Good Service, Bad Service - All under 1 roof

Simlim - we all have heard much about it. How it markup their pricing of product before selling it to tourist and stories like that. As much as I could I would try to avoid simlim less the days back in secondary school where simlim is the only place I could get a good deal for my computer parts.

Canon Ixus 100 is was going at $419 at courts and that was the reason I landed myself at simlim once again. peeps on the twitter was sharing with me information that simlim will be able to offer better pricing compared to Courts or major retail and two better name was mentioned.

Visited simlim yesterday and ask around and I was truly flabbergasted by the price ranges from $330 - $380. Even the highest quote is lower than what Major retail can offer, but I did not purchase right away.I was in the "i better look around mood"

Revisited the building during lunch and the experience was a "could have been better".

Shop #1 - "eh what u want" I was already pretty taken back by such "welcome". I told him what I wanted and he started asking me why this model and he started showing me another model and starting to rant in chunk and chunk of hokkien. "Sorry boss, my hokkien is not very good, don't really understand, mandarin is alright for me" He couldn't care less, he continue with his hokkien story and selling the other model, and say that why am I choosing such a lousy model.I ask him if it was $310 which his staff quoted me yesterday and he mention that $310 was before tax and the price should be ...He took out his calculated at this moment and started pressing in front of me,the figure after 7% was $331.70. Instead of offering to round it down he down it up and tell me it is $332.I serious wonder if they are really 7% GST Registered !!!And after mins of debating I told him I only want my Ixus 100. He picked up his phone, dial some numbers and told me - sorry no stock.

Shop #2 - I stepped in and ask him how much is a canon ixus 100 and he took out his sept IT fair price list - "$465 was the IT fair price.. i gib u better deal, $400" And I was trying to explain to him that I was here yesterday and I was quoted a price of $330. So the story goes on "Oh.. I know.. that was yesterday's price, you should have got it yesterday.. today different.. but since u want it, i gib you best price.. $330 before tax. so total $354" It still feels cheaper to me for $354 so I told him i want a set and call it a day. This guy is worst, he is even more persistent than the 1st guy, he took out more cams and tell me how bad Ixus was as it is old and cheap model. Interesting enough, god knows what he did to the Ixus, it looks even worst than my camera phone, totally blur images and not like what I saw from other shop.He took out cables, connect it on the tv, took pictures, zoom in, and tell me this other brand one is better. While in the process of him doing it, I was telling him I am sure I wanted one, I am in a hurry, I am doing lunch time shopping and need to go but in the end i gave up.I did something so rude but I do not feel guilty at ALL, I just walked out while he was talking. Apparently he can't hear what I say so very likely he can't see me as well.. F OFF !

Simlim !!! Seriously why do people even shop there !!

Shop #3 - I was totally disappointed with the kind of services I have gotten but I really wanted this camera and so I decided to give simlim another shot. I step into this certain shop which was mentioned to have a better reputation on cameras. I ask the sales person on the camera and they quoted me $380 without GST which blew me away because that was not the price they quoted me. When I was about to walk out of the shop, another gentleman came over and check with me if I did drop by yesterday and ask about the same product. He told me the best price he could offer was $350 before tax which is a good $374.50 after tax. It's still much cheaper comparing to $419 Courts is offering but they do not have the color I wanted. I would compromise on the color to save $45 anytime and moreover I am not so sure on getting the color I want with courts as this model surely ain't the latest model which explains the lack of choice in colors. He took out a set and show me the function and he also explains to me the spare battery would cost me this amount and so on and so for. Finally, I decided to get the camera from him and call it a day.

I am so telling myself not to return to simlim unless other wise stated. Pfffff..Bad service suck balls !!

Sorry for the serious ranting and wordy post..

Will update with more picture post soon since I have a nice camera now ! = )

Mr.Smith, Bad Service kills customer..

"And now ladies and gentlemen, that's the ugly truth"

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Ma Maison - 1 untrained staff brings the shop down.. = (

Ma Maison - An English Cottage Dining restaurant seated at a little corner of The Central was where I had one of the worst restaurant experience ever~ yes, EVER ~

I know the food quality review is very individual and a very good example is all the review over at hungrygowhereeat.com, you can see review giving certain places a good 9. odd and some giving a below sea level kinda review.

It's really very sad and sorry for me to be unhappy over this popular restaurant just because of 1 staff. I must give credit to the store manager( i suppose, since she wore something different), she was very polite and helpful in all ways.

So here we go about this staff which really turns me off, let's do it in a point form format for easy reader,

1. He has gold in his mouth, he speaks without opening his mouth and with an attitude like "i had a bad day and i do not want to work" ( FYI, it's 6pm when we were there, we were like the 2nd costumer of the day although their reservation list is all full)

2. He do not know anything about the menu - my friend ask about a dish and he say there was no sides for this dish but later we found out that there IS sides for that certain dish. And what happen to me was an epic phail - there was two curry rice on the menu with unknown Japanese description and thus I needed some explanation on the food - 1 was going at $15.80 and the other $14.80 and so the conversation begins

Me : What's this curry rice ?
Him : Curry rice
M: I know, i mean what meat is on it ?
H: (pointing at the picture) this meat
M: okay.. so what meat is this?
H: Pork
M: Okay.. what about the other one
H: Same
M: Same ? So what meat is it ?
H: (pointing at the SAME picture AGAIN) This meat..
M: huh ? you mean this picture is referring to both item ?
H: Yes
M: So both item is the same but comes in different name and price ?
H: Yes, basically it's the same..

I was like 200% confused and heck it i decided to go for the cheaper one.. and when the food came then i realize it is actually CHICKEN and not pork.. so i suppose the other is the pork.. totally lost him..

3. Getting the wrong orders, my friend ask about this certain item and than we drop the idea because he mention there was no sides but the food was still served.. I order a clam chowder and he didn't take it down, but i was too sian by it and didn't want to pursue the item.

4. Argue with the costumer, followup to point no.3 he got the wrong order and we told him and he was like " no, you did order" my friends were nice enough to explain we only ask and did not order kinda thing and he stil give the "I-am-sure-u-ordered" look, but comon, to me is words against words and sorry to say you are in the service line and all you can say is "sorry about it, let me double check" walk away and den later come back with " sorry, i suppose i made a mistake", that's the ugly truth abt service line isn't it ? the customer is ALWAYS rite ? no point questioning the customer's memory rite? And he keep coming with the"no no, U did order". I tried so hard not talking cause i know if i start on him, I will probably not eat there and walk away without paying which I seriously do not wish that to happen. Count yourself lucky ( IF you are reading this)

I guess it's very much where our society is at currently that we can't find TRUE service provider. People in our nation is losing the passion of serving others, we are having this very bad concept that servicing others are "low-class" job and something which do not earn respect which I totally do not agree. Servicing others (well) is a gift, is something that many who are in the industry for X years might not get it but then again a job which pay you $2000 to work 6 days a week which includes weekend comparing to a 8-5, monday - friday job; the choice is pretty obvious and thus many of these jobs are given to our FT which work double hard for half the money. The only pull back is the difference in language which causes bad communication which is a taboo when it comes to servicing.

Oh well, another Chicken and Egg thing which we just can't get out of it THAT easily. And yes i know, I'm not helping by ranting.HAHAHAHAH

Conclusion : Ma Maison - been there, done that, 1 is more than enough. Period

Mr.Smith, Service Line's very own Ugly Truth


"And now ladies and gentlemen, that's the ugly truth"

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