One of the cutest things about arriving in Singapore -- along with the view of the park-dotted city and the gleaming airport -- is immigration. Yes, immigration. Why? Because in every other country, you've gotten used to surly immigration officers. That includes our very own Philippines, where immigration officers at departure seem resentful that you're traveling, and those at arrival aren't at all welcoming when their kababayans are back.
But in Singapore, I love it that every immigration counter has a little glass bowl of mints. And when you approach the counter, the immigration officer offers you one. Sure, some offer the mints more pleasanty than others -- "HAVE. A. MINT.", I was once commanded by a stern-faced Indian -- but invariably, they do offer. It's a minor detail, but I love it because from what you know about immigration officers, it's just so unexpected.
So what's that got to do with Globe Telecom? Hahaha, true to my verbose form, I've written two paragraphs worth of digression. Or is it?
Yesterday, while waiting to pay my bill in the Globe's Shangri-La Business Center, I looked towards the Platinum counter and saw a little glass bowl with colorful candy wrappers in it. How cute, I thought! How thoughtful!
But in Singapore, I love it that every immigration counter has a little glass bowl of mints. And when you approach the counter, the immigration officer offers you one. Sure, some offer the mints more pleasanty than others -- "HAVE. A. MINT.", I was once commanded by a stern-faced Indian -- but invariably, they do offer. It's a minor detail, but I love it because from what you know about immigration officers, it's just so unexpected.
So what's that got to do with Globe Telecom? Hahaha, true to my verbose form, I've written two paragraphs worth of digression. Or is it?
Yesterday, while waiting to pay my bill in the Globe's Shangri-La Business Center, I looked towards the Platinum counter and saw a little glass bowl with colorful candy wrappers in it. How cute, I thought! How thoughtful!
But then an evil thought crossed my mind -- "I wonder...?" And sure enough, upon closer inspection, here was the bowl and its contents... or should I say, former contents:
Looks like someone had the bright idea to install this would-be pleasant detail in the Business Center, but ran out of budget to see it through. Or everyone was too busy to clean out and replenish the thing. In any case, I just found it too hilarious a metaphor for all those dropped calls, long lines, incessant text promos, incomprehensible promos, and wrong answers from customer service, and everything else that comprises the service you get from this supposedly premium service provider.
How ironic, that a detail so simple is done so well at an immigration desk, where you don't even expect it; but done so lousily at an elite service desk of a premium brand in an elite mall, where the promise is nothing but the best.
As they say, if you can't do it well...
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