Say No to Overcharged Economy Rice
It happened last Friday. I was at H**k L*m Restaurant in PJ.
It was lunch time, but I was not every hungry because of late breakfast. I walked to the economy rice stall and asked for a “small rice.” Then I scooped a piece of long bean fried egg and a bit of fried mixed vegetable.
I went to the counter to pay. The lady boss looked at my rice and said, “Three” in Cantonese. However, before she finished saying that, she looked up, saw my face and stared at me for about a second. Then she changed her mind and said, “Four Ringgit.”
I asked her, “Why four Ringgit? It’s only 1 egg and 1 veggie? And it’s small rice.”
She was annoyed and answered, “Nowadays broccoli is very expensive; it’s more than 10 Ringgit per kilo!”
Then I said, “It’s too expensive, I don’t want it anymore.”
Just as I turned back and walked away, she pointed her right index finger at me and shouted, “If you have no money, don’t come in and eat!” She was clearly very mad at me, but I didn’t care. Why should I pay for food that I think is unfairly charged? In addition, there was no price list. Judging from the amount of dishes left behind, I would say that not many people like to have their economy rice there.
I’ve had economy rice in many parts of Klang Valley. Even in air-conned restaurant, rice + 1 veggie + 1 egg only cost me RM3. The most would be RM3.50. The lady boss at H**k L*m Restaurant wanted to charge me around RM3, but when she saw my face she changed her mind. I’m not sure why. But this was not the first time I experienced this. There were people who tried to cheat me because of how I look. Because I have a childish face? Because I look gullible? I’m not sure why. Maybe I need to improve my look?
Anyway, I ignored her and went to sit with my hubby. I didn’t want to argue with her or scold her back. In the past sometimes I’d pay the money and then felt bad while eating. This was the first time I said No to overcharged economy rice.
Maybe you are thinking, it’s only RM4, why are you so stingy? True, RM4 is not a big amount. But why should I pay for something I know is unfairly charged? H**k L*m Restaurant is not air-conned. It’s just a Chinese kopitiam, and the surrounding is not very clean.
Usually when I complained that the economy rice is expensive, the boss would reduce the price or apologize to me. However, this lady boss at H**k L*m just shouted at me. By her doing so, I’d never go back to her restaurant anymore, and I’d also tell my friends not to go there too (worse still, I’m writing about it here!). By shouting for less than 5 seconds, she not only lost a RM4 business, but also RM4 from many others. RM4 is really not a lot!
It’s not against the law if we don’t want to pay for overpriced food. If you think you are unfairly charged, just put down the plate and tell the boss directly, “It’s too expensive, I don’t want it anymore.” No need to feel ashamed – you haven’t started eating yet; it’s your money, you are the customer and you decide whether you want to pay or not. If we let them charge whatever they wish, economy rice is going to be less and less economy.
[Anyway, I heard that the Wan Ton noodle at H**k L*m Restaurant is very nice and famous. But I wouldn’t go there anymore.]
Where H**K L*m is located. The restaurant doesn't have a signboard.
What would you do if your economy rice is overcharged?
This post has been edited by wymsinn: Jun 18 2012, 11:45 AM
Say No to Overcharged Economy Rice, because you are the customers!