Sunday, March 11, 2007 . 4:16 AM

Photo taken from Samsung D900's 3 Megapixels Camera:

Darn clear isn't it? (that was taken last year when I just permed my hair)

Now take a look at my new SE Z610i's 2 Megapixels Camera:


Okay, so this last photo has nothing to do with the cakes. I just thought Museli looked cute here (so do I! ^^).

Anyway, please try the cakes at Rive. They're divine! We had a birthday cake for Sharon last year and they're so good that I went back and bought these 4 babies. Trust me, they might not look impressive, but they're to die for.

You can find them at Takashimiya B2, beside Beard Papa or Papa Beard - whatever! They cost me SGD$14, but they're worth every cent!

I actually bought them on Thursday and that was the same day I realized how appalling our service standard is. No wonder we need to come up with the GEMS programme.

I swung by the Donut House (at Taka too) because I've been having a craving for donuts since seeing the queue at Raffles City Shopping Centre. There was no queue, just a lone salesgirl. Just imagine how excited I felt at not having to join a mile-long queue.

However, I was holding on to a 3.1kg laptop (a PINK one, might I add) and 4 slices of the most heavenly cake. So I asked the sales girl if I could put my stuff at the counter while I pick my donuts.

She stared at me blankly for a long while after I posed her that question. I thought that I'd asked her some difficult mathematical problem, which would explain the baffled look on the face. But being the nice, patient person I was, I asked her again.

Me: Can I leave my stuff with you while I put out the donuts?
Salesgirl: ... but if lost I am not responsible har.
Me: It's right in front of you. If I don't leave it with you, how am going to pick the donuts with my hands full?
Salesgirl: Oh! You want to buy donuts ah?

I admit that exasperation was finding its way into my voice then. Luckily, the woman finally understood. So, I (not-so)happily picked out my donuts. I discovered that they don't have as many variety as before and they have significantly decreased the amount they put out. Maybe they haven't been selling well since Donut Factory came along and snatched their market share.

Anyway, I asked if they had more of the cute little donuts that I love, the answer was a curt: Everything is out there already lor.

Fine! They're SGD$0.60 per tiny piece! Not exactly cheap okay!

Anyway, I bought 4 small ones and 2 big donuts and requested for a box. I was actually testing to see if she would give it to me, if she does, at least there was a fighting chance for Donut House.

She did not.

Salesgirl: You have to buy 5 big ones to get the box.
Me: But it's not stated anywhere on your store that there's such a rule.
Salesgirl: Ya, need to buy 5 big ones, otherwise no box.
Me: I bought 10 normal-sized donuts the last time I was here and you didn't offer me the box.
Salesgirl: You need to ask for the box what. Otherwise we don't give.
Me: That's very inconsistent of you isn't it?
Sale: You need to ask what, otherwise how we know you want?

By then I was fuming mad. There were other patrons when we had this exchange. I don't care if I came across as a shrewd. The point of this is that when I pay $0.60 for a bite-sized donut, I expect permium service. Not a part-timer student-staff telling me that it is my fault that I didn't ask for a box, next time, please be smarter and ask!

What happened to politeness? What happened to common courtesy? As far as I can see, the staff had zero training. When you put her on the floor and she treats your customer like dirt, you're pretty much going to lose all your business.

Donut House, beware. You already have a die-hard non-fan in me. No matter how chewy your bite-sized donut is, I am not going to buy from you!