Old Favorites Disappoint

The first car I ever owned was a 1984 Chevy Citation. I was the third person, and the third generation, to drive that four-door vehicle. I'll always have fond memories of it as my first car. It also is the reason I don't by Chevrolet any more - it barely lasted a year for me.

My next car was a Toyota Tercel. We bought it used, and it lasted for my senior year in High School, all the way through college, and up until my first real job, when I promptly bought another Toyota. Since then, I've purchased nothing but Toyota vehicles. I recommended them, I purchased them, I identified with them. They were my brand.

I was surprised and disappointed by the quality issues they had last year. When you associate with something, when you vouch for something, if they don't live up to your expectations, it doesn't just disappoint, it hurts. It's as if the issue broadcasts to the world the inadequacy of your opinion.

This week, three of our brands disappointed. We're still reeling from the last one.

1)  On Friday, we attended the Beaujolais Nouveau event hosted by the Indonesia France Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the French Embassy.  The French Ambassador to Indonesia gave the opening remarks.  This has always been one of our favorite wines.  Every year, we borrow several cases and consume them quickly....except when we moved to Indonesia.  So we were very excited to get tickets to the event this year.  Unfortunately, the wine was average, the event was boring, and we no longer have the same excitement for the wine we once did.

2)  One of the great things about Indonesia is the ability to get quality craftsmanship for unbeatable prices.  Most of the world's top designer outsource the fabrication of the garments to Indonesia.  As do many manufacturers.  With the low wages and low cost of living, artisans crafts are also a steal.  A few weeks ago, we wanted to plan a garden and purchases several large ceramic pots to substitute for not having a yard.  We planted carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and sunflowers.  Up until Saturday, everything was going well.  On Saturday, I decided our plants are getting too much water from all the rain we've been getting and moved them to a place they would get less water but the same amount of sunlight.  When I lifted one of the pots, it crumbled in my hands.  So much for quality workmanship.

3)  Our favorite restaurant in Jakarta is Hacienda.  I've raved about it on this site numerous times.  We've been there at least once a week since we moved here.  Last Saturday, on our weekly visit, the unthinkable happened:  We left wondering if we could bring ourselves to go back.  Hacienda welcomes its guests with free chips and salsa.  It's always good and is one of the reasons we go.  They serve the chips in a wicker basket lined with a napkin.  We were half-way through our free chips when we noticed that there was salsa stains on the basket.  They weren't from us.  We pointed out the error and, as any good restaurant will, they replaced it.  We shrugged it off and continued eating....only to discover that this time, the napkin they used, and some of the chips, had someone else's guacamole.  Unforgivable.  This only happens if they serve us something already on another table.  What did we get for it?  Free sour cream.

When otherwise reliable brands let you down, your inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.  They've typically accumulated enough reputational credits that you can overlook a few minor mishaps.  When the issue is with the crux of the service - the taste of the wine, the quality of the product, cleanliness of the food - the brand is not only back to square one, they are in negative territory.

With the Beaujolais, I'm sure we'll buy it again, but not in the same volume until it proves itself once again.  And we'll temper our expectations of the cheap products of Indonesia, and inspect them more heavily and demand they go even cheaper on the price.  As for Hacienda, I think it will likely be a while before we visit again; and we'll inspect everything they put in front of us much more thoroughly.