Le Vaffieu - chilly welcome, high prices, poor quality services

Here’s the story….been skiing in France and needed a warm up on a cold day in a village called Les Gets. Went into one restaurant, “le Vaffieu” – frosty reception, sky-high prices and a loo that had no soap, no towels, no hot water. Very fed up.

Skied on for a bit. There was, “Le Grand Pré” and what a contrast. Friendly warm welcome, smiles all round, very reasonable prices plus clean loos with soap, towels and hot water. We ended up going there all the time from then on. And the service and welcome just got better and better.

Le Grand Pré - smiles, warmth, good value, working services

No doubt in my mind which I’ll go to in future – the one that has friendliness in its Brand delivery. Vive Le Grand Pré!

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex

Yes, Poppy’s tea room in Thaxted Essex certainly knows how to serve up great refreshments, do it with a smile and in no time at all.

The first big cycle ride of the year and 400+ cyclists were en route, some for over 10 hours.  So when you stop you  don’t want to wait around.

I can see why Poppy’s won the Best tea Room in Essex award in 2011.  They’d have the vote of all of us two-wheelers.

Living Inside the Brand.  100%

PS We visited another café, which shall remain nameless. They took an hour to serve 6 beans and scrambled egg on toast. Aargh!

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex.

Jess, Steph and Sue and their Angel Café.

At short notice they’d agreed to host a business breakfast meeting for the 4Networking organisation.

The coffee was on, the tea piping hot, the plates laden with wholesome food.

But that wasn’t all.  The team were smiling, the slightly ‘alternative’ feel, the very newly re-decorated back room were just so welcoming.

It seemed nothing was too much trouble.  In fact the only trouble we had was eating the quantities they gave us!

So, if you’re ever in Diss, Norfolk in the UK,  make your way over to Fair Green on Lower Denmark Street and be delighted.  We were.

Full marks for living inside their brand.

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex, UK

This salesman was so awful I showed him the door after a few minutes.

Like most people we get loads of calls and mail about ‘unmissable’ deals. I replied to one. It was for solar panels.

The pre-appointment contact by the company was fine and I felt at ease. But as I opened the front door my heart sank.

Okay, I thought, he might not look tidy, maybe he’s got other strengths. Well, no, not really. He proceeded to tell me what I should be thinking instead of asking me what I was looking for. Over and over again, tell, tell, tell.

At one point he handed over leaflets about the panels themselves. As he talked I read and found at least three careless typos. I did wonder of the leaflet reflected their general care and attention to detail.

Then came the laptop demonstration of the payback and profit. Yuck. the screen was greasy, full of fingermarks. And the sun was reflecting right off it, so I could barely read the very small font.

By the time he got to asking me rhetorically where else I could get such a return, I was fed-up with his whole approach.

I’m not interested. At which point any charm he had shown evaporated.

As for living their brand values -trust us to do a good job, reliability, we take care of you, comfort. Sorry, score is zero.

For legal reasons I daren’t name the company!

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex, UK

Reading through them I was increasingly horrified.

New charges for many services, increased charges for others.  Do they really think I’ll go along with that?

There must be a choice.  There is and I spoke to them today.  It’s the Co-operative Bank.

Or should I say the Breath of Fresh of Fresh Air bank.  The call-centre agent was outstanding, making me feel valued and wanted.

The charges or fair and in the main tiny.

Whilst I’ve yet to sample their actual ba king service, so far.  10 out of 10.

PS They also have a policy of trading ethically.  And in fact they ran me through a series of questions as well.

PPS The strapline is interesting.  I think it should read “good with YOUR money”

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex. UK

But I was pleasantly surprised when the install went more smoothly than I’d expected (maybe my technical skills are improving) and the Orange call centre agent proved so understanding.

You see, I’m normally made to feel a complete numpty, which makes my limited technical skills even shyer.  Not so this time, lots of empathy, simple questions and I rose to the occasion.

So, in the space of just one evening, I’m up and running on my white BlackBerry Bold.  Well done Orange.

I know it’s not your current advertising, but my future’s bright, my future’s Orange.

Definitely living inside your brand.

Submitted by Viv N, Essex, UK

But, our experience was as nothing compared to a fellow guest. Taken ill and admitted to hospital, she received visits from the staff after their shifts, numerous cards and bunches of flowers were sent  - by just the ordinary team members who knew her.

And you know, you cannot better that level of service.  It comes from deep down.  The people cared about the guest.

Good for the Baobab, good for the team.  Living Inside the Brand, how I wish others would learn their lesson.

Read the reviews on trip advisor.  No wonder the hotel is always full.

Ivan N, Essex

The Lily Tandoori looked good from the outside, but the service was shocking.

Just seven of us and they couldn’t get the drinks out together or even completely.  Twenty minutes for that.

Then when the mains came, we waited another 10 minutes for rice.  So the main dishes were cold.

And then we kept getting further odd bowls of rice at random intervals.  Apologies?  You’ve got to be joking.  This is one I’ll definitely not visit again.  Living inside their brand?  Not a bit of it!

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex.

And not only is the food better, so is the welcome.  There’s an incredibly cheery welcome from a very smiley Kellie.

So if you find yourself in Chelmsford, Essex and in need of a good bit to eat just go to the Munch Box Sandwich Bar, 185 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex.  CM2 0LG.  01245 284 018. These people are really living inside their Brand.

Despite three people being in the office, almost literally twiddling their thumbs, the answer was, “We only do certified copies if you’re a client.”

I walked out thinking, “If that’s your attitude, then a client I’ll never be.”

The good news was that literally next door another solicitors greeted me cheerily with “Of course we can do that for you.” And so pleasant were they that I did double the quantity.

And of course I left their offies thinking, “If I ever need a solicitor here’s where I’ll go.”

Interestingly, looking at their respective offices – the one who refused had a real down-at-heel look.  Their next door neighbours, who said “Yes!” was newly decorated, looked fresh and inviting.

As you’ll see, the ones who said “No!” were Duffield Stunt.  And the “Yes!” Leonard Gray – well done you’re living inside some great brand values.

Submitted by Ivan N, Essex