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Loh Keng Fatt
News Editor, Sunday Times
Don’t be a desperado and turn to Case
June 10, 2009 Wednesday, 04:13 PM
Loh Keng Fatt advises upset consumers to simply vote with their pockets.
IF A nightclub doesn’t want to let you in, so be it. Why bother making a big scene and argue with the bouncer, scream loud threats about complaining to Case or demand to talk to the manager? If the business in question doesn’t want your patronage, move on. There’s no need to be a beggar for its favours. You should be a chooser instead and skip to a place where the staff welcome you - and your spending power. I read recently that an amputee was aggrieved when he was turned away from the Butter Factory nightspot. The employees claimed that his crutches posed a safety threat to other club patrons, among other reasons. The amputee, and his friends, argued with the staff and said they were victims of discrimination and were unfairly barred. I am sure many other people have been in similar situations before where they were denied entry or had to suffer bad service because of a multitude of reasons. It could be the way you look, the way you dress and whether they think you have money, connections or influence. Which is why good-lookers can jump queues to get into clubs. Which is why you may have made a reservation at a restaurant but you don’t get the best seats in the house. The snooty matre’d takes a look at you and your party, and think you folks are not good enough to land the choice spots. Last week, at a popular restaurant in Cuscaden Road, the staff directed my party of four to the worst spot you can think of - next to where they stacked up the menus and ketchup bottles - even though a reservation had been made a week before. I wanted to kick up a fuss but I did not want to spoil the night for the rest in the group. Suffice to say, I am not going back there again. My point is, consumers must have pride and self-esteem. And believe me, they deserve better when they spend their hard-earned money, especially in a downturn. If you are getting lousy service, by all means, do not be shy about protecting your own interest. Which means rejecting a drink if it comes in a chipped glass - like what my son was served with at that Cuscaden joint. But save your breath if the establishment does not want to let you into its premises. It really has the right to decide who it wants to serve. And if it thinks it makes sense to turn away your good money, so be it. There’s no need to be a desperado and appeal to its haughty staff to let you in. You just move on to a place where you are welcomed. Tags: culture, singapore
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it's ironic that you give this advice while griping over coffeeshops which are not fully 24/7. Shouldn't the same rule apply???
There should be a CASE website providing a platform for consumers to name the establishment and the specific circumstances of their experience. Users could vote to decide whether they agree with the establishment or the person complaining, With sufficient members, boycotts could change the way establishments behave.
Whether CASE should be privy to the complainant's identity is a different topic altogether. On one hand - malevolent complaints by competirors. On the other - if you ain't got the money, don't complain coz we do and we'll sue you for whatever and you can't even afford the legal fees to represent your case.
To Matahari> How about when Mr. Loh was denied employment because he is old? Should he bring his resume elsewhere?
Ok, so the topic is not about senior citizens.
Ok - let me rephase the question - so how about hundreds of Singaporeans who are denined employment because they are disabled?
Ok, so the topic is not about employment. It's about entry to an establishment who has the right to refuse entry to anyone REGARDLESS OF REASON.
So how about I build a club and refuse entry to people of different race other than mine?
a..a...a...REGARDLESS OF REASON?
We built this nation around the idea of racial harmony...but when it comes to building harmonious relationships with our seniors, gay and disabled, very few seem to give a ****.
Whenever I get lousy service at restuarants, I'll write about about it in some food bloggers comments to alert others of bad service in the restuarant.
I have nothing against the poor amputee. I feel sorry for him.
But why go to a night spot where it's crowded , noisy and most all all to a place that pose a safety hazard to his well being.
What happens if he is crushed during a stampede , who is responsible for his safety ?
Let's not forget society is slowly and surely moving towards a sue and be sued mentality. From a business perspective perhaps the night spot is taking some precuationary measures.
I think the writer has his point. Bring your money elsewhere.
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