The scourge of the unsmiling shopping survey taker kid

Vivo Weekend
Flooding Disaster Simulator, Level 3, Vivo City

So this kid, who’s maybe 13 or 14, comes up to Naomi and me at Vivo City and mumbles ‘can you do a shopping survey for me?’

Since we have a bit of time before our movie, she gamely says yes, and proceeds to try to fill out a form, watched very, very closely by the surly kid who brusquely directs her to complete the form, even though we know better than to give out our full details on these things. (Actually, Naomi knows better while I don’t and I regularly give marketers the foot in the proverbial door to try to sell us more things).

The amazing thing was that through the course of obtaining information about our shopping habits, not once did this kid smile or say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.

Not even after I told him ‘saying please or thank you would be good you know?’

Vivo Weekend
Kids who misbehave will be
suspended indefinitely

Maybe he thinks that the Champs Shoppers voucher he tore off for us, containing a chance to win several wonderful items such as a ‘branded watch’ (has anyone ever seen an unbranded one?), an MP4 player (going one up), complimentary spa sessions at JA’ZZ SPA (owned by Apostrophe Man and Associate’s), discount off dinner at ORCHARD GOLD COAST SEAFOOD and holidays in Perth, Disneyland HK or Bangkok, would have made up for his lack of manners.

I’d have chucked the kid into the Flooding Disaster Simulator at level 3, if not for Naomi telling me that it isn’t a very nice thing to do to a kid, whether he’s rude or not.

If you’re one of those infernal marketers, please, next time, add an option for us to check off that reads “I hate being bugged by survey takers when shopping, especially those who are rude and don’t smile”.

iTunes is playing an illegal copy of Voodoo Chile from the album “Greatest Hits” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble of which I have the original CD.

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16 responses to “The scourge of the unsmiling shopping survey taker kid”

  1. Wonderboi Avatar
    Wonderboi

    I’ve filled in that survey before last month.

    Its a scam!

    Received a phonecall from them last week, congratulating me that I’ve won this and that.
    Lastly, the guy asked “do you own any credit card and what is your monthly income?”

    Immediately I know this must be some kind of MLM or worst, TIMESHARE!

    I asked for their company name and they hesitated before giving me a brief reply, stating; We’re in the traveling industry.

    Gotcha! I requested them for their EXACT COMPANY NAME and they finally state that they’re from duno wat Air Asia or Asia Travel comapany.
    (TIMESHARE!)

    Immediately, I told the guy off for wasting my time and that I’m not interested in timeshare scam! I even told him in return why is he working for a scamming company.

    So readers beware of filling in survey forms at Vivo City!

  2. Wonderboi Avatar
    Wonderboi

    I’ve filled in that survey before last month.

    Its a scam!

    Received a phonecall from them last week, congratulating me that I’ve won this and that.
    Lastly, the guy asked “do you own any credit card and what is your monthly income?”

    Immediately I know this must be some kind of MLM or worst, TIMESHARE!

    I asked for their company name and they hesitated before giving me a brief reply, stating; We’re in the traveling industry.

    Gotcha! I requested them for their EXACT COMPANY NAME and they finally state that they’re from duno wat Air Asia or Asia Travel comapany.
    (TIMESHARE!)

    Immediately, I told the guy off for wasting my time and that I’m not interested in timeshare scam! I even told him in return why is he working for a scamming company.

    So readers beware of filling in survey forms at Vivo City!

  3. Muffy Wong Avatar

    Once while home on summer break from college (and after gaining the Freshman 15) I had some balding, short twit who was trying to sell spa packages approached me and a friend in the middle of Orchard Road. He greeted us with, “Harlow miss?! I know you wan’ to lose weight riigh? and you, miss, you wish you can get rid of your acne hor?”

    It was a true practice of restraint.

  4. Muffy Wong Avatar

    Once while home on summer break from college (and after gaining the Freshman 15) I had some balding, short twit who was trying to sell spa packages approached me and a friend in the middle of Orchard Road. He greeted us with, “Harlow miss?! I know you wan’ to lose weight riigh? and you, miss, you wish you can get rid of your acne hor?”

    It was a true practice of restraint.

  5. ChinAlmond Avatar

    im eceived a phonecall from them just now…

  6. ChinAlmond Avatar

    im eceived a phonecall from them just now…

  7. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    I’ve signed a contract in 1999 with Emperor Resorts International (ERI) to purchase a holiday time share package that belongs to H.C. Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (Australia) (HCAP). After I received a lot of bad experience and feedback about time share companies, I decided to terminate my contract (S$15,800) by not paying the outstanding balance (S$9,350). In 2003, I’ve informed ERI that I want to terminate my contract by forfeiting the sum (S$6,450) I’ve already paid to them. And since then I’ve not heard from them.

    Recently, I received a call from Axial Management (Singapore) who claims that they are associated with Great Eastern Trust & Asset Management Co. Ltd (London). They are also acting under the instructions of World Travel Organization to approach the members of ERI, to compensate the members. Their condition is – If I pay Axial a sum of S$17,800, World Travel Organisation will compensate me S$20,000 three years later through Axial. Great Eastern Trust will also pay me through Axial a sum of about S$30,000 for utilizing my package. Though this amount is guaranteed by Axial (in writing), I feel that there’s no 100% guarantee that Axial Management will pay up three years later or even exist after 3 years.. My most worrying concern is Axial Management may be scamming people into paying more money. Therefore I rejected Axial Management’s proposal.

    Very soon, about 3 days later, I received a final warning letter from ERI asking me to settle the balance payment within 7 days, otherwise they will take legal action against me to recover the amount.

    I find it very puzzling that ERI suddenly issue me a final letter after 4 years, and especially so just after I’ve rejected Axial’s offer. I suspect that both companies are related to each other with Axial claiming they want to help ERI members get out of the contract by making the members pay more. And if members rejected Axial’s proposal, ERI will threaten to sue, thereby leaving the member no choice but to take up Axial’s offer.

    I hope this will prevent more people falling victim into these scams.

  8. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    I’ve signed a contract in 1999 with Emperor Resorts International (ERI) to purchase a holiday time share package that belongs to H.C. Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (Australia) (HCAP). After I received a lot of bad experience and feedback about time share companies, I decided to terminate my contract (S$15,800) by not paying the outstanding balance (S$9,350). In 2003, I’ve informed ERI that I want to terminate my contract by forfeiting the sum (S$6,450) I’ve already paid to them. And since then I’ve not heard from them.

    Recently, I received a call from Axial Management (Singapore) who claims that they are associated with Great Eastern Trust & Asset Management Co. Ltd (London). They are also acting under the instructions of World Travel Organization to approach the members of ERI, to compensate the members. Their condition is – If I pay Axial a sum of S$17,800, World Travel Organisation will compensate me S$20,000 three years later through Axial. Great Eastern Trust will also pay me through Axial a sum of about S$30,000 for utilizing my package. Though this amount is guaranteed by Axial (in writing), I feel that there’s no 100% guarantee that Axial Management will pay up three years later or even exist after 3 years.. My most worrying concern is Axial Management may be scamming people into paying more money. Therefore I rejected Axial Management’s proposal.

    Very soon, about 3 days later, I received a final warning letter from ERI asking me to settle the balance payment within 7 days, otherwise they will take legal action against me to recover the amount.

    I find it very puzzling that ERI suddenly issue me a final letter after 4 years, and especially so just after I’ve rejected Axial’s offer. I suspect that both companies are related to each other with Axial claiming they want to help ERI members get out of the contract by making the members pay more. And if members rejected Axial’s proposal, ERI will threaten to sue, thereby leaving the member no choice but to take up Axial’s offer.

    I hope this will prevent more people falling victim into these scams.

  9. Charles Avatar
    Charles

    To those who signed with Axial/GETAM

    We found out that GETAM was registered in Feb 07 but on GETAM website stated that it was founded in year 1992. Do a search & you won’t find any information about GETAM from year 1992-2006. The reason is because http://www.greateasterntrust.co.uk is registered under Axial Management and this domain was registered in 26 Feb 2007

    Ideally, one has to filed an agreement with the actual timeshare company in order to make it legal to loan or take over your membership. Look at the contract of your timeshare. Or you can check with your timeshare if such buyback scheme exist & whether the membership still belongs to you

    You might be able to get some payout but unlikely will last through the 3rd year. Co, Ltd/Pte Ltd kind of companies are very easy to shut down & they have very limited liability. You don’t want to end up losing $$ and still stuck with a timeshare contract!

    I am trying to work things out as a group so contact me if you are one of them or know someone that has signed with Axial Mgt

    charles_lor@yahoo.com.sg

  10. Charles Avatar
    Charles

    To those who signed with Axial/GETAM

    We found out that GETAM was registered in Feb 07 but on GETAM website stated that it was founded in year 1992. Do a search & you won’t find any information about GETAM from year 1992-2006. The reason is because http://www.greateasterntrust.co.uk is registered under Axial Management and this domain was registered in 26 Feb 2007

    Ideally, one has to filed an agreement with the actual timeshare company in order to make it legal to loan or take over your membership. Look at the contract of your timeshare. Or you can check with your timeshare if such buyback scheme exist & whether the membership still belongs to you

    You might be able to get some payout but unlikely will last through the 3rd year. Co, Ltd/Pte Ltd kind of companies are very easy to shut down & they have very limited liability. You don’t want to end up losing $$ and still stuck with a timeshare contract!

    I am trying to work things out as a group so contact me if you are one of them or know someone that has signed with Axial Mgt

    charles_lor@yahoo.com.sg

  11. Great Eastern Trust and Asset Avatar
    Great Eastern Trust and Asset

    Check out this webpage from UK gov website and read what Getam nature of business is…:)

    http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/0ace31efe56d2ea9a38b176919183324/compdetails

  12. Great Eastern Trust and Asset Management  true nature of business Avatar
    Great Eastern Trust and Asset Management true nature of business

    Check out this webpage from UK gov website and read what Getam nature of business is…:)

    http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/0ace31efe56d2ea9a38b176919183324/compdetails

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