September 22, 2005
was reading the readers' responses on their personal experiences to last week's Urban coverage on Singapore's service attitude at high-end boutiques in this week's Urban.
one response that really struck me was that by this student called Fiona Low.
"We went first to the store at Wheelock Place in our school uniforms. The salespeople were unhelpful and unwilling to check for the stock of the design we wanted. While trying the sandals, a salesgirl informed us that that the shop was not a 'showcase' and that she knew of many students who came into the shop just to try out sizes before ordering the sandles online.[they later went to the Tanglin Mall after being snubbed]Initially, the salesgirl was friendly but with each request for a different sandal, she became increasingly rude.. she began slamming the cupboard doors and showing the sandals at our feet... As we got up to leave, the salesgirl started hurling a similar accusation as her Wheelock Place colleague.[they eventually still decided to go back to Tanglin Mall to get the pair they just reserved]When my friend [the one who is buying] asked the salesgirl to show her the shoes in 2 different colors, she shouted at us and demanded to know exactly how many pairs of shoes we intended to try. When a woman [supposedly the manager]... asked the salesgirl to apologize... the latter refused. To our surprise [and to my horror too], instead of reprimanding her staff, the staff manager turned to us and warned us that if we were to leave the store without buying a pair of shoes, she would notify our school. What made matters worse was that the salesgirl began taking pictures of us using her mobile phone without asking for our permission. We soon found out that this was done under the instruction of the manager. I questioned the manager, to whichshe replied :"You're in my shop, I can do whatever I want." My friend decided to make her purchase..the manager informed us that she did not feel like seeling us the pair of sandals anymore. She hollered at us to "get out" or she would call the security.
Tsk! What a great way of glorifying Singapore's service industry. Are you sure Singapore should venture into this sector? Seems like with feedback and comments like these, Singapore would do better by sticking to old manufacturing industries. This way you don't hurt people with caustic remarks and behaviour. What a shame. What a sham.
The most irritating part is the reason those 2 girls were being snubbed - they are in school uniform. Well, frankly, any retail related personnel would have realized that young people, especially the schooling ones are the people that are most willing to spend. By looking down on us, and therefore incurring our wrath isn't a very smart thing to do. I'm kinda waiting to see this bad publicity clout their shops and eventually leading to their downfall.
personally i havent faced much a problem.mayb it's cos i hardly shop and i don't exactly like to be tagged along while shopping.i'm even fine if i'm not greeted at all.i like to just zip in and zip out asap.and i think i've got the habit of giving the evil eye to any salesperson that comes tagging after me (like the one at Guess? when i was looking at their wallets and bags).moreover i try to avoid high end shops since their price tags don't exactly fit into my wallets.
the only experience i had with such a shop was pretty pleasant too.that was all the way back in sec 3 when me ryan n emme got pastor a hugo boss tie on behalf of the cellgroup.we were really in the worst state of shopping, esp me n emme who were in tshirts and shorts and slippers.we looked like we just came back from sentosa and came to hugo boss only to chill out and enjoy the aircon.but nevertheless the salespeople were nice.at least i felt that they were then since as i mentioned, i hardly visit such stores.we were having a hard time choosing the right tie since we hardly knew his style and he seems to wear anything.so the sales assistants were really nice to help us choose by asking us about pastor.it was overall a great experience and i kinda liked hugo boss from then on.
another reason is probably cos of my school uniform and the people i usually go shopping with?im sure the ij and ac uniform does say a lot, especially the latter.well,it's a stereotypical view,but it still helps you know?put an ac and say yj student in louis vuitton.who do you think will be served with all honour?i dont need a rocket scientist or black holes investigator that graduates from cambridge at 21 with an phd to know.
in addition the people i used to go shopping with (or some used to be when i was in that blue pinafore and belt that was meant to be at the waist) are people like felice, rac, jas, mal, qi, cin, perlynn and pau who are pretty and chic and carry themselves in a haughty enough manner to counteract all those terrible salespeople.in addition, we're so loud and competent about complaining out loud that it's little wonder that we hardly faced any problems.
those that i go out with now dont pale in comparism - ms krystle aka pai ka is dressed in branded by top to toe (im sure those nail art jewels on her nails that i just imagined out of nowhere are either crystals or gem stones.cant be anything cheaper than that.if not it'll be cause allergic reaction to her painted nails.hahaha!).i cant exactly remember who are my other shopping khakis cos i havent done any serious shopping in centuries.all thanks to prelims and A levels.rah.
so anyway..i've digressed too much to praise my friends till they're on cloud nine now.singaporean salespeople should really wake up their idea about their service attitudes. classy and expensive boutiques that never sell articles below 3 digits (i wanted to say 4 digits.but some wallets arent that expensive.they're just 999 for the simplest, ugliest and was from 10 seasons ago) ought to be most ashamed.these shops are the ones that seemingly provide the best services in town and yet are highly complained against, even by our own well-to-do Singaporeans that could have easily bought articles more 3 months the salesperson's salaries had they not been pissed off by that very sale person's attitude.
i've just thought of a plan to make those irritating salespeople (if they still, God forbids, exist in singapore's service industry) bite their tongue for snubbing people.i'll go from one shop to another, clad in just tanktop, shorts, slippers (all which hopefully are branded rugged wear), and complain loudly over the phone that i wont buy the [insert whatever article] i've just seen even though it's $3000 cheaper than the one i didnt really fancy in [insert expensive brand e.g. fendi, prada, louis vuitton etc] because of their really terrible attitude.i'll purposefully ask my friend to check out if they're any regional offices in charge so that i can complain about [insert the sale assistant's name].if the salesgirl/guy isnt wear a tag, i'll be thick skinned enough to ask her or him for his name and reply back into the phone that that's the name i wish to complain about. if my friend tells me theres no regional office representative i can contact, i'll just calmly put down my phone and enquire with the salesperson how i can complain about her attitude to her manager. and if the manager rebutts me like how the one in the excerpt did to those 2 poor girls, i'll feedback ALL THE WAY back to the main office of the establishment and demand for an PUBLIC apology and compensation for the trauma i've experienced, preferably the $10000 bag i've seen on their latest season launch in milan.and if im ticked enough,i'll request for an write up with my friends in local and foreign media, just like how oprah is lashing out at hermes (not her-mes, nor hor-meh but air-mez).
nevertheless, that plan can only be successful on the follow conditions:
1. i must REALLY be rich enough. at least a few millions to my name
2. i must have journalist friends or friends dabbling in media. time to widen my circle.
3. i should at least have some social standing so that people will notice my cause.
alright. the 2nd one is the only easily fulfilled one. first one can be done if i just marry a rich guy. 3rd one? mayb it'll come with the marriage.
nevertheless. i digressed again. darn. this entry is gettin really long.i like what pastor kong n yock kiang always say, "turn to your neighbours and tell them to buckle up cos i've just finished the intro and we'll going onto serious stuff now." but chill all you who are getting bored.im closing up soon. i've afterall missed 2 sessions of mugging already.
all the other salesperson hanging out there, whether you're that irritating auntie at the cheap jewellery section in isetan basement, wisma atria, or that pretty cashier at future state, wisma atria, please do something to make my shopping experience better. please dont make me feel that tearing up whatever you're selling before i leave your department or store. please make me feel proud to say that singapore is a shopping paradise.
everytime me krys and anna talk about shopping, we'll never forget taiwan. the sales people in the departmental store were so friendly that i can practically regard that a culture shock, as much as people from europe are shocked that africans are so dark when they first stepped into the latter's land. their service is practically unheard of in the departmental stores like metro, isetan or og (aka old girl. hahaha!). here, all you find are bored freshly A levels graduated part timer grudgingly sitting at that stila makeup counter and fixing up her own eyelashes. sigh. i rather go shop in taiwan. at least i can see jiabao there.
haha. that last line is just a pure joke. seriously dont take me too seriously.
alright. enough of my ranting. it's just too long.
Michelle called at
10:20 AM
September 21, 2005
i've officially shifted the high gear to race towards my finishing line of the year - the As.well.. the As in 2 ways, firstly the A levels, and all the As i want to, i must and i will get.
in case anyone is conceiving the yeah-right-you're-so-hardworking-but-hello-you're-online idea,im just on my break now.heh.alright alright.i took a break 12 mins too early..but thats only cos physics is really scorching my brain.
yea.im really working hard on my fysics (no typo error there.its just a representation for the grades.rah.).had 4 straight hours of tuition k?really exhausting man.and i was so cold that i literally turned purple.its so freaking to see my nails turn purple.i mean..the only purple nails i've seen so far is on ben cos hes thalassaemia minor.
alright.im bored.studying sux.but lets study anyway.
Michelle called at
9:52 AM
September 17, 2005
was on the bus today and nearly wrote out a whole compo on sep 11.it was actually just cos my thoughts about how quiet the bus ride was kinda spilled over to the "day after tomorrow" theme.oh well..mayb one day if the inspiration (and presumably time) allows,i'll jot it down here.
spent a lot of money taking cab to go to mr chan's ulu house.im proud to say that i didnt rely for my parents (cos they're outta town) nor kalam to send me there.*beams*.but the consequence is the cab fare.rah.
the cab uncle was yakking to me about his son,daughter and himself.it was an acsian reunion cos all the mentioned (including myself) are part of the acs family.interesting huh?whats the probability that you walk down the street,bump into someone and find out that you bought were part of the same institutional establishment.
oh wait.that notion doesnt really hold here isnt it?esp since there are 11 IJ schools,6 (and counting) ACS schools,4 raffles schools (dont exclude those little girls from rgps lah) in this tiny island of 4 million people.afterall,just an afternoon stroll down orchard road is guaranteed to be filled with unscheduled reunions with ur kindergarten,primary school,secondary school,junior college (or the poly students.just that jc is more applicable to me) or uni classmate/schoolmate etc."what a coincidence".
haha.funny.the probability is just so much higher compared to anywhere else.
Michelle called at
10:20 PM
September 11, 2005
life since i last blogged has improved tremendously.at least i aint as sentimental n cynical as then.
fri was crazy.both fun and crazily tiring.
did english grammer tuition for 2 hours.it was terribly torturous.whenever i enter the house,i psyche myself to feel energetic and hopeful.but up till now,i've yet to leave the place without feeling irritated and worn out.
then went over to jac's place supposedly to shang chuang with rachel cos she wanted to sleep.ended up studying for a while.
then we being misled into thinking we were going to holland v for dinner in jac's new beetle ended up in grand copthrone's chinese restaurant.the shock,excluding that 4 out of 6 of us were in shorts and slippers,nearly killed us.but what really killed us was the dinner.7 courses..over 400 dollars..and more than enough food to feed 50 of me.i was so full that i swear that the stomachache i had when i slept was due to the food.as a matter of fact,the man of the day was amoz.he bravely helped to clear out what all the girls (there was only 1 poor brother there) could and finish.and he did it without any complaints.im sure he had a worse stomachache.
rushed back to jac's place after that for adults' cellgroup cos my precious taiwaneses were there.adults cg is totally boring.its worse than attending morning assemblies.if it wasnt for rach and amoz that kinda entertained me,i would have just left and go study instead (its really bad cos i actually mentioned that i rather studied).
did i mention?me n amoz were actually crashers at the parents cellgroup n party.all for my precious taiwaneses sakes.joy and rachel are officially rivals over won bin.im anticipating a hair ripping and face scratching fight.so exciting if that happens.me n tiff played on the float in jac's house and we were soaked to the skin.we put up a good fight against all those unscrupulous people who repeatedly tried to overturn us.they are specifically (in descending order of body masses): bro kel,rachel,jac,jocelyn,stephanie,victoria.actually im only sure of the first 2 and the last one.the rest are just in random order (that line of disclaimer is to protect my relationship with my godsisters namely jac n joce.haha!)
yar.so friday was a crazily good day.
yest's significant event was sarah repeatedly advising me to reconcile with someone.sms-ed her on my way home to tell her i'll try my best to make our friendship work.
today was great.
firstly,i managed to sit with the taiwaneses and saw how impacted they were by the service.it was tremendous and i am just waiting to reap them in.and i purposely waved to her.
secondly,my 2 sisters got baptized.im surprised jo neither caused a tsunami nor got baptized before it was her turn.haha!i noticed how bro victor had to continually flash his smile cos he'll b appearing in every photo for the baptism.its quite funny since its rather unnatural.
thirdly,i took time n talked to her.i sure hope things are really turning out fine.
alright.its sucha random post.heh.
Michelle called at
9:29 PM
September 8, 2005 I tried putting my fingers to typing (advanced version of “putting my hand to the pen”) an entry on numerous occasions but I’ve never seem to get pass the edit post page. I’ve got so much to say and yet I can’t be bothered to say. I’ve so much to tell and yet I don’t dare to tell.
Just as I was sitting on my Thinking Chair aka my toilet bowl (those of you who thinks I’m like Blue’s Clues, you can definitely sigh your relieves now), I suddenly felt like starting a new journal. In case you’re fretting over the fact that you have to add Michelle’s new blog to your never ending list of Must-Read-Blogs, don’t worry, I wasn’t thinking of another online journal. I was thinking of a true blue journal, where you literally put your pen to it. But I soon kind of dismissed that idea because if I really write one, I won’t have time to go check on my horrendous spelling.
Well, some may say “Michelle, you’re dumb. Why don’t you just type it on Microsoft Word. You can don’t publish on your blog and yet get your spelling and use of English checked.” Yar dummy, that’s exactly what’s on my mind but I didn’t exactly wanted to spell that out because that’s not the point here.
The point here is that I’m no longer what I believed I was. And that scares me.
I used to be as transparent as a pane of glass. Just read my archives that can date all the way back to my secondary days. I may be quite subtle in some issues, but they’re often laid out for people’s scrutiny. But now, I don’t even dare reveal anymore of my personal life. I’m shutting off. I’m shutting away. I’m afraid who the readers might be. I’m terrified that some, who I’m trying to hide the issue from, will read it. So I struggle whenever I feel like blogging it down.
I envy my sister. She can be found at http://www.whypaymore.blogspot.com (Yes Yes. It’s a ludicrous username. That’s because she’s weird to start with. But don’t entertain the thought that it runs in the genes!) She just writes down whatever her feelings are. But the consequences? People come running and telling me she has problems when I don’t even detect any from seeing her everyday.
Maybe it’s that I don’t like people to think I’ve problems. It’s just a fa?ade that leaders have to hold onto and it’s eating me up along the way. I act like that not only in front my members but also before my leaders. It’s terribly costly and stupid to do the latter but I don’t see myself being freed of that grip yet.
There’s so many things I want to tell Sarah, Leila and Boon Kiat. But there is just something hindering me. And that something is just me.