⌛ Mister LEE and the Volkswagen Beetle.

Not so gentle

Well Flurry ,First of all you are most welcome to this board and open forum .
I do believe , or you should correct me , that you have some sort of own opinion yourself, and not just following the winds like shamefully so many other here do. An outspoken opinion either right or wrong is better then just to agree with everybody.. That is not an opinion at all !
I have today posted my number 400 !! own Opinion.. indeed.

Your signature about fear is somewhat mine :

When You are affraid of tomorrow , you better hang yourself today......

For the last couple of years several people of Philippine origin have tried to put me down and I know the feeling of a gunpoint to either of my temples to well. But.. I am still here .right ?
This forum is to give new comers an objective impression about what goes on here and it is not all " Alice in Wonderland " , though many might think I have taken the role of " The Mad Hatter ". indeed
There is much more to tell about what goes on at Lee for less, as his own slogan is..
Likely he himself was laughing while being creative '
Lee for Less... quality ??? For instance all furniture are rejects and there is never any other stock ( unless also damaged!) ... It looks pretty much like Ukay Ukay.. Just TRY to buy a chair or something WITHOUT damage......This from the mouth of some of his OWN staff. I would LOVE to shoot pictures ( not people) of the ""FRESH " vegetables ,but cameras are NOT allowed inside.. Do you have any idea why that might be. ?
I aspect again and again warning and devel treathning.. one gets used to it!!

 

I had to go to LEE yesterday, and it just brought a disgusted smile to my face... again. It was around 2pm, so if the refs and freezers are off over night, stil enough time to cool down from the morning, Everybody of the valued readers here can check it. You go down to the supermarket and to the icecream section. there is also the meat, sausages and that kinda stuff there.
on one of the Bacon - packs is a big print "KEEP FROZEN" Just touch it and it is soft like a used chewing gum. Next to it are sausages, they swim in yellow-brown water with occational colorful ice-crystals. I do not care why things are like that, but it is a fact, and the owners play with the health of their customers....

Rhoody

 

not defending Lee or his stores, but if you look at the provincial philippines in general, (the big picture) they don't believe in refrigeraion, nor do most rural natives understand the importance of keeping hot food hot or cold food cold. Once it it is cooked they think refridgeration is not neccssary.
i have tried to educate my honey's family, but they don't or won't get it.

Go to City burger or Joe's Chicken, the precooked chicken just sits there in 28 c weather waiting for someone to come buy it so they can reheat it. OK if only a short while, but how do you know. The local Candalarias are far worse, many foreign visitors don't experience this, for good reason. They cook the food in the morning, then leave it in pots all day, and serve it for supper as well.

Now I suppose we should hold a seemingly modern grocerey to a higher standard, but the only way change will occur will be through competition (My opinion). Hopefully when Robinson's ever opens, a new, up to date grocery will force some change or at least offer demanding foreigners a choice.

That said,
It is worthy to alert potential cutomers and newcomers of the widespread local practice of turning off refs, and inconsistant food handling practices here in the Philippines.

 

"Demanding foreigners"

It's every consumer's right to expect a certain standard, even the highest quality for their money, not just "demanding foreigners."

Filipinos should begin raising the bar. Otherwise, we'd all just be getting along with what's available. (Not good)! How far are we going to take the "Gentle People" moniker? Competition's welcome in more ways than one, but legitimate grievances in legitimate forum should account for something. What's wrong with wanting something better? The offended parties should take it as a challenge. There's always room for improvement. No excuses.

 

Every thing in Dumaguete stores reminds me of Dollar Store items in the US except they cost 90 peso here, the food wouldn't even make high grade dog food. I don't know how people survive on the garbage they call food here. I just hope Robinsions has a better grade and quality.

 

Correct, But Pretty much it has been foerigners griping here, but maybe that's my perception., Filipinos here seem to accept what is status quo. Let me simplify my comments. Its not just Lee Market, why single out one vendor, and make personal attacks? the standards are similar everywhere here.

Yes, absolutely. when?

Agreed, it should work that way, but without governmental oversight or consistant enforcement, don't expect much. A national chain with good resources and better alternative choices will force change.

The forum does its job just to make those from afar aware of what living in Dumaguete means; where to, and where not to go for example, what to watch out for, and to offer options and alternatives.

Personally there are so many more critical issues to deal with here in the Philippines, like... food for everyone, jobs, healthcare, pollution. I find it hard to get worked up over stale frozen french fries, or expired yogurt. I suppose one could live in metro manila and avoid this, But at least for the time being to live here in this nice place requires trade offs.

My counter and contrary personal opinion.

 

To RHB

It takes only one person to effect a change.

 

Well well well dropped in on this thread and thought it was about a Man and his Beetle car! AS a visitor to the P.I. I accecpt the way of life and it's my choice wether I purchase food products from any store. I dont doubt for one minute what has been said about out of date products or re frozen meat but surely the answer is just dont buy there! People soon get the message when nobody comes through the door...brothers and sisters live and let live.

 

Not on the case of Jo's Chicken Inato . Her "inasal" chickens don't last long. So they barbecue chicken several times a day because people always flock there to eat or just order to take home. Last year when my husband and I were in Dumaguete we ordered 'to go' (almost everyday we ordered "inasal' while there, because my husband is crazy about it). We noticed several people waiting for their orders. Her 'inasal' chicken is just famous because it's so yummy. No, that's not the case of 'chicken inato' (Silliman Ave.) Not even at 'Jo's by the sea'. You're not there to watch, if the barbecued chickens sit there waiting for customers to come along and buy. No, I don't think so. :p

 

I have a meeting upcoming with the Governor and just might bring up the subject as it was my original post, I believe I should do so. As we all know ??? Robinson is now Paving the driveway .It is not much progress ,but atleast we see some things hapening. di ba..
Just for those that live abroad and do not know the situation here ,telling
" shop elsewhere."

WE HAVE LITTLE OR NO ALTERNATIVE.
Others here do not shut down their Freezer but have nothing to offer exept Hotdogs.........and Ice Creme...