June 1, 2017

Ambushed by SM Seaside

Location: Antuwanga, Cebu City, Philippines
GPS waypoint: 10°16'54.6"N 123°52'53.8"E

Malls are Not Equal
I thought that malls are essentially the same. But my recent experience at SM Seaside made me realize that there is no sewer these guys won't crawl into to trick you out of your last money.

P25 shuttle fee to go to SM Seaside
Having experienced the free shuttle service by Robinsons to their malls from varied locations across the city, I thought the SM City to SM Seaside shuttle was also free - wrong! I had to pay P25 cash, one-way. I was already in SM City when I realized this, so I went along with it. That's not the worst part.

Ambushed
I walked around SM Seaside, but by the time I was about to head back using the same shuttle service, I was told that I could no longer pay cash! I now have to buy the P200 card with only P100 load! Huaaaaat? Why didn't they tell us that at SM City when we were paying for our one-way shuttle fee? From SM Seaside, there were no public buses or public jeeps. The only option out was a cab - which would be more expensive. At that point, I realized I was deliberately and methodically painted into a corner by the clever guys at SM who wouldn't let me leave their mall without getting more money from me - by hook or by crook!

Analysis
It's not just a matter of getting P200 from me or anyone else who fell into the trap. It's about making you come back no matter how grudgingly. With your card and the P100 load, when you come off the shuttle, you'll still end up with a P75 credit on the card. Even if you hate SM for that duplicitous act, you'll still come back to use-up the credit balance! And what if you already used-up your load? You'll realize that you paid P100 for the card itself. Would you let it go to waste? Probably not. So now, you'll make the most out of it by adding more load, making you come back to SM Seaside where you will have to spend more. Clever, no? And yes, disgusting and infuriating!

Ending Thoughts
Yes, these SM guys think they are clever and have outsmarted everyone else. But are they really clever or short-sighted marketers fueled by greed? With what happened, I would never go back to SM Seaside or any SM mall for that matter. Why? Because I cannot trust them anymore. Because with whatever they offer, no matter how glossy, I will be suspicious. I will ask myself where the booby-trap lies or at what point do I fall into their deceptive trap-door. In the same manner I will not work for or work with anyone I cannot trust, I also will not shop in a mall that has proven to be untrust-worthy. SM gained loose change with their trickery but lost it big time and in a very fundamenetal way - loss of trust! Let's not even mention they breed shopper contempt. This mall has 1st-world infrastructure with 3rd-world thinking.

There was no way in hell I would be coerced into buying that shuttle card. After looking at all possibilities, I learned that there are single motorcycles (habal-habal) who take passengers into the town of Mambaling or just to the nearest main intersection for public jeeps at P20. I took that. And that's the last time I'll be going to any SM mall.

This is no lip-service to Robinsons Galeria, but these guys offer no-strings value to their customer base - free shuttle service between branches and from main points across the city. They offer a Travelers Lounge for free shower, free luggage storage and free wifi. In short, they build their customer base by developing goodwill and earning their trust. You would think this is just common sense - apparently not to SM. I am sure that when Henry Sy built Shoemart of Escolta back in the day, he also had customer goodwill in mind. Somehow, along the road to getting big, those values were abandoned for greed.

--- TheLoneRider

Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

More Information about Cebu City

Cebu City to Camotes Island

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City

Cebu City to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferries.com

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Suggested Destinations in Cebu

Camotes Islands - caves, beaches
Cebu City - rich in culture and history, 2nd largest city in the Philippines
Moalboal - amazing coral reef system, sardine bowl, deep drop-off for freediving
Oslob - Butanding (whale shark) watching
Bantayan Island - long stretch of fine white sand beach, Virgin Island for snorkeling
Malapascua Island - divers' paradise for seeing the rare Thresher Shark
Cantabaco Cave - Toledo
Barile Waterfalls - Barile
Whale Shark Tour - Oslob
Carcar - chicharon and lechon in public market