Generous Three; delinquent Lane Crawford

My Three epic is finally over. I got my sim card in Singapore and managed to reactivate it without problems while I was there. Billy, the Three Supreme customer service rep, called me again yesterday to make sure everything was in order with my new sim card and told me Three would foot the bill for the DHL charges (I had actually told them I would be more than happy to pay for the charges in order for them to speed up the process). So this is one happy ending leading to one customer retained.

Another reason why SMEs have got it rough, but BIG companies have got it good: With small suppliers such as ourselves financing Lane Crawford (as well as contributing to their revenues in the meantime), how can they not make money??!! We delivered an order of Little Cream Books to Lane Crawford in late last year on C.O.D. terms. But 4.5 months later and still counting, we still haven't received our payment. After months of calls to the buyer, all I've gotten are full voicemail boxes while she has been on buying trips, stories of personnel changes in the accounts department and many "sorry, you'll get it next week" replies. Many "next weeks" have passed and still no cheque. What Lane Crawford owes us is small change to them (less than what I'd have to drop for a Chloé top, a Lanvin dress or a couple pairs of the Christian Louboutin heels I've been eyeing). I even joked to the buyer after she called me in for a private sale that she should just let me walk out with the same amount of merchandise to clear their debts faster. The amount I've spent in their stores since December, more than makes up for what they owe us. So, in protest (and it makes me very sad to have to do this), no more spending at Lane Crawford until I receive payment!!