Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Bill Schlink Real Estate Templestowe Village


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A sign at Bill Schlink Real Estate a while ago caught my attention It advertised no sale, no cost. With the current state of the real estate market, why take the risk of spending thousands of dollars in advertising when you may not get the price you want. Clearance rates at auctions mean you could have a 40% chance of your property not selling. That's a pretty high stake bet if you ask me. Don't gamble with your single largest asset, check out what Bill has to offer when you're thinking of selling your home and talking to agents.

Bill is the only agent in Templestowe with a shop front and is located in the very popular Templestowe Village shopping precinct.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

PS. Yes that's Bill in the picture, no doubt looking after one of his customers;-)

Free black leather couch in Templestowe


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I spotted these black leather couches being given away for free in Foote Street Templestowe, between Church Road and Williamsons Road on the South side of Foote Street. They look to be in good condition.


Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Labor's plan to install Set Top Boxes for an average of $330 is crazy.

Today I decided to test how long it would take me to install and configure a HD Set Top Box. I decided to purchase a brand new unit so I had no knowledge of the product in advance. I am assuming that those who get the $330 (an average I’ve read) will know the equipment and be very experienced in setting up the Set Top Box, so should take less time than I did.

I checked the Doncaster East store for Target and Dick Smith. They didn’t have the model I wanted so I went to Dick Smith Shoppingtown. I decided to go with the Dick Smith HD Set Top Box GHP5926 which was on special for $10 off at $59.98. I liked this unit over cheaper units as it also has the ability to record to a USB drive (memory stick). Although that was outside of the scope as the main purpose of the government subsidy I think would be to continue enabling pensioners to receive free-to-air TV. This is fair as it isn’t the pensioners’ fault the government is closing down the analogue service and in all likelihood, the government is making money in some form by moving to digital and so it is fair to reimburse the needy.

The average cost for a basic and quite reasonable HD Set Top Boxes was around $59-$79 so they aren’t that expensive. Spending more may not be a good idea because if you do, you really need to consider your requirements better.

I arrived home, unpacked the Set Top Box and had it set up and tuned into the stations in 13 minutes. To be fair I was removing an older SD Set Top Box PVR so the configuration was similar. But given I’d never seen or used one of these units, there was a slight learning curve for me, I suspect this will balance things out with the experience installer.

For the government to spend an average of $330 per site is not justified. Why can’t the government just provide a voucher for a reasonably price Set Top Box that people could then use to purchase a unit. Most people will have a family member who can set it up. If they don’t, then give these people additional assistance.

The problem is the technician who is installing the Set Top Box will probably make very little and the large company who gets the contract will  make a killing at our expense.

I recently had to install a Set Top Box for a home user which took about an hour. The problem is Optus had come along and removed their service and left the client with all their equipment, DVD/VCR/Set Top Box not working and a pile of cables in a total mess. But in the situation where a Set Top Box would normally be installed it should be relatively easy.

There are two issues which could complicate the situation. The reception may be weak and in that situation additional technical help will be required. I expect those situations to be the exception rather than the norm. The other is that you should also provide some basic training.

The problem with the Set Top Box approach is it makes it more complicated for people. I’ve seen a number of elderly people struggle with the multiple controllers. A better option for most people would be to put the money towards a new digital ready TV and keep things simple. Old analogue TVs were seldom bigger than 26” and a suitable replacement would be a 32” LCD. The money for a lot of people would be better spent on a new TV and not a complicated Set Top Box set up. I’m sure many people would love the option of using a voucher for the Set Top Box towards part payment of a new digital ready TV.

If anyone in the Templestowe and surrounding postcode area requires their Set Top Box to be set up please contact me. Being local there is no call out fee. Just the time it takes to install the Set Top Box and if you want some basic instruction the time involved shouldn’t cost too much.

This is an opportunity where the government could have provided some better options in my opinion. By allowing people the option to purchase what they need, those people are more likely to use the services of local people and instead of the money going to big business, it could have helped a lot of smaller businesses across Australia. Even Dick Smith and other retailers I’m sure will offer an installation service if required at a much better rate.

 

I just hope the elderly amongst us don’t end up being greedy rather than needy. Yes if the government is giving something back it is hard to say no since it doesn’t happen that often, but is it right. The cost of all those low energy light bulbs was $10 per bulb for something that could have been done for a dollar or two and now we are all paying with higher electricity charges. What looks like a bargain may in fact cost you or your children more down the track.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au  

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Small businesses closing down. Don't be next.

I thought I’d share the following article which appeared on the News site. Whilst it is expected the a certain number of small businesses will close up each year, equally new business start up. In this article there is no mention of new businesses starting up, so if we factor new businesses in, to lose over 10,000 small business a year incredible, but what’s even more incredible is it understates the real number of businesses closing down.

SMALL shops are still badly wounded from the global financial crisis, with exclusive analysis for news.com.au showing that more than 30,000 of the most vulnerable small businesses disappeared between the 2007 and 2010 elections. ... Read More

 

If you read many of the comments on the article by people you would get the idea it is all the government’s fault. Yes there is too much red tape, yes we are over governed, yes people prefer to buy at large department stores, but ultimately we are businesses and we have to work out how to survive. No one asked us to start a business. It was our choice. Should we really be putting our hand out to government. I don’t think so. If we do the government simply needs to take the money off us in the first place and by the time it comes back to u,s it is a fraction of what they’ve collected.

To me one of the biggest problems for small business is being seen by people in their area and for locals to support the businesses. But equally how many small business give preference to locals to supply them with products and services. Certainly none of the local businesses in my area ever ask me what I do, or give me business. With that approach how can they expect any loyalty from locals. Most businesses simply take from their customers in the form of profits and rarely see their customers as potential suppliers. Personally I look at my customers as the first people I call if I want a service. I look for ways to refer business to my customers if I can. If more small businesses stopped just taking from the local community and actively looked for ways to spend their expense dollars locally I believe they’d make a huge difference.

As small businesses we only have ourselves to blame. Look for ways to help other locals with your purchasing power and you’ll get more loyalty from locals. If you don’t, your business may be the next business they’ll be looking to online stores to provide your product or service. Loyalty is a two way street. You can make it happen but not if you only take and don’t give back.

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Templestowe resident Kathy Galanis

Templestowe resident Kathy Galanis, 55, was recently presented with a Pines Learning Life Membership award by Manningham mayor Geoff Gough.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Williamsons Road and Foote Street, Templestowe Bus lane roadworks

Bus priority works will start late May 2011 at the intersection of Williamsons Road and Foote Street in Templestowe to reduce delays to buses travelling through this intersection.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Harry's cafe Templestowe Village. Three positions available.

CAFE IN TEMPLESTOWE 3 Positions Available - Day Work... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Single lane in Williamsons Road Templestowe

About 15 minutes ago I was heading South on Williamsons Road in Templestowe and notice roadworks had reduced traffic to one lane and the traffic was building up on the other side of the road. It may be worth going another way if you are heading North along Williamsons Road in the area where the new fire station is being built. 

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Bus drivers' toilet-breaks delaying traffic

The removal of indented bus stops is a problem.

Recently on one bus trip into the city I was on the bus in Parker Street Templestowe. The front door did not close. The bus sat for around 10 minutes and some people left the bus to get on the following bus. The bus blocked all the traffic which would not have happened if the bus stop was indented. Given only 15% of Manningham residents use the buses regularly, it is hard to justify that 15% of the population is given preference over 85% of the population. The local road system should be designed to free up traffic, not further restrict as we’ve seen with the introduction of bus lanes and many roads reduced from two lanes to one. Better traffic flow would benefit everyone including buses.

BUS drivers are holding up traffic in a busy Warrandyte street while they use the toilet
.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

A Melbourne researcher who is convinced Jack the Ripper fled to Australia

However, Geoff Crawford, a biomedical scientist from Templestowe in Melbourne's east, scoffed at suggestions English police were involved in a century-old cover up to protect the royal family.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

THREE teenagers were left terrified after a would-be robber shot out two tyres of their car

The drama began after the trio - a 19-year-old woman from Templestowe, a 17-year-old woman from Thomastown and an 18-year-old man from Mill Park - pulled over to turn on their GPS in City Vista Court, Plumpton, at about 12.40am.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Filming begins on Monday in Templestowe, with Chopper Reid set to make a cameo.

FORMER Neighbours starlet Natalie Blair has returned to Melbourne to take a lead role in movie The Groomless Bride. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Living the dream: Orlando Cobalti.

What mattered to the man who once owned Templestowe's La Porchetta restaurant was ''to live with passion and fit as much as you can in the small time we have left'', according to his Myspace page.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Friday, May 6, 2011

Templestowe Village rear area footpath reconstruction



I've noticed they appear to be rebuilding the footpath and some of the retaining wall at the rear of Templestowe Village shops. Parking in the area has been reduced and there may be minor inconvenience with access.

The retaining wall I had felt was poorly designed at the top end of the car park as it was too high, making it difficult to get out the car and too easy to damage the car door. I'm not certain as to the value of these works as the rear area of the shops is largely an access area and the existing paths seemed fine to me.

You may wish to adjust your parking whilst the works are in progress. I did notice a number of people parking in front of IGA that were obviously going to other businesses, so grocery shopping parking may be more limited for a while.

Kelvin Eldridge
http://www.onlineconnections.com.au/

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

traffic lights at the intersecion of Fitsimons Lane and Porter St

Mr Kotsiras said $600,000 would go towards traffic lights at the intersecion of Fitsimons Lane and Porter St, Templestowe, $400,000 to traffic lights at Bulleen Rd and Golden Way, Bulleen, and $150,000 to a safety refuge in Templestowe Rd.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Evie Koutroulis, 37, claimed she suffered neck and back injuries and depression

The Victorian Supreme Court has ended a five-year legal battle for compensation for a Templestowe woman who was caught in a bus door.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Dr Sandra Mercer Moore has worked in the field of physiotherapy since 1964.

Templestowe woman Sandra Mercer Moore has lived her life engulfed in matters relating to physiotherapy across the globe and, even now when she is supposed to be retired, she teaches the profession. ... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au