overcharged at open-air kopitiam
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Reader Eve had to pay $2.50 for a can of green tea, $1 more than the actual price because of this tout. Reader Eve had to pay $1 more for canned green tea at open-air kopitiam.Singapore, November 23, 2009 - Reader Eve wrote to soshiok.com recently to complain about how she was overcharged for two cans of green tea at an open-air coffeeshop next to Concorde Hotel in Orchard Road.
A waitress (apparently a China national) charged her $2.50 for each can. But Eve found out later at the drinks stall that the right price should be $1.50.
She also discovered that the wait staff wasn't exactly working at the drinks stall - she was seen walking back to the noodle stall.
It is likely the drinks and noodle stalls were run by the same operator as all the wait staff there wore the same T-shirt uniform.
Some possibilities: the waitress pocketed the difference of $1 to earn a quick buck; she's not aware of the right price or she confused it with the prices of other drinks.
Whatever it is, here's Eve's account of what happened:
"I want to share my "green tea" incident with fellow Singaporeans and all who log on to soshiok.com.
On 31 October at about 1.30am, my friend and I headed for the open air kopitiam at the side of Concorde Hotel (or the previous Meridien Hotel) for supper. We decided to order Bak Chor noodles and found a table and took our seats.
Then came a womany (Chinese national) who was wearing the kopitiam's uniform and she asked if we would like to order drinks. We did and ordered two cans of green tea. Imagine our shock when she brought the drinks and told us that they cost us S$5.00!! That is S$2.50 a can!!
I am not a foreigner - I have been liviing in Singapore all my life. I have never come across any coffeeshop or even foodcourt (airconditioned) that charges this kind of price for a can of green tea! Restaurants maybe but it's definitely a ridiculous price for a normal kopitiam.
We reluctantly paid her and watched her walked away with our money. We assumed that she worked for the drinks stall. It was then we realized that she did not walk back to the drinks stall (one and only there) but instead, to a stall that sold noodles.
Puzzled, we approached the drinks stall (above) and checked the price for the same can of green tea that we ordered and it cost only S$1.50!!
Now, isn't it strange that this kopitiam or open air food court (whatever you would like to call it) have their staff wearing the same uniform and going around taking orders but charging different prices?
And we are not even talking about 20 - 50 cents more. We are talking about a dollar more per can of drink!
I totally understand that at a lot of places, different stalls might charge different prices for the same item. However, how are we supposed to differentiate their workers if they all wore the same uniform?
I felt totally duped. I can imagine that if I am a foreigner, I wouldn't be surprised if this particular "cut throat" stall would charge me S$5 per can of green tea. This is definitely ridiculous and I hope that no other fellow Singaporean or tourist have gone through the same "scam".
I took some pictures of the woman who served us our very expensive drink, as well as another staff (above, right) that worked there but for the drinks stall.
You might notice that they were wearing the same uniform. Beats me how they justify the difference in pricing. A pity because the food was quite nice but I wouldn't patronize them ever again." -
hahahahaha...
a local kena chop in ur own country by a foreigner...
well done singapore!
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smart leh.
even PSLE top student oso her �乡 -
If I am her I will not pay lor. I will have went to the drink stall and ask them why its so expensive
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Move aside Newton touts.
Your jobs are also not safe.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Move aside Newton touts.
Your jobs are also not safe.
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$1 for the cup and ice.
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Originally posted by FireIce:
$1 for the cup and ice.
I give the benefit of the doubt to the PRC girl.
Maybe she just arrived in singapore recently and was not sure of the currency or the amount to be charged for the drinks.
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Maybe it was the noodles that they ate? or service charge for delivering the drink?
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I see format problem
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She gives her boss $1.50 and pockets the extra $1.00
I have seen PRC doing it in Breadtalk too, they don't enter the sale and pockets the money.
PRC entrepreneurship at it's best.
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customer kena pawned by same clothes
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cho pai hang cheng
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The wonder of all wonders should be the stomper, who only checked the price and took a picture of the PRC girl, and then post at sammyboy.
She should have rant there at the scene, than go on-line and rant.
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Soon PRC will invade Sg liao
no more place for us to stand and zzz
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
Soon PRC will invade Sg liao
no more place for us to stand and zzz
simi soon
it's happening right now -
Originally posted by noahnoah:
Soon PRC will invade Sg liao
no more place for us to stand and zzz
You first day living in sg?
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and u just see the chinagal take your money away?didnt u go ask for the price u ordered ????if its not as stated please send a complain today to CASE!u icant let them get away with it...even oil sheikhs from arabia dun give so much for a can of cola!
no use advertising this in cyberspace,,,,go back first thing on werk day and complain on the stall...time and case!!yes !!!do it!
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Originally posted by TownLink 291:
I see format problem
ok lah, not posting stomp article anyway, but to TS, try to post stomp articles next time
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knn la, ask us to embrace the 'foreign talents'. come on, you dont need much 'talent' to serve drinks at a kopitiam
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Originally posted by FireIce:
$1 for the cup and ice.
Maybe.