A customer who ordered chicken curry and vegetables at a food court posted a message to all food stall owners, noting it was possible to keep prices low for filling and delicious meals.
As a food and beverage owner himself, Richie Lim urged others in the business to “stop the bull**** using inflation and increased cost of food from suppliers as your excuses to make profits.”
Mr Lim posted a photo of his meal on Facebook group Complaint Singapore on Monday (July 18).
“I had this plate of Malay food chicken curry and vegetables at a crowded shopping mall food court yesterday for S$5.80,” he said.
“Very meaty and filling to my stomach. Very sedap delicious,” he added.
The topic of food becoming ridiculously expensive or portion sizes diminishing has been circulating on social media, with customers calling it “robbery.”
A couple of examples would be when a Singapore General Hospital staff was shocked that her meal, consisting of veggies, rice, and pork chop the size of her spoon, cost S$5.40 after a 20 per cent staff discount.
And then a customer ordering from Liao Fan Hawker Chan was alarmed that the price of roast pork rice jumped 40 per cent, from S$5.80 to S$8.10. The company has since disclosed that the price hike was due to increasing cooking oil, pork, gas, water, and electricity costs.
With the complaints about expensive meals on the rise, Mr Lim’s post was refreshing for netizens.
“Thanks and this is a very encouraging post. I encourage you to just boycott and no more support those who excessively love to play with fire, end up their own ‘business’ will get burned down by their own greed,” said a Facebook user.
“Remember last time, up the price always use ‘due to Covid’, this time round say ‘because of inflation and cost’. Everyone has costs, including your CUSTOMERS that supported you,” he added.
Mr Lim noted in a comment that the Malay stall owner never increased their prices even before other commodities, like petrol, went through a price hike.
“Remarkable to find such a gem which is shaming those rip-off ‘robbers.’ Let’s support these stalls,” said Facebook user Mike Sugood. /TISG
Still S$2, cai fan stall in Hougang absorbs cost hike as customers don’t have salary increases