A Day in the life

I need to vent.

Every week (sometimes a few times each week) I'm required to go pick up a check from some of my clients for their ads. It's just part of the job. Well, as of late (you might've heard something about the state of our economy on those news stations) most folks are not especially excited about paying their bills. Also, because the economy's in the crapper and hardly anyone is buying, we greatly reduced rates and increased options to encourage people to buy. Some have...but often the smallest ad at the best rate, which is great for them, because their marketing payment is smaller...but it's not so great for me. We've helped them out that way, and you think they'd repay us, well...by paying us, quickly, or on time at least. Not the case. This little situation usually leaves me trapesing all over town for these measly little peon clients and then waiting and waiting to get them to give me a check.

You'd be amazed at how people act when you come in to get money....they'll scoot out the back, hop in the car and drive away! What...have I got the plague or something? Or worse, they'll make you wait and wait forever til they "find their checkbook." My favorite thing to do then is walk around their store "shopping," feigning interest in their birdseed, or cat litter, or whatever widgets they are selling. Eventually I get a check though, and then I'm on my way to sell another little ad to another little client.

Oh for the good ol' days of big ticket clients who were billed and paid their bills on time; and if they didn't they were our accounting department's problem.

I'm too young to be wishing for the good ol' days....