A Steak Dinner Gone Kaput

I purchased this voucher last February.  Who would ever ignore an Angus rib eye steak, two Wagyu beef skewers plus rice for P250 only?  I did not pass up that chance.  I immediately booked for five vouchers, one for my husband, three children and me.  My children had been pestering me for weeks for this steak dinner only to find out after reading the fine prints of the voucher that we can only consume the vouchers every Wednesday and Saturday at 10PM to 3AM!  My dream of a quiet dinner was gone after that. 

Efforts of talking to someone from Taste and See Gourmet Creation were nil.  The telephone number kept on giving a fax tone when dialed.  My last resort was to the google the name of the company and was thankful to get a page of articles.  From the articles, I got the mobile number of the owner and called her at once to expect us (it was a Saturday yesterday and as early as noon I already told my children of the planned steak dinner).  She replied to me that they can only accommodate vouchers on Wednesdays.  What a damper.  Apparently, the merchant, Taste and See Gourmet Creation, was prevented by Mercato Centrale where the store is located from holding the promo on Saturdays.  For whatever reason, I still cannot understand.  The merchant is not to be blamed alone for this fiasco.  It expected MetroDeal, the marketer of vouchers, to send emails to all who purchased the vouchers.  Of course, I didn't receive an email otherwise I wouldn't be wasting my time arguing with the merchant/owner and MetroDeal.

MetroDeal offered a refund of the money I paid for the five vouchers but I turned it down.  I chose to wait for a Wednesday when all five of us are free.  To make up for this unfortunate incident, I herded my family to Chicken Rice Shop at Katipunan for a late dinner.  

What had I learned from last night's failed dinner?  Well, I would always read the fine prints before clicking on the BUY and before availing of the voucher, call up the merchant involved first for last minute instructions and information.  Let my experience be a warning for everyone.

Online Shopping

For more than a year now, I have been actively buying online. My first purchase was a dinner of different crab recipes for four persons at Clawdaddy. The price that was being advertised was reasonable and coupled by a mouth-watering picture of the big crab garnished with lots of toasted garlic, I didn't think twice on clicking BUY.

My excitement waned when I didn't receive my voucher through email. Ensogo Philippines blamed me claiming that it was not able to receive my order. After a lengthy exchange of postings at their Facebook fan page, it was decided that I will be refunded of the amount I paid through BPI.  Good thing I didn't use my credit card. That incident ended my online relationship with Ensogo: I unsuscribed from receiving emails about their latest promos and unliked its Facebook fan page.

A few months after, a lot of Ensogo clones sprouted like mushrooms. Deal Grocer, MetroDeal, Groupon to name just a few. These three are my most-patronized companies. Buying from any of the three is smooth and seamless. Upon confirmation of payment, they automatically send the voucher to my email address. I print out the voucher right away lest I forget about it. Oh, those senior moments.

My first purchase from MetroDeal.

To date, I have an inventory of more than ten vouchers, from dinners, derma procedures, hair care, airline tickets, tours, gourmet chocolates and others. I am in the market for bags, shoes, more dinners and tours. I guess more items will be put up for sale online as the market matures. Can big ticket items like cars and condo units be far behind?

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Bad Roads at Daang Maharlika

My family and I journeyed to Bicol earlier today for our Holy Week respite. Instead of arriving after seven hours of driving, we reached Naga City, our first destination, after ten hours. Of course the total travel time included the short pitstops for breakfast and calls of nature. The delay was caused by the untimely road works on several stretches of the Daang Maharlika. Twice we had to be rerouted to the remote parts of the towns as the main highway was either congested for some repairs. In some parts, motorists had to move alternately as there was only one lane passable.

I just couldn't justify the timing of the ongoing construction works at Daang Maharlika. Why were they not completed before the exodus of Metro Manilans to their respective provinces? It's as if the Holy Week exodus is something new that it caught the DPWH by surprise. Or is this electioneering, premature at that, in the guise of public service? Just asking.

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