Unethical Organizers
Have you heard of the Youthopia team?
Recently, Youthopia tried to organize a bazaar in Lot 10, KL. When I first saw the invitations and publicity on this event, I was thinking, “hmm, Lot10. wow not too bad, good traffic and what not”. So yeah.
They have been changing dates of when the bazaar would be for a few times, even during the early stages. Until FINALLY, when they have announced that the dates would be 13th & 14th June, and that was FINAL, no more changes, so that’s when I (RylDesigns) made the full payment to rent a booth for both days of the bazaar.
However, to our utter disappointment, Youthopia Team have YET AGAIN change the dates of the bazaar! From 13th to 14th June, to 20th & 21st June! And to make things even worse, some of us traders would be put outdoor.
Number 1, we traders came to an agreement with you and made full payments for the dates of 13th and 14th June 2009.
Number 2, it was also stated in the details and agreement of the event that it would be an INDOOR event.
Now that the event was postponed to 20th and 21st, we actually do have all rights to demand for a refund. However, the Organizers stated reasons that there was no choice and whatsoever due to the Lot10 Management and so on. So fine. I left that, and thought to give it a second chance, thinking to myself that how much worse can it get. They can’t be postponing it for the 4th time, can they?!?!?
BUT, I courteously requested for an indoor spot. And the reply I received from them was exactly these words:
Hi,
You guys will be placed indoor dont worry, even before we receive this email – your name was already in the indoor list. Take note ya.
Thanks.
Talk about friendliness? Pfft. Yea right!
How in the world am I suppose to know that I was ALREADY in the indoor list, when I receive NO updates whatsoever from the organizers!!
The only updates we received from Youthopia Team are updates on CHANGES OF DATES, NO LONGER AN INDOOR LOCATION, and everything negative, nothing positive.
I did not receive no floor plans, no list of who the other vendors were, how many participants, exactly the map of where the bazaar is, NOTHING. N-O-T-H-I-N-G!
Oh so we traders were suppose to just know all of these by ourselves? Are each and every one of us suppose to question and ask for these information from you organizers? Shouldn’t we be notified by the organizers? Isn’t this part of your responsibility?
And now, I am being told to “TAKE NOTE YA” for information that I was not told before hand, and was supposed to just SOMEHOW know it all myself?
Excellent.
How unprofessional.
Well fine, I left that as well. I was already taken aback with their attitude, and was just thinking to myself that I’m just gonna go on with the bazaar, do my sales, have fun, and not bother bout them. Main reason is, I’ve already got everything prepared for the bazaar. I took in so many new stocks, ordered and paid for numerous delivery charges just so the stocks would reach me in time before the event, informed all my customers, friends and followers to come support me, ALL just for this bazaar. So, yes.
Speaking about the changes on the location, that some traders would be placed outdoor, And Youthopia team have confidently assured me without doubt for an indoor location, and don’t forget I was also told to TAKE NOTE YA that I was already in the indoor list, AND after I have NOTED their reply, this was the next update we traders received from Youthopia Organizers:
*Now everyone is outdoor!
Isetan has invaded the whole floor inside the mall for their SALE – the management has pushed them to occupy the space on the same date with our event to make up for the 2 weeks maintenance (remember an email on this?) that took place at the mall. So we have no choice to move everyone under the canopy.
Now now..we expect to receive comments like “But you guys said you will do insideeee….”, “But its very hot out there…”..”I have rashes and asthma…” and condemning us for not keeping our ‘promise’….but babes, think about this:a) DO You want to make some sales?
b) DO You want visibility?
c) DO You want to turn the crowds head and lure them to check out your stuff?If you want all this, then please give outdoor a try. Its not scorching hot as some of you would have thought – We’ve seen places like Soho that were outdoor and very hot too! We will have lights and fans install for you. Bring a handheld fan if you want or those battery operated mini fan that you can put on the table if you want extra breeze. Please bring own extension chord, long cable ones for those who rely on electricity to do business.
The best thing is, since Isetan is on sale, expect crowd peeps!! We’ve got feedbacks from DOME and Haagen Dasz that there are so many people on weekend as oppose to week days!
Its hard to keep in control on some authoritative matters that involves prominent malls like Lot 10 and its management – so please understand our position and respect that certain decisions were made by them because they own the place. If we own the place, you will get discounts peeps!
.
.
HA-HA?
I am very highly let down with their inefficiency and unethical attitude. I do not see how this is going to be an acceptable act from the Organizers.
You know, it’s funny how the updates on “Everyone is now outdoor” is off more than 500 words, but there was not even a single simple “Sorry” in it. I do not see that Youthopia Team have any sense of regret or remorse in causing uncountable inconveniences to us vendors, for uncountable times. I believe as organizers, you and your team have 100% responsibility to ensure that everything including from the planning of this event, to the progress of it, and to conducting this event out goes well. Being unable to do so already, you organizers have put off and totally let down many of us vendors as your clients.
And, since Isetan has been compensated from Lot 10 due to maintenance work, I’m sure them as organizers have been compensated as well. Funny thing is, instead of getting compensation, we are being downgraded!
Don’t you and your team have a sense of integrity to at least ask vendors if we are fine with it?
NEXT.
The day before the bazaar on June 20th, it was midnight already. I was still awake handling some stuffs for the bazaar the next day. And at 12:29:59am, MIDNIGHT, I received a SMS, and I was thinking who could it be, it’s already midnight?!
Youthopia Team -.-
Message delivered to me was exactly these words:
“We r sorry to inform u that the Lot10 event 20 n 21 June has been cancelled. We regret that we cant cope wit Lot 10 management unprofessional manner. Explaination is in email. Pls read ur email.”
WTFFFFFFF.
Exactly. W-T-F.
The email was:
Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances – we were advised by Lot 10 management to postpone our event – YET AGAIN!
And due to this unprofessional manner, we have finally decided to cancel the event and refund monies to all of you. We do not want to postpone many times as this does not look good on us. And furthermore, we certainly do not want to keep you hanging around. You might as well use the refunded fees to join other events.
We apologize sincerely for the last minute cancellation for they only informed us today at approximately 8.30pm. If you ask us, yes, we’re very pissed. As we have reiterated many times – the venue is not ours – in the end it is their management’s decision. We have reasoned things out with them, that all our traders are already prepared, our buntings and postcards are ready, licenses have been applied and ready, even car park vouchers – but NO they said decision is final. We were speechless and decided NOT TO FURTHER our relationship with them. We rather take the blame, swallow the complaints and refund all monies. If we continue with them – we will have to face many more excuses upon excuses.
We have never expected to have worked with such a difficult party (and more over they are an established group in Malaysia!) and we regret this has affected you. We were greatly affected too! Think about our promotional marketing materials, marketing time and money spent on this! At least you can sell your items elsewhere – but ours are totally burnt. We made great loss too.
So from changes of dates, to more changes of dates, and more more changes of dates, to from indoor to everyone is now outdoor, and after all the hooha they’ve been making, the event is officially cancelled.
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APPLAUSE, NO?
PFFFFFT.
Number 1, Youthopia Team mentioned that they rather take the blame and swallow the complaints. It is not you RATHER, you SHOULD.
Number 2, there has got to be a reason why Lot10 Management can push you and your team around so easily. Perhaps, No strong principles? Unprofessional? I don’t know. You tell us. Even if ASSUMING Lot10 Management are really very hard-to-deal-with people, then you and your team should have known from the very beginning. And I’ve read that you and your team actually already knew how tough it was handling things with Lot 10 Management, like you’ve said, you guys already “smelled” the trouble coming. But you and your team decided to carry on and not give up. I respect how you and your team are very motivated, but sometimes it is essential to analyze critically on what can be done, and what cannot be done. Especially when it is involving business, and REPUTATION.
Number 3, you and your team asked us to think about your party’s money spent on promotional materials and marketing time???????? Firstly, when anyone googles “Youthopia Bazaar Lot 10″, the results is simply disappointing. Even on free-cost media, there isn’t enough publicity from your party. Secondly, what hope do we have on those ads/publicity that would cost you money! We do not see any flyers or buntings or any form of visual advertisements around us promoting the bazaar apart from those ads online, which are also, not to mention, extremely few.
Because of you and your team being over ambitious and not considering opinions from traders, you have dragged so many of us down with you into all these havoc.
Have you guys read Youthopia Team’s collaboration with MUSA organizers, on how they were so upset and disappointed with MUSA organizers when co-organizing a bazaar together?
http://chics-closet.blogspot.com/2009/04/unpleasant-experience-that-was-not.html
It’s even funnier in this case, that how they are able to correct, point out and condemn MUSA Organizers’ mistakes and faults, but not realize they were too doing the same now for this bazaar at Lot 10.
If you as organizers cannot keep to your words, promises or agreements, how do you expect your customers to feel convinced and pleased with your organization? If you felt extremely frustrated, irritated and disappointed with the organizers from MUSA during that bazaar the other time, then I’d frankly like to tell you that is exactly how we and many other vendors feel about Youthopia.
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What I am very displease is that after everything that has happened, and everything that them organizers have done, they still do not sincerely fully admit that they are wrong. It is clear how the full blame is being put on Lot 10 Management. Like people say, it’s no point forcing one to admit their wrong; because they will learn that way.
Also, in their latest update on their blog, they wrote their part of explaination of what had happened. And also told off to those who does not support them, and who were blaming them, and condemning them, to just take the refund, and go.
“Please do yourselves and ourselves a favour- dont join us – ever. Serious. We do not want to take your money either. We do not want to mislead you with empty promises that you will make big bucks or your stall will be swarmed with people who is dying to get your stuff when you join us. Dont do that. We do not want you to spam our chatbox later and accused us this & that. Dont waste your time”, said Youthopia Team.
What they wrote there, is just a nicer way of telling the traders who were let down by them for numerous times, to FCK OFF.
Well let me tell you this. We traders have all rights to be frustrated, disappointed and irritated with you organizers after time and time being let down by you and your team.
Simply UNETHICAL.
By the way, while I was googling for information on one of the Youthopia Organizers, I’ve found out that one of them had joined the Malaysian reality show, “The Firm” Season 1, and was terminated/eliminated in the First Episode itself, and was told off by Peter Pek,
Ethics in the real corporate world is very important – it’s paramount.
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I suppose some people just never learn???
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You know, my sister and I was furious, as in literally furious, on that midnight that were last minute told the event was cancelled. We were firing up, I swear.
There’s actually so much more that we can say now, but what’s the use of it. Now that days have passed, and my anger on this issue has toned down so much.
I’m fed up of this, and do not want to ever mention about this again after posting this up. I’m writing this and publishing it on World Wide Web because I do not like being stepped all over, and pretend that nothing has ever happened. If the opposite party would have been a little more sincere in apologizing and taking the blame, we traders would not feel as frustrated. They have not respected us from day 1. I am merely standing up for myself, and on behalf of the other traders who feel the same.
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Yours truly,
Cheryl.
Limchaohung says:
“…we cant cope wit Lot 10 management “unprofessional” manner….”
LOL…who was the unprofessional team???
Cheryl says:
yealahhhhh thats y! ishhh. no mirror lah must be.
Jayelle says:
..I personally know the organizer because I joined her bazaar. First bazaar – WIP at BSC a while back.
Promotions were not done enough and we were put in a secluded place. But I was naive because it was my first bazaar. My second bazaar was with them too and the crowd was so bad that the sellers were each others’ ONLY customers.
While she is a friendly lady and a genuine person, I agree that plenty of promotion needs to be done. The team needs to manage things properly. BSC didn’t like it because we ‘cheapened’ the whole place coz we looked like pasar malam sellers.
She has invited me for her past few bazaars but I promised myself to never ever ever set up stall at a bazaar whose crowd I’ve not seen with my own eyes.
Lynzsie says:
Hi,
Just saw this website…My cousin works in Lot 10 (no name please..out of respect), just to set this matter straight, its true that the youthopia team works hard to make this event successful, fyi, the person that screwed up the event was already under HR disciplinary action. ACtually, many ppl look forward, but the staff messed it so badly that it affects the youthopian team and the management. The management is thinking of making it up to youthopian team, but dont think the team want to accept after what had happened.
So eventhough I understand u r angry with the cancellation, please dont condemn them without knowing the truth. Its easier to assume and make assumption.
To Jayelle, yes I agree with you that BSC is so choosy. They only welcome high class sellers that already owned shops not some online and young traders. I did enquired years back to join them before their renovation, but they said no to me because I sell cheapo stuff!! WTH..
Oh ya, i did watch The Firm starred by one of the organizer! LOL! Dont believe everythg you watch my friend….that one just TV programme la…PPl can edit the show and make it look like its ‘real’, how ethical can a person be? Trump is not very ethical either..same goes to some big shots. Some very mean too….
Cheryl, I do like your designs very much. Very unique! hopefully someday I will see you with Youthopia. There are nice people really.
So peace everyone!
Cheryl says:
Jayelle- I’m sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience with them as well. I have to agree with what you’ve said in your last line ;) Thanks for sharing your experience! Good luck in your business =)
Cheryl says:
Hi Lynzsie, thanks for sharing as well.
I suppose I can put it this way. We do not plan to collaborate or work with Youthopia Team similar to how Youthopia Team might or would not wish to collaborate with Lot 10 Management again after such a failure.
And Lynzsie, we are merely sharing our experience with the team, and writing a review based on true facts of what has happened in between the lines of them organizers and us vendors.
Like you’ve mentioned, it is easier to assume and to make assumptions. Similar to like how some especially those who weren’t participants of the Youthopia Bazaar at Lot10 would not know exactly how we vendors had felt, and what exactly we have gone through with them organizers. I suppose experiencing and hearing/reading about this is simply way two different things.
I do not know them personally. Perhaps they really are nice people, I don’t know. However, it doesn’t mean that nice people can organize well. Just like a painter. A painter can paint well, but it doesn’t mean he can design well.
We are not judging them by who they are, but for what they do, or did.
Well everyone has an opinion, and everyone has the rights to have an opinion. :) I thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions with me and others here. However, I still stand strong with my believes in ethics in the corporate world.
Thanks for your support on my designs, Lynzsie. And yeap, peace, no hatred. These are merely expressing and sharing truth and experiences.
Thanks. :)
Midnight Carnivale says:
dear cheryl,
i previously typed a LONG comment.
but, cos i didn’t type my email in, it got cancelled in whole. -.-
i spent a whole 10-15 mins typing and it’s all gone. gahh!
oh well.
let me summarise it again.
i got 3 questions for the Youthopia team.
1) you said that you got to know about it at 8+. why did you take a whole 4 hours to get to vendors?
2)what if the vendors are already sleeping, awaiting for the following long day of being at the bazaar?
3)why is it that LOT10 team can be pushing you around so easily? this should and could be placed in the hands of the authorities as customer rights, isnt it?
cheryl, it’s okay.
im sure that it’s meant to be this way as it is sign that it would not turn up a good bazaar anyway.
AT LEAST they refunded the money.
you can use that money, to prep up for another upcoming bazaar.
who knows? you might get a BIGGER, BETTER response. :)
there might have been bad weather conditions on that day, rain, sunny and the customers might not even want to go to the stalls.
it’s best to go indoor.
finally, the part where they replied in such a rude manner, now THAT is unethical.
the part where she said, “dont give us money. we dont need it. just go.”
that was so damn rude.
if one is in the wrong, small or big, at least have the courtesy to say, “sorry. i wish i couldve changed the bad news. but, i sincerely apologise for the mess up and hope that all sellers will forgive me. however, i’m also at a loss and am in a lot of trouble already as it is. i promise i will not organise a bazaar anymore as it is too much of a hassle and i will need to bare all responsibilities as well. i apologise and appreciate some ease off from this matter now. thanks.”
would that be saying the same thing in a better tone?
it’s all about ethics and manners now and it’s very very important.
cheryl, i hope to see you at some bazaar, some day in the future. :)
love,
Valerie from Midnight Carnivale.
Cheryl says:
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for your comment. I have to agree with you. They could have told it off in a better tone to us like you have mentioned.
And yes, ethics. Another point to agree on. Yup I’ve gotten my refunds. Better off invest on other bazaars yeah? Hahha
Anyways, I’ll be at the Awesome Possum Bazaar this weekend 4th & 5th July. Hope to see you there Valerie :)
Good luck in your blogshop business too.
<3,
Cheryl
brother loui says:
No point hate one another, human make mistakes and allowed to make mistakes..all of us no exception. We get it, you are pissed, want the whole world to know, for what? someday ppl can do same thing to u..life is like cycle u know. Someday you are up and someday you are down. Karma is the word.
Girl, you are talented – and standing up for what you believe is commendable. But not everyone deserves this post. Maybe they are genuine – no one knows. Do you know them personally to comment such? We can think of so many 101 ‘Why’s’ and ‘If’s’ they could do to make things better (like what Valerie suggested) but I used to be in situation that I cant even think straight to do anything! ! And whatever I do thereafter, I am still the bad egg…sigh…I hate to sound so religious here but yeah…faith helps (grin)
All Im saying is, let God be the judge, the world is so small to hate one another, who knows someday you all will meet again? and need each others help? Nothing is impossible…..
By the way, your new page is better :-)
aisha says:
*pat pat*
what an emotional roller coaster.
open a booth at urbanscapes next year la :p
Cheryl says:
Hi Brother Loui,
Yes, I must agree; To err is human. However, please do get your facts right. I never stated my wish of wanting the whole world to know. I believe I have all rights to post this on my little land of personal blog here which definitely not the whole world would be reading.
I do believe in Karma. And what the organizers had done, and the way they have treated us vendors with disrespect, will also have to face Karma for that someday, I believe.
My dear friend, what I am merely writing, is not out of hatred. Hate is too big of a word, I hope you understand. It is also very childish and immatured. I do not hate them, really. I am just displeased with their organization and I think we as vendors would have deserved a better way and a more sincere apology from them organizers. Period.
I hope you understand. ANd it’s really nice to know you have a strong faith. I believe in God as well, and yes, faith brings us further in life.
Thanks for your comment and opinion, Brother Loui. :) It’s really nice hearing from you.
Hv a nice day.
Cheryl says:
Hey Aisha,
I heard urbanscapes is a very fun event! Haven’t attended before though. Might try out next year :D
thanks anyway. :)
brother loui says:
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for the kind reply :-) Indeed you have the right to be displeased.
Perhaps if they DO make an effort to apologise in future, why not give them another chance? Get to know them and see where they are coming from. Maybe they too dont know the vendors well. For all you know, it was probably a terrible misunderstanding.
There will be times we make mistakes not knowing why it happened, or how it happened. We are never perfect to start with.
I am sure if the organizers read this, they too feel the need to contact you and make it up.
Let us learn to forgive one another and knowing you, I am sure you can :-)
God Bless you!!
Cheryl says:
Hey Brother Loui,
Yup, what you’ve said is indeed true. Definitely, if they manage to organize the next bazaar successfully, that would be great to hear and would support them.
Well, all in all, at the end of the day, no parties would want any negative things to have happened or ever happen. I also hope to see them with a successful event soon. :)
Thanks again.
Cheers!
brother loui says:
Indeed you are nice person with a nice heart :-)
BS says:
i haven’t got my refund yet. i was very upset with the changes too! seriously it pissed me and my partner off too, cos our schedule are all messed up, and before this lastest changes(to August) were announced, we even told them that we don’t want to continue anymore, and ask for a refund, because i’m too worried if anything happens again!
my first bazaar was with them too, and it sucks, no crowd and so on. i agree with you above, they might be some nice people, and they might work hard to make everything happen, but it is a fact they do not make sure everything goes right and note us EARLIER, we do not pay and listen to their problems and excuses! well, i know we should be considerate or watever, but one time is ok, not second time, moreover third or fourth! =(
Regina from Butterscotch
Cheryl says:
Hi Regina,
You have not received your refunds until now? That’s painful to hear about! Must be giving you lots of headaches.
I just recently got to know about the booth offers in Lot10 that they are giving out to us vendors in August though. I’m still thinking if we should give them a second chance. Well for my case it’d be a second chance, for your case I’m not sure how many chances had u been giving already. Hahah.
Well it’s a good offer because it’s at Lot10. However, I have another job offer clashing on the same dates of their event in Lot10, so I’m really thinking. Just very worried if it fails once again.
Sigh.
Tell me what do you think, Regina? Nice hearing from you. Thanks!
-Cheryl