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Chris S.

3
Level 3 Contributor
Las Vegas, NV

Contributor Level

Total Points
2,421

About Me

Loving travels, outdoors, long conversations and laughter with my bride... and coffee.

How I Can Help

I get irritated with junk sites and poor customer service. When I flame, it is with specifics. I also feel that if I'm going to trash a service or site, I need to write the same amount of reviews on the opposite end of the spectrum. Ads some credibility and doesn't make me out to be a hostile malcontent.

Interests

Coffee, Vegas, the ocean, cigars, old-school (not their new stuff) Filson brand clothing.

19 Reviews by Chris

  • USAA

2/17/22

The only snag is that they quit covering motorcycles and RVs. But have a house, renter, and umbrella. Customer service has been fantastic. Also, have a credit card, checking, saings. Use to have a brokerage, but USAA discontinued that as well. With my few claims over the years, they also have been very prompt and fair.

Tip for consumers:
If you have a parent that served, you may qualify for their insurance and other products

Products used:
Auto, umbrella, checking, savings, credit card

Service
Value
Quality
  • CloudFlare

2/12/22

Been very happy with their basic service for my blog. Easy to set up, the ability to block all traffic that is not from the USA, which suits me. I have restrictions within my blog to filter out access from outside the USA and using this service I can filter out even more. The other benefit is that having Cloudflare speeds up my site.

Tip for consumers:
great to use the free version for small blogs. haven't tried the paid version.

Products used:
Hosts part of my blog content for faster delivery

Service
Value
Quality
  • Coffitivity

2/11/22

Pretty straightforward. Makes sounds of a coffee shop where I did a good amount of college studying. That's it! Background noise that helps me study!

Tip for consumers:
Refreshing sounds. Use to study at several coffee shops in Seattle (Cap Hill Top Pot, Bauhaus...) and find this site really helpful in being able to focus on my reading.

Service
Value
Quality
  • Ninite

2/11/22

This has been great. You pick all the software on your windows pc that you use on a regular basis and this site creates an auto-download/update file. So running it keeps your apps up to date and also makes it easy to install the same apps on all your computers.

Tip for consumers:
I eventually found it great to switch to apps they offer from similar ones I use to use. When I reformat or get a new computer, just installing this one app/link does a bunch of work for me... and free.

Products used:
the program update/install service

Service
Value
Quality
  • Ka-gold-jewelry

2/4/22

They don't sell in stores in the States, so all orders are shipped from where they are made, in Israel. I've purchased three items over the years and I got them quickly with perfect customer service. I'm yet to find such fine craftsmanship in jewelry that has a meaning, tells a story, is very unique, and has solid craftsmanship. They have a huge variety of categories from Buddhist, Sacred Geometry, Astrology, Viking, etc. EACH piece has a COMPLETE description of what it means, not just a couple of empty lines. The picture is of the first piece I got from them (a gift from my beautiful bride). The story behind the ring is very relevant to me. The ring has several symbols on it from the story so it's great to get lost in the memories. Anyways, mail order overseas... but completely safe and trustworthy.

Tip for consumers:
They are an overseas business but TOTALLY trustworthy. Owner/designer/artist is friendly too.

  • Pocketcasts

2/4/22

Feature-rich, easy to use, and you can even back up and synchronize your playback list. It's on Android, not sure about iOS. You can adjust playback speed and eliminate silent gaps! That really cuts down on playback time! Even tracks how much time you have saved using those two features. AND AND AND it also has the ability to skip the beginning x amount of seconds in the beginning and/or end of the podcast, so you don't have to listen to intros etc. I use this app several times a day. Worth paying for the upgrade. Haven't purchased the subscription portion, just the app upgrade.

Tip for consumers:
IT's worth paying for the pro version, but I haven't seen a need for the "subscription" portion. Also, if you are using another podcast app, you can import the playlist in the opl format. Easy app to learn.

  • Reviewmeta

2/4/22

Never had an ISP blocked like the other review states. Never had any problems with them. I use them DAILY before making an Amazo* purchase.

So all you do is take the URL or exact title of a product and past it into the search bar. THEN it tells you if the reviews are worth a crud. Has saved me from some unpleasant purchases. Even reviews the reviewers! COOL! FREE! The site has a browser plugin. I don't use it, but it's there.

Tip for consumers:
Simple... no tips needed.

  • Arcrisis.org

2/4/22

Good folks. It's not a warm-line, so if you are in a REAL crisis, they listen and can direct you to good resources.

Tip for consumers:
If you need a warm-line, call them and ask them for that. They are not a warm line but can help you find one.

  • Veteranscrisisline.net

2/4/22

Other crisis call lines can seem to not "relate". This line doesn't have that problem. Both a warm line and a suicide line. Helpful with providing resources.

Tip for consumers:
Call. They are real, they care, and they can help.

  • Goggles4u

2/4/22

Significantly less than Zenn*. I ordered three different pairs of glasses. All were correct prescriptions. Great prices (at least 30% less than zen**) and a year later, the glasses are doing fine. I read the other reviews and personally didn; t encounter any problems. Have purchased twice from Zen* and yes, they are superior customer service, but saved a significant amount with Goggles4U and had no problems. Don't forget to googl* coupon codes before payment.

Tip for consumers:
Google coupon codes before paying. Also after your first purchase, they will email you INCREDIBLE discount opportunities. So maybe purchase a low price set and wait for the coupon on the pair that you want all the upgrades for.

Products used:
Prescription sunglasses with different frames. VERY AFFORDABLE and have now been using them for a year, they have held up.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
  • Kim Komando

2/4/22

Love the weekly shows and podcasts. Fun and actually pertinent. The website has been useful for me in finding apps and internet opportunities. She vets everything she posts so if you go THROUGH her site on links, you have a higher degree of reliable and trustworthy resources.

Tip for consumers:
Nope, pretty straight forward.

Products used:
Articles reviewing topics I am involved in: home-based-business opportunities, antivirus software brand suggestions.

Service
Value
Quality
  • WPBeginner

2/4/22

That's just one of the tools I have appreciated. I was using a WordPress plugin for customer service but started to dislike it, went here and found several alternatives with reviews. I do think they get affiliate rewards, so not absolutely trusted. Insights still very useful.

Tip for consumers:
Remember, this site may be based on affiliate or advertiser funds, so may be biased. Still, good info.

Products used:
21+ Best Alternatives to the WordPress Jetpack Plugin

Service
Value
Quality
  • Just The News

2/4/22

So tired of reading news and coming full stop to an OPINION that is simply an OPINION in a news article or news that is tainted with subjective adjectives. Worth checking out.

Tip for consumers:
There may be opinions, but just not saturated and dripping with opinions presented as fact.

  • Auctionwizard2000

2/4/22

Been using this for over 20 years. Tech support has been great EVERY TIME! The benefit of this app is you are in full control of templates, your inventory, all correspondence, shipping, financials, consignment... and even feedback! There are tools on ebay, have used it, but AW2K allows complete control of ALL your listing! Even save money by delay or timed listing.

Tip for consumers:
Before dismissing this app, consider all the tools it has built in. I have been using it since 2000.

Products used:
Every one of the built in tools: automated pre-shipping and invoicing, as well as shipping confirmation, then after leaving feedback, you can send them yet another email! Manages my inventory! Manages my financials. I can build my own templates to make all my listings look the same. Can also create listings on my own website if I had one.

Service
Value
Quality
  • calibre - E-book management

2/4/22

So sending my pdf books to my kindle has been a pain in the backside. This app converts pdfs to kindle standard formats! And so many edit, organize, reformat... FREE! I've been doing it the hard way for MANNY years. NO MORE. Love this app. Can be complex, but you'll get the hang of it. Suggestion: Make a backup copy of a book you like, THEN mess with it using the tools in the app. You'll likely mess the book over, but you'll get the idea. Then delete the messed up one and replace it with the backup.

Tip for consumers:
Make a backup if any ebooks you want to tinker with. You'll get the reformats wrong as you learn, but no big deal. Settings allow you to enter the exact ereader you are using.

Products used:
pdfs to mobi

Service
Value
Quality
  • Flipboard

2/4/22

5-stars on the site and app when you can get it to work, but then you don't use the android app for a few weeks, have to log in and then can't! That's after using it for years! Hate to give the app a low rating, but relying on it as a daily newspaper topic RSS reader type thing isn't happening.

Tip for consumers:
Be aware that all your work (show more, show less) imput may be lost.

Products used:
Collection of media resources in one place

  • Internet Archive

2/4/22

Found their tool to find defunct (no longer existing) websites. Use to use one and wondered what happened. Still gone, but was able to see screenshots of the old site. ALSO, WOW WOW WOW! Old magazines, books, movies, and SOFTWARE all legal! Such an incredible resource.

  • IMDb

2/4/22

With the streaming service recommendations, nice to go here and see if the suggestion is a junk garbage movie or tv show or not. On movies I've watched, I decide on a score before going to the site and have found my opinion matches the average on most. Great tool. Now they have a streaming tv/movie channel. Watching Dead Like Me on it.

Tip for consumers:
Once you sign up, rate as many of your favorite movies as you can (no word reviews necessary, just stars) and it will start to suggest "if you liked this, you'll like that..."

Products used:
The movie rating and suggestions as well as when I found an actor I liked, finding their other shows. Ricky Garvis from "after Life" is a perfect example.

Service
Value
Quality
  • Survivorsedge

2/4/22

Been doing business with them for years. Honest resolution of glitches. Fast shipping. Was able to get an email reply within the day. Not bad. Nice to deal with people who sell things they actually know.

Tip for consumers:
They send out coupon codes periodically from signing up with their newsletter. Was a bit of a challenge to get a live person, but they got back to me within the day.

Chris Has Earned 1 Vote

Chris S.'s review of calibre - E-book management earned a Very Helpful vote

Chris S.'s review of Goggles4u earned 0 Very Helpful votes

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