Are you “naughty by nature”-d?
Singapore June 12th, 2008
Disclaimer: If you are reading this from ping.sg, the title *is misleading*! This post is really about a photo studio named “Naughty by nature” and how they apparently coerced people into paying for their makeover photos. Alice wrote a post on it here some time in March 2008. Now, I’d try to be objective about the whole thing.
I received calls from them previously saying that there’s a free makeover of sorts. I didn’t go eventually because… I get paid to get my photos taken (sniggers a little), but that isn’t the main point. The main point is that people will have to know that there’s hardly any free lunch these days. Of course, the ones mentioned here is not counted because they are really free. The idea behind such calls is really to get people to go down, get their pictures taken and they may not get the pictures they want because the main objective is really to sell it to them. Well, they might get one or two not-too-bad but perhaps not-too-nice looking pictures, but… that’s what you get for free, I guess. So, that’s on the end of the consumers.
Next, I’m going to talk about their tactics. If you are aware of the tactics used by slimming centers, you’d be familiar with psychological warfare tactics. I read that in some slimming centers, they strip you down to your birthday bathing suit and start commenting on how fat/ugly/wrinkled/unsightly* you are and start recommending you their products. Same theory, I guess, except that, according to the article, the studio probably tell you how nice you look and how wasteful it will be for the pictures to be deleted PERMANENTLY. Of course, there’s a chance that the pictures will be deleted but not cleared from the rubbish bin. So, it’s really psychological. However, if it’s true that the customers were prevented from leaving the place unless they purchase something, then technically, it’s unlawful because the studio will be detaining the customers by force. Then again, nothing can stop you from forcing and pushing your way out if you really want to. The customers are probably just pai seh lah.
Now, is it fair for the studio to deploy such free-photoshoot tactics to lure people into it. Well, I’d say it’s a fair game. Just like California Fitness. They call you up, tell you that there’s something free, then you’d have to prepare to lose some hours and perhaps some money. If you have skin as thick as a rhino, then you can just tell them with a straight face that you’d just want the free stuffs. Of course, service may be compromise, but hey, it’s a free lunch, isn’t it? =)
Have you been “nature by nature”-d?
* delete where applicable
THEY were promised free makeovers and photo shoots. Instead, the customers of a photo studio in Circular Road said that they were pressured into buying packages that cost up to $4,000.
The hard-sell from studio Naughty by Nature sparked dozens of complaints to Singapore’s consumer watchdog and eventually landed the company in court.
Yesterday, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said that the company had agreed to change its sales pitch earlier this year.
Last September, Naughty by Nature had been temporarily barred by a district court from pushing pricey photo packages, Case said in a press release.
The consumer group had applied for the injunction after receiving 63 complaints about Naughty by Nature between 2005 and 2007, said Case executive director Seah Seng Choon.
Most of the complaints had been filed by women.
Mr Seah said that Naughty by Nature’s employees had once refused to let a customer leave the studio without buying a photo set. After staying for about four hours, the customer bought a package for about $3,000.
The customers got freebies, such as two photographs, only after they agreed to buy a package.
Co-owner of Naughty by Nature Bupendra Ramason defended his company’s sales pitch and said that the unhappy customers were in the minority.
‘I think they were shy people who were uncomfortable with our sales strategies. Most of our customers are families and we don’t have any problems with them,’ he said.
He added that, since the injunction, the studio has tried its best to abide by Case’s requests.
For example, sales presentations are now limited to only an hour when dealing with female customers.
The employees also give the two free photographs to the customers before the sales presentation.
Mr Ramason, 41, set up the studio in Circular Road in 2004 with business partner Raoul Martin Fenianos. He currently employs 90 staff members, of whom nine are full-time photographers.
A check on online forums and blogs showed that there were many customers who were unhappy with Naughty By Nature’s sales strategies.
One, 42-year-old Tan Ngiap Heng, told the Straits Times about being pressured to buy a $1,000 book of photographs after taking part in a photo shoot two years ago.
‘I felt that I was being blackmailed psychologically because they told me they would delete my photos immediately if I decided not to buy the package,’ he said.
He did not buy the package and subsequently made a complaint to Case.
Mr Ramason said that business had not been affected by the bad publicity.
Case and Naughty by Nature have agreed to settle disputes with the unhappy customers through an arbitration session chaired by a neutral third party.
Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 12th June 2008
About
Hello,
I just left a comment(complaint really) on Alice Cheong’s blog but thought I’d leave something here too. From what I have been reading, it seems that the company’s problem is not only the hard-selling tactics that they employ and the poor makeover quality, but also the staff’s snooty and rude ways! What right does a company have to behave in such a rude way to its customers? Do its directors know about this or do they endorse this? It baffles me that 3 years of complaints and still nothing has changed.
My hubby received the call from Naugty by Nature stating that he has been selected to get a free photo shoot. We are hesitating to proceed or not.
I think it’s a good experience to make one look and feel good. After all, the Sales Consultant is just doing his/her job to promote their packages. He/she does not necessarily have to buy a package. Just enjoy the whole experience just for the fun of it!
Hmmm… I just went for the “freebie” makeover last night and the whole experience was not that bad albeit a tad uncomfortable.
(it was also a third attempt on their end to get me to drop by for a “visit”)
The whole session felt like a “mass production” rather than personalised service which I thought that was what a makeover session was supposed to be about. Then again, it IS FREE…
When it was time to “reveal” the price package, it was a shocker for me! They did tell me they will give further discounts and try to help me work out a package.
I had come “prepared” for I had learnt that there are not that many free meals in this world these days. They tried hard to sell the package to me and was quite nice about it but I was even more adamant to reject their “kidness”, citing that I am not financially able to afford it. They had to give up after a half hour tug-of-war.
I have got to say that it was quite an experience and concluded that makeover sessions can be fun but it has to be more personalised IMHO. (^_^)
We were given a complimentary family shoot as well as part of a credit card promotion. We were told to bring our attire instead. The makeover was ok only..it’s really the basic. The shoot was pretty rush, nothing fanciful. When we finished we were ushered to a monitor where they downloaded the photographs. They took like an hour literally showing me how they touch up the pictures which we were obviously not interested. They really hard sell their package telling us they giving us a good discount blah blah..and I kept pressing them how much is the package. Finally they revealed which nearly cost me my dear life, close to $4K. No way am I going to pay $4K for an album. It’s as costly as a wedding album and those are personalised service. Told them not interested can’t afford, they said can pay for instalment via credit card. I told them I want to purchase the ala carte pictures of my kids, they said they don’t sell them. I need to purchase the whole package. In the end I stood firm and asked for my complimentary shots and left. Trust me, the makeover and overall service doesn’t worth the $4K! and you look around the studio, it’s so dodgy. No fixed assets..everything is mobile, which means they can disappear overnight. The photograhper and makeup artist are probably all part-timers! Another place to watch out, Wax in the City. A newly open nail/wax parlour just next the the makeover studio. I recognised one of the partners. Same selling tactic, the pedi/mani package cost $1K over. I went for the trial it was good though but certainly overpriced to sign up for the package.
i’m glad someone else also recognised that Wax In The City is an offshoot of Naughty By Nature (which is just next door).
its the same SCAM, run by the same people, with the same HIGH PRESSURE HARD-SELLING tactics. on top of that, the sales people were really condescending and rude.
they haven’t changed their ways at all. just disguised themselves as something else in order to CHEAT more people.
don’t fall for it. warn your friends.
I went to both Naughty By Nature and their neighbours wax in the city. I found that the photo package was a little overpriced but I did like the photographs taken there. However I did sign at Wax In The City, what a fantastic place, great staff , well trained therapists together with high end hand and nail products. Are they connected? not sure….. I advise all to try if you get a chance! They knock the socks off all other salons in Singapore!!
I don’t usually do it but I was just too annoyed with these companies. First the Naughty by nature called and called and CALLED… already told them hundred and one time I am not interested yet they still keep calling and make appointments even I said I wont be free. Good thing is… I didn’t go down at all eventually cos having good intention that I do not want to waste their time since I have no significant interest.
Next is their neighbor- Wax in the city. They called and i agreed to try cos I am interested in having waxing done. So I went down. I had the service, I don’t deny the service staff was great but the sales guy was horrible. After the services, I was sat with one Caucasian (I think he said he is one of the owner) and he used all sorts of technique trying to make me sign. I am a newbie to waxing so I seriously not sure the pricing but I guess maybe it’s still okay. But I did mention to him that I am only interested in just one of their services which if I were to sign on their 1000++ package, I will have to stay with them for 3 years to finish using the package.
Then he gave ma another package and after my calculation, still I will get stuck with them for 2 years. One thing he is quite dumb… (Pardon me) I told him his package tie me too long, then he was trying to tell me others charge more expensive and he actually show me other salon’s price list. HA! Their prices are just a few dollars different from his and their package is just nice, around 600. Sitting in their salon, I already plan to go sign up with the company which he showed me.
The most “hilarious” thing is, while considering (given I am also in sales, I knew their technique.. eg.. walk out today you will not get your freebies kind of nonsense), I guess that Caucasian is no longer patient, but its good he said that sentence and I made up my mind to walk out from that crapy place. He said: I run salon and do not talk walk in. Everyone is taken as VIP. I am running a business and EVEN IF I DO NOT HAVE YOUR 1000+ DOLLARS BUSINESS, my business still run. Well, since he said that, I just say thank you, pay for that one time service and left.
Well, just to share. If you do not encouter this, its good. But too bad… maybe its my luck, i am totally turn off. blessing in disguise, I am a happy member of their competitor