Wha lau. Remember the PS fire?
-
Fire! But they were told to pay first before leaving
Staff of restaurant blocked evacuating customers
Friday • June 24, 2005
I REFER to the small fire that broke out at Plaza Singapura on Tuesday night. While it was rather scary being at the scene, I thought the building's staff and management reacted quickly and professionally.
However, I'd like to draw attention to a dangerous and irresponsible act by one tenant.
A friend and I were having dinner at the Swensen's restaurant when the fire broke out.
Our dinner had only just been served and we had barely started eating, but it was smoking and there were requests on the public address system for everyone to leave immediately.
So, the customers in Swensen's got up to evacuate the site.
At this point, the staff of Swensen's blocked the way and insisted we pay before leaving.
This meant that around 30 people had to wait in line to pay, when the building had already been evacuated and smoke was filling the restaurant!
The manager told us they were given 15 minutes to collect payment before allowing us to leave.
The 15 minutes could easily have cost lives. What if something had exploded? Or if children had passed out from smoke inhalation?
I am disgusted at this ridiculous prioritising of money over life. I hope something can be done to prevent such irresponsible acts from occurring again.
Letter from NICHOLAS TAN WEN-YU
Read today's today pg 30.. -
omg. are they morons or what?
-
he could have just left the cash and walk out.
what about the employees of the various eateries in the building? they stayed too to collect payment i am sure. if the fire is indeed serious i am sure even the cashier or staff will run.
sometimes people just complain about the slightest dissatisfaction. -
well, ask ALL the swenson buggers to stay and leave with the customers. Die together if need to.....if customers die the people there have to due to their moronic decision.
-
Irresponsible ppl, they don't know how to weigh the pro n cons. Can they handle it if the fire got worst n start burning down the building??
Remind me of the incident in China where a shopping centre got burnt down n the security guards locked the doors to prevent ppl from leaving with their gds. I think at least 30 ppl died in the incident
-
waiting to see how the PR Dept of Swensen's gonna respond.
-
sure no reply de lar..Originally posted by zodi:waiting to see how the PR Dept of Swensen's gonna respond. 
-
Ashols.. they think it's a fire drill???
-
Think there was a similar incident in Europe. Supermarket caught on fire. To prevent looting, owner closed down the automatic metal grills. Many people just got smoked to death.
-
I'd have tossed the money at them and left. If made to wait, I'd quite likely have resorted to physical violence. I hope the letter writer made a police report as well. I'm quite sure what Swenson's did was illegal.
-
wad if no cash, need to pay by nets?Originally posted by av98m:I'd have tossed the money at them and left. If made to wait, I'd quite likely have resorted to physical violence. I hope the letter writer made a police report as well. I'm quite sure what Swenson's did was illegal.
-
Maybe the author was unhappy because he had to pay for something he had not even touched?Originally posted by archkiller:Fire! But they were told to pay first before leaving
Staff of restaurant blocked evacuating customers
Friday • June 24, 2005
I REFER to the small fire that broke out at Plaza Singapura on Tuesday night. While it was rather scary being at the scene, I thought the building's staff and management reacted quickly and professionally.
However, I'd like to draw attention to a dangerous and irresponsible act by one tenant.
A friend and I were having dinner at the Swensen's restaurant when the fire broke out.
Our dinner had only just been served and we had barely started eating, but it was smoking and there were requests on the public address system for everyone to leave immediately.
So, the customers in Swensen's got up to evacuate the site.
At this point, the staff of Swensen's blocked the way and insisted we pay before leaving.
This meant that around 30 people had to wait in line to pay, when the building had already been evacuated and smoke was filling the restaurant!
The manager told us they were given 15 minutes to collect payment before allowing us to leave.
The 15 minutes could easily have cost lives. What if something had exploded? Or if children had passed out from smoke inhalation?
I am disgusted at this ridiculous prioritising of money over life. I hope something can be done to prevent such irresponsible acts from occurring again.
Letter from NICHOLAS TAN WEN-YU
Read today's today pg 30..
-
maybe he was the only one dat insist on getting his food when the fire broke out.. then make all the staff du lan..
-
Hmm...like that then I will do my best to force my way out(breaking chair over the swenson manager's head maybe) without paying lor.Originally posted by Ito_^:wad if no cash, need to pay by nets? -
Someone ran out of the Starhub centre with an O2 phone. Dunno whether true or not.
-
if the fire is big enuff, the money would hav been reduced to ashesOriginally posted by dragg:he could have just left the cash and walk out.
what about the employees of the various eateries in the building? they stayed too to collect payment i am sure. if the fire is indeed serious i am sure even the cashier or staff will run.
sometimes people just complain about the slightest dissatisfaction. -
The upsetting part is some of those in there have not even tasted their food or just had a couple of bites and they are asked to pay while their lives are on the line...
-
that's not the point.. ppl could have diedOriginally posted by TuCkiE:Maybe the author was unhappy because he had to pay for something he had not even touched? -
Originally posted by X-men:The upsetting part is some of those in there have not even tasted their food or just had a couple of bites and they are asked to pay while their lives are on the line...
-
$$ is more important.
i would do that if i am the owner. there is no free food in this world -
Now Swensen's reputation has deteriorated juz because of that thousand dollars of profits. Is it worth it??? It's gotta take them years to build up their reputation again. ~~~
-
it boils down to what is the standard operating procedure... and if there is none, better start creating to it
-
Now Swensen's reputation has deteriorated juz because of that thousand dollars of profits. Is it worth it??? It's gotta take them years to build up their reputation again. ~~~
Dun worry their PR should be making an official statement soon. Just like that karaoke spokesman. To protect their reputation they will be saying some nice words to calm the nerves of many of you here. Wait for their good english reply in ST forums.
What a twisted and ironic world we live
-
1st world country......3rd world behaviour....
Makes me laff....Next time if i was in such a situation.....oi would give 2punches to the manager.....show middel finger and leave....if i had kids with me....if somethning happens to them...i will file a lawsuit....and ask for compensation....and free ice cream for 1 full year for the inconvience caused.. -
i dont think the staff will get a pay cut even if they let the people leave.. so i dont understand why they are being so gay.. if everything gets burnt.. the cash register will be destroyed too..