Poor service, no sale

August 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

I would have thought in times of a serious economic down-turn that local businesses would go out of their way to offer good service. We are continually asked by the retail industry in Bermuda to 'Buy Bermuda' but the frustrations of trying to do so sometimes make it very difficult.

Today was a classic example. While shopping around the local cellular phone companies in Hamilton I went to all three main providers, Cellular One, M3 Wireless and finally Digicel to compare the programmes they were offering. In the first two stores, I was met with helpful, informative assistance, with both Cellular One and M3 Wireless offering different forms of "Family Plans".

I then went to Digicel on Church Street. A young lady sitting behind the counter who did not have a customer was looking at her computer screen so I waited for her to let me know that she was free to help me. Without looking up she said "Can I help you". I said good afternoon and asked if Digicel offered any sort of "Family Plan" to which she replied, again not looking up from her computer screen, "No we don't", and then as an apparent afterthought, "Not that I know of, anyway". She then continued to do whatever she was doing on her computer while I just stood there.

Needless to say I left Digicel and made it clear that with the type of service I had received, I would not be doing business there. As I walked past the window, I saw that the young lady in question had finally come to life, if only to flash a broad smile at a co-worker.

Perhaps Digicel is getting more than enough business, because they certainly didn't appear to need or want mine.

DISAPPOINTED

City of Hamilton

Why retail is in decline

August 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

After reading today's headlines – "Shops in 'Crisis' as spending plummets", please allow me to share what happened to me today as a Bermudian "spender" who was trying to spend some of my hard earned money in a local store.

At approximately 1.30 p.m., I went into the Phoenix Store with a couple of friends to purchase some odds and ends. I looked for a particular hair product and found there was none on the shelf, so assuming the store was out of stock, I paid for what I had picked up and left the store.

As I walked by the Phoenix display window, I saw three containers of the hair product for which I had been looking to purchase so I decided to go back into the store to see if I could purchase the same. I located a saleslady and first asked as to whether she knew if there was any more of this product in stock – without looking, she responded that if it was not on the shelf it was out of stock. I then told her that there were three containers of this product in the display window and asked if I could purchase these. She said she would have to ask the manager and left to find the manager. A few minutes later she returned and told me that the manager said there should be more of this product on the shelf. I told her I had already looked and there was not – I accompanied her to where the product is normally stocked and sure enough, there was none to be found ...

I asked the saleslady again if I could purchase the three containers from the display window and her response was "The manager said we cannot sell you the containers out of the display window". I looked at her incredulously and said: "That makes sense – the manager would rather leave the three containers in the display window instead of selling them to a customer!" The saleslady then said: "I guess so." I thanked her and said I realised it was not her fault as she had tried to assist. I and my friends left the Phoenix in disbelief that a manager would refuse to sell a product to a customer because it was in the display window!

I enjoy shopping at The Phoenix and Brown & Company but with this kind of service, why would I want to return or even recommend the store to anyone? There are other choices in Bermuda. Now I will say that the behaviour of this particular manager is not indicative of all the salespeople in the stores as there are some very nice and helpful salespeople who work especially in Brown & Company and the coffee shop upstairs of which I am a frequent patron. It is however, appalling that I was treated this way and if this particular manager treated me this way, how many other people have been and will continue to receive this type of disgraceful customer service?

Perhaps this may be one of the many reasons as to why retail sales are suffering?

CUSTOMER SERVICE

City of Hamilton

Letter to BET

August 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

Could you print this article in your letter to the Editor? I believe it's a must read for all parent and young children. It's a letter written by a fictional young person and her view of BET.

SHAWN SMITH

City of Hamilton

Dear BET, Why Do You Hate Us?

Janita Patrick is a fictional character. This article is by Zettler Clay and first appeared on-line in Clutch Magazine.

Dear Debra Lee,

I'm Janita Patrick, a 15-year-old African-American female from Cincinnati. Recently, I watched the 2009 BET Awards and felt the strongest urge to reach out to the program. My family is of the typical middle-class variety; both parents and four brothers. See, I'm a junior in high school (got skipped), so naturally EVERYBODY in my age group watches BET. I'm used to seeing the sagging pants, tattoos, lack of emphasis on reading and respecting women that makes up your videos. People in my class live this out every day, while teachers tell us that we're acting just like the people in your shows.

In your shows. That struck me as odd, because I would think that with your show being the primary outlet for black entertainers and musicians, and considering the context of blacks in this country, there's a social responsibility factor to consider. I would never blame BET alone for the way a great deal of my classmates act and talk and dress. Everybody makes their own choices. However, if anybody is aware the power of television on impressionable minds, it's the people running the television operations. If you are not aware, then perhaps you shouldn't be running the operations.

Guess who watches your network the most? Not those who are intelligent enough to discern foolishness from substance, but those who are barely teenagers, impressionable and believing. It's awfully cruel to plant seeds of ignorance in fertile minds. You know it's really bad when the co-founder of BET, Sheila Johnson, said that she "really doesn't watch it" anymore.

I am constantly fighting against the images and messages put forth on your program. What made you think that it's okay to bring my classmates on stage to dance behind Lil Wayne and Drake to a song talking about boffing "every girl in the world"? Why does reality train wrecks have to be thrown in our faces? Are you aware of the achievement gap going in inner-city African-American communities? A report from America's Promise Alliance, a non-profit group started by Colin Powell, recently stated that 47 percent of high school students in the nation's top 50 cities don't graduate. (Fifty-four percent of males of color in Ingham County graduated from high school, compared to 74 percent of white males). This isn't because of BET per se, but I don't see any episodes on your show doing anything to counteract this disturbing trend. In fact, your show is a part of this cycle of media depicting us at our worst.

My older brother told me something about profit being the number one goal for every business. I'm not sure I understand what that means, but I do know that your shows have to be entertaining enough to generate viewers, which is how you make your money. But surely our culture is rich enough to entertain without anything extra to "boost" ratings; why the over-the-top foolery? I listen to classmates talk about Baldwin Hills like it's the Manhattan Project. It doesn't take much effort to produce a throng of degenerative reality shows, nor does it take much to eliminate socially conscious shows off the air. MTV isn't much better, but since when does two wrongs ever make a right? It's one thing for white television shows to depict us in a particular way, but for black television shows to do it is baffling.

Why do you hate us?

All of the values that my parents seek to instill in me and my brothers seems to be contradicted by a more powerful force from the media, and your show is at the forefront. Your network is the only network that features rap videos and shows exclusively to children of my color. I know that you have no control over the music that the artists put out, but you do have influence as to how you air these videos. I'm sure if a stand was taken to use the talent in your organization to actually crank out thought-provoking entertaining shows and videos, then artists will follow suit. Being that they need you as much as you need them.

There was one awkward segment in the BET Awards when Jamie Foxx singled out three black doctors-turned-authors, but the introduction was so powerless that many of the viewers had no idea who they were. Had they been introduced as Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, three brothers who overcame major obstacles to become a success without the use of lyrics that berate women, the sell of substance that destroy communities or through raps about loose gunplay, then maybe my classmates would have come to school talking about more than Beyonce, T-Pain's BIG ASS CHAIN and Soulja Boy Tell Em's hopping out the bed.

But they weren't introduced like that. It seemed like a throwaway obligatory tribute to appease some irritated fans. It missed the mark. Big time. Ask Michelle Obama if she watches BET or encourages Sasha and Malia to do so. Ask President Obama. It's a reason he is the leader of the free world, and it isn't because of Buffoonery Exists Today.

You'd be surprised how smart young black children can be with the absence of Blacks Embarrassing Themselves. If your goal is to deter engaged, forward-thinking articulate black minds, then consider your goal fulfilled. It's hard-pressed to think that your shows are working to promote cultural betterment. However, it's quite easy to conclude that the destruction of black children through the glorification of immoral behavior and rushed production is by design. Poison is being swallowed by every viewer who adores your network, and the worse thing is, these viewers - my classmates - are not even aware what they're swallowing.

There is nothing edifying for black women on your show. I don't judge people who do throng to your programmes though; I mean if a jet crashes right in front of me, I'd watch it too. That's why I don't flip by your channel…I don't even want to be sucked in.

I have aspirations of acquiring a law degree and possibly entering the public sphere, so I can counteract conditions in my community perpetuated by the images on your channel. So I should thank you, because in a weird sense, your shoddy programming is the wind behind my back. And it is my hope that I can accomplish my dreams despite BET's pictorial messages, because Lord knows it won't be because of them.

Sincerely,

JANITA PATRICK

Tourism's slowdown

August 19, 2009

Dear Sir,

In response to the Honourable Premier's, oh so clever, play on words, it is generally accepted that a sinking ship does slow down when it hits the bottom.

SPITTAL POND SKINK

Smith's

Sen. Brown off the mark

August 19, 2009

Dear Sir,

I can't believe that Walton Brown seriously expects anyone to believe the absolute drivel that was quoted in today's Gazette, and this man is a Senator? It is another misguided attempt to discredit the UK Government and pour more fuel on the dying pro-Independence fire.

I have followed the TCI inquiry with great interest and Senator Brown's interpretation of the facts is just plain twisted. If ever there was an abuse of power, it was by Michael Misick and his Government colleagues who have brought TCI to its knees. I am certain that the majority of the population will be very happy indeed to have an honest, competent person taking charge of their affairs. No doubt when the time is right the people will be given a say again, as they were the last time the UK Government had to intervene.

As for Bermudians protesting against the move, he must be joking. What Bermudians should be and have been protesting against is the same one-man rule, which the Senator claims is undemocratic, to which we have been subjected over the past two years. And as for his final quotation " I still maintain that there are some people prepared to destroy Bermuda just to get the PLP out ", would it not be more accurate to say that the PLP would be prepared to allow Bermuda to self-destruct just to get the UK Government out?

ALAN GAMBLE

City of Hamilton