Serve Her

Every business should strive to deliver great customer service. I found it at Disneyland. My daughter left her Mouse Ears under a seat at the Star Tours ride. We were told that all lost items were delivered to the lost-and-found station hourly. When we went to leave Disneyland, a few hours later, we checked for her ear-hat, which they did not find. However, she was given a voucher to get another new hat at any Disney store in the park. This is above and beyond, as far as I'm concerned. I can see how it's to their benefit to please a customer, when you compare my purchase price of the hat to their cost to make it, yet it was our fault the hat got lost to begin with. It was quite a treat to replace it. Now, I'm not saying that all companies should replace lost items, but the customer relations are crucial as the perceived service. I have walked into a store with the intent of making a purchase and left because of poor or cranky customer service.

My flight home from this trip showed me that more people are using carry-on luggage instead of paying to check a bag. This caused a very long boarding time, with many of us having to check our bags anyway (without the cost) because all the overhead bins had filled up before row 15 was allowed to board-so much for trying to save time and avoid losing my luggage. Friday-night football games, PTA meetings, harvest festivals, and even Christmas shopping have begun. Here's hoping she's receiving some unexpected great customer service somewhere, somehow, perhaps from...you?

September is

• Baby Safety Month www.babycenter.com
• Walkathon season
• Better Breakfast Month
• Library Card Sign-Up month
• Women of Achievement Month
• The best time to buy a car; dealers are very motivated to sell last year's models.

She could be a

• Parade organizer
• Party store cashier
• Florist delivery driver
• Postal employee
• Movie ticket taker

She site

Sidetaker is a site that lets the world decide who's at fault. A recent article in the NY Post tells of a specific battle where a woman wanted to buy a $1,000 Gucci purse and her husband wanted her to purchase a knockoff. Many who responded on this specific poll felt the wife was a sad victim of consumerism. She might not get the answer she wants, but still seeks an opinion. She can log on at www.sidetaker.com.

Looking ahead

School supplies go on sale at the end of September to make room for holiday decorations. She should stock up.

She travel

Kena Kai FELTtech notebook sleeves are made from 100-percent recycled plastic and are TSA- approved so she does not have to take her laptop out at airport security checks. www.kenakai.com

She's lovin'

• Ana Sui clothes at Target
• Animal Headphone Wraps www.nycitylimit.com
• Hem tape: ditch the needle and thread www.bristols6.com
• Hershey's Kisses Meltaway Milk Chocolates

She shopping tips

The Food Marketing Institute showed these shopping finds:

• Men are more likely to stick to a shopping list.
• Major brands pay more to have their products placed at eye level on store shelves and on the end caps. Better deals can be found by looking at the lower shelves.
• For every 100 items, two are scanned at the wrong price; she needs to check her receipt.
• Most non-food items like toiletries and cleaning supplies are priced much higher at the grocery store than at a place like Target.
• Fresh and frozen fish can have the same level of quality, yet frozen can be priced about 40 percent less.
• Premium and generic store brands don't have many differences.

For more shopping tips, log on to www.supermarketguru.com.

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com