1. Benefit of Cruzio Membership: *Your* Downloads Aren't Throttled
2. Small Business Fair
3. Rate These Businesses
4. Cruzio Ready for Credit Crunch
5. Register to Vote -- Check How & Where on Google
6. More Wifi for Watsonville
7. Kowabunga! Best Surf Report & Weather
8. Cruzio Donates Service to Community Bridges
9. Watsonville Store Closing Oct. 31
10. Password Requests in Email from "Cruzio Support" Are Fake
11. Upcoming Classes at Cruzio
12. Moving?
13. Get Cruzio Credit with Buddy Bucks
14. Feed the Hungry, We'll Waive Your Late Fees
15. About This Newsletter
16. How to Reach Cruzio (Dial-in or Tech Support)
1. Benefit of Cruzio Membership: *Your* Downloads Aren't Throttled
If you have DSL with Cruzio, you've got a big advantage over most other
broadband users. Almost universally, large ISPs are restricting speed
or capping bandwidth of customers who attempt to download large amounts
of data.
The FCC recently scolded Comcast for quietly throttling download speeds
of heavy Internet users. Customers didn't know why their Internet slowed
down, but suspicious geeks called the agency to complain. Comcast responded
by making their policies more explicit.
Now, when you're on Comcast, the first time you exceed their limit you'll
get a call. The second time, your service will be shut down.
http://www.crm-daily.com/news/Comcast-Sets-Limit-on-Home-Net-Use/story.xhtml?story_id=00100003LX63
2. Small Business Fair
Got your calendar handy? Make an entry on the 13th of November for
Cruzio's 10th Annual Small Business Fair.
We hold the Fair every year because the Internet is, and should be,
an equalizer. Small companies can market and sell their wares same as
big companies can. There are low cost solutions out there on the Internet
for nearly every business need you might encounter.
Small companies do have one disadvantage, though, and it's a big one:
they don't usually have an IT staff to help them figure out where to
start. That's where Cruzio can help.
This year's Fair will focus on getting ranked high in Search Engines like
Google. Improving your position is low-cost and high impact.
After you register for the Small Business Fair, our instructors will
analyze your website. They will custom-build a popularity profile for you:
what are your site's strengths and weaknesses; what specific text will
attract more traffic; how changes to your site can meet search engines'
criteria and what transgressions you'll be punished for.
The profile alone is worth over $200.
At the Fair, you'll attend a workshop where Cruzio's super-popular instructor
Mike Brogan will go over our recommendations. Following the workshop, join other
local business owners and managers in conversation -- wine and hor d'oeuvres
provided. (Note: both wine and snacks are particularly excellent and provided
by local businesses. Yum.)
November 13 4:30-7:30 PM. $129. Sign up now at http://classes.cruzio.com
for this enjoyable and useful evening, seating is limited.
3. Rate These Businesses
There are hundreds of local companies -- restaurants, radio stations,
realtors and more -- in the Santa Cruz Guide. More are added every
week.
You can rate any and all of these individuals or businesses with up to
five stars -- it's simple. Just log in to http://www.cruzio.com and
go to the guide. Find the business you want to rate and click "write a
review." (If you don't see your own business, put it in! See the help
at http://www.cruzio.com/guide ).
Although everyone can read the reviews, only Cruzio members can rate
businesses. We believe a trustworthy group like our membership will do the
best job of letting folks in on the finest Santa Cruz County offers. The top-rated,
most-rated and most-viewed businesses rise in their category and are seen
by more people. So it's important for the businesses to get honest ratings.
Rate a business today! Do you buy groceries at the New Leaf? Eat brunch
at Cafe Brasil? Let folks know what you think.
Here are some more stores you might want to rate:
The Spokesman Bicycles:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1141&Itemid=85
KPIG Radio:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=323&Itemid=85
Sockshop and Shoe Company:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1140&Itemid=85
4. Cruzio Ready for Credit Crunch
Many companies, especially those depending on loans, are threatened
by the current turmoil in financial markets. We just wanted to reassure
our members that Cruzio has been managed very frugally. We don't borrow
huge sums of money, we don't get in over our heads. And you can be sure
there is no problem with overly large executive compensation.
So while we're concerned about the financial troubles in our country as a
whole, we are not worried about our ability to come through it. Nor should
you be. (We all survived the dot-com crash, didn't we?)
5. Register to Vote -- Check How & Where on Google
Have you moved since voting last? Do you know anyone who needs to register
-- not just in California but in any state? Google's ready with all the
information on where and when to register. Time's running short in a lot
of states so be sure to email friends and family who might need the info.
If they aren't sure how or when to register, give them this link:
http://maps.google.com/vote
6. More Wifi for Watsonville
Need some Internet with your coffee? Take your laptop to one of over thirty
locations around the County, including our latest addition, the Second Street
Cafe:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1713&Itemid=308
For a map of all Cruzio's free wifi hotspots, visit:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=291
7. Kowabunga! Surf Report & Weather
To use the appropriate terminology, we are stoked about the smokin' surf
reports on Cruzio's weather page.
Before hauling gear to the beach, check whether it's worth the trip by
visiting our very accurate tide and surf info at:
http://www.cruzio.com/weather
Conditions at top surf spots are described twice daily on our site (many
thanks to Surfline). Waves at Steamer Lane, as this newsletter is written,
are: "pushing double overhead, fairly clean, but a little lumpy." This
reporter checked it out earlier, and it was indeed so.
You'll also find water quality reports and a tide chart on the page.
Just look below the week's weather for the good stuff, and click on the
links for even more. It's addictive.
8. Cruzio Donates Service to Community Bridges
Cruzio has long donated web hosting service to Community Bridges, a local
charity. And when they suffered from a recent State budget crisis Cruzio was
on hand to help out even more.
To quote Community Bridges: "We could not have kept the doors to our four
childcare centers open without the generosity and understanding of
partners like Cruzio. Cruzio has helped us give more than 80,000 rides
to elderly and disabled individuals, serve 185,000 meals to seniors,
provide childcare, education and food to low income families, and offer a
wide range of services and resources that improve the local quality of life
each year."
To learn more about Community Bridges, visit:
http://www.communitybridges.org
9. Watsonville Store Closing Oct. 31
With a growing number of Cruzio hotspots around the County and online
transactions at http://www.cruzio.com getting more and more convenient,
Cruzio has found fewer of our members rely on this store so we will be
shutting our East Beach Street location as of November 1st.
No worries about service, as we will of course maintain all the same Internet
services in the Watsonville area that we do elsewhere -- Cruzio covers all of
Santa Cruz County, from Boulder Creek to Pajaro, and many of our products are
nationwide.
We'll still be a part of the Watsonville community, holding events and
workshops and working to improve local Internet access and expertise.
And we remain committed to offering our services in both English and Spanish.
We know many of you enjoyed the convenience of an extra storefront, and
we're sorry to cause any extra hassle. But we've still got a handy location
in downtown Santa Cruz, plus nearly everything that can be done in person
can now be done online. Please give us a call if you have any concerns about
the coming change: 459-6301, or email us: office@cruzio.com.
10. Reminder: Emailed Password Requests "From Cruzio" Are Fake
We mentioned this in the last newsletter, but we're still seeing
fake emails pretending to be from Cruzio (as well as eBay, PayPal,
and other companies). We catch most of these scams before you see
them, but a few get through to members' mailboxes.
Please remember that Cruzio will never ask you for a password in
email. First of all, we don't need to know your password. Only you
need to know it. (If you forget your password, we reset it for you.)
And as for private information like a Social Security number,
forget about it. We would never ask for that.
Being asked unexpectedly for personal information like password or a
birthdate in email is a sure sign of a phishing scheme -- a sneaky
email that's trying to get you to send your information to a nefarious
character. Don't be fooled.
(If you do fall for a scheme, you're not alone. Contact Cruzio as soon as
possible and let us know what happened. You'll want to change the password
on your account, and we'll be happy to do that for you immediately.)
11. Upcoming Classes at Cruzio
Try Cruzio's popular hands-on classes when you're getting your website
ready for the winter holidays, whether it's to sell items or to set up a
family site for Grandpa.
If you're planning to start a new website or upgrade a current one,
you'll find these classes timely. You'll work on your own real site in
a small class with lots of personal attention from experienced teachers.
Cruzio can take you from planning to site creation to taking credit cards.
Take it as far as you want to go.
We've even got "one-on-one" sessions with the One Night Website instructor
for customized help with your site.
Plus, for beginners, check out Cruzio's Internet 101, which explains the
basics of computer and Internet usage.
What's coming through December:
One Night Web Site
October 14 5:00-8:00 PM, November 11 5:00-8:00 PM, December 9 5:00-8:00 PM
One Day Website
October 30 9:00 AM-noon, November 25 9:00 AM-noon, December 18 9:00 AM-noon
Cruzio One-on-One
(reserve a 50-minute time slot)
October 15 2:30-4:20 PM, October 22 2:30-4:20 PM, October 29 2:30 AM-4:20 PM,
November 5 2:30-4:20 PM, November 12 2:30-4:20 PM, November 19 2:30-4:20 PM,
November 26 2:30-4:20 PM, December 3 2:30-4:20 PM, December 10 2:30-4:20 PM,
December 17 2:30-4:20 PM
Start Making Money Online
October 21 5:30-7:30 PM, November 20 9:00-11:00 AM, December 11 9:00-11:00 AM
Search Engine Optimization Secrets
October 23 9:00-11:00 AM, December 16 5:30-7:30 PM
Plan Your Web Presence
November 4 12:00-1:00 PM, December 4 12:00-1:00 PM
Administer Your Domain Like a Pro
November 6 9:00-11:00 AM
Small Business Fair 2008
November 13 4:30-7:30 PM
Internet 101
October 9 9:00-11:00 AM, November 4 5:30-7:30 PM, December 4 9:00-11:00 AM
For more information (the schedule occasionally changes), and to register for
classes go to:
http://classes.cruzio.com
12. Moving?
If you are moving your home or office, please contact Cruzio.
We're here to help the Internet portion of your move go smoothly.
It's best to let us know several weeks ahead of time, especially
if you have DSL or if you're cancelling a phone line. We can often
save you from an interruption in Internet service and prevent
costly fees -- but you've got to let us know. Call us at
459-6301 or email office@cruzio.com.
13. Get Cruzio Credit with Buddy Bucks
Recommend us to friends, family, colleagues: if a new customer gives us
your email address, registration number, or full name when they sign up
you'll get $10 credit (or more) to your account. If two friends sign up,
$20. Three friends, $30. It just goes on and on.
14. Feed the Hungry, We'll Waive Your Late Fees
If you're late on a payment to Cruzio, turn it into a donation
to hungry folks in our community. We will waive your late
fee if you bring 3 cans into our office for our Second Harvest
Food Bank barrel. Learn more about this charity at
http://www.thefoodbank.org
15. About This Newsletter
Cruzio doesn't like to waste bandwidth with extra email, but we sometimes
have events and announcements that users need to know about. This seems
like the most efficient way to let people know what's happening. Hope
it's helpful. Please email support@cruzio.com with any comments or questions.
By the way, we would love to have a regular, predictable schedule
for this newsletter...but we simply do not send it unless there is real
news enclosed. Thus the haphazard datelines.
16. How to Reach Cruzio (Dial-in or Tech Support)
To reach the Cruzio Information Center, for online technical and
sales information:
http://www.cruzio.com/support
To dial in to Cruzio, set your software to dial one of the numbers
below (note: we've expanded and joined modem pools, so you may be
using another number. If so, don't worry, it still works just fine).
Dialup (in Santa Cruz County): 459-9408
Nationwide Dialup: Look up local number on the left side of the page:
http://www.cruzio.com/support
or call Cruzio toll free, 1.800.303.3302
If you've got a problem, but can still surf the Web:
Most questions are answered in Cruzio's Support Forum at
http://www.cruzio.com/support
To call Cruzio:
459-6301............Use this number to check Cruzio's system status,
pay your Cruzio bill, find out more about our hours and location,
or to reach someone in customer service and technical support.
To send email to Cruzio, use one of these addresses:
support@cruzio.com ......for technical support
office@cruzio.com .......for billing and ordering information
Member services contact form:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=6&Itemid=310
Support Contact Form:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=5&Itemid=312
Or leave a message for us in the forums:
http://www.cruzio.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=183
Cruzio's locations:
Santa Cruz: 903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Watsonville: Plaza Vigil, 25 E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 (closing 11/1/8)
Cruzio's hours:
Sales hours (These are summer hours, through 9/28):
Santa Cruz: 9am-6pm, Mon to Fri; 9 am - 2 pm Sat, 10 am - 2 pm Sun
Watsonville: 10am-6pm, Tuesday through Thursday
Technical support: 8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri, 10am - 2pm Saturday
System monitoring, including customer-alerted emergencies, 24 hours
per day, 365 days per year (leap years, 366 days)
Thanks very much from Cruzio:
Chris, Peggy, Julianne, Mark, Paul, Gershom, Jessi, James,
Juana, Nikkie, Mike, Don, Bruce, Westi, Andrew, Jaime,
another Chris, yet another Chris, Diana, Jake, Shawn,
Zachary, Carlos, Sandi and Amber;
Our fabulous interns: Hayden, Alazais and Olga
Jake, Annika, and Carly (the kids)
"Now I know how cats feel doing jumprope" Carly, at age 9, wearing her
Halloween costume of cat ears and tail and trying to jumprope.
