I forgot in the last blog ... having good referral relationshis with vendors is nice ... no kidding, sometimes they refer us clients! But today we experienced yet another benefit.

At 6:15 Cynthia got home to find the house hot and the air conditioner not working. I called our trusty AC company, with whom we've done business for about 7 years and left a message, thinking it might be a long evening in a hot bedroom.

Lou called back in 5 minutes. By 7 he was at our house, and by 7:30 he had made a minor repair and was on his way. He would have left sooner but he's a boat nut and wanted to see some pictures of our Simmons!

We asked him what he was doing working so late and he said that "special customers get special treatment." From anyone else I would have said they were blowing wind up my skirt but from Lou, I  know he means it.

Lou has come to the rescue of a number of our friends and clients. One had called a "Yellow Pages" high-profile AC company and been told that she needed a new unit -- about $4,000. She thought to call me and we cancelled the new unit, called Lou, and he had it fixed in no time for $150. We have a loyal fan now, and so does Lou, and Lou is glad to have the business. I do love it when everybody wins!

Apparently this is a favorite tactic of some Florida AC guys. There is a lot more money in installing a new unit than there is in fixing old ones. And so ... a lot of money gets spent prematurely. Call him old fashioned, but Lou thinks that if he's honest he can get the service business AND get to do the inevitable replacement (nothing lasts forever).

The house is nice and cool now as I write this. So you should have your own "Lou!" if you don't, and you're in Sarasota, we'll lend you ours. Just give us a call!

Preston