This is what I called bad service.

Recently, my dad booked a package tour for the whole agency and there were some discrepencies with regards to the itinerary. As a consumer, I have to exercise my right to find out what exactly happened. So I emailed the tour agency...bad treatment was all I got.

I wrote:

....

Frankly, we feel cheated after comparing the itineraries. I would like to get a reasonable explanation for the omission of Stone Forest and other places stated above from the tour package and why if we eventually get to go to Stone Forest, we have to pay admission fee. I hope XXX Holiday can honour your mission to provide professional, responsible and honest services to your customers.

Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.


Here's "Bad Service' reply:

It is a pity that your Dad was not able to understand our package very well, although explanations had been repeated to him many times.

We suggest you and your dad may come to our office one more time, and let us explain it to him one more time together with you, that will help yours to understand better.
What about this Saturday? Obviously, you are not cheated ,there is no such things, we only need you people keep clear in mind. Lucky, the tour has not started yet, if you still have lot of questions after our explanation, you may withdraw the tour according to our terms & conditions, maybe this is the best solution.

Thanks

William

I replied:

Hi William

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will be glad to go down to your office to get an explanation. Unfortunately, my father will not be free to be there with me. Please advise on the best time for me to go down to your office.

I would also like to feedback on the email that you have replied me. I, as a customer who is just trying to find out the details, does not deserve to be labelled as "you people". And also, I did not say I was cheated, I was saying I FEEL cheated.

I believe you have your own frustration. From the customer service point of view, what you have replied will only chase customers away instead of keeping them.

I look forward to meeting you on Saturday.

Thank you.

That "unrepentent-bad service" replied:

I fully understand what you are trying to say, no point to talk about the mails word by word , let us meet and talk about your tour on Saturday. Our office hours is from 1030 –1830.

Have a nice day!

William


NOT A WORD OF APOLOGY! Bad service...bad service. I had only wanted an explanation. Not only did I not get what I wanted, I got a customer service-idiot serving me!

The Pressure of Being the Eldest

I am the eldest in my family. I have a sister, 4 years younger than me, and a brother, 8 years younger than me.

Since primary school, I was given an important task to be a role model to my siblings. Initially, I thought that just being myself would be a good enough. However I soon realise it was not so.

At home, I was always the one to be taking over the wok from my mother when she was busy. I was the one who irons all the clothes and the one responsible for all siblings quarrel and anything that went wrong. I have to behave myself or else my siblings will always compare, "Why can big sister do this and why can't I?". When I tried to compare, my parents' answers were always, "Because they are younger than you. You have to set an example." I have lose my previlage to make mistakes.

In school, as all three of us went to the same primary and secondary schools, I have the pressure to do well. I was to set an example to my siblings. Teachers always says, "Your big sister is such a hardworking girl. You must learn from her." I was taught to believe that if I don't do well, my siblings might not too. I was glad I pulled through. I managed to be ahead of them in terms of studies.

My sister and I have reached adulthood and joined the work force. She found a good paying job in a good company. I was giving myself pressure to climb the social ladder faster than her, earn more than her and etc.

I am telling myself to quit giving myself this kind of pressure. But I guess it's a hard-to-quit old habit.

How does the younger ones feel?

2008 Resolutions

This year, I resolute to do the following things. I am announcing to all my friends who read my blog. Please constantly remind me of my resolutions.

1. Lose 10kg by the end of the year. (Today shall be my last day eating after 8pm)
2. Start reading the bible. (I will do that tomorrow.)
3. Finish my bible study. (At least two more books.)
4. Buy an underwater house for my Canon Powershot.
5. Go scuba diving at least once in 2008.
6. Save enough money to backpack in France for two weeks.
7. Finish whatever I resolute to do (all of the above)

My 2008 Countdown...

This year's countdown was a little different from my past years. I had done countdown in Orchard, in a friend's place and of course in dreamland. But this was the first time I ushered in 2008 with my friends from Singapore, Korea and France, via webcam.

I had fun chatting with my friend, Benoit from France. He's my cousin-in-law's buddy. I was getting to enjoy having a webcam. I could do a toast on line with so many people in Loire Valley. I was amazed by how advance technology can be. With Benoit were his other friends, David, Alexandre, Fabrice, Jerome and many many more.

I had wished that I spent my last moment of 2007 with God. But in the end, I was busy on MSN...