inventor of Beerbrella will likely be what I am remembered for, if at all.

And that is just fine with me.   Life is for living - and enjoying.   Enjoy the here and now and enjoy your own life - don't compare yourself to others.

Trying to find fame - which is largely imaginary - or judging your life based on comparisons to others, are exercises in futility.  No matter how important you are (or think you are) chances are, there is someone more important and famous than you.

Status-seeking is a dead-end.   And it is an expensive dead end as well.

Who's Who?

To contact us Click HERE
There is a real Who's Who that lists all the names of the beautiful people.  You are not among them.

I got another telemarketer call.  The telemarketers have realized that the "Do Not Call" registry is about as effective as a restraining order on an abusing husband - and they have given up all pretense of even trying to obey the law.

But, like Police Tape, this does help the consumer.  You should assume that any unsolicited phone call is for a scam, just as any unsolicited e-mail or regular mail entreaty.  If someone calls, e-mails, texts, or mails you, asking for money, just assume it is fraudulent, period.

I pick up the phone and I say "hello" and there is a pause.  Usually this is a good time to just hang up, as that pause means a computer robodialer has detected your voice and is connecting you with a telemarketer, probably offshore.

After a short pause, some clicking and beeping, a foreign-sounding voice says, "Mr. Robert Bell?" and I say, "Hello" and they say, "may I speak to Mr. Robert Bell" to which I say, "Speaking".     Since slammers and crammers often try to get you to say the word "YES" over the phone, it is a good idea to avoid saying that word on the phone, as they will record it as use it as "evidence" that you consented to a $50 a month calling feature.   Well, at least they used to do that.  Today such scams are less common, but not obsolete.

I asked, "Who is calling please?" to which she kept saying "Mr. Robert Bell?" which is another sure sign of a scam, as people who don't immediately identify themselves on the phone are usually con artists.

Then comes the real tip-off, "How are you today?"

Telemarketers always start off with this phrase, as it disarms the listener.  "Fine, thank you" is what you are trained from birth to reply.  You have to avoid this urge and say, "Who is calling, please?"

She finally says, "I am calling from Who's Who, and we want to confirm your entry in this year's edition..."

I tell her she is violating the Do Not Call Registry, and she replies, "Well, this is a confirmation call, and...."

But I had hung up by then.

What is Who's Who and what is this scam?   I was prompted to write this as when I mentioned it to Mark, only five years my junior, he said "What the heck is Who's Who?"

What the heck, indeed.   Back before the turn of the Century - and the previous one as well - there were books like Burke's Peerage and such, where the "important people" were listed in a big book, and if you were someone, you were written up in it.   Who's Who was one of these books, and over the years, it has expanded to include celebrities, businesspeople, and the social set.   If you were in Who's Who back in 1967, you were important!

Of course, the Internet and Social Media have changed all that.  Today, nobody reads Who's Who.

And by that, I mean the real Who's Who.  Since those days, a number of fake ones have sprung up.  And those are the ones that call you on the phone and ask to "verify" your information.  The lady who called me was not from the original Who's Who, but was from one of the knock-off versions - or could have been an utter scam artist entirely.  We'll never know.

For people of my generation, I guess, the term "Who's Who" still might resonate, although I think the term is pretty dated in this day and age.

The scam is simple.  And by "scam" I don't mean they are committing any crime - far from it, they are too clever for that!  Rather, they just take your money and give you something that I believe is of little or no value in return.

They call you up to "confirm" your listing in Who's Who, and then ask for a lot of personal data.   For a nominal fee, they say, you can have an "expanded biography" in the book (which no doubt is online these days).   People who are narcissists (and we all are, to some extent) fall for this and cough up $25 to $250 or more, just to make themselves famous.

And just like the poetry scam, the company might actually publish such a book.  Since the title is in the Public Domain, they can publish "Who's Who of Lawyers" or "Who's Who of Doctors" or "Who's Who of  College Students" or whatever.   So long as at least one copy is published, or it is put on a website, they can claim they are fulfilling their half of the obligation.  And usually they do sell copies - to the people who paid to get into it!  So it is not illegal.   It's just a stupid waste of money and ego-stroking.

It is not a good value - and in that regard, I consider it a scam.   But like most good scams, it preys upon the greed of the mark - that you want your name in lights so badly, that you will pay for the privilege.  And like most excellent scams, the mark, once they realize they have been had, will be too embarrassed to tell anyone about their foolishness.  Secrecy is the con artist's best friend!

Of course, there are "legitimate" books out there that do similar shakedowns.  Martindale-Hubbel, for example, has a listing of all the lawyers in the country.  I'm in there, and no, I would not pay for an "expanded" listing.  (I saw a physical copy in a junk shop the other day, there I was, listed in Alexandria, Virginia).   But if you are a Lawyer, they will call you and ask if you want an "expanded biography" published, for an extra fee, of course.  No thanks.

In a way, it is like the yellow pages - there are so many of them today.   You get a listing for free, but those full-page ads are not cheap.  And like the yellow pages, I think these sorts of books are a poor source for leads of any source, and a poor investment for a businessperson.   No one uses the yellow pages anymore.  And the best leads are from referrals from real live friends (not online review sites!) not advertisement books.

I would not waste my money getting into any version of "Who's Who" or other book that claims to honor the "best and brightest".  I realize they are a scam, as they asked to list my name, which is proof positive that they are not seeking out the "best and brightest" but instead those with a pulse.

Sadly, some folks don't get this.  I have seen resumes with "Listed in Who's Who of College Students!" on them.   This is not really a credential, and likely, it will be one reason your resume gets tossed in the garbage.  "Clueless sod!" the HR manager will say, chuckling softly, as your crumpled resume and cover letter bounce off the edge of his wastebasket....

Save Time With Ivacationonline's Email Quote System

To contact us Click HERE

ivacationonline.com's new email quoting system.

Are you ready to stop wasting time when it comes to replying to rental inquiries for your vacation home or condo? ivacationonline unveils its new Email Quoting System for vacation rental inquires. During the busy seasons of the vacation rental business the inquiries can come in droves. This is especially true when you are property manager and are handling the bookings for ten, twenty, thirty or more properties. With the average property getting 20-30 inquiries a week, multiplying that amount of emails by 30 can lead to an email overload.

Individually answering each email with additional information and pricing, not only wastes time but can cost you bookings as well. The new email quote system gives you the option of answering emails with a single click or just a simple copy and paste.

The email quote system gives you 3 options:

• Property is available email
• Property is unavailable email
• Visitor email

In each pre-propagated email you can put in pertinent information, answer redundant questions, send a price quote, and have a link directly to your properties booking page. This saves you time by not having to answer several emails to the same potential renter, and because now they have practically everything they want to know in one email they can make the decision to rent your property.

Many vacation rental customers will send out 10 or more inquiries and normally cannot remember which property was which, but with the ivacationonline.com Email Quote System you will be sending them; a picture of the property, the address, the pricing breakdown, down payment amount, security deposit, and payment schedule. Don't forget the email includes a direct link to your booking page so that a renter can book their stay online with ease. This link to the booking page makes it easier than ever for a potential renter to book you property online.

The system, once you have set up your responses can save you approximately 80% of the time you were spending answering emails. That is correct 80%, and this time saved is money made. It is proven in this industry that home owners and managers who respond faster to inquiries GET MORE BOOKINGS!

Another great feature of the system is when a visitor clicks on your Email Quote button they have the option to send all of the information to every person in their party. This is a major factor in getting more booking and renting your property faster. Every property owner has heard this, "I love the place but I have to show it to the others in our group to see if it is ok with them". Now everyone involved gets all of the information instantly so that your potential vacationers can make a decision faster.

So now that you know all of the time saving benefits, the money making advantages, and the customer service upgrades, you're probably asking what will this additional service from ivacationonline.com cost me. The answer is, nothing, that's right, if you are already a member of the ivacationonline.com property management software system website there is no charge to you, it' free! Also if you are not already a member of ivacationonline.com simply sign up for a 30 day free trial and see how easy renting your vacation home or condo can be.

Visit http://www.ivacationonline.com/ today, click on the risk free 30 day trial offer, and enjoy the benefits of online property management.

Learn about:

Our live calendar
Emailing contracts
Renter updating email system
Online booking payment system
Credit card acceptance
Damage insurance
Travel insurance
The "Cancel For Any Reason Plan"
Voice description for your property
Video and photos of your home
Google Maps
Picasa
And our new Email Quote System

All of this and more on one easy to use website plus a customer service center that is second to none.

One More Reason To Join ivacationonline's Vacation Rental Software Website

To contact us Click HERE

As if there were not enough reason to join ivacationonline.com's vacation rental property management software website, here is another. Ivacationonline is the only property management software website that actually pays to advertise on Google and other major search engines to drive targeted traffic to its website. The traffic that ivacationonline markets for on these search engines is specifically tailored to potential renters who are searching for vacation rentals.

Ivacationonline.com does not directly benefit from this traffic or from the rentals its customers receive. So why do they do it? Simple they what their customers to be successful. Ivacationonline.com is sending potential renters directly to you and they are paying the bill. It's just one of the many, many reasons you should be using ivacationonline's online property management software and if you already are a member it is just one more reason for something you already know. That ivacationonline.com is the best way to manage your vacation properties, 2nd home, timeshare condos, or rental property.

Show Your Property's Availability On Your WebSite

To contact us Click HERE

You have a good website for your property and you have included information, pictures, video and other details about you area. However you have to field a lot of emails and calls about weeks you already have booked or they are not available. Especially if you have disabled dates for your own stay at your property. Now Ivacationonline has added a new feature that allows you to add a small calendar to your website. This iFrame calender will enable you to show the availability of your property.

This calendar does not function as a real calendar but it will simply show when you have availability in your vacation rental. This can save you time answering phone calls and emails about dates you have already filled.

If you would like to see a sample of this calendar or to get the code for your website please log into your ivacationonline.com account. Once in your account go into the property you would like the calendar code for and under the left side menu go to the "iFrame Calendar" page and scroll down on the bottom right and look for the box with "AVAILABILITY CALENDAR FOR YOUR WEBSITE"

As always ivacationonline is working to stay the vacation rental software website available

I'm Better Than You!

To contact us Click HERE
Hard to believe that people would brag about an RV, when so many other people consider them to be, well, white trash.
Mark had an interesting experience on Rich People's Island the other day.  We call it "Rich People's Island" as a joke, as the people who live there only think they are rich, as most are merely middle-class, and in fact many are in debt up to their eyeballs.  It is next door to Really Rich People's Island, and yea, half of those people are bankrupt as well and their homes in foreclosure.

But hey, they certainly put on a good show!

Anyway, this lady he was talking to spend a half-hour trying to impress someone she didn't know.  Mark was introduced by a friend, when she mentioned she had visited our island.  The conversation went something like this:

Lady:  "So why do you live there, instead of rich people's island?"

Mark:  "Well, it is very quiet and not as crowded."

Lady:  "We went there once, it was so dreary!  I couldn't imagine living there!"

Mark:  "So, our friend says you have an RV, what kind?"

Husband:  "We have a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "Really?  What kind?"

Husband:  "I said, a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "But what brand?"

Husband:  "(Inexpensive Brand Name, now Bankrupt)"

Mark:  "Oh.  Did you ever camp at our island?"

Lady:  "We never stay at anything but a high-end resort!  We don't camp!  If there isn't a swimming pool and a tennis court, I'm not staying!"

Mark:  "Well, that's RVing, I guess.  Staying at a resort one night, a Wal-Mart parking lot the next!"

Lady: "I never would stay at such a place as Wal-Mart!"

Mark:  "Of course.  You still use the RV?"

Husband:  "Not since we bought our house here.  It's been in storage a year, now.  Say, honey, we should probably put it up for sale this weekend, right?

(Lady gives Husband a glare of hostility)

Lady:  "Not this weekend!  We are going to a friend's house.  Did I mention they have a large home here on the island!  It's very large!"

Mark:  "Really?  Where is it?"

Lady:  "Oh, I can't remember exactly where.  They showed us, of course.  They are very important people here on rich people's island and they invited us to their home!"

The conversation went on like this for a while longer.  It was pretty shallow stuff - not enough to get your ankles wet.

What was interesting to me is that they have a motorhome that they paid $250,000 for, and likely is worth half that right now.  And yet it has been sitting in storage in the hot sun, depreciating, for a year now.  I suspect they are "upside-down" on it.

What was really fascinating to me was that this lady was so obsessed with making an impression on a store clerk - someone she hardly knew and would not know for more than the length of the conversation.   But she had to "win" - and show that she was wealthier and more important.

And yet she failed to realize that she was talking to a Millionaire.

And likely, she and her husband were still in debt, not only for the motorhome, but for their house on "Rich People's Island" which actually can be rather inexpensive, particularly if you buy a land-locked home hurriedly made of vinyl and stucco, back in the late 1990's.   In fact, despite its reputation, "Rich People's Island" has some real hovels and shacks - and a crime rate to go with it.  It is very odd.

Status-Seeking.  It is ridiculous behavior, yet we all do it, to some extent or another.  Yes, all of us, even you and me.   We all like to think we are "better" than others, whether it is by dint of wealth, sophistication, moral values, political views, taste, or whatever.   It is about as human as breathing.

Perhaps it is our innate urge to say "I am important!  My life means something!  I am somebody of consequence!"   We all want to think our lives have deep and rich meaning, when in fact, even the most famous of us will find fame a fleeting thing.

My Mother harbored these sorts of illusions of grandeur.  She always said she wanted to write the "Great American Novel" but was never able to put pen to paper.  And likely this was because she had no story to tell.  Or the stories she had to tell, she was embarrassed to tell (usually those are the good ones, consider the greater body of English Literature, or any episode of Seinfeld).

And sadly, or should I say inevitably, she died and few will remember her.  Most of her friends are dead and once all of her children and grandchildren are dead, no one know she existed.  In fact, perhaps her only lasting legacy will be my words written here, preserved on the Internet for all eternity.  Sorry, Mom!

But the same will be said of me as well.   I am as insignificant as a grain of dust, just like most people on this planet.  If my name is remembered in 50 or 100 years, it will only be because I am listed on the United States Patent Office database on a number of Patents, as Patent Attorney, Agent, Examiner, and yes, even Inventor.  In fact, my stature as co-inventor of Beerbrella will likely be what I am remembered for, if at all.

And that is just fine with me.   Life is for living - and enjoying.   Enjoy the here and now and enjoy your own life - don't compare yourself to others.

Trying to find fame - which is largely imaginary - or judging your life based on comparisons to others, are exercises in futility.  No matter how important you are (or think you are) chances are, there is someone more important and famous than you.

Status-seeking is a dead-end.   And it is an expensive dead end as well.

Who's Who?

To contact us Click HERE
There is a real Who's Who that lists all the names of the beautiful people.  You are not among them.

I got another telemarketer call.  The telemarketers have realized that the "Do Not Call" registry is about as effective as a restraining order on an abusing husband - and they have given up all pretense of even trying to obey the law.

But, like Police Tape, this does help the consumer.  You should assume that any unsolicited phone call is for a scam, just as any unsolicited e-mail or regular mail entreaty.  If someone calls, e-mails, texts, or mails you, asking for money, just assume it is fraudulent, period.

I pick up the phone and I say "hello" and there is a pause.  Usually this is a good time to just hang up, as that pause means a computer robodialer has detected your voice and is connecting you with a telemarketer, probably offshore.

After a short pause, some clicking and beeping, a foreign-sounding voice says, "Mr. Robert Bell?" and I say, "Hello" and they say, "may I speak to Mr. Robert Bell" to which I say, "Speaking".     Since slammers and crammers often try to get you to say the word "YES" over the phone, it is a good idea to avoid saying that word on the phone, as they will record it as use it as "evidence" that you consented to a $50 a month calling feature.   Well, at least they used to do that.  Today such scams are less common, but not obsolete.

I asked, "Who is calling please?" to which she kept saying "Mr. Robert Bell?" which is another sure sign of a scam, as people who don't immediately identify themselves on the phone are usually con artists.

Then comes the real tip-off, "How are you today?"

Telemarketers always start off with this phrase, as it disarms the listener.  "Fine, thank you" is what you are trained from birth to reply.  You have to avoid this urge and say, "Who is calling, please?"

She finally says, "I am calling from Who's Who, and we want to confirm your entry in this year's edition..."

I tell her she is violating the Do Not Call Registry, and she replies, "Well, this is a confirmation call, and...."

But I had hung up by then.

What is Who's Who and what is this scam?   I was prompted to write this as when I mentioned it to Mark, only five years my junior, he said "What the heck is Who's Who?"

What the heck, indeed.   Back before the turn of the Century - and the previous one as well - there were books like Burke's Peerage and such, where the "important people" were listed in a big book, and if you were someone, you were written up in it.   Who's Who was one of these books, and over the years, it has expanded to include celebrities, businesspeople, and the social set.   If you were in Who's Who back in 1967, you were important!

Of course, the Internet and Social Media have changed all that.  Today, nobody reads Who's Who.

And by that, I mean the real Who's Who.  Since those days, a number of fake ones have sprung up.  And those are the ones that call you on the phone and ask to "verify" your information.  The lady who called me was not from the original Who's Who, but was from one of the knock-off versions - or could have been an utter scam artist entirely.  We'll never know.

For people of my generation, I guess, the term "Who's Who" still might resonate, although I think the term is pretty dated in this day and age.

The scam is simple.  And by "scam" I don't mean they are committing any crime - far from it, they are too clever for that!  Rather, they just take your money and give you something that I believe is of little or no value in return.

They call you up to "confirm" your listing in Who's Who, and then ask for a lot of personal data.   For a nominal fee, they say, you can have an "expanded biography" in the book (which no doubt is online these days).   People who are narcissists (and we all are, to some extent) fall for this and cough up $25 to $250 or more, just to make themselves famous.

And just like the poetry scam, the company might actually publish such a book.  Since the title is in the Public Domain, they can publish "Who's Who of Lawyers" or "Who's Who of Doctors" or "Who's Who of  College Students" or whatever.   So long as at least one copy is published, or it is put on a website, they can claim they are fulfilling their half of the obligation.  And usually they do sell copies - to the people who paid to get into it!  So it is not illegal.   It's just a stupid waste of money and ego-stroking.

It is not a good value - and in that regard, I consider it a scam.   But like most good scams, it preys upon the greed of the mark - that you want your name in lights so badly, that you will pay for the privilege.  And like most excellent scams, the mark, once they realize they have been had, will be too embarrassed to tell anyone about their foolishness.  Secrecy is the con artist's best friend!

Of course, there are "legitimate" books out there that do similar shakedowns.  Martindale-Hubbel, for example, has a listing of all the lawyers in the country.  I'm in there, and no, I would not pay for an "expanded" listing.  (I saw a physical copy in a junk shop the other day, there I was, listed in Alexandria, Virginia).   But if you are a Lawyer, they will call you and ask if you want an "expanded biography" published, for an extra fee, of course.  No thanks.

In a way, it is like the yellow pages - there are so many of them today.   You get a listing for free, but those full-page ads are not cheap.  And like the yellow pages, I think these sorts of books are a poor source for leads of any source, and a poor investment for a businessperson.   No one uses the yellow pages anymore.  And the best leads are from referrals from real live friends (not online review sites!) not advertisement books.

I would not waste my money getting into any version of "Who's Who" or other book that claims to honor the "best and brightest".  I realize they are a scam, as they asked to list my name, which is proof positive that they are not seeking out the "best and brightest" but instead those with a pulse.

Sadly, some folks don't get this.  I have seen resumes with "Listed in Who's Who of College Students!" on them.   This is not really a credential, and likely, it will be one reason your resume gets tossed in the garbage.  "Clueless sod!" the HR manager will say, chuckling softly, as your crumpled resume and cover letter bounce off the edge of his wastebasket....

Save Time With Ivacationonline's Email Quote System

To contact us Click HERE

ivacationonline.com's new email quoting system.

Are you ready to stop wasting time when it comes to replying to rental inquiries for your vacation home or condo? ivacationonline unveils its new Email Quoting System for vacation rental inquires. During the busy seasons of the vacation rental business the inquiries can come in droves. This is especially true when you are property manager and are handling the bookings for ten, twenty, thirty or more properties. With the average property getting 20-30 inquiries a week, multiplying that amount of emails by 30 can lead to an email overload.

Individually answering each email with additional information and pricing, not only wastes time but can cost you bookings as well. The new email quote system gives you the option of answering emails with a single click or just a simple copy and paste.

The email quote system gives you 3 options:

• Property is available email
• Property is unavailable email
• Visitor email

In each pre-propagated email you can put in pertinent information, answer redundant questions, send a price quote, and have a link directly to your properties booking page. This saves you time by not having to answer several emails to the same potential renter, and because now they have practically everything they want to know in one email they can make the decision to rent your property.

Many vacation rental customers will send out 10 or more inquiries and normally cannot remember which property was which, but with the ivacationonline.com Email Quote System you will be sending them; a picture of the property, the address, the pricing breakdown, down payment amount, security deposit, and payment schedule. Don't forget the email includes a direct link to your booking page so that a renter can book their stay online with ease. This link to the booking page makes it easier than ever for a potential renter to book you property online.

The system, once you have set up your responses can save you approximately 80% of the time you were spending answering emails. That is correct 80%, and this time saved is money made. It is proven in this industry that home owners and managers who respond faster to inquiries GET MORE BOOKINGS!

Another great feature of the system is when a visitor clicks on your Email Quote button they have the option to send all of the information to every person in their party. This is a major factor in getting more booking and renting your property faster. Every property owner has heard this, "I love the place but I have to show it to the others in our group to see if it is ok with them". Now everyone involved gets all of the information instantly so that your potential vacationers can make a decision faster.

So now that you know all of the time saving benefits, the money making advantages, and the customer service upgrades, you're probably asking what will this additional service from ivacationonline.com cost me. The answer is, nothing, that's right, if you are already a member of the ivacationonline.com property management software system website there is no charge to you, it' free! Also if you are not already a member of ivacationonline.com simply sign up for a 30 day free trial and see how easy renting your vacation home or condo can be.

Visit http://www.ivacationonline.com/ today, click on the risk free 30 day trial offer, and enjoy the benefits of online property management.

Learn about:

Our live calendar
Emailing contracts
Renter updating email system
Online booking payment system
Credit card acceptance
Damage insurance
Travel insurance
The "Cancel For Any Reason Plan"
Voice description for your property
Video and photos of your home
Google Maps
Picasa
And our new Email Quote System

All of this and more on one easy to use website plus a customer service center that is second to none.

One More Reason To Join ivacationonline's Vacation Rental Software Website

To contact us Click HERE

As if there were not enough reason to join ivacationonline.com's vacation rental property management software website, here is another. Ivacationonline is the only property management software website that actually pays to advertise on Google and other major search engines to drive targeted traffic to its website. The traffic that ivacationonline markets for on these search engines is specifically tailored to potential renters who are searching for vacation rentals.

Ivacationonline.com does not directly benefit from this traffic or from the rentals its customers receive. So why do they do it? Simple they what their customers to be successful. Ivacationonline.com is sending potential renters directly to you and they are paying the bill. It's just one of the many, many reasons you should be using ivacationonline's online property management software and if you already are a member it is just one more reason for something you already know. That ivacationonline.com is the best way to manage your vacation properties, 2nd home, timeshare condos, or rental property.

Show Your Property's Availability On Your WebSite

To contact us Click HERE

You have a good website for your property and you have included information, pictures, video and other details about you area. However you have to field a lot of emails and calls about weeks you already have booked or they are not available. Especially if you have disabled dates for your own stay at your property. Now Ivacationonline has added a new feature that allows you to add a small calendar to your website. This iFrame calender will enable you to show the availability of your property.

This calendar does not function as a real calendar but it will simply show when you have availability in your vacation rental. This can save you time answering phone calls and emails about dates you have already filled.

If you would like to see a sample of this calendar or to get the code for your website please log into your ivacationonline.com account. Once in your account go into the property you would like the calendar code for and under the left side menu go to the "iFrame Calendar" page and scroll down on the bottom right and look for the box with "AVAILABILITY CALENDAR FOR YOUR WEBSITE"

As always ivacationonline is working to stay the vacation rental software website available

One More Reason To Join ivacationonline's Vacation Rental Software Website

To contact us Click HERE

As if there were not enough reason to join ivacationonline.com's vacation rental property management software website, here is another. Ivacationonline is the only property management software website that actually pays to advertise on Google and other major search engines to drive targeted traffic to its website. The traffic that ivacationonline markets for on these search engines is specifically tailored to potential renters who are searching for vacation rentals.

Ivacationonline.com does not directly benefit from this traffic or from the rentals its customers receive. So why do they do it? Simple they what their customers to be successful. Ivacationonline.com is sending potential renters directly to you and they are paying the bill. It's just one of the many, many reasons you should be using ivacationonline's online property management software and if you already are a member it is just one more reason for something you already know. That ivacationonline.com is the best way to manage your vacation properties, 2nd home, timeshare condos, or rental property.

Show Your Property's Availability On Your WebSite

To contact us Click HERE

You have a good website for your property and you have included information, pictures, video and other details about you area. However you have to field a lot of emails and calls about weeks you already have booked or they are not available. Especially if you have disabled dates for your own stay at your property. Now Ivacationonline has added a new feature that allows you to add a small calendar to your website. This iFrame calender will enable you to show the availability of your property.

This calendar does not function as a real calendar but it will simply show when you have availability in your vacation rental. This can save you time answering phone calls and emails about dates you have already filled.

If you would like to see a sample of this calendar or to get the code for your website please log into your ivacationonline.com account. Once in your account go into the property you would like the calendar code for and under the left side menu go to the "iFrame Calendar" page and scroll down on the bottom right and look for the box with "AVAILABILITY CALENDAR FOR YOUR WEBSITE"

As always ivacationonline is working to stay the vacation rental software website available

VRBO Founder's Story

To contact us Click HERE

Vacation Rental Site Reviews
I am always intrigued to find out the stories behind successful companies. Even the largest company had to start somewhere and the path to success is rarely smooth or even planned.

To take a case in point, VRBO founder  David Clouse and his wife Lynn started VRBO.com (Vacation Rental by Owners) as a way to help rent their ski condo. As the site grew it took up more and more of there time until it became a full time job. VRBO was a pioneer in the "vacation rentals by owner" industry, quickly becoming the market leader, before eventually being acquired by Homeaway.

David had spent a number of years as a programmer in the hospitality industry and initially was simply using his skills to save money on rental agents. In the early days, websites were fairly primitive and VRBO was initially no exception, with no graphics and limited functionality. However, through hard work and a keen business sense, David and Lynn built a very successful business. 

VRBO is still sometimes criticised for his fairly basic user interface .... but you can't argue with brand and business success. 

If you are interested, you can out find more about the background to vrbo.com and other successful internet companies at Interviewbooks.com

I'm Better Than You!

To contact us Click HERE
Hard to believe that people would brag about an RV, when so many other people consider them to be, well, white trash.
Mark had an interesting experience on Rich People's Island the other day.  We call it "Rich People's Island" as a joke, as the people who live there only think they are rich, as most are merely middle-class, and in fact many are in debt up to their eyeballs.  It is next door to Really Rich People's Island, and yea, half of those people are bankrupt as well and their homes in foreclosure.

But hey, they certainly put on a good show!

Anyway, this lady he was talking to spend a half-hour trying to impress someone she didn't know.  Mark was introduced by a friend, when she mentioned she had visited our island.  The conversation went something like this:

Lady:  "So why do you live there, instead of rich people's island?"

Mark:  "Well, it is very quiet and not as crowded."

Lady:  "We went there once, it was so dreary!  I couldn't imagine living there!"

Mark:  "So, our friend says you have an RV, what kind?"

Husband:  "We have a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "Really?  What kind?"

Husband:  "I said, a forty-foot diesel pusher!"

Mark:  "But what brand?"

Husband:  "(Inexpensive Brand Name, now Bankrupt)"

Mark:  "Oh.  Did you ever camp at our island?"

Lady:  "We never stay at anything but a high-end resort!  We don't camp!  If there isn't a swimming pool and a tennis court, I'm not staying!"

Mark:  "Well, that's RVing, I guess.  Staying at a resort one night, a Wal-Mart parking lot the next!"

Lady: "I never would stay at such a place as Wal-Mart!"

Mark:  "Of course.  You still use the RV?"

Husband:  "Not since we bought our house here.  It's been in storage a year, now.  Say, honey, we should probably put it up for sale this weekend, right?

(Lady gives Husband a glare of hostility)

Lady:  "Not this weekend!  We are going to a friend's house.  Did I mention they have a large home here on the island!  It's very large!"

Mark:  "Really?  Where is it?"

Lady:  "Oh, I can't remember exactly where.  They showed us, of course.  They are very important people here on rich people's island and they invited us to their home!"

The conversation went on like this for a while longer.  It was pretty shallow stuff - not enough to get your ankles wet.

What was interesting to me is that they have a motorhome that they paid $250,000 for, and likely is worth half that right now.  And yet it has been sitting in storage in the hot sun, depreciating, for a year now.  I suspect they are "upside-down" on it.

What was really fascinating to me was that this lady was so obsessed with making an impression on a store clerk - someone she hardly knew and would not know for more than the length of the conversation.   But she had to "win" - and show that she was wealthier and more important.

And yet she failed to realize that she was talking to a Millionaire.

And likely, she and her husband were still in debt, not only for the motorhome, but for their house on "Rich People's Island" which actually can be rather inexpensive, particularly if you buy a land-locked home hurriedly made of vinyl and stucco, back in the late 1990's.   In fact, despite its reputation, "Rich People's Island" has some real hovels and shacks - and a crime rate to go with it.  It is very odd.

Status-Seeking.  It is ridiculous behavior, yet we all do it, to some extent or another.  Yes, all of us, even you and me.   We all like to think we are "better" than others, whether it is by dint of wealth, sophistication, moral values, political views, taste, or whatever.   It is about as human as breathing.

Perhaps it is our innate urge to say "I am important!  My life means something!  I am somebody of consequence!"   We all want to think our lives have deep and rich meaning, when in fact, even the most famous of us will find fame a fleeting thing.

My Mother harbored these sorts of illusions of grandeur.  She always said she wanted to write the "Great American Novel" but was never able to put pen to paper.  And likely this was because she had no story to tell.  Or the stories she had to tell, she was embarrassed to tell (usually those are the good ones, consider the greater body of English Literature, or any episode of Seinfeld).

And sadly, or should I say inevitably, she died and few will remember her.  Most of her friends are dead and once all of her children and grandchildren are dead, no one know she existed.  In fact, perhaps her only lasting legacy will be my words written here, preserved on the Internet for all eternity.  Sorry, Mom!

But the same will be said of me as well.   I am as insignificant as a grain of dust, just like most people on this planet.  If my name is remembered in 50 or 100 years, it will only be because I am listed on the United States Patent Office database on a number of Patents, as Patent Attorney, Agent, Examiner, and yes, even Inventor.  In fact, my stature as co-inventor of Beerbrella will likely be what I am remembered for, if at all.

And that is just fine with me.   Life is for living - and enjoying.   Enjoy the here and now and enjoy your own life - don't compare yourself to others.

Trying to find fame - which is largely imaginary - or judging your life based on comparisons to others, are exercises in futility.  No matter how important you are (or think you are) chances are, there is someone more important and famous than you.

Status-seeking is a dead-end.   And it is an expensive dead end as well.

Who's Who?

To contact us Click HERE
There is a real Who's Who that lists all the names of the beautiful people.  You are not among them.

I got another telemarketer call.  The telemarketers have realized that the "Do Not Call" registry is about as effective as a restraining order on an abusing husband - and they have given up all pretense of even trying to obey the law.

But, like Police Tape, this does help the consumer.  You should assume that any unsolicited phone call is for a scam, just as any unsolicited e-mail or regular mail entreaty.  If someone calls, e-mails, texts, or mails you, asking for money, just assume it is fraudulent, period.

I pick up the phone and I say "hello" and there is a pause.  Usually this is a good time to just hang up, as that pause means a computer robodialer has detected your voice and is connecting you with a telemarketer, probably offshore.

After a short pause, some clicking and beeping, a foreign-sounding voice says, "Mr. Robert Bell?" and I say, "Hello" and they say, "may I speak to Mr. Robert Bell" to which I say, "Speaking".     Since slammers and crammers often try to get you to say the word "YES" over the phone, it is a good idea to avoid saying that word on the phone, as they will record it as use it as "evidence" that you consented to a $50 a month calling feature.   Well, at least they used to do that.  Today such scams are less common, but not obsolete.

I asked, "Who is calling please?" to which she kept saying "Mr. Robert Bell?" which is another sure sign of a scam, as people who don't immediately identify themselves on the phone are usually con artists.

Then comes the real tip-off, "How are you today?"

Telemarketers always start off with this phrase, as it disarms the listener.  "Fine, thank you" is what you are trained from birth to reply.  You have to avoid this urge and say, "Who is calling, please?"

She finally says, "I am calling from Who's Who, and we want to confirm your entry in this year's edition..."

I tell her she is violating the Do Not Call Registry, and she replies, "Well, this is a confirmation call, and...."

But I had hung up by then.

What is Who's Who and what is this scam?   I was prompted to write this as when I mentioned it to Mark, only five years my junior, he said "What the heck is Who's Who?"

What the heck, indeed.   Back before the turn of the Century - and the previous one as well - there were books like Burke's Peerage and such, where the "important people" were listed in a big book, and if you were someone, you were written up in it.   Who's Who was one of these books, and over the years, it has expanded to include celebrities, businesspeople, and the social set.   If you were in Who's Who back in 1967, you were important!

Of course, the Internet and Social Media have changed all that.  Today, nobody reads Who's Who.

And by that, I mean the real Who's Who.  Since those days, a number of fake ones have sprung up.  And those are the ones that call you on the phone and ask to "verify" your information.  The lady who called me was not from the original Who's Who, but was from one of the knock-off versions - or could have been an utter scam artist entirely.  We'll never know.

For people of my generation, I guess, the term "Who's Who" still might resonate, although I think the term is pretty dated in this day and age.

The scam is simple.  And by "scam" I don't mean they are committing any crime - far from it, they are too clever for that!  Rather, they just take your money and give you something that I believe is of little or no value in return.

They call you up to "confirm" your listing in Who's Who, and then ask for a lot of personal data.   For a nominal fee, they say, you can have an "expanded biography" in the book (which no doubt is online these days).   People who are narcissists (and we all are, to some extent) fall for this and cough up $25 to $250 or more, just to make themselves famous.

And just like the poetry scam, the company might actually publish such a book.  Since the title is in the Public Domain, they can publish "Who's Who of Lawyers" or "Who's Who of Doctors" or "Who's Who of  College Students" or whatever.   So long as at least one copy is published, or it is put on a website, they can claim they are fulfilling their half of the obligation.  And usually they do sell copies - to the people who paid to get into it!  So it is not illegal.   It's just a stupid waste of money and ego-stroking.

It is not a good value - and in that regard, I consider it a scam.   But like most good scams, it preys upon the greed of the mark - that you want your name in lights so badly, that you will pay for the privilege.  And like most excellent scams, the mark, once they realize they have been had, will be too embarrassed to tell anyone about their foolishness.  Secrecy is the con artist's best friend!

Of course, there are "legitimate" books out there that do similar shakedowns.  Martindale-Hubbel, for example, has a listing of all the lawyers in the country.  I'm in there, and no, I would not pay for an "expanded" listing.  (I saw a physical copy in a junk shop the other day, there I was, listed in Alexandria, Virginia).   But if you are a Lawyer, they will call you and ask if you want an "expanded biography" published, for an extra fee, of course.  No thanks.

In a way, it is like the yellow pages - there are so many of them today.   You get a listing for free, but those full-page ads are not cheap.  And like the yellow pages, I think these sorts of books are a poor source for leads of any source, and a poor investment for a businessperson.   No one uses the yellow pages anymore.  And the best leads are from referrals from real live friends (not online review sites!) not advertisement books.

I would not waste my money getting into any version of "Who's Who" or other book that claims to honor the "best and brightest".  I realize they are a scam, as they asked to list my name, which is proof positive that they are not seeking out the "best and brightest" but instead those with a pulse.

Sadly, some folks don't get this.  I have seen resumes with "Listed in Who's Who of College Students!" on them.   This is not really a credential, and likely, it will be one reason your resume gets tossed in the garbage.  "Clueless sod!" the HR manager will say, chuckling softly, as your crumpled resume and cover letter bounce off the edge of his wastebasket....

Who's Who?

To contact us Click HERE
There is a real Who's Who that lists all the names of the beautiful people.  You are not among them.

I got another telemarketer call.  The telemarketers have realized that the "Do Not Call" registry is about as effective as a restraining order on an abusing husband - and they have given up all pretense of even trying to obey the law.

But, like Police Tape, this does help the consumer.  You should assume that any unsolicited phone call is for a scam, just as any unsolicited e-mail or regular mail entreaty.  If someone calls, e-mails, texts, or mails you, asking for money, just assume it is fraudulent, period.

I pick up the phone and I say "hello" and there is a pause.  Usually this is a good time to just hang up, as that pause means a computer robodialer has detected your voice and is connecting you with a telemarketer, probably offshore.

After a short pause, some clicking and beeping, a foreign-sounding voice says, "Mr. Robert Bell?" and I say, "Hello" and they say, "may I speak to Mr. Robert Bell" to which I say, "Speaking".     Since slammers and crammers often try to get you to say the word "YES" over the phone, it is a good idea to avoid saying that word on the phone, as they will record it as use it as "evidence" that you consented to a $50 a month calling feature.   Well, at least they used to do that.  Today such scams are less common, but not obsolete.

I asked, "Who is calling please?" to which she kept saying "Mr. Robert Bell?" which is another sure sign of a scam, as people who don't immediately identify themselves on the phone are usually con artists.

Then comes the real tip-off, "How are you today?"

Telemarketers always start off with this phrase, as it disarms the listener.  "Fine, thank you" is what you are trained from birth to reply.  You have to avoid this urge and say, "Who is calling, please?"

She finally says, "I am calling from Who's Who, and we want to confirm your entry in this year's edition..."

I tell her she is violating the Do Not Call Registry, and she replies, "Well, this is a confirmation call, and...."

But I had hung up by then.

What is Who's Who and what is this scam?   I was prompted to write this as when I mentioned it to Mark, only five years my junior, he said "What the heck is Who's Who?"

What the heck, indeed.   Back before the turn of the Century - and the previous one as well - there were books like Burke's Peerage and such, where the "important people" were listed in a big book, and if you were someone, you were written up in it.   Who's Who was one of these books, and over the years, it has expanded to include celebrities, businesspeople, and the social set.   If you were in Who's Who back in 1967, you were important!

Of course, the Internet and Social Media have changed all that.  Today, nobody reads Who's Who.

And by that, I mean the real Who's Who.  Since those days, a number of fake ones have sprung up.  And those are the ones that call you on the phone and ask to "verify" your information.  The lady who called me was not from the original Who's Who, but was from one of the knock-off versions - or could have been an utter scam artist entirely.  We'll never know.

For people of my generation, I guess, the term "Who's Who" still might resonate, although I think the term is pretty dated in this day and age.

The scam is simple.  And by "scam" I don't mean they are committing any crime - far from it, they are too clever for that!  Rather, they just take your money and give you something that I believe is of little or no value in return.

They call you up to "confirm" your listing in Who's Who, and then ask for a lot of personal data.   For a nominal fee, they say, you can have an "expanded biography" in the book (which no doubt is online these days).   People who are narcissists (and we all are, to some extent) fall for this and cough up $25 to $250 or more, just to make themselves famous.

And just like the poetry scam, the company might actually publish such a book.  Since the title is in the Public Domain, they can publish "Who's Who of Lawyers" or "Who's Who of Doctors" or "Who's Who of  College Students" or whatever.   So long as at least one copy is published, or it is put on a website, they can claim they are fulfilling their half of the obligation.  And usually they do sell copies - to the people who paid to get into it!  So it is not illegal.   It's just a stupid waste of money and ego-stroking.

It is not a good value - and in that regard, I consider it a scam.   But like most good scams, it preys upon the greed of the mark - that you want your name in lights so badly, that you will pay for the privilege.  And like most excellent scams, the mark, once they realize they have been had, will be too embarrassed to tell anyone about their foolishness.  Secrecy is the con artist's best friend!

Of course, there are "legitimate" books out there that do similar shakedowns.  Martindale-Hubbel, for example, has a listing of all the lawyers in the country.  I'm in there, and no, I would not pay for an "expanded" listing.  (I saw a physical copy in a junk shop the other day, there I was, listed in Alexandria, Virginia).   But if you are a Lawyer, they will call you and ask if you want an "expanded biography" published, for an extra fee, of course.  No thanks.

In a way, it is like the yellow pages - there are so many of them today.   You get a listing for free, but those full-page ads are not cheap.  And like the yellow pages, I think these sorts of books are a poor source for leads of any source, and a poor investment for a businessperson.   No one uses the yellow pages anymore.  And the best leads are from referrals from real live friends (not online review sites!) not advertisement books.

I would not waste my money getting into any version of "Who's Who" or other book that claims to honor the "best and brightest".  I realize they are a scam, as they asked to list my name, which is proof positive that they are not seeking out the "best and brightest" but instead those with a pulse.

Sadly, some folks don't get this.  I have seen resumes with "Listed in Who's Who of College Students!" on them.   This is not really a credential, and likely, it will be one reason your resume gets tossed in the garbage.  "Clueless sod!" the HR manager will say, chuckling softly, as your crumpled resume and cover letter bounce off the edge of his wastebasket....

Save Time With Ivacationonline's Email Quote System

To contact us Click HERE

ivacationonline.com's new email quoting system.

Are you ready to stop wasting time when it comes to replying to rental inquiries for your vacation home or condo? ivacationonline unveils its new Email Quoting System for vacation rental inquires. During the busy seasons of the vacation rental business the inquiries can come in droves. This is especially true when you are property manager and are handling the bookings for ten, twenty, thirty or more properties. With the average property getting 20-30 inquiries a week, multiplying that amount of emails by 30 can lead to an email overload.

Individually answering each email with additional information and pricing, not only wastes time but can cost you bookings as well. The new email quote system gives you the option of answering emails with a single click or just a simple copy and paste.

The email quote system gives you 3 options:

• Property is available email
• Property is unavailable email
• Visitor email

In each pre-propagated email you can put in pertinent information, answer redundant questions, send a price quote, and have a link directly to your properties booking page. This saves you time by not having to answer several emails to the same potential renter, and because now they have practically everything they want to know in one email they can make the decision to rent your property.

Many vacation rental customers will send out 10 or more inquiries and normally cannot remember which property was which, but with the ivacationonline.com Email Quote System you will be sending them; a picture of the property, the address, the pricing breakdown, down payment amount, security deposit, and payment schedule. Don't forget the email includes a direct link to your booking page so that a renter can book their stay online with ease. This link to the booking page makes it easier than ever for a potential renter to book you property online.

The system, once you have set up your responses can save you approximately 80% of the time you were spending answering emails. That is correct 80%, and this time saved is money made. It is proven in this industry that home owners and managers who respond faster to inquiries GET MORE BOOKINGS!

Another great feature of the system is when a visitor clicks on your Email Quote button they have the option to send all of the information to every person in their party. This is a major factor in getting more booking and renting your property faster. Every property owner has heard this, "I love the place but I have to show it to the others in our group to see if it is ok with them". Now everyone involved gets all of the information instantly so that your potential vacationers can make a decision faster.

So now that you know all of the time saving benefits, the money making advantages, and the customer service upgrades, you're probably asking what will this additional service from ivacationonline.com cost me. The answer is, nothing, that's right, if you are already a member of the ivacationonline.com property management software system website there is no charge to you, it' free! Also if you are not already a member of ivacationonline.com simply sign up for a 30 day free trial and see how easy renting your vacation home or condo can be.

Visit http://www.ivacationonline.com/ today, click on the risk free 30 day trial offer, and enjoy the benefits of online property management.

Learn about:

Our live calendar
Emailing contracts
Renter updating email system
Online booking payment system
Credit card acceptance
Damage insurance
Travel insurance
The "Cancel For Any Reason Plan"
Voice description for your property
Video and photos of your home
Google Maps
Picasa
And our new Email Quote System

All of this and more on one easy to use website plus a customer service center that is second to none.

One More Reason To Join ivacationonline's Vacation Rental Software Website

To contact us Click HERE

As if there were not enough reason to join ivacationonline.com's vacation rental property management software website, here is another. Ivacationonline is the only property management software website that actually pays to advertise on Google and other major search engines to drive targeted traffic to its website. The traffic that ivacationonline markets for on these search engines is specifically tailored to potential renters who are searching for vacation rentals.

Ivacationonline.com does not directly benefit from this traffic or from the rentals its customers receive. So why do they do it? Simple they what their customers to be successful. Ivacationonline.com is sending potential renters directly to you and they are paying the bill. It's just one of the many, many reasons you should be using ivacationonline's online property management software and if you already are a member it is just one more reason for something you already know. That ivacationonline.com is the best way to manage your vacation properties, 2nd home, timeshare condos, or rental property.

Show Your Property's Availability On Your WebSite

To contact us Click HERE

You have a good website for your property and you have included information, pictures, video and other details about you area. However you have to field a lot of emails and calls about weeks you already have booked or they are not available. Especially if you have disabled dates for your own stay at your property. Now Ivacationonline has added a new feature that allows you to add a small calendar to your website. This iFrame calender will enable you to show the availability of your property.

This calendar does not function as a real calendar but it will simply show when you have availability in your vacation rental. This can save you time answering phone calls and emails about dates you have already filled.

If you would like to see a sample of this calendar or to get the code for your website please log into your ivacationonline.com account. Once in your account go into the property you would like the calendar code for and under the left side menu go to the "iFrame Calendar" page and scroll down on the bottom right and look for the box with "AVAILABILITY CALENDAR FOR YOUR WEBSITE"

As always ivacationonline is working to stay the vacation rental software website available

VRBO Founder's Story

To contact us Click HERE

Vacation Rental Site Reviews
I am always intrigued to find out the stories behind successful companies. Even the largest company had to start somewhere and the path to success is rarely smooth or even planned.

To take a case in point, VRBO founder  David Clouse and his wife Lynn started VRBO.com (Vacation Rental by Owners) as a way to help rent their ski condo. As the site grew it took up more and more of there time until it became a full time job. VRBO was a pioneer in the "vacation rentals by owner" industry, quickly becoming the market leader, before eventually being acquired by Homeaway.

David had spent a number of years as a programmer in the hospitality industry and initially was simply using his skills to save money on rental agents. In the early days, websites were fairly primitive and VRBO was initially no exception, with no graphics and limited functionality. However, through hard work and a keen business sense, David and Lynn built a very successful business. 

VRBO is still sometimes criticised for his fairly basic user interface .... but you can't argue with brand and business success. 

If you are interested, you can out find more about the background to vrbo.com and other successful internet companies at Interviewbooks.com

Who's Who?

To contact us Click HERE
There is a real Who's Who that lists all the names of the beautiful people.  You are not among them.

I got another telemarketer call.  The telemarketers have realized that the "Do Not Call" registry is about as effective as a restraining order on an abusing husband - and they have given up all pretense of even trying to obey the law.

But, like Police Tape, this does help the consumer.  You should assume that any unsolicited phone call is for a scam, just as any unsolicited e-mail or regular mail entreaty.  If someone calls, e-mails, texts, or mails you, asking for money, just assume it is fraudulent, period.

I pick up the phone and I say "hello" and there is a pause.  Usually this is a good time to just hang up, as that pause means a computer robodialer has detected your voice and is connecting you with a telemarketer, probably offshore.

After a short pause, some clicking and beeping, a foreign-sounding voice says, "Mr. Robert Bell?" and I say, "Hello" and they say, "may I speak to Mr. Robert Bell" to which I say, "Speaking".     Since slammers and crammers often try to get you to say the word "YES" over the phone, it is a good idea to avoid saying that word on the phone, as they will record it as use it as "evidence" that you consented to a $50 a month calling feature.   Well, at least they used to do that.  Today such scams are less common, but not obsolete.

I asked, "Who is calling please?" to which she kept saying "Mr. Robert Bell?" which is another sure sign of a scam, as people who don't immediately identify themselves on the phone are usually con artists.

Then comes the real tip-off, "How are you today?"

Telemarketers always start off with this phrase, as it disarms the listener.  "Fine, thank you" is what you are trained from birth to reply.  You have to avoid this urge and say, "Who is calling, please?"

She finally says, "I am calling from Who's Who, and we want to confirm your entry in this year's edition..."

I tell her she is violating the Do Not Call Registry, and she replies, "Well, this is a confirmation call, and...."

But I had hung up by then.

What is Who's Who and what is this scam?   I was prompted to write this as when I mentioned it to Mark, only five years my junior, he said "What the heck is Who's Who?"

What the heck, indeed.   Back before the turn of the Century - and the previous one as well - there were books like Burke's Peerage and such, where the "important people" were listed in a big book, and if you were someone, you were written up in it.   Who's Who was one of these books, and over the years, it has expanded to include celebrities, businesspeople, and the social set.   If you were in Who's Who back in 1967, you were important!

Of course, the Internet and Social Media have changed all that.  Today, nobody reads Who's Who.

And by that, I mean the real Who's Who.  Since those days, a number of fake ones have sprung up.  And those are the ones that call you on the phone and ask to "verify" your information.  The lady who called me was not from the original Who's Who, but was from one of the knock-off versions - or could have been an utter scam artist entirely.  We'll never know.

For people of my generation, I guess, the term "Who's Who" still might resonate, although I think the term is pretty dated in this day and age.

The scam is simple.  And by "scam" I don't mean they are committing any crime - far from it, they are too clever for that!  Rather, they just take your money and give you something that I believe is of little or no value in return.

They call you up to "confirm" your listing in Who's Who, and then ask for a lot of personal data.   For a nominal fee, they say, you can have an "expanded biography" in the book (which no doubt is online these days).   People who are narcissists (and we all are, to some extent) fall for this and cough up $25 to $250 or more, just to make themselves famous.

And just like the poetry scam, the company might actually publish such a book.  Since the title is in the Public Domain, they can publish "Who's Who of Lawyers" or "Who's Who of Doctors" or "Who's Who of  College Students" or whatever.   So long as at least one copy is published, or it is put on a website, they can claim they are fulfilling their half of the obligation.  And usually they do sell copies - to the people who paid to get into it!  So it is not illegal.   It's just a stupid waste of money and ego-stroking.

It is not a good value - and in that regard, I consider it a scam.   But like most good scams, it preys upon the greed of the mark - that you want your name in lights so badly, that you will pay for the privilege.  And like most excellent scams, the mark, once they realize they have been had, will be too embarrassed to tell anyone about their foolishness.  Secrecy is the con artist's best friend!

Of course, there are "legitimate" books out there that do similar shakedowns.  Martindale-Hubbel, for example, has a listing of all the lawyers in the country.  I'm in there, and no, I would not pay for an "expanded" listing.  (I saw a physical copy in a junk shop the other day, there I was, listed in Alexandria, Virginia).   But if you are a Lawyer, they will call you and ask if you want an "expanded biography" published, for an extra fee, of course.  No thanks.

In a way, it is like the yellow pages - there are so many of them today.   You get a listing for free, but those full-page ads are not cheap.  And like the yellow pages, I think these sorts of books are a poor source for leads of any source, and a poor investment for a businessperson.   No one uses the yellow pages anymore.  And the best leads are from referrals from real live friends (not online review sites!) not advertisement books.

I would not waste my money getting into any version of "Who's Who" or other book that claims to honor the "best and brightest".  I realize they are a scam, as they asked to list my name, which is proof positive that they are not seeking out the "best and brightest" but instead those with a pulse.

Sadly, some folks don't get this.  I have seen resumes with "Listed in Who's Who of College Students!" on them.   This is not really a credential, and likely, it will be one reason your resume gets tossed in the garbage.  "Clueless sod!" the HR manager will say, chuckling softly, as your crumpled resume and cover letter bounce off the edge of his wastebasket....

Save Time With Ivacationonline's Email Quote System

To contact us Click HERE

ivacationonline.com's new email quoting system.

Are you ready to stop wasting time when it comes to replying to rental inquiries for your vacation home or condo? ivacationonline unveils its new Email Quoting System for vacation rental inquires. During the busy seasons of the vacation rental business the inquiries can come in droves. This is especially true when you are property manager and are handling the bookings for ten, twenty, thirty or more properties. With the average property getting 20-30 inquiries a week, multiplying that amount of emails by 30 can lead to an email overload.

Individually answering each email with additional information and pricing, not only wastes time but can cost you bookings as well. The new email quote system gives you the option of answering emails with a single click or just a simple copy and paste.

The email quote system gives you 3 options:

• Property is available email
• Property is unavailable email
• Visitor email

In each pre-propagated email you can put in pertinent information, answer redundant questions, send a price quote, and have a link directly to your properties booking page. This saves you time by not having to answer several emails to the same potential renter, and because now they have practically everything they want to know in one email they can make the decision to rent your property.

Many vacation rental customers will send out 10 or more inquiries and normally cannot remember which property was which, but with the ivacationonline.com Email Quote System you will be sending them; a picture of the property, the address, the pricing breakdown, down payment amount, security deposit, and payment schedule. Don't forget the email includes a direct link to your booking page so that a renter can book their stay online with ease. This link to the booking page makes it easier than ever for a potential renter to book you property online.

The system, once you have set up your responses can save you approximately 80% of the time you were spending answering emails. That is correct 80%, and this time saved is money made. It is proven in this industry that home owners and managers who respond faster to inquiries GET MORE BOOKINGS!

Another great feature of the system is when a visitor clicks on your Email Quote button they have the option to send all of the information to every person in their party. This is a major factor in getting more booking and renting your property faster. Every property owner has heard this, "I love the place but I have to show it to the others in our group to see if it is ok with them". Now everyone involved gets all of the information instantly so that your potential vacationers can make a decision faster.

So now that you know all of the time saving benefits, the money making advantages, and the customer service upgrades, you're probably asking what will this additional service from ivacationonline.com cost me. The answer is, nothing, that's right, if you are already a member of the ivacationonline.com property management software system website there is no charge to you, it' free! Also if you are not already a member of ivacationonline.com simply sign up for a 30 day free trial and see how easy renting your vacation home or condo can be.

Visit http://www.ivacationonline.com/ today, click on the risk free 30 day trial offer, and enjoy the benefits of online property management.

Learn about:

Our live calendar
Emailing contracts
Renter updating email system
Online booking payment system
Credit card acceptance
Damage insurance
Travel insurance
The "Cancel For Any Reason Plan"
Voice description for your property
Video and photos of your home
Google Maps
Picasa
And our new Email Quote System

All of this and more on one easy to use website plus a customer service center that is second to none.

One More Reason To Join ivacationonline's Vacation Rental Software Website

To contact us Click HERE

As if there were not enough reason to join ivacationonline.com's vacation rental property management software website, here is another. Ivacationonline is the only property management software website that actually pays to advertise on Google and other major search engines to drive targeted traffic to its website. The traffic that ivacationonline markets for on these search engines is specifically tailored to potential renters who are searching for vacation rentals.

Ivacationonline.com does not directly benefit from this traffic or from the rentals its customers receive. So why do they do it? Simple they what their customers to be successful. Ivacationonline.com is sending potential renters directly to you and they are paying the bill. It's just one of the many, many reasons you should be using ivacationonline's online property management software and if you already are a member it is just one more reason for something you already know. That ivacationonline.com is the best way to manage your vacation properties, 2nd home, timeshare condos, or rental property.