The Sweet Service Award goes to Allée Bleue for their invitation to try their new ‘Jazzed up Sundays‘, a three-course lunch, and with excellent jazz.  We were entertained by ‘Sincere Swing’, who had the 120 Fathers’ Day lunch clients bopping in their seats.  The R145 lunches are family orientated in their menu (salads, three types of bread, soup, as starters; roast potato, carrots and parsnips, cauliflower and broccoli in a cheese sauce, and roast beef and pork; for dessert, two mousse types, ice cream, brandy pudding, malva pudding; cherries jubilee, and custard; finished off with a cheese platter. There is a jumping castle for the children. Brent Abrahams is the new Hospitality Manager, and welcomed the feedback about the new Sunday lunch offering.

The Sour Service Award goes to Mercedes Benz, both for its Finance department at its head office in not sending the ownership transfer documentation when the car was paid off a year ago,  and for its poor service at the Culemborg branch in registering the change of ownership at the City of Cape Town offices.  To do the change of ownership, a roadworthy certificate was required, and as there was a company offering the service close by, their credentials were checked at the dealership. Salesman Fernando Koopman offered to assist with all the paperwork for the registration change and licencing, promising a 24 hour turn-around time.  It became a three day nightmare, with new paperwork requirements from him daily. He wanted to be paid in cash on arrival, in having paid for everything out of his own pocket, without indicating so upfront, and not invoicing this through Mercedes Benz.  A proactive service offer became an oversell/under deliver experience, making any future interaction with the sales department of this branch unlikely.

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.