We understand the importance of getting and keeping a customer. We pride ourselves on our customer service and want to help you any way we can. So why choose FSP?
We have been in business (and firefighter owned) since 1987, that’s over 22 years, serving public safety (fire, police, EMS) individuals and organizations. Our staff has been together for over 5 years, so you get a voice you know whenever you give us a call and a face you recognize any time you stop by. Our product line has been fairly constant: books, videos, software. Our business model is simple: get a customer, offer them excellent service, and the customer will be back. In fact, a high percentage of orders are from existing customers, or referrals.
We started our website over 10 years ago. To this day we continually adapt to customer needs, such as the newly added Public Information Officer / Media Relations section to help fire, police, and EMS deal with the press. Our website is updated daily, so NEW really means new, and cross referenced in as many ways possible to help make it easy to use. We constantly get praise for our website, but want to know what you think.
We're also trying to take advantage of the technology available. Things like this blog, Facebook and Twitter allow our customers many different ways to access us. Hopefully you also get to know the people behind FSP a littel better. We're always looking for suggestions from our customers also.
We keep almost 100% of our products in stock and ready to ship. You’ll never see the standard line: “ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY”. In almost all cases if you get the order to us by noon (Eastern time), we’ll ship it that day. Need something fast? Give us a call and we'll help you the best we can. Next day and 2nd day air shipping is available.
We can work with your department to put together a first class station library. We carry all major publishers and producers so FSP can be your one-stop shopping. If you've received grant money we can help you determine what will get the most bang for your buck. Give us a call or drop us an email and we can help you out.
I know we say it a lot, but we really do appreciate customer feedback. Email us, Tweet us (@FSPbooks), leave us a message on Facebook, leave comments here, or give us a call.
Visit us online at www.fire-police-ems.com.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Few Quick Thoughts
Ripping off Peter King's Things I Think I Think before heading off for vacation...
1. We're always looking to carry new books, DVDs, software, etc. Technology is a wonderful thing. Its given us do-it-yourself DVD producing and burning on the computer and print on demand publishing. We try to keep up with everything the best we can, but I'm easily distracted. If you have something new you think we should be carrying, please call, email support@fire-police-ems.com, or check the website for submission guidelines. We've found out about many of our current products this way.
2. We love feedback and are want to hear from YOU, the customer. We want FSP to evolve to meet your needs so if you have comments, praise, suggestions, anything, let us know. Email, call, or leave a comment here.
3. We also want to do all we can to help departments out in this economy. If you're updating your station library, writing a grant, or giving a promotional test let us know. We'll do our best to maximize your budget and save you money. FSP is also one stop shopping. We carry all major publishers of fire, police and EMS books.
4. We're looking to make things more interactive, allowing customers to share ideas, studying strategies, and more. Become a friend of FSP on Facebook and feel free to post on the discussion board.
5. The new catalog mailed out last week, and we already have a number of new products that didn't make it in. If you don't get the catalog in the next couple weeks, let us know. And if you want to know whats new click here.
6. In the last month we've offered $5 off and 5% off coupons. Follow us on Twitter for special deals and Twitter only coupons. And let us lnow your thoughts @FSPbooks.
7. If you don't get our email blast, FSP NewsNotes, you can sign up on our website or by sending an email to support@fire-police-ems.com with "NewsNotes signup" as the subject. The NewsNotes is sent twice a month and covers new products, FSP news, and featured subjects. So far this summer we've been featuring different regions in every newsletter. If you want to get a feel for it, they're archived here.
8. If there are any subjects you'd like to see discussed in the blog, or featured in the NewsNotes, let us know. I struggle for ideas sometimes, but would love to know what you want to read about.
9. Just a reminder most orders placed by noon eastern time ship the same day. And orders can be placed online 24 hours a day at www.fire-police-ems.com.
10. Thinking of doing firefighting, police and EMS links posts at some point. Leave comments with your favorite links. Thanks and stay safe!
1. We're always looking to carry new books, DVDs, software, etc. Technology is a wonderful thing. Its given us do-it-yourself DVD producing and burning on the computer and print on demand publishing. We try to keep up with everything the best we can, but I'm easily distracted. If you have something new you think we should be carrying, please call, email support@fire-police-ems.com, or check the website for submission guidelines. We've found out about many of our current products this way.
2. We love feedback and are want to hear from YOU, the customer. We want FSP to evolve to meet your needs so if you have comments, praise, suggestions, anything, let us know. Email, call, or leave a comment here.
3. We also want to do all we can to help departments out in this economy. If you're updating your station library, writing a grant, or giving a promotional test let us know. We'll do our best to maximize your budget and save you money. FSP is also one stop shopping. We carry all major publishers of fire, police and EMS books.
4. We're looking to make things more interactive, allowing customers to share ideas, studying strategies, and more. Become a friend of FSP on Facebook and feel free to post on the discussion board.
5. The new catalog mailed out last week, and we already have a number of new products that didn't make it in. If you don't get the catalog in the next couple weeks, let us know. And if you want to know whats new click here.
6. In the last month we've offered $5 off and 5% off coupons. Follow us on Twitter for special deals and Twitter only coupons. And let us lnow your thoughts @FSPbooks.
7. If you don't get our email blast, FSP NewsNotes, you can sign up on our website or by sending an email to support@fire-police-ems.com with "NewsNotes signup" as the subject. The NewsNotes is sent twice a month and covers new products, FSP news, and featured subjects. So far this summer we've been featuring different regions in every newsletter. If you want to get a feel for it, they're archived here.
8. If there are any subjects you'd like to see discussed in the blog, or featured in the NewsNotes, let us know. I struggle for ideas sometimes, but would love to know what you want to read about.
9. Just a reminder most orders placed by noon eastern time ship the same day. And orders can be placed online 24 hours a day at www.fire-police-ems.com.
10. Thinking of doing firefighting, police and EMS links posts at some point. Leave comments with your favorite links. Thanks and stay safe!
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Best Ways To Study
Over the years there has been one question we get time and time again around exam time. How would you recommend I study? Should I use study guides, or software, or both? If I had the million dollar answer, college would've been a lot easier (and shorter) but we can give you some advice.
Should I buy study guides? The salesman in me says of course you should. But honestly, its personal choice. If someone is hesitant to buy study guides I usually tell them to buy the books, go over the books, and then buy study guides if they feel they need some more reinforcement. Its a catch 22, if you buy the books with the study guides you save money. But if you don't need the study guides you feel like you wasted the money. This is another reason we try to run as many discounts and specials as we can during exam time (follow us on Twitter for even more discounts and sales). I'd guess 70% of those studying buy some form of study guide, with maybe 10% buying every available study guide.
Should I buy print or software study guides? Again this is a personal choice. Each has pros and cons. Software is a little more versatile, allowing you to mix up questions from all chapters to form a test, or allowing you to print flash cards. But, and in my opinion this is a big but, do you want to be stuck in the house all summer staring at a computer? The biggest benefit to the print study guides is their mobility. You can curl it up, stick it in your back pocket, and lounge on the beach in Maine, lay down in the hammock on your back yard or take it fishing down the Cape with you. Try doing that with a laptop.
Do I even need the texts? Many have tried to pass with only the study guides. Most have been unsuccessful. I'm yet to hear of anyone doing well while only using study guides. I'm sure it has happened but those successes are few and far between.
What other advice do you have? Over the years we've gotten the most positive feedback from people who used study groups. For the group to be successful, you have to choose your group wisely. First, keep the group small, no more than 5-6 people so everyone can have their say. Second, as much as they may be your friends, choose people you won't be competing against. This means you may have to find people who are on different departments. You don't want it to be a competitive atmosphere, you want it to be beneficial to everyone involved. Third, no one gets to miss a meeting. If someone is sick in bed, the whole group meets in their bedroom (and someone brings chicken soup). Sometimes it takes trading shifts, but it only works if everyone is dedicated.
We want to hear what has helped you. Either post it in the comments or add it to the discussion board on the FSP Facebook page (make sure its the one with posts, we somehow ended up with 2 pages). You can find all you study needs at www.fire-police-ems.com. And if you have any questions or comments let us know through email, by phone, in the comments section or with Twitter.
Should I buy study guides? The salesman in me says of course you should. But honestly, its personal choice. If someone is hesitant to buy study guides I usually tell them to buy the books, go over the books, and then buy study guides if they feel they need some more reinforcement. Its a catch 22, if you buy the books with the study guides you save money. But if you don't need the study guides you feel like you wasted the money. This is another reason we try to run as many discounts and specials as we can during exam time (follow us on Twitter for even more discounts and sales). I'd guess 70% of those studying buy some form of study guide, with maybe 10% buying every available study guide.
Should I buy print or software study guides? Again this is a personal choice. Each has pros and cons. Software is a little more versatile, allowing you to mix up questions from all chapters to form a test, or allowing you to print flash cards. But, and in my opinion this is a big but, do you want to be stuck in the house all summer staring at a computer? The biggest benefit to the print study guides is their mobility. You can curl it up, stick it in your back pocket, and lounge on the beach in Maine, lay down in the hammock on your back yard or take it fishing down the Cape with you. Try doing that with a laptop.
Do I even need the texts? Many have tried to pass with only the study guides. Most have been unsuccessful. I'm yet to hear of anyone doing well while only using study guides. I'm sure it has happened but those successes are few and far between.
What other advice do you have? Over the years we've gotten the most positive feedback from people who used study groups. For the group to be successful, you have to choose your group wisely. First, keep the group small, no more than 5-6 people so everyone can have their say. Second, as much as they may be your friends, choose people you won't be competing against. This means you may have to find people who are on different departments. You don't want it to be a competitive atmosphere, you want it to be beneficial to everyone involved. Third, no one gets to miss a meeting. If someone is sick in bed, the whole group meets in their bedroom (and someone brings chicken soup). Sometimes it takes trading shifts, but it only works if everyone is dedicated.
We want to hear what has helped you. Either post it in the comments or add it to the discussion board on the FSP Facebook page (make sure its the one with posts, we somehow ended up with 2 pages). You can find all you study needs at www.fire-police-ems.com. And if you have any questions or comments let us know through email, by phone, in the comments section or with Twitter.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Hot Summer Reading
Finally the sun has come out in Massachusetts, which reminded us that its actually summer. Looking for good books to read while lounging in the hammock or on the beach? We've got a few suggestions to go along with our previously mentioned must read fire books and our favorites listed on our website.
First off, DMC Books has released two new recommended books. Lights & Sirens follows Pat Burns' career on the Chicago Fire Department. Flames and arsonists, life and death, humor and tragedy were all parts of Pat's career chronicled in this book.
Also from DMC comes Phil Burns' second book of stories from his career on FDNY, Bringing Everybody Home. This is the followup to Laughter, Tears and Muffled Drums and once again Phil demonstrates his gift for capturing the moments in his fellow firefighter's lives.
Public Enemies is sure to be one of the biggest movies of the summer. But can you watch it while lounging in the back yard? The book is an astonishing true-life account of America's first, and greatest, war on crime. teh author puts to rest many of the myths to tell the true story of J. Edgar Hoover, the beginnings of the FBI, and America's emerging underworld.
Rescue Men covers three generations, over sixty years, of service on the Boston Fire Department. Rescue Men captures the sense of belonging that came with being a firefighter and captures what its really like.
EMT Kelly Grayson tells stories from his profession and the people he encounters everyday in his book En Route. Morgan Larence's The Streets Ran Red is an account of deputy sheriff paramedics and the cast of medical experts who help them save lives. My Ambulance Education looks at life as a New York City EMT.
Finally, if you're going to be visiting Boston you may want to check out Returning To Quarters. this reference to all Boston Firehouses can help you create your own firehouse tour! If your visiting New York, bring along the Firefighting Buff's Guide To NYC to help guide you.
Fianlly, a little off subject, we recently got in stock the highly recommended Hybrid Vehicle High Voltage / SRS Shutdown. If your first responders aren't fully prepared to deal with hybrid vehicles it could lead to serious injury. This guide contains step by step instructions to quickly shut down hybrid vehicles. Lets keep everyone safe, so they can spend the summer lounging in the hammock.
We're always open to suggestions, either via email or left as comments to the blog. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FSPbooks. We anounce new books, special deals, and whatever else is on our minds there.
9suhrt3wxi
First off, DMC Books has released two new recommended books. Lights & Sirens follows Pat Burns' career on the Chicago Fire Department. Flames and arsonists, life and death, humor and tragedy were all parts of Pat's career chronicled in this book.
Also from DMC comes Phil Burns' second book of stories from his career on FDNY, Bringing Everybody Home. This is the followup to Laughter, Tears and Muffled Drums and once again Phil demonstrates his gift for capturing the moments in his fellow firefighter's lives.
Public Enemies is sure to be one of the biggest movies of the summer. But can you watch it while lounging in the back yard? The book is an astonishing true-life account of America's first, and greatest, war on crime. teh author puts to rest many of the myths to tell the true story of J. Edgar Hoover, the beginnings of the FBI, and America's emerging underworld.
Rescue Men covers three generations, over sixty years, of service on the Boston Fire Department. Rescue Men captures the sense of belonging that came with being a firefighter and captures what its really like.
EMT Kelly Grayson tells stories from his profession and the people he encounters everyday in his book En Route. Morgan Larence's The Streets Ran Red is an account of deputy sheriff paramedics and the cast of medical experts who help them save lives. My Ambulance Education looks at life as a New York City EMT.
Finally, if you're going to be visiting Boston you may want to check out Returning To Quarters. this reference to all Boston Firehouses can help you create your own firehouse tour! If your visiting New York, bring along the Firefighting Buff's Guide To NYC to help guide you.
Fianlly, a little off subject, we recently got in stock the highly recommended Hybrid Vehicle High Voltage / SRS Shutdown. If your first responders aren't fully prepared to deal with hybrid vehicles it could lead to serious injury. This guide contains step by step instructions to quickly shut down hybrid vehicles. Lets keep everyone safe, so they can spend the summer lounging in the hammock.
We're always open to suggestions, either via email or left as comments to the blog. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FSPbooks. We anounce new books, special deals, and whatever else is on our minds there.
9suhrt3wxi
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