South Shore Computer Repair

The 2011 Middleborough Holiday Shopping Guide was mailed out this week; did you receive your copy in the mail? If so, then hopefully you saw our advertisement on the third page.

You may have noticed a square barcode in the corner of our advertisement and wondered what it is:

“A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of any kind of data. (Source: Wikipedia.org)”

In the case of our QR code, it takes you to a very special offer for your holiday shopping convenience. To access the information embedded in the code, you will need a smartphone with a camera, Internet access and a QR code reader app (most of which are free to download from an app store).

If you cannot get the QR code in our advertisement to scan, then you can use your phone’s QR code reader to scan the QR code below. Scan the code, then enter the password that is located in the holiday shopping guide. Once entered, you will be eligible to take advantage of our limited-time holiday special.

We are just one of many local businesses that advertised in this year’s Holiday Shopping Guide. Many of the advertisers have special offers just for the recipients of this mailing. So check your mailbox, flip through the guide and then get shopping.

By supporting the businesses in this guide (see list below) as well as other local shops and services, you are supporting your community and your neighbors…

~ The Custom Decorator ~

~ Gregory Scot Jewelers ~

~ Central Cafe ~

~ Eastern Bank ~

~ The Emporium At Middleborough ~

~ Benny’s ~

~ Muckey’s Liquors~

~ The Cabin~

~ Middleborough on the Move ~

~ Pushin Ink Tattoo ~

~ Kahians ~

~ Podium Powersports ~

~ Carver Jewelers ~

~ Maria’s Card & Gift Shop ~

~ Egger’s Furniture ~

Shop early! Shop often! Shop local!

Support The Small Businesses That Make Middleboro, Massachusetts Great!

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there’s the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small(SM) on November 26, 2011. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge.

By shopping small and local, you are supporting the “mom and pop” stores and services that help make your community a great place to live and work. A lot of the things that you might be looking for – and would probably head out to the big-box stores to get – can be found in your own community.

American Express wants to help you make a difference. Get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express® Card and use that Card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on Saturday, November 26, 2011. For more information about American Express’ Small Business Saturday campaign, head on over to their Facebook page, located at http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

To celebrate Small Business Saturday, South Shore Computer Repair, located at 238 Centre Street in the heart of Middleboro, Massachusetts, will be open from 10:00am to 2:00pm. John Neely, a.k.a. “The Computer Guy,” will be on hand to answer your questions about computers and other technologies as well as provide advice and guidance to anyone who has technology on their holiday shopping list. Everyone is invited to stop in for coffee, donuts and great conversation and advice!

Updated Information:

American Express has also partnered with foursquare to offer a whopper of a discount on Saturday, November 26. Foursquare users who check in and spend $25 or more on their American Express cards at participating businesses will receive a $25 credit on their American Express statement.

There are more than 100,000 business participating. You’ll be able to find ones nearby on the 26th by opening your foursquare app, tapping Explore and then tapping specials. Be sure to expand your radius out to 10 miles to be able to see them all. You can also find them on the new foursquare website by looking for the map icons highlighted in orange (now that I think of it, they really need to add filters to that map).

Don’t forget to sync your card with foursquare before next Saturday to be eligible. When you check in at a participating business, tap the “load to card” button on the special screen and pay with your American Express card. You’ll get a notification from foursquare that your request was processed and the credit will show up on your statement around 5 business days later.

More Updated Information:

On Saturday, November 26th, Middleboro is presenting it’s fantastic Christmas Parade. Starting at 1:00 PM, Santa and Miss Massachusetts Molly Whalen will ride  aboard the Fire Department ladder truck to lead the 52nd annual Christmas Parade.  The theme of the parade is “Once Upon a Christmas.”  The marchers will include Scout packs and troops, dancing schools, twirlers and school marching bands. The floats are always popular, and the Middleboro High School student council is entering another huge float as they have done in past years. Santa will lead the parade from the school complex on Mayflower Avenue to Courtland Street, Station Street, down Center Street, to South Main Street, and return to the school.

According to a recent article on Kiplinger.com:

“More consumers are expected to do their holiday shopping online this year – about 47% compared with 44% in 2010, according to a National Retail Federation survey. And about half of those surveyed who own smart phones and 70% who own tablets will use their devices to research items and make purchases.

The Internet makes it easy to compare prices, shop quickly and avoid the crowds. But it can also put you at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft if you don’t take the proper precautions.”

Security expert Jon Heimerl suggests that you follow these do’s and don’ts of online shopping to protect your personal information and reduce your risk of becoming a victim of a scam or identity theft:

DO…

• Go directly to a retailer’s site or use a price-comparison site, such as Amazon.com or PriceGrabber.com, instead of clicking links on a search results page. Even if you’re using a site that you think is legitimate, look for a security label, such as VeriSign or Cybertrust, and for https:// in the URL on pages that prompt you to enter personal information.
• Never make purchases online using a public Wi-Fi connection.
• Make sure you use a credit card when making purchases online and remember to check your monthly statements for charges that you didn’t make.

DON’T…

• If a Web site or individual offers a deal that’s too good to be true, demands a direct transfer of funds and won’t accept credit cards, it’s probably a scam.
• Wire money to pay for an item. If you purchase an item from an online auction site, such as eBay, and the seller asks you to wire your payment, don’t do it.
• Trust every deal you see on social-networking sites. One option is to use a deal notification you see on Twitter as a tip, then research the details on your own.

Finally, before you log into the internet for the deals… check out your local shops and businesses. They probably have some fantastic deals and you know who you’re dealing with.

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, there’s the 2nd annual Small Business Saturday, the day people support small businesses. Pledge to Shop Small^SM on November 26, 2011. If millions of Americans shop small, it will be huge.

American Express wants to help you make a difference. Get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express® Card and use that Card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26th.

Visit The American Express “Shop Small” page on Facebook to find out how to support your local businesses. Also, be sure to check out our list of some of the fantastic stores and services in the area and get started on your holiday shopping!

We’re here for you! Whether your an individual struggling with virus problems on your computer or a small business looking for help with your IT systems, we can help.

Our shop hours are Tuesday through Thursday  from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Friday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The easiest way to work with us, though, is to setup an appointment with us. Please give us a call at 508.947.1966 or drop us an email at help@ssc-repair.com to setup a time that works for your hectic schedule.

In the November 3, 2011 edition of the Middleboro Gazette, Mark Belanger’s “Bumpkin’s Corner” column gave us – South Shore Computer Repair – a terrific shout-out about the computer he recently bought from us. At the time that he bought the computer, we didn’t know he was going to be writing a column that mentioned us but we really appreciate his comments about our service. We had a blast building his new system and we’re hoping he’ll be back once his kids talk him into buying them tablets for Christmas.

More importantly, however, in the article Mark points out the importance of shopping local:

It was a solid system at a very fair price. The price was comparable to what I would pay at Best Buy or on the Internet for a system of lesser quality…

Add in all those hours I spent researching and driving around to look at computers. All that gas and time would have been averted with a 10-minute phone call to my local computer shop…

By shopping local, you are supporting the “mom and pop” stores and services that help make Middleboro a great place to live and work. A lot of the things that you might be looking for – and would probably head out to the big-box stores to get – can be found right here in Middleboro.

Try some of these local shops for everyone on your shopping list:

• Benny’s – 59 Centre Street
• Eggers Furniture – 177 Centre Street
• Family Herbals – 29 Centre Street
• Hollyberries Country Gifts – 51 Centre Street
• Maria’s Hallmark – 1 Centre Street
• Middleborough Flowers & Gifts – 19 Centre Street
• Nicole Jacqueline Photography Studio – 13 South Main Street
• Pushin’ Ink Tattoo – 155 Centre Street
• Ragz Designer Consignment – 370 Centre Street
• Reedy’s Archery – 31 Centre Street
• Savas Liquors – 167 Centre Street
• Twice Upon A Time Bookstore – 222 Centre Street

Everyone has to eat (some of us more than others). Try a gift certificate to one of the many restaurants we have in town…

• Dave’s Diner – 390 West Grove Street
• Fireside Grille – 30 Bedford Street
• Flat Iron Cafe – 444 Centre Street
• Harry’s Bar and Grille – 407 West Grove Street
• Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant – 500 West Grove Street
• Peaceful Meadows Ice Cream – 109 West Grove Street

Pets need things too – and we know from personal experience – they expect gifts for their birthdays and holidays.

• The Pet Food Shoppe – Route 44, Lakeville
• The Pet Salon – 122 East Grove Street

Have family coming into town for the holidays? Don’t want them mooching off of you? Point them towards one of Middleboro’s Bed and Breakfasts…

• On Cranberry Pond – 43 Fuller Street
• Rock Village Bed and Breakfast – 109 Miller Street

And, finally: Think out of the box with your gift-giving this year…

• Need someone who has lots of cricks and pains? Mary Barry Massage Therapy can work out the physical stresses
• Know someone who loves going to Soule Homestead? Buy them a one year membership
• Know someone who needs a new hair-do? Get them a gift certificate to one of the many fine hairdressers or barbers in town
• Your significant other complaining that the house is too cold? Get them a wood stove at Woodstoves and Fireplaces Unlimited
• Maybe someone on your gift list is an archaeology buff? Give them a membership to the Massachusetts Archaeological Society
• The chef in the family is begging for a new kitchen? Buy them some time with the consultants SouthCoast Kitchen Designs

The above lists are just small samplings of some of the terrific businesses that are right here where you live. Mark Belanger put it best in his column in the Middleboro Gazette:

Consider the cost of driving out of town to buy something. Consider the hassle of returning it. Consider the benefit to the shopkeepers who have invested in our town by having a business here. Consider the jobs that your purchses support…You have nothing to lose by checking out the local offerings and see how they compare with the Walmarts and Amazons of the world.

Spread a little holiday cheer this year by supporting a Middleboro or Lakeville business.

Don’t forget… these businesses are here year-round. Keep them in mind for birthdays, anniversaries and pretty much any other shopping you might need to do throughout the year.