Ahtong 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 (edited) Sibeh no common sense, this pastry shop. No matter what negative feedback customers give you, just thank them for their valued comments and promise to improve so as to serve them better in future. In fact the reply letter can be saved as a standard template. Source Online Only - You mean bloggers can't speak their minds? Letter from Kaelyn Ong 07:30 PM Oct 12, 2009As an avid food blogger, I share my dining experiences (whether good or bad) with my readers. Sometimes, I would also send an email to the restaurants after dining there to offer my thanks and feedback. That was what I did after visiting a local pastry boutique (I will not disclose its name at this point. It will be referred to as "X"). I praised X on its boutique decor and also commented that the desserts can be further improved on. The next day, I was shocked and disappointed to read X's reply. To cut a long email short, the gist is that she has referred my blog url to her legal consultant and wanted me to remove my post within 24hours to avoid any legal proceedings, if any. I was appalled by this and hence, decided to write to this forum as I believe this raised interesting questions that may be of interest to your readers. 1. Are local F&B players that unreceptive to negative feedback? I can understand that owners will naturally be defensive towards their business but criticisms are only meant to spur them on to improve further and add value. If feedback is not appreciated, then won't all the emphasis on good customer service be for naught? In the email, X accused me of influencing the readers and creating a misconception of its reputation. I highly doubt that X's email to me would be the same if I have written a fabulous review on them. Wouldn't that be hypocritical since I can also "influence" others with my good comments? 2. In recent years, food bloggers have been making a splash in the local dining scene. The more established ones have been invited to food tastings by restaurants, all in the hope of attracting more customers. As such, are food bloggers only "allowed" to write raving reviews and avoid negative ones? It disturbed me greatly that X actually wants me to remove my post just because it was not a glowing review. What does this say about free speech then? If bloggers are not permitted to speak their minds without being threatened by potential lawsuits, then what is the point of blogging? Of course, this is on the assumption that bloggers are socially responsible in viewing their views online for all to see. And has this type of incidents happened to other food bloggers before and they have not spoke up about it? Of course, I did not remove the post on X as I believe that nothing I posted can be construed as being libel. Not once did I say any derogatory remarks or discourage readers not to visit X. There is also a disclaimer on my blog saying that all comments are based on personal preference. I have replied X's email yesterday but there has been no reply since. This letter is definitely not a complaint. I am just concerned with this issue and would like to know what the public thinks about it. Food blogging is just a personal interest for many of us; it takes time, effort and commitment to maintain a blog. Page 1 of 1 Edited October 13, 2009 by Ahtong ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altivo 3rd Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 hahaha bro... i've posted this in the Stamford Tyres thread leow... but i think here's better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benarsenal Turbocharged October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Nowadays no corporate responsbility. A bit of criticism also cannot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex250 Clutched October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 any link to this blog? interested to see what was written to get owner so riled up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex250 Clutched October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Oh i found it! http://myfoodsirens.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/obolo/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carndablues Clutched October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Sibeh no common sense, this pastry shop. No matter what negative feedback customers give you, just thank them for their valued comments and promise to improve so as to serve them better in future. In fact the reply letter can be saved as a standard template. Really, no cow sense. Companies should just take constructive feedback and learn, not treat all comments as destructive. That's another shop I won't visit, like Stamford. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angmokio Neutral Newbie October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Really, no cow sense. Companies should just take constructive feedback and learn, not treat all comments as destructive. That's another shop I won't visit, like Stamford. erh, die lah, if pastry shop=1, blogger= 0, then MCF members will be sued until lao sai...because we always bombard AD/ PI. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lab4games 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 good luck to the business... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueray Hypersonic October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Oh i found it! http://myfoodsirens.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/obolo/ blogger's comments look fair to me ... dunno why pastry shop so sensitive ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTF 4th Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Like that also can sue meh? Then SPH and Media-c--k should have received many lawyer's letters liao, maciam X'mas cards! How to improve the culinary skills if the shop can't even take some negative feedback? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felipe 3rd Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 (edited) Do note that SHE wanted you to remove the blog, not her legal consultant. Let her legal consultant contact you about it first then say. I won't even be disappointed. I'll just ignore it cos everyone is entitled to his opinion. If like that, several car forum users get sued upside down by now. Edited October 13, 2009 by Felipe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doosan 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 it seems, to eat in this shop, u die die muz say :"beri good...beri good....beri good........oooh.....bagus. or else, they may even sue u for not saying : beri good......goondo........good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth_mel 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 (edited) Nowadays no corporate responsbility. A bit of criticism also cannot. All learn from Pee Air Pee lah. If you can't win them, sue them. Edited October 13, 2009 by Darth_mel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ahtong 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Author Share October 13, 2009 Shop boss should just create a new dessert called Macaron Siew Dai. How's that for fusion cuisine? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwchan 1st Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 i like to take photo of food during my meals...will i get sue too if my photos are not nice enough? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mits_jc 5th Gear October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 Maybe this particular pastry shop would if you post it online. Because your "not nice enough" pics potentially may influence others to think their creations look like crap! i like to take photo of food during my meals...will i get sue too if my photos are not nice enough? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigershark1976 Turbocharged October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 like that also can get sue??? the blogger simply commented on the food she tasted, if that can caused any legal issue... i better migrate soon... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sting Neutral Newbie October 13, 2009 Share October 13, 2009 think just spread the word and boycott the place - let them suffer .. think they can bully people who threatening to sue.. whole singapore gang up against them ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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