The Changi Village Difference

Got another Sub, this one from Changi Village. See the huge friggin' difference?!?!?!

The franchisee of Changi Village can proudly say of his cheapskate counterpart --->

"That's the difference between them N'US!"


redcocoon

Flat Sub - Bane of Capitalism

Last Friday, me and wifey headed down to the new AMK Hub. Wow, if only bus interchanges of the past were like the new one, I'd be a happy commuter.

The place was quite nice, I hope human traffic = sales though. Made a note to come back again to try the restaurant "New York, New York", which was filled to the brim and with a long queue to boot.

Ok, now for my main gripe.

While on the escalator from B1 to 1st floor, I saw it - the SUBWAY sign rising from my horizon. My favourite sandwich store, at least till that night.

I first tried this amazing franchise in California. On a shoestring budget, we found a magazine and cut out a coupon which entitled the bearer to get a footlong Sub at US99cents. (On a separate note, now that's what I call a promotion!). It was the freshest and longest sandwich I ever had, even till this day.

I was really glad to find Subway stores in Singapore later on and religiously chomped down on those sandwiches despite the exhorbitant prices.

That night at AMK Hub, I did not hesitate to pack one for the road. As I queued, I felt something amiss ... more like many vegetables amiss when the staff was serving other customers. Now, in my Subway experience, the staff usually struggle to keep the whole array of fresh vegetables in the Sub (that's what I like most about the sandwich). The copius amounts of veg that cause the sandwiches to bulge beautifully are the very hallmark of Subway. However, in this AMK branch, the staff was trying hard not to put too much veg in the Sub, ever so fervently scooping NON-EXCESS veg back to the chilled tubs.

I was truly disgusted but hoped for the best. It was the same when it came to my turn, maybe even worse. I ordered a footlong Subway Club, which was to have roast beef. When the staff was almost finished scraping the veg from my sandwich back to the chiller, I asked why there was no roast beef in it.

The reply? "You want Melt or Club!?" Now "Melt" and "Club" don't spell alike and don't sound alike. I pitied the staff enough not to blow my top over language deficiency and utter rudeness. But it was a done deed - my gastronomical spirit was flattened by a flat Sub.



I never thought I'd say this. But to the money-grubbing franchisee of the Subway branch at AMK Hub, you put the SUB in SUBstandard.


redcocoon

I'm The Real Joker

I'm a happy man. I finally got my hands on not 1, but 2 copies of first print, mint condition "The Killing Joke"! And 1 of them is a signed copy by the artist.



Now, to understand my seemingly childish euphoria, I must take you back to a fortnight in my life 19 years ago...

I was a young kid not very much exposed to the cruel adult world then. I chanced upon a newspaper article that comics were rising in popularity in Singapore and how some issues can become very valuable over time. For example, today, a near-mint condition Action Comics #1, where Superman first appeared, is valued at USD$440,000; while Amazing Fantasy #15, which first featured Spiderman, costs roughly USD$45,000. That entrepreneurial spirit in me ticked hard.

Coincidentally then, DC Comics would be issuing Batman's "The Killing Joke", which was widely touted as a highly collectible issue. I tried a few comic shops but I couldn't even get myself on the already full waiting lists. As luck would have it, a classmate of mine managed to get a copy of it.

This classmate was in between things then and was comtemplating letting go of his comics collection. I got "The Killing Joke" from him for a princely $10 (if you read my previous posts, you'd know that was a lot of money to me then). I remember the first time I laid my hands and eyes on the comic. It was truly a work of art, the most beautiful print I had ever seen since Playboy.

I had it all for 2 weeks. But in that fortnight, I would unlock my drawer everyday after school and just happily stare at the cover of the comic. Till today, I never fully read the story for fear of bending the cover and pages, losing the comic's mint status.

Well, this friend of mine got out of things and regretted his decision. He offered to buy it back and the final price agreed upon was a royal sum of $16. Now, 60% profit in 2 weeks - even Soros or Buffet would have been proud of me.

I regretted that transaction for the next 19 years.

Along the way, I tried to get my hands on the comic but either failed to get the first print or it was too costly. Finally, after all this time, I got it! Let's not talk about price here, for the joy I feel now, to experience the same feeling I had some 19 years ago - now that's priceless.

My take? Don't sell out in life. Hang on tight to the things you hold dear. Hang on tighter to the things you may regret giving up later...

redcocoon