Good Service Tax - Crap!!!

I don't get it why do we have to pay extra $$ for GST! Especially when a shop imposed extra percentage for their service tax, but the service given towards the customers are far not better!

Can I refused from paying extra charge for the service rate if the services received is unsatisfactory??

These are what I encountered. Last Friday and today.

Date: 27 April 2012 (Friday)
Location: Challenger @ Tampines One
Issue: Laptop's webcam not working

My sister was having problem with her brand new laptop's webcam. During the purchasing of the laptop, the Sale Officer mentioned that if there's anything wrong, we can just bring it over to the shop. And there we are, at the shop. My mum, younger sis and I went to Customer Service counter, but were greeted from the Chinese male staff with; "You go to that side ar! Coz there's customer waiting for me." To me that was rude enough! With singlish accent, intolerable. Is it due to us being a Malay customer comparing to the customer you were attending to was the same race with you? That is just plainly racist.

Next scene, we just proceed to the next counter as "instructed". A Chinese female staff who were busy repairing an item just carry on to repair without even have the initiative to assist us. So, we approached and I explained on the problem that my sis was facing. I stated; "We are having problem with the webcam." And she asked; "When did you buy?" And I answered; "Somewhere in March." And straight away she claimed that; "Oh! You cannot come here! You need to go to the manufacturer..."

I was still trying to control my emotions, and requested from my sis for the warranty. I read through what were stated loudly so that she can hear me. And what happened next really pissed me off! She called us by "Hello! Hello! Hello!" What the hell?!?! So we just ignored her call and move away from her counter. So we went back to the first counter cause I saw one staff who was friendly and helpful enough. So, I explained the problem. Kindly, this Chinese male staff explained that if it is a hardware problem then we need to go back to the manufacturer but if it is a software, we can just come anytime to Challenger so they can take a look at it! And good thing it is a software problem with the webcam. And less than 5 minutes we are done! Imagine if we were to go to the manufacturer as instructed by the Chinese female staff without knowing it is actually just a software problem!

Date: 30 April 2012 (Monday)
Location: @ Home calling to Herbal Pharm
Issue: Cancelled order was still sent

My mum called over Herbal Pharm to order one of the product around afternoon. So after she received comments from her friends, my mum decided to cancel. And one of the staff did acknowledge on the cancellation. And today, upon reaching home, there it was! The product is on our dining table, dad was at home and he was the one accepting and paid the product. So I straight away call the Hotline number (mobile number) to get their explanation. It took so long to answer for them to answer. And I started my conversation in English, so by right you should reply in English. But the Malay Auntie replied in Malay. So I give her the invoice number, and I thought she was checking it for me. So I explained the problem, easily she just replied, this may be a misunderstanding between the Sales Person and the Officer who took down the order. So, in summary, she can't help because she needs to check with Yasmin the Sales Person whose name was stated on the invoice.

The best part is, she doesn't have any solution to it. But her position is the same like Yasmin. I wonder, what if some situation happened to her? Funny~ And so she said we need to wait till Wednesday because tomorrow is PH. And she said that she is at hoem therefore she can't do any checking and all! But, she requested for my mum's details.

First thing first, if you already answered the hotline, you must be ready 24 hours to answer calls or enquiries. Definitely a customer doesn't care and doesn't even want to know where the hell you are!!!

So, straight away I said that I will call again on Wednesday and just hung up!

I think, if you can't provide a great service, don't even think of putting high Service Tax!