The competition stinks.

[CompWizard]

I run a part-time coputer repair business. I can't really afford real advertising so i put up signs and drop business cards around. The other day i walked up on the owner of the top computer repair business in town ripping my signs down....what is a guy to do?

[kayden azagthoth]

Grrrr...that would just infuriate me to no end if someone was doing that to me. Here's what I would do in your case:

-take one brick and one molotov cocktail and re-decorate his store.

-cover your posters that you post around town with crazy glue or some sort of disease like anthrax or ebola to prevent, or discourage this gentleman from removing your advertising.

-coat the front walk or stairs of his business with the slickest substance you can find (oil, yogurt, pancake syrup) and watch the computer components fly from the arms of his helpless customers entering or exiting his store.

-try and catch him in the act of ripping down your posters and snap a few good photos of him. It's an idea but depending on your city's by-laws, postering lamp poles and stuff is a littering offense. But if he's tearing them down and throwing them on the ground, BINGO...you got a litterbug.

-call him and ask if his computer is running. when he says, "why, yes it is", yell, "well ya better go catch it!!!" and laugh hysterically in his ear.

Okay...I know my suggestions are silly, malicious and maybe even illegal. But in the dog-eat-god...ahem, DOG world of small business, it's every man and woman for himself.

Good luck sir! I salute you!

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And all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

-Pink Floyd

[mjc]

Depending upon where your posters were you may have may options, if they were on a public bulletin board at a grocery store or something like that then talk to the manager/owner. A letter to the editor of the local paper, without naming names, has been known to work wonders.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

468th Rule of Aquistion: Debugging of software is foolish, there is much profit in updates and upgrades.

[Paleo Pete]

Make sure the posters are in appropriate places, where advertising of that type is legal, snap a few pictures and take them to the offending shop owner and explain that he'll be telling a judge why he is tearing down your ads if it continues.

Call the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce and discuss the matter and the options with them, a call to the DA's office might be a good idea too, what he's doing is illegal, provided your advertising is placed in acceptable, legal locations.

mjc's idea of a letter to the local paper is very good too.

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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[CompWizard]

Thanks guys.....those are some good ideas. It is tough to make money when you have no exposure. I'll try those options.