Well,  I didn’t have time to do a video this week.  Actually I didn’t have anything worth doing a video on.  I was working on getting the house ready for the people who will come stay in it while I’m gone. Surprisingly it requires a lot of cleaning(Akela Disagrees) and de-cluttering.  The person who is coming was my mother’s cleaning lady for a number of years, so I know she will have a keen eye for dirt and disorganization.  And since she hasn’t actually been here before, I would be slightly upset if she turned around and left because it wasn’t up to her standards.

Also, I have been working hard on the Wolf Pup.  I’m hoping to get it out and camping the week after Labor Day.  I have a good portion of the solar changes and electrical wiring done, but still have to get the panels mounted and those wires run.  So that is a future video that may not actually happen until Thanksgiving.  So many new parts and pieces for the Wolf Pup that need to be bought and delivered!

And, Amazon and I are not on friendly terms.  They threw me off the “Affiliate Program” where if you buy stuff off my channel or website they give a me a 2-3% commission for sending you to them.  I’m not really sure why they threw me off.  All they will say is I violated their “Terms of Service”.  There was no warning, no discussion or anything. I went through the appeal process, but they came back with the same answer. “A Violation of Terms of Service” .   No “strikes” or “citation” or warning. (I’m getting a complex)  And they cut me out back in February.   They usually pay their commissions 3 months late, after any possible returns have been received.  In April I got nothing from them and I went online and it said my payment method wasn’t completed.  Not sure how that happened, but I re-filled it out.  Then in May I still didn’t get anything and I contacted them and they sent me a reply that there had been a problem and my commissions would be added to the June payment.

June came and they sent me a notice that I had violated their “Terms of Service “ and I need to stop using the word Amazon in any of my videos, writings, or discussion of where to buy stuff.  Ya right!  Like they can stop all that.  And of course I have 600 videos with 7-12 links each to their  items.   Anyway I did shut down the “Shopping” page here on the website of Amazon items (well almost everything).  

A number of good companies  will pay a slightly better commission  (10-25%) for reviews of their merchandise.   And they are good products I actually use and do like. So I will switch over to them.  Before I think that was in the Amazon “Terms of Service” you could NOT do.  So you will see that in the RV Essentials shopping page.  But it will only be things I use and feel are a good quality buy.  Many will also give YOU a 10-15% discount for coming from my site.   Most are cheaper than the Amazon listing of the same thing.  And since it seems like Amazon no longer does 2 day shipping (not to me anyway). Might as well buy direct from the manufacturer.  Buying from the Manufacturer allows you to automatically be registered for any warranty or support issues.  More on these items later.  Basically it is a lot of stuff I’m installing in the Wolf Pup like Solar Panels, Lithium Batteries, Camp Chairs, etc. But I’m not going to change the channel to a QVC channel!!!  That is absolutely for sure!!

And on another money related note….. Similar to Amazon, YouTube pays a few months behind.  So you may know,  I started the “THANK$” button thing and people have been very generous. You can’t understand how that helps.  Both Mentally and Financially!  But I see what everyone gives, and then it didn’t add up when YouTube pays it out.  So I contacted YouTube and they “Disclosed” that they take 30%, and then there are fees and costs that are associated with different types of transactions.   Talk about money hungry oversized companies.  SO screw you Google. 

As a result, I’ve placed a PayPal  “Tip Jar”  on the website here.  If you look at the very top of the page, there is a “$$ Make a Donation $$” link.  That will take you to a PayPal donation page that will go directly to our special account  just for this channel and no money goes anywhere but to me!  (Well, 40% goes to me, the rest goes to Akela’s  “Stick Bank” and Biscuit fund)  So I wanted to let you know.  I’ll leave the “THANK$” button up in case that is just easier for people, and you do get “Credit” for the donation.  It also gives you special privileges during Live streams. All this will be in the next video, as soon as I get it out.  Probably next week, but late since I’ll be on the  road.

Anyways, I wanted to tell you that so you knew.  I know there are only about 60 people that come over here from the Channel, but you are definitely some of my best viewers.  Anyway,  we are headed out on the road tomorrow back up to New York  through West Virginia and PA, for some serious “End of  Season” camping and a visit with my younger brother and his blueberry patch.  And then attend  #1 son’s wedding!   So lots of videos to pull together as we will be camping at 10 different campgrounds in the month of August.  Maybe even more if the ones I have on my route aren’t very good.

So stay tuned, maybe Akela will surprise me with a quick video about what we have been doing!!

Thanks folks,  We hope to see you on the road!

Rick & Akela
GoingNoWhereFast