Wednesday 8 May 2013

Eat Organic Shop Review (Bukit Timah Road SG) Rude Attitude


In my search for organic carrots delivery online, I came across their website.

Today being my birthday (8 May, Happy Birthday to me),  I decided to drop by their physical shop at far away Bukit Timah Road. http://www.eat-organic.com.sg/

When I told bro that we would be going, he was not happy.  "Organic equals rude", he said. 

Feeling happy and optimistic, I said it's Ok, let's just go and have a look anyways. 

So far, organic sellers/shops have been rude. That's a fact.

Example: Supernature (organic shop at Orchard Road area) that other customers have complained online about (although I was not quite pleased with them myself though they weren't rude when we were there). Personally, I've blogged about how rude the woman staff was at Taste Original at Harbourfront Centre.

Bukit Timah is so remote and out of the way for us that on our way out, he joked that we were going to East Timor. 

When we arrived at Eat Organic shop, there were a few Ang Mo women getting their groceries inside.

First time being there, I started looking at what they sold on the shelves. They had some carrots in a box in the fridge but they didn't look fresh.

Unfortunately, while I came for carrots, I couldn't buy what they had. So, I continued looking at their shelves to see if there was anything I could get.

While browsing, I saw an Ang Mo woman grab stuff off the shelf and just throw it into her basket of goods.

For lack of stuff to buy, I chose 3 small tomatoes and was thinking they didn't have the skincare/cosmetic products they showed at their website (probably stopped selling and didn't update the site?).

Didn't know they had an upstairs until I heard their old boss (?) woman tell the staff where to put Dr Hauschka and D Bronners (Dr Bronner's). 

I said to bro while glancing towards the back of the shop, "They have Bronner's? Why didn't I see it?".

The woman was unpacking something at the bottom of the steps.  Bro said they have an upstairs that we could go.

We can? I glanced at the direction, saw the sign that said more stuff upstairs. So we went.

Upstairs was like what the 2nd half of Supernature used to contain.  Supernature has since closed down that section of their shop and it's become a carpet shop (if I recall correctly when the bus passed by previously).

Limited selection of the same organic brands. With no expiry dates and expensive prices.  Stuff that people can get for themselves easily and cheaper (if buy more) from online US websites like Vitacost.

What people in SG want, are fresh produce that can't be bought the same way online. No US website will ship to individuals in SG.  These companies deal with companies that order in bulk. I tried and they asked me how many pallets I want.  -.-

While upstairs, I heard the boss woman (who had come up to sit at her desk) call a customer, and say in a stuck-up voice that the products had arrived.

The space was very small and rather stuffed up with poor shelving.  Bro became irritated and said, "Actually this whole Bukit Timah area is boring."  which depressed me although I said nothing. Admittedly, it's true the area is not as upmarket as the central areas.  Rather like the countryside.

Done with looking at their stuff, I came back downstairs and picked a loaf of bread (about 6 pieces at $5.50). Didn't know how much the 3 tomatoes would cost. Guessed they might be weighed.

Throughout my browsing, though the stocking up staff were polite in letting us through the little narrow aisles, none of them bothered handing me a basket even though they kept looking at me knowing I wasn't a regular customer. 

Proceeded to the cashier where I saw an unhappy oldish woman standing aside and doing paperwork.

She looked at me, and looked back at her paperwork, pen in hand.

I started having second thoughts about buying what I had in my hands while looking at her. Finally, she reluctantly came forward and said, "Finished?".

Her attitude was so bad, I just said, "I will look for more.", then put everything back and while walking out, said to bro (who preceded me to the door), "Come, let's go.". 

Her tone was really upsetting.  What does she mean "Finished?"?  Who does she think she's talking to?

Rather than make a scene there, better to give them a bad rep by reviewing the shop online. 

As their door closed, I said loud enough, "We'll go to the other shop.".

The other shop being Sunnychoice Organic at Upper Bukit Timah Road at The Rail Mall (some bus stops further up).

Eat Organic should just shut down if they can't do a good business or be nice to their customers. Just because I am not a regular or buy plenty, doesn't mean I'm not a customer.  And why keep looking at a customer? A supermarket's staff don't look at their customers as if they are aliens or might steal.

As a customer, I have a right to browse and not buy, or buy little. I have a right to look at your things and put them back without buying. Understand, you stupid women?  If calculation, or whatever crap it is you are doing is so bad that it makes you sigh in front of customers, just close shop!!  Is it true that aunties like you can't do mental work? Too much for you?


When we walked out, bro was upset. By his upset, he also upset me. Although I told bro to brush it off as nothing,  I inwardly felt it was very disturbing.

He made me aware that the staff at the shop were sighing in front of customers. It means they don't enjoy their work and treat it as a chore.

He said paperwork should not even be done in front of customers, let alone let the customer wait at the cashier.

I was made to wait at the cashier on purpose because I had browsed but didn't buy much after being there for a while. That woman was actually being insulting and sarcastic by saying, "Finished?".

On my birthday,  Eat organic shop made me mad. Congrats to Eat Organic  Shop!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Gordon Tan


Picked up two items recently and both non-organic, one not far fr expiry. Really hate having to differentiate what's organic and what's not in this store ! Would never patronise again
- Chia seeds - not organic
- ** Husk - not organic, near expiry

Last month bought walnuts expiry in June 2014! Recently caught them red handed selling expired stuff on shelves !
20 seconds ago ·

zinepin said...

Sunny Choice @ The Rail Mall actually turned out to be good. So far, we went there a few times some time back & the staff were surprisingly friendly & polite. The place is small & not a lot of stuff. But if you are around that area, it's a good organic place for fresh produce. Cheap or very reasonable prices. They have dried items & other products on the shelves as well.