Singapore ― After a slew of negative comments allegedly from a competitor, two Singapore eateries have spoken up, demanding compensation for the damages following the defamation.
Singapore based Japanese restaurant chain, Ishiro, came under fire earlier this month for posting bad reviews using multiple accounts to sabotage its competitors.
After the practice was highlighted on social media, the company issued two public apologies; the first was taken down due to backlash from the online community.
The apology was directed to Mentai-Ya, which sells Japanese fusion rice bowls.
Ishiro noted in its apology that it would “assume full responsibility for their actions.”
Mentai-Ya has posted multiple updates on its Facebook page on the “intentional harassment” it has received over the last four months.
Another business affected by the defamation was The Social Outcast, a Muslim-owned eatery specialising in woodfire smoked meals.
On one occasion, a bulk order was made to The Social Outcast under one of the usernames responsible for the multiple negative reviews.
The Grab uncle returned with all the food, and the customer couldn’t be reached.
On Monday (Sept 20), Mentai-Ya posted an update about the “unfair and demoralising” effects of the negative reviews.
Amid advice from food and beverage seniors and mentors to not bother with the one-star reviews, the business chose to speak up on the issue, noting it was glad to do so.
“If we had not spoken up, nobody would have known that Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck & Kway Chap , 金记潮州卤鸭 Melvin Chew had been called “POOR HAWKER DOG”, and The Social Outcast would not have realised that the insults and racists comments were made by THEIR OWN neighbour back at Bedok Marketplace,” wrote Mentai-Ya.
The business added that five one-star reviews on their Tampines outlet had left their overall rating at 2.2 stars in their first month of operations.
“It was really demoralising and unfair, especially to the team members that had worked so hard to provide these affordable donburis, only to go home to these negative comments,” said Mentai-Ya.
In response to the incident, Mentai-Ya and The Social Outcast confirmed they were seeking compensation from Ishiro for the damages.
In their letters of demand addressed to Ishiro, Mentai-Ya is seeking S$70,000 in compensation while The Social Outcast S$50,000 for the false and defamatory comments and reviews.
According to Yahoo! News Singapore, Mentai-Ya sales had dropped about 20 per cent from June to August.
“Many new friends have come forward to support us after learning about this Ishiro incident, and many of our regulars have also asked our crew about the follow-up actions on our side,” said Mentai-Ya in its post.
“We will hang on, pick ourselves up, and continue to improve and provide the public with affordable Mentaiko Bowls at $6.80 to $9.80.”/TISG
Read related: Eatery staff posts bad reviews to sabotage competitors; public apology issued twice
Eatery staff posts bad reviews to sabotage competitors; public apology issued twice