It was morning and I was on my way to Melaka to attend a meeting. I was quite in a rush preparing all the necessary things and I haven't had my breakfast yet. I'm a breakfast kinda guy and I definitely do not start my day before having breakfast...
I am not going to make history, so i decided to stop at the RnR (I was already on the highway though, so what other options do i have?). For readers outside Malaysia, RnRs are pit-stops through the highway that stands for "Rehat Dan Rawat" (Rest and Cure).
As time wasn't by my side, I just dropped by a Petrol Station Kiosk and grab a bottle of milk and a piece of bread. Taking for granted the printed expiry date, I took off from the Petrol Station and while driving i ate the bread. When it came to drinking the milk, it tasted kinda funny but there were no time to investigate why. I just thought that it was a brand that I am not familiar with. So I drank all of it!
After finishing it, I put it on the dashboard of my car and what a coincidence! The Expiry Date was straight displayed in front off me! I was like s**t!!!!! and Arrrrghhhh!!!!! I mentally felt ill and wanted to vomit. When I arrived to my checkpoint, I vomited!!!!
Moral of the story -
a) Don't be late for important meetings
b) Don't buy unfamiliar brands
c) Check The Expiry Date on what ever cause
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Check Everytime You Take Away from Restaurants
Have you ever ordered something and while you were heading back home you might probably be imagining yourself eating those delicious food while watching your favorite movie or sharing it with your love ones but lastly you end up opening it up to see something else! What a disaster!
MAKE IT A HABIT TO CHECK BEFORE LEAVING THE SHOP!
I sometimes do it and some time do not. I wouldn't blame the restaurant 100% as sometimes it is truly a miscommunication between us and them or between them and them. Mistakes such as 'wrong order' happens very seldom and if you do the math right, the probability might come out less than 1%. But when it happens, we pay the price. Not them because the best they can do is apologise. We consumers need to hit the gas again to go back to the shop (gas=$). If the shop is too far away, we end up eating the unexpected. In other terms, we are being the victim! Is there any justice to this? Apparently, NO!
It happened to me and I guarantee that I am not alone in this matter. So what you gotta do? Check before checking out. It only take a few seconds to glance through the food you ordered and it will save your time, money and keep your appetite in the right mood.
MAKE IT A HABIT TO CHECK BEFORE LEAVING THE SHOP!
I sometimes do it and some time do not. I wouldn't blame the restaurant 100% as sometimes it is truly a miscommunication between us and them or between them and them. Mistakes such as 'wrong order' happens very seldom and if you do the math right, the probability might come out less than 1%. But when it happens, we pay the price. Not them because the best they can do is apologise. We consumers need to hit the gas again to go back to the shop (gas=$). If the shop is too far away, we end up eating the unexpected. In other terms, we are being the victim! Is there any justice to this? Apparently, NO!
It happened to me and I guarantee that I am not alone in this matter. So what you gotta do? Check before checking out. It only take a few seconds to glance through the food you ordered and it will save your time, money and keep your appetite in the right mood.
Monday, March 23, 2009
MAKE A LIST Before You Head to The Store
This is like the simplest mistake that every Consumer does; NOT MAKING A LIST before going out shopping. Do you know that you might probably be spending 10 dollars more on each visit to the store. The one thing that we should know is that these supermarkets spend millions each year on consumer research. They know what the average Consumer wants, how they will react to certain stimulus and what will and will not catch your eye and make you buy a certain product over another.
This is one reason that the highest profit margin foods are placed at eye level. They make it easy for you to reach out and throw it in your basket.
Time and time again, studies have show that people who make out grocery list and spend as little time as possible in a Supermarket spend less money on groceries. Making a list before you go shopping can be the single BEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY when buying groceries.
Why? Not only do these people have a list, many will also put the list in order of their location in the grocery store. The more time you spend “window shopping” in a Supermarket, the more likely you are to buy something you don't need.
Change your way, change your attitude and change your ways of shopping. I made a very clear statement to my wife that we don't ever go out shopping without making a list 1st. Before going out to the Supermarket, check the kitchen, check the toiletries and discuss on what ever personal things that is NECESSARY to buy and make sure the supplies you plan to buy will last until the next scheduled visit to the store.
Make sure you also bring a pen or a pencil to tick on the things you already bought. This will keep you from turning back around to the same isle again. This shall minimize your "window shopping" eventhough it's a habit among us, we have to fight the temptation!
I accidently heard on the radio the other day, a man mentioned that he prefer to shop at a Mini Market compared to the Supermarket. Why? Still not getting the point? "Less exposure to the unnecessary but tempting groceries!!!"
Focus on the list and try not to diverge from it. We need to know how the Supermarket marketing game is played and know how to beat it.
So what have we learnt through all of this - MAKE A LIST!
This is one reason that the highest profit margin foods are placed at eye level. They make it easy for you to reach out and throw it in your basket.
Time and time again, studies have show that people who make out grocery list and spend as little time as possible in a Supermarket spend less money on groceries. Making a list before you go shopping can be the single BEST WAY TO SAVE MONEY when buying groceries.
Why? Not only do these people have a list, many will also put the list in order of their location in the grocery store. The more time you spend “window shopping” in a Supermarket, the more likely you are to buy something you don't need.
Change your way, change your attitude and change your ways of shopping. I made a very clear statement to my wife that we don't ever go out shopping without making a list 1st. Before going out to the Supermarket, check the kitchen, check the toiletries and discuss on what ever personal things that is NECESSARY to buy and make sure the supplies you plan to buy will last until the next scheduled visit to the store.
Make sure you also bring a pen or a pencil to tick on the things you already bought. This will keep you from turning back around to the same isle again. This shall minimize your "window shopping" eventhough it's a habit among us, we have to fight the temptation!
I accidently heard on the radio the other day, a man mentioned that he prefer to shop at a Mini Market compared to the Supermarket. Why? Still not getting the point? "Less exposure to the unnecessary but tempting groceries!!!"
Focus on the list and try not to diverge from it. We need to know how the Supermarket marketing game is played and know how to beat it.
So what have we learnt through all of this - MAKE A LIST!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
What The Food Industries Doesn't Want You To Know
This thingy that I am going to write might surprised you very very very deeply. I got this from Malaysia Men's Health March 2009 issue. I hope to share it with all of you concern consumers out there.
Food manufacturers think we're stupid and we are going to prove them wrong! I'll just list down some few that I think that we fell for and let us be prepared for the future next time we read the labels of each item.
1) "Fat Free" is completely true, however these empty calorie junk foods are almost made up entirely of sugar and processed carbs.
2) The bottled green tea you're drinking may not be as healthy as you think it is. Some brands hardly even registered on the antioxidant scale.
3) Food companies don't want you to know that your food may contain maggots. FDA got limits but it ain't zero!
4) Cornflake manufacturers doesn't want you to know that their product are not as friendly as the "Diabetes Friendly" logo on the box's side panel suggests. Australian researchers have shown that carb-loaded cornflakes raise blood glucose faster and to a greater extend that a straight table sugar does. The guidelines are simply based on the American Dietetic Association and American Diabetes Association, and NOT ENDORSED by those organizations.
5) Oat breakfast producers don't want you to know that their "heart healthy" hot cereals have more sugar than a bowl of Fruit Loops. The fine print below the AHA logo meets the "food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol". What does it mean? It means that it can contain a pound of sugar and still qualify.
6) The AHA certified food is a must pay thing. That's why u find two brands meets the guideline but only one of it has the certification.
7) Supermarkets don't want you to know that long checkout lines make you buy more. According to the research from the University of Arizona, you'll be 25% more likely to buy things around when your stuck in a long line. Haaaa!!! No wonder they put all those candies and sodas near the checkout point.
8) The food industry doesn't want you to know that food additives may make your kid misbehave. UK researchers found that some artificial food coloring and preservatives are linked to hyperactivity in children.
9) FDA is more likely to penalize a food manufacturer for overstating the net weight of a product than understating it. So they "generously" package more food. So if the package states it contains "X calories", it actually contains "more than X calories".
So people of the world, Beware!
Food manufacturers think we're stupid and we are going to prove them wrong! I'll just list down some few that I think that we fell for and let us be prepared for the future next time we read the labels of each item.
1) "Fat Free" is completely true, however these empty calorie junk foods are almost made up entirely of sugar and processed carbs.
2) The bottled green tea you're drinking may not be as healthy as you think it is. Some brands hardly even registered on the antioxidant scale.
3) Food companies don't want you to know that your food may contain maggots. FDA got limits but it ain't zero!
4) Cornflake manufacturers doesn't want you to know that their product are not as friendly as the "Diabetes Friendly" logo on the box's side panel suggests. Australian researchers have shown that carb-loaded cornflakes raise blood glucose faster and to a greater extend that a straight table sugar does. The guidelines are simply based on the American Dietetic Association and American Diabetes Association, and NOT ENDORSED by those organizations.
5) Oat breakfast producers don't want you to know that their "heart healthy" hot cereals have more sugar than a bowl of Fruit Loops. The fine print below the AHA logo meets the "food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol". What does it mean? It means that it can contain a pound of sugar and still qualify.
6) The AHA certified food is a must pay thing. That's why u find two brands meets the guideline but only one of it has the certification.
7) Supermarkets don't want you to know that long checkout lines make you buy more. According to the research from the University of Arizona, you'll be 25% more likely to buy things around when your stuck in a long line. Haaaa!!! No wonder they put all those candies and sodas near the checkout point.
8) The food industry doesn't want you to know that food additives may make your kid misbehave. UK researchers found that some artificial food coloring and preservatives are linked to hyperactivity in children.
9) FDA is more likely to penalize a food manufacturer for overstating the net weight of a product than understating it. So they "generously" package more food. So if the package states it contains "X calories", it actually contains "more than X calories".
So people of the world, Beware!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Customers Rights
We sometime call ourselves "customers" and holds to the principle of "Customer is Always Right". But do we really know our rights as a customer? Just to make things clear, below i have listed down OUR rights and make sure we equip ourselves with this basic knowledge.
1) Rights to get our daily basic needs
- Consumers have the rights to get goods and services to satisfy their daily lives. Basic needs includes foods, clothes, house, health facilities, education facilities, and etc.
2) Rights to get safety and security
- Consumers will be secured from the process and marketing's of the goods together with the services that may be harmful.
3) Rights to get information
- Consumers must be given enough and precise information to ease their decision making while purchasing. Consumer will also be secured from any false advertisement, labeling and malpractice.
4) Rights to make decision
- Consumers will be sure to get direct information on various products and services. Consumers must be given enough information that will ensure his/her decision making. There MUST BE A GUARANTEE for the product or the service quality comprises with the price.
5) Rights to speak-up
- This is to ensure the consumer rights will get the proper judgement in the legislation of government policy, fast action and justification from the courts administration.
6) Rights to get refund
- Consumers have the rights to get a settling from the goods that are flaw or dangerous or even the incident of the merchandise is sold in a confused manner. We also have the rights to get a compensation for services that diverts or do not fulfill an agreement.
- A compensation must be given to a product or service that leads to injury to the consumers that follows the instruction of usage from the provider of the product or service. Compensation is also a must for consumers being a victim CAUSED BY THE CARELESS of the employer.
7) Rights to get education for consumers
- Consumers have the rights to get enough and continuous education on consumer rights. This is because the education system does not focus on being a good and informative consumer. Our system focuses more on how to be either a good employee or employer.
8) Rights to get a healthy and secure environment
- Consumers have the rights to live and work in an clean and healthy environment together with free of any hazards. This is always been lived-up among consumers as pollution is rising and our natural resources is getting short and wiped out.
Be sure you remember all these rights, because it is OUR RIGHTS.
Any incidents that may ring your mind on any incident and maybe you are not getting any of the above. Feel free to comment!
1) Rights to get our daily basic needs
- Consumers have the rights to get goods and services to satisfy their daily lives. Basic needs includes foods, clothes, house, health facilities, education facilities, and etc.
2) Rights to get safety and security
- Consumers will be secured from the process and marketing's of the goods together with the services that may be harmful.
3) Rights to get information
- Consumers must be given enough and precise information to ease their decision making while purchasing. Consumer will also be secured from any false advertisement, labeling and malpractice.
4) Rights to make decision
- Consumers will be sure to get direct information on various products and services. Consumers must be given enough information that will ensure his/her decision making. There MUST BE A GUARANTEE for the product or the service quality comprises with the price.
5) Rights to speak-up
- This is to ensure the consumer rights will get the proper judgement in the legislation of government policy, fast action and justification from the courts administration.
6) Rights to get refund
- Consumers have the rights to get a settling from the goods that are flaw or dangerous or even the incident of the merchandise is sold in a confused manner. We also have the rights to get a compensation for services that diverts or do not fulfill an agreement.
- A compensation must be given to a product or service that leads to injury to the consumers that follows the instruction of usage from the provider of the product or service. Compensation is also a must for consumers being a victim CAUSED BY THE CARELESS of the employer.
7) Rights to get education for consumers
- Consumers have the rights to get enough and continuous education on consumer rights. This is because the education system does not focus on being a good and informative consumer. Our system focuses more on how to be either a good employee or employer.
8) Rights to get a healthy and secure environment
- Consumers have the rights to live and work in an clean and healthy environment together with free of any hazards. This is always been lived-up among consumers as pollution is rising and our natural resources is getting short and wiped out.
Be sure you remember all these rights, because it is OUR RIGHTS.
Any incidents that may ring your mind on any incident and maybe you are not getting any of the above. Feel free to comment!
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