An Intriguing Tale Of A Gutsy & Somewhat Crazy Singaporean Doing Business In Canada

Tax Time

mamabok — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:03:31 +0000

This is tax time for Canada and like anyone in this town - you see ppl splurging their extra money on just about anything and everything from fitness equipment to electronics from our store. We love the business - don’t get me wrong but if we did get a tax rebate - it wouldn’t be used for splurging because in times like that without the ferry this summer - one would think you will save every penny you have for the next winter right? but nope most ppl in this town - just spend every last penny they have. But having said that - if you didn’t have a family nor large expenses like ours for the business - you can afford it of course. So if you think that going to business is such a wonderful thing - well, think again eh.

No Ferry This Summer

mamabok — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:13:11 +0000

Looks like we are not getting the ferry this summer at all. The NS government refused to budge even though the town and 3 municipalities are coming up with half the money for the CAT to run this year. But our dear Premier Dexter said he doesn’t have the money - but on the same day - they gave Irving close to $20 million..?? I don’t know what kind of summer Yarmouth will have - but I can see a very bleak one this year and what will happen next year..?? politics can be really deary - we just hope for the best - and do the best we can eh.

T4

mamabok — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:07:34 +0000

Yes - that time of the year again - to give out T4s to your employees - so if you haven’t done them yet - better hurry - that way they can get to claim their rebate soon. We don’t have to do much because we only had one employee for this store and she was only a part timer. We filed ours electronically like we do so every year - what about you?

Business February 2010

mamabok — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:10:15 +0000

Usually in February every yeawr - business had been really slow - because ppl are just recovering from Christmas bills and trying to catch up on the power bill for winter. Therefore, business is usually slow at this time of the year. This year - the weather haven’t been too, too bad - not any big big storms either - and business for Feb this year went pretty smoothly. I wouldn’t say we are rich - but a lot more stealthier than most years. *touch wood*

Your Image

mamabok — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:56:38 +0000

I can boldly say that when we walk into anyone’s business - we are always welcome with open arms - why? because we respect the ppl who owns the store - the ppl who works there - we treat them with utmost respect. Even if i was just getting a auto insurance quote i still treat the insurance man with utmost respect.

Unfortunately, for us - in our business - it is not always the same - once in a while we get some very unwelcome customer/s - that you hope your worst enemy don’t even encounter. Not only does this person wants to cheat me of a mere $1 - he wants me to be his philipino maid! Not only expecting me to throw his coffee cup for him but to drain his cup empty before throwing it out. On top of it - he goes around the store and touching and turning on just about everything without even asking if it was alright. Ppl like that have no respect for other ppl or their things - if my grandmother was still alive - she would tell him - he has got no manners in his face. BOY! i really don’t know how these ppl survive - but having said all the above - i don’t think he works - because he is always at our store - and what a sight for sore eye.

Supporting Downtown Businesses

mamabok — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:10:25 +0000

We just had a hair cut today and we usually have it done by someone who does it at her home but since she was not available all the time, we decided to support our own downtown businesses instead. As it is - with the current situation in town, we can always try and get to support all downtown businesses if possible - if i can get my weight loss supplements from downtown I would too. Unfortunately, not the entire town thinks this way - most ppl prefer to shop at big names - they don’t want to help keep the locals in business it seems - they prefer to give their money to the big boys - sad.

No Ferry Businesses Affected In Nova Scotia

mamabok — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:02:07 +0000

We put up this sign to show support to the ppl in Nova Scotia after the Premier announced that they will not be revisiting their decision to bring back the CAT for 2010. We are not directly affected but I can see that we will in the long run. We are not the only business in this town putting up signs like that in hope to show the Premier that his decision is wrong. We understand that the CAT is not a feasible transport but to cut us off totally without prior warning or a replacement ferry that is not good judgement. Many jobs will be lost this summer and most importantly, the link between USA and Canada will be affected and I know of a lot of people who won’t even be able to afford phentermine without a prescription because of it.

The Finance Minister wants a open session with the ppl in Nova Scotia and wants us to set aside our anger with regards to the misappropriate spending of the MLAs - and wants us to have some perspective ..?? What perspective is he talking about ..?? he should start with the MLAs and the government officials first if there is anything to be saved on - not us the commoners.

We are trying to make an honest living here - the ppl here are struggling and yet they take away the ferry - the one thing that gives hope to Nova Scotian.

We will not be able to pay our taxes if we have no business or tourists coming into Nova Scotia - Mr Steele - what else more can we save on the budget because of deficits not caused by us - but the mismanagement of the government. Start from the very top first.. we are just commoners.

Last Laugh

mamabok — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:14:04 +0000

J. Midget had been a customer since he was a kid - now that he is a father one would think he had smarten up but apparently not. I received a phone call from him this morning while i was reading some clearpores reviews - asking what are the prices for renting a game and on the same note he asked if he was able to rent from us again - since he owes us money from like 6 yrs ago or even more. I choked laughing on the phone with him and told him that he owes us money.

Anyhow, he still came in and yes, he owes us $70 - in which he cannot remember why and thought that since we sent him to collections, collections would have already paid us for it even though he didn’t pay collections. *slap forehead*. Oh my God..!!! how dense can he get ?? Anyhow, he didn’t get to rent from our store of course - not gonna give him another chance to rip us off eh.. so who got the last laugh.. hahha!!

Unique Customers

mamabok — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:09:17 +0000

We do have some what we called “unique” customers - just happy we don’t get a lot of them though else no one would need any weight loss products just by dealing with them. Last nite on Facebook, the boss had a private message from a mother of a kid who had bought a “M” (mature) game from us. It’s War of Worlds and she was bitching about us selling it to her - granted - it was my mistake - i hadn’t thought to look at the rating because the kid had come in got the game and came pay for it.

I was also busy with the kid and alone at the store - so I wasn’t paying attention - but having said that - i should have been careful but it wasn’t like we were selling him an adult movie. And shouldn’t you go after your kid for being sneaky? instead of blaming us? Nice parent! *shake head* - i know how this kid is gonna end up - mark my words - and the kid is like 11 yrs old now - it won’t be long - before he sneaks out and get himself into trouble.

Sell Fest Week

mamabok — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:01:46 +0000

Yes! i officially call this the Sell Fest Week - it’s an entire week of ppl selling stuff it seems - it’s just hilarious. I need some best weight loss pills because of the things that ppl come and sell to us this week. From Plasma tvs to PSone and one even tried to sell us burned movies. As usual - i cannot help but wonder how these ppl managed their money - because one of them actually came into some money a month ago or less and was on a buying spree - not only at our store but at other places - it was crazy. I had expected to see him sooner or later - and true enough he was back in today - trying to sell us back what he bought and more.