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***Types of Scanners, Repeat Revenues, Music, and The MyDoom Virus***
*** You should know the basic differences between barcode scanners. A CCD barcode scanner has to actually touch the barcode on your merchandise (or be very close to it). CCD scanners are the least expensive scanners and are not recommended for most applications. A Laser Scanner such as our most popular Metrologic MS9520 (see it at http://metrologic.com/corporate/products/pos/MS9520.htm ) actually reads a barcode when you point the scanner at a barcode that can be 8 inches or more away from the scanner. Essentially, you just point and shoot. It's a great scanner at an affordable price. The MS6720 (see it at http://metrologic.com/corporate/products/pos/MS6720.htm ) is an "aggressive" scanner. This is the scanner of choice for extremely busy stores. "Aggressive" means that the scanner actually looks for a barcode to scan. For example, if you tried to scan a box of cereal, a CCD scanner would actually have to touch the barcode. The MS9520 scanner would have to be pointed fairly accurately at the barcode. The MS6720 scanner only needs to be pointed in the general vicinity of the barcode. If you have a busy store with 10 or more customers per hour per register, you should consider the MS9520 as your scanner of choice.
***Purchase an MS9520 scanner through Budget POSduring the month of February and receive $15 off any future purchase from Budget POS made through March 31, 2004.
***According to Frontline Solutions Magazine (January 2004), "studies indicate that repeat business accounts for 70 percent of total revenues."
This is just another reason why we continue to push those loyalty features built into Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express (coupons attached to receipts, emails, customer mailing lists, and gift and loyalty cards).
"Losing loyal customers can have serious ramifications, especially when attracting a new customer can cost a typical company 5 to 10 times more than retaining an existing one," according to Harvard Business Review figures.
*** Do you have music in your store?
I happened to see an article in Chain Store Age Magazine that confirms one of my experiences.
I am not going to share my musical tastes with you, but, I will share my experience. I walked into a mall store with my wife looking for a winter coat. I tried one on that was suitable. The music was very loud and certainly far from my taste in music. My wife and I walked out of the store.
According to Chain Store Age Magazine, 40 percent of respondents have indicated that the wrong music has caused them to leave a store. The older the customers, the more sensitive they are to the wrong type of music. However, 19 percent of consumers say music caused them to browse more in the store. The suggestion is that if you do have music in your store, have the right music for your customers.
***TheMyDoom Virus***
It is spreading all over the internet and is the worst computer virus ever (according to an article by CNET on News.com).
At Budget POS, we use Norton Antivirus. We like it. It is important that you choose the virus protection of your choice and install it on each and every one of your computers. If you have an internet connection and do not have virus protection, it is likely that your machine is already infected or will be infected soon.
The MyDoom Virus is a real pain. If you are using Norton Antivirus, only the most recent update will protect you (January 26, 2004). If you received the virus before that date, your computer may be infected. You can go to the symantec.com, or pcmag.com or news.com, or lots of other sites to find out how to remove your virus.
In the case of the MyDoom Virus, it will only infect your machine if you have opened up the infected email AND clicked on the attachment. If you did not actually click on the attachment, you are safe.
*** Does Everyone Need Virus Protection?
If your computer or network is attached to the internet, it is definitely essential. On the other hand, if you do not add new software to your computer via diskette, and you are not networked to other computers, and you do not have access to the internet or emails either via broadband or modem, then you may not need it.
*** Don't Blame Us or Your Friends for receiving a virus.
Most viruses including the MyDoom Virus use SPOOFING.
In short, spoofing removes the senders name from your email and replaces it with a sender who you are familiar with. Without going into details, if you receive an email from yourfriend@yahoo.com that contains a virus, don't blame yourfriend. A virus removes the original sender's email address and replaces it with someone who you are familiar with, which makes it more likely for you to infect your computer by opening up the email and clicking on the attachment.
*** Turn off your virus notification. It makes it worse.
Some Virus Protection Software has a feature that notifies the sender when a Virus infected email is received. Here's the problem: The identified sender is probably not the real sender. You are notifying the wrong person and just helping to clutter up and slow down the internet.
*** It is not the email that will infect your computer, it is the attachment.
As of today, 1 out of 10 emails on the internet contain the new MyDoom Virus. You do not get the virus by opening the email. So, if you accidentally open the email, you are still fine. Your computer gets infected when you click on the attachment...so be very careful. Don't click on any attachment unless you know what the attachment contains.
For example, if you receive an email that contains a .scr attachment that you were not expecting...then don't open it.
On the other hand, if your daughter called to tell you that she is sending you a .jpg file with a baby picture on it, then it is likely to be a legit file.
If you have Norton Antivirus (or any of many other Virus Protection Software packages), and your virus definitions are current, you won't have to worry.
*** Are you listening???
We know that at least 75 percent of our customers do not have updated virus protection. Viruses are like flu shots. No one gets the protection until you get hit.