Comments for ING MEDIA

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by Frances

Frances — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:53:19 +0000

Good article and agree with the comments.
We once got thrown out of a recently opened restaurant in our one-horse local French town – a strange sensation in your sixties – because my husband and a friend complained that (after waiting 40 minutes) the magret de canard was completely undercooked. They then refused to eat the mangled reheated mess offered 15 minutes later. When finally the diminutive but pretentious and arrogant chef emerged, my husband was so worked up that the only French he could think of was “C’est nul”.
As we were escorted to the door, people at the other tables – mainly foreign tourists – muttered “You were right”. But they had not dared say anything.
We dined out on the story and a month later the restaurant closed. Never sure if there was a connection.
It would have been better if my husband had been able to conduct a more creative discussion on magret de canard, but he and the other man were right to complain, and we – the two wives who struggled silently with our undercooked duck in order to avoid confrontation – were wrong.

Comment on Drawbacks of discounting by Malcolm Orr

Malcolm Orr — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:15:17 +0000

As an ordinary consumer I would have to agree. I know my wife and her friends check out ‘Groupon’ everyday and it is the cheap deals they are after and once the cheapness has gone then they move on to something else.

This would be particularly true for I/2 price meals where one would take advantage of the offer but rather than return to that restaurant one would simply move on to the next one offerring a discount.

My understanding is that a lot of suppliers operate at a loss when using ‘Groupon’ to entice new custom in the hope that it will create long term interest but as you point out I think it merely generates an interest in more discounts.

Bit of a catch 22 for suppliers and I would agree with your concluding paragraph as a more sustainable way forward

Comment on Drawbacks of discounting by Mark

Mark — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:13:55 +0000

I think you need to differentiate between the low cost chains that make their money by maximising bums on seats and turnaround times and the mid-market and upwards restaurants that need to maintain a price level to ensure their brand doesn’t lose value. I’m sure that discounting is great for the likes of Pizza Hut.

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by cg

cg — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:22:05 +0000

great article.
as a restaurant owner, I definitely would want the feedback, as long as it’s gently delivered. and much better in person than online, because I know where it’s coming from and can address it then and there. an aggressive or accusatory tweet or review: not so great and not quite as helpful.

Comment on GLORIOUS! growth by Greg

Greg — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:53:19 +0000

Proof that an excellent PR team are an integral part to the success of FMCG businesses. This soup deserves the growth its achieved; fantastic product that’s routed itself in what consumers want, quality at an affordable price.

Comment on GLORIOUS! growth by Zoe

Zoe — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:35:40 +0000

Wow what a climb! Great product and PR by ING Media. Great to see that you only work for products you really believe in, much easier to be enthusiastic about something you like!

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by marion

marion — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:02:11 +0000

It cuts both ways. I think you should give praise, if appropriate, but also tell them clearly when something is not right.I complained recently about a rabbit confit which obviously come in as a frozen portion ( there was a bit of waxed paper on the plate)
The response was defensive and huffy. I won’t be back there

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by Vera

Vera — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:50:28 +0000

Totally agree. Customers should participate and jointly manage their restaurant outings. In some of my favourite restaurants I have my expectations established. For example – I was in a decent and award winning restaurant, with a visitor a couple of weeks back. The manager comes up and says “Hi, the owner tells me you like to manage your own table, pouring wine, when to signal when you want things cleared, – that’s fine – just say if you need anything else.”

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by Dexter

Dexter — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:13:33 +0000

I agree, British people still seem uncomfortable in restaurants, especially, dare I say it, men. Often the women are egged on by their partners to order, complain, ask the ‘rib-related’ questions. Although I may have noticed this, until I read this blog I hadn’t thought it was a particularly British thing, but I agree that it is. Very peculiar! Also, quite irritating is how many British people continue to think going to a restaurant is rather opulent, something done for special occasions but altogether excessive for your average Tuesday dinner- again this is a bit weird. Maybe this is related to the wider problem of Britons not expecting good quality affordable food as a basic fact of life? Also maybe explains the massive success of boring chains like Nandos or Pizza Express, people feel comfortable there and not intimidated.

Comment on Fight for your Rights – In the Restaurant by Harriet

Harriet — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:04:30 +0000

I think you should say if you’re not happy with a dish. Apart from anything else, any decent place will usually take the disputed dish off your bill, so you won’t have to pay for crap food. Much better to do that than go home and moan your face off on Tripadvisor!