If I post something negative about a place in Kuwait, some people get the impression that I am out to hurt that place. If I post something positive about a place in Kuwait, some people get the impression that I was paid to do so. It’s pretty fucked up really.
Last week I posted two negative posts about Sultan Center, one regarding their eggs, the other about how they stole the Kellogg’s mascot. One reader told me if I hated Sultan that much I should just stop shopping there. What kind of mentality is that? Its kinda like how if I post something negative about Kuwait people come and tell me to get the fuck out if I don’t like it.
I only shop at Sultan Center and I have been a customer ever since they opened up their Salmiya branch back in the 80’s. When I encounter a problem at Sultan Center I complain, I have the right to as a customer. If I complain it doesn’t mean I hate the place, it means I want the place to improve.
Same with my Bazaar posts, some people get the impression I hate Bazaar. I don’t.
One reader asked why I don’t contact customer service when I have a complaint instead of posting it on the blog? Well three reasons. First the obvious which is I need content for the blog. Second is the fact that I am used to sending emails to customer service only to have them ignored and the third and final reason is that problems get fixed quickly after I post about them on the blog.
So from now on if I say good things or bad things about a place or product I hope there will be no misconception.
47 replies on “Screwed both ways”
I’m so glad you posted about the egg issue, it just shows how much they care about their income only and that customer’s health comes last to them. They’re ready to sell anything to consumers for the sake of money. plz post about their outrageous prices too, such rip offs.
Need BETTER content for the blog. This post was one of em.
Mark…. I see dumb people, IGNORE THEM!
I like your posts… keep them coming ๐
pearls: when I passed by Sultan early in the week they didn’t have any Indian eggs just the organic ones so maybe they’ve fixed things..
Mo Hat: I keep trying to get better content but work is really taking more and more time from my blog.
Ansam: thanks ๐
kinda like that time you took the piss out of burgan bank, and you had to have it removed no?
kinda like that blog, that takes the piss out of this blog?
I am legend is the most boring movie ever! oh my goood! i cant believe i wasted my money.
I was told to remove the Burgan Bank post but I didn’t.
A voice aired is better than ignorant complaints.
This post was needed for clarification and to induce enough sense into dumb heads, so that they wont do dumb things atleast on the blog again.
~ Soul
That’s the way t’go about it! if ppl don’t like what you post, let them go screw themselves! this blog has become like a daily newspaper i must read! keep up the good work.
:: Ahhhhh !!! TELL ME ABOUT IT !!!
IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE ๐ or you know what .. if you have enough time to reply then GO AHEAD its fun btw ๐
L.A.M.E ๐
Regards,
to tell you the truth … i can call your post ” The Post of The Year 2007 in mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com” ๐
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!
And that Sultan Center logo rip-off is shameful! I still can’t believe they did that.. where are Kellog’s’ lawyers?!
the best posts are the ones where you give ur opinion about things, that’s what makes it ur blog.
Times are changing ! its a good thing that ‘blogs’ bring so much change … im sure by 2008 most of the major company’s will be closely watching Safat to see if anyone’s complaining and its working already ( dont want to go in to details) … Blogs are very powerful !
Good job Mark !
I get really annoyed when some ppl feel offended at certain posts and decide to post bad comments!
This is the purpose of blogs! To say what we want to say! Freedom in a (virtual) land with no restrictions and boundaries.
If they don’t like what we say, then let them blog about it! And talk about courage! Commenting under an anonymous name. Gutsy, no?
My 2 cents, if people dont like the content of this blog they should not read it, better than coming up with stupid comments, such as if you dont like it don’t go and shop there or GTF out of this country. As consumers we have a given right to complain about the low level of services, as this will only benefit YOU. If you opt to keep your mouth shut then you get what you deserve. People working in Kuwait are paid to do their job and make sure you get your money worth as a customer, so whether its the private sector employees or public servant (yes this is the right terminology), get off your high horse and earn your keeps, this is how the world works towards progression. Therefore I am pro-bitching as long as it is a step forward towards better service. Keep it coming Mark!
I am taking a customer service class right now, and one of thing they keep on telling us is that a good customer is the one who complain. they should understand that
Mark, you do a good job at pointing out many of problems people face in their daily lives.
The egg story was very important, i wish i had read before getting food poisoning from eating Sultan eggs.
The rooster story reflects the corporate ethics at Sultan…which seem to be very low after knowingly selling 5 weeks old eggs as fresh.
You present your opinion and many times include factual information that relate to the issue being discussed, for example the picture of rooster logo used by Sultan.
Frankly, anyone who disagrees with you on the rooster issue is ignorant about copyright laws…
Yeh, screw em…..just do your thing.
BUT I do feel that your blog was more entertaining when you had more about Kuwait in it. Now it’s kinda dull……sorry!
tell me about..
sorry, forgot the “it” at the end
I dont like your way of talking; its so lame and shows no gratitude to the land you are living in. you seem not to respect Kuwait, its lifestyle and much more. and life is simple, if dont like it; LEAVE IT.
ุฑุจุนูุง ุงููููุชูููู ููู ูู ุนูุฏูู ุญุจ ุงุณุชุนุจุงุฏ ูุฃู ุบุฑูุจุ ููุงู ู ุงูุงู ูุงู ุตุญูุญ ูุงูู ูููู ูุงูุชู ูุง : ุทุจุนุง ูุฐุง ุจุนูููุชูู ูุนูููุฉ ุงูุฎูุงุฌุฉ ุงูู ุชุงุตูู ูููู .
Mark everyone loves u , i do .. and not normal love… la`a 7ub gayz.
Yours was the first blog I read that pinpointed about the goods and bads of things related to Kuwait. I sometimes don’t believe myself that whatever I google about Kuwait, I get a result from 248am in the first page. Its really helpful for me and thousands of others. For example, some quick lessons that we learnt from you; QNet is the only ISP worth subscribing to in Kuwait, organic eggs good and indian eggs bad, Leopard is not worth the effort, Bader Badoor has the best shawerma nowadays and dozens more.
The only time I found your blog content useless and objectionable was the post about that lady being thrown by her husband. That was very distrurbing content and likes of it should not be posted on everyday blogs.
Other than that, your blog is like the authentic guide for Kuwait and should be named “Kuwait for Dummies”
I cant see how complaining about the rooster would benefit you?
Hi,,, Mark dont worry i truth you wayed.. coz i am always reading posting at this wonderful blog … i think you r the best and doing great job…
with the kellogs thing,, it’s some sort of awareness to consumers. same with the eggs things.
i know some people are not so particular with miniature issues but some do…
stupid and lame people care less by the way..
now, if we keep mum, keep a blind eye or be deaf.. that’s what we called SCREWED in all sort of way.. Mark’s blogs helps a lot..
just thinkin out loud.
Rice-Dream are you being sarcastic or are you serious??
I see a blogpost about your blogposting coming soon. But make sure you send yourself an email complaint before you blog about it.
Keep doing what you do best Mark. By far the most entertaining blog out there. If people don’t like what you’re saying…you know the rest.
Joseph Heller would be proud of your dilemma.
You will always have angry crazy people. just blog whats on your mind.
mark you also shouldn’t generalize that, i know alot of kuwaitis that can barley can read English, but your site is first on their bookmarks, they love your blog and i didn’t hear anything negative about you.
but unfortunately only the stupid people comment hear so we take that impress.
what do u care..to hell with who dont like what u post about…and btw if ur posts wasnt intresting they wouldnt have read them and kept on reading more of them..
u posts r one of the most informative in kuwait..and everybody i know like them..so keep’m cominggggg plz..and thank u.
rice-dream why don’t you respect your English colonising masters that took you out of the stone age by discovering the oil under your feet that feeds your fucking sandnigger kids everyday?
The hard fact is that this country was built by the blood, sweat and tears of EXPATS. They have just as much right to be here and complain as the lazy kuwaiti cunt that collects his virtual welfare check from his rubbish 7ukkuma job.
Holla, that is just disrespectful and ignorant at best. I will be the first to agree that Kuwait couldn’t have gotten to where it is today without the help of Arab and non-Arab expats, and I am also immeasurably appreciative of it. However, your ill-informed statement ignores the efforts of the Kuwaiti people themselves, who toiled to improve their poor lot in the pre-oil era, and who worked hard to develop the healthy private sector whose goods and services we all enjoy today. Your comments are rude, and you could probably stand to read a book or two before posting such woefully ignorant statements. And what offensive language! Do you really think that words like “cunt” and “sandnigger” are effective? I don’t agree with what rice-dream said at all, but I’m not about to call him (or her?) anything to that effect. You really do no service to the expatriate cause OR to the point that was obscured by all your foul language when you talk that.
As relates to the post: Mark, you do a fantastic job. I’ll admit that there were times during which I thought you were catering your comments towards those who gave you free samples. Those times, however, are VERY few and far between. 99 percent of the time, I have no doubt that you are doing us a fine service. As Abdullah noted, a good customer is one who lets you know what they really think of your goods or services, good or bad. I mean, people don’t email the reviewers on cnet.com and say “If you don’t like it, then don’t buy it.” That isn’t the point. The point is to let others know what you thought of it. It’s one opinion among hundreds of thousands. The only difference is you publish yours on a blog.
Bravo, and keep up the good work.
Holla,
you’re far more ignorant than Kuwaitis, you know nothing about Kuwait pre-oil history.
Mark,
You should delete Holla’s Comments to comply with the rules.
Barberic tribalism, Pearl diving and petty trading, whoop de fucking doo.
I don’t care really care if your great grandfather was some amazing sailor that traded pearls for bread with some indian maharajahs that also hired his daughter as a maid for their palace.
Like it or not oil, the single most powerful force of prosperity in the whole existence of this country, was not discovered by Kuwaitis. Sorry but that’s a historical FACT that tramples all other rubbish Kuwaiti history.
Holla! I am shocked! What you said is really disrespectful! You yourself is generalizing an idea and using bad language! Why the rage!
Holla is just pissed he couldn’t get a houkouma job
LMAO it’s more like the other way around.
Anyone who follows this blog knows Holla is a Kuwaiti-hating racist, just ignore him..
He’ll probably try to come back at us with more bad language. Again, ignore him..
mark – i suggest that, since your blog generates a lot of discussion and is closely followed by many, you set down policies on how you handle reviews and subjective opinions within your blog. think of it as an ‘about this blog’ page and a way for users to understand the underlying principles you have (assuming they exist).
i also suggest clear transparency and disclaimers as needed within or at the end of any relevant post.
i’m not a frequent reader but use ‘netvibes’ to follow your feed in case there’s anything that strikes my fancy. probably one in every thirty of your posts registers as such.
keep up the good work and good luck.
here’s a brief history of your beloved cuntry:
https://www.amideast.org/offices/kuwait/saud/brief_history.htm
“The discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf region quickly changed things.
The British-American-owned Kuwait Oil Company was granted a concession for oil exploration in 1934, and oil was discovered four years later on the eve of World War II. The development of Kuwaitโs oil fields did not begin in earnest until after the war, and when export finally began in 1946, the resulting economic boom transformed Kuwait almost overnight.”
Yes… and I am a proud Kuwaiti ๐
yeah so am I. Proudly using and abusing it since 1980 like every other TRUE Kuwaiti ๐ ๐
Holla… I usually avoid the stupid and pointless “if you don’t like it here you can leave” line of thought, because I do sincerely believe that everyone living here and working for a living has a right to be heard.
However, I sense a truly raging hatred coming from you that I find worrying… for you! Seriously mate, this can’t be healthy for you.. so maybe you should consider moving to any other place that doesn’t affect you so negatively. Maybe then you’ll find the peace and calm that seem to be lacking in your life here.
Cheers
zaydoun (the calmer version for 2008)