Cherish what we have

RECENTLY, Eastpoint Mall re-opened in my neighbourhood after being closed for renovations.

The community's Facebook page saw heated discussion as people asked why there was no Starbucks at the mall, and why the FairPrice outlet had moved to the top floor.

Post by Eastpoint Mall.

Singapore is a small country, and the nearest mall is often just an MRT stop away. Do we need to make a fuss over the lack of certain facilities?

We should remind ourselves to cherish what we have and appreciate the efforts to make our country a better place to live in. We also need to differentiate between must-haves and good-to-haves.

Tan Wei Jing, 16, Secondary 4 student

ST Forum, 14 Jan 2015

FairPrice unable to get better location

WE THANK Ms Tan Say Yin for her comments ("Fifth-level supermart not ideal"; last Saturday) and her support for NTUC FairPrice.

At FairPrice, we constantly strive to provide customers with a pleasant and convenient shopping experience. Where possible, we will always try to be accessible to them.

In the case of Eastpoint Mall, it would have been ideal to be on the ground floor or basement level to minimise inconvenience to customers. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a better location within the mall.

We have noted the feedback and will work with the building management to address concerns and improve the shopping experience at FairPrice.

Peter Teo
General Manager
Supermarket Operations
NTUC FairPrice
ST Forum, 9 Jan 2015

Fifth-level supermart not ideal

AT THE newly renovated Eastpoint Mall, the FairPrice supermarket is located on the fifth level, which is not customer-friendly.

Shoppers are unable to hold on to the handrails of the escalators while carrying bags of groceries in both hands. And it is a hassle as one would have to walk around the different levels just to continue using the escalators going downwards.

The wait for the two lifts is long, and they can accommodate few people - two prams and just a few people will fill up one lift.

Also, the two service lifts are often full, with stocks being loaded and shoppers with their trolleys.

Tan Say Yin (Ms)
ST Forum, 3 Jan 2015

Eastpoint Mall layout not shopper-friendly

I HOPE NTUC FairPrice can work with the Eastpoint Mall management to improve accessibility to its store on the fifth floor of the mall, especially for the elderly who live around the area ("FairPrice unable to get better location"; last Friday).

My mother goes there regularly for grocery shopping, but often can enter the lift only on the second or third attempt because of overcrowding.

The problem is compounded by the unfriendly layout of the mall, which requires shoppers to walk a full round on each floor before they can access the escalators to the next levels. Even worse, obstacles in the form of kiosks and shops impede their path.

Perhaps the mall management is trying to increase foot traffic, but this inconveniences nearby residents, who are its regular clientele and are not there to window-shop.

I urge malls not to treat customers like cattle, herding them through every floor to increase traffic. Such a strategy will backfire when shoppers get turned off, especially when the novelty of a new mall wears off.

Thiruppuran Kuperan
ST Forum, 13 Jan 2015

Measures to improve signage, pedestrian flow at Eastpoint Mall

WE THANK Ms Tan Say Yin ("Fifth-level supermart not ideal"; Jan 3) and Mr Thiruppuran Kuperan ("Eastpoint Mall layout not shopper-friendly"; Forum Online, Tuesday) for their observations and apologise for the inconvenience they experienced at Eastpoint Mall.

We assure shoppers that we take all feedback seriously and are making every effort to address them.

We have immediately reviewed the situation in consultation with our partners, and will be implementing measures to improve signage and pedestrian flow within the mall.

We seek the patience and understanding of our shoppers as these enhancements come into effect.

In the interim, signage has been set up to direct shoppers to the alternative lift access points on all levels in addition to the main glass lifts.

To aid pedestrian flow, low-height kiosk units at Levels 1 and 4 will be converted to walkways.

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide a conducive environment for all shoppers, we will continue to conduct regular audits of the mall's operations and identify opportunities to better serve our customers.

We thank the community for its longstanding support of the newly re-opened Eastpoint Mall, and reassure shoppers that we are working to enhance the shopping experience for everyone.

Sharon Tan (Ms)
Senior Centre Manager
Eastpoint Mall
ST Forum, 16 Jan 2015