As the durian season rolls around, many would be looking to buy their favourite king of fruits to savour.
Recently, however, one durian lover complained how a seller from Durian Hub taunted her after sending her a box of King of Kings durians when she requested for Mao Shan Wang durians.
Stomp contributor Mingli said that when she accused the seller of cheating and that she would report him, the seller directed her to his “attorney”, sending her a screenshot of Covid-19 recovery hotlines telling her to wait for their call.
Andy Tan, the durian seller of Durian Hub, contacted AsiaOne yesterday (June 9) explaining that it was all a misunderstanding.
He told AsiaOne that “I am a man of my word. If I make a mistake, I will accept it” and that he delivers what he promises.
On that incident with Mingli, he said that he told the buyer that they didn’t have Mao Shan Wang durians then and offered her D24 when she said she prefers bitter and sweet durians.
She did not respond to his message then.
Whoops! The Great Durian Mix‑Up of May 20
On a sunny day in May, Tan — the owner of Durian Delight — popped over to his supplier, Mingli, and let her know that the big shipment of prized durians had finally landed. He even sent her a photo on WhatsApp that read “King Of Cats” – a cheeky nickname for the sweet‑but‑sour “King of Kings” durian. The delivery was penciled in for May 22.
The Confusion Begins
When the durians finally arrived, the customer sent Tan a quick message: “Are these the Mao Shan Wang kinds?” Tan replied, “Nope, that was the previous order – this batch’s the King of Kings.” It seemed like a simple mix‑up, but things got a bit tricky. Mengli was irritated because her order was supposed to be the buttery, pagoda‑like Mao Shan Wang, and she only had a problem with three of the five boxes.
The Fix‑Or-Fail Offer
Tan offered to swap the boxes she was unhappy about. “Sure thing,” he said. “I’ll swap them to help you out.” Unfortunately, once the offer was made, the conversation fell into a cold slump – like a conversation on a January morning.
Why He Didn’t Breach Business Ethics
In a candid interview with AsiaOne, Tan explained his thought process: “I simply gave Mingli what I had on hand. I didn’t want to lose her or hurt my reputation.” He even quipped that he’d lose a penny or two but that it was worth it to keep her happy. “She says she prefers a bitter taste, which is the King of Kings,” he added, “so letting her win is a great way to keep her ears open for future deals.”
The Price Game
Tan’s math is simple: Four boxes of King of Kings cost $119, whereas five boxes of Mao Shan Wang cost $98. That means one King of Kings box is roughly $30, while a Mao Shan Wang box is about $20. Because of the price difference, Tan’s swap would mean a loss on his margin, but he didn’t see a problem. He says he has a policy: “If anything’s wrong with the durian, I’ll put it aside and replace it – no extra charge.”
He’s Also Serving Free Surprises
In his own words, Tan keeps customers happy by tossing in freebies: free gadgets or free delivery – at least that’s what he says. He thinks generosity is the way to go, especially when customers give him emotional support in return.
Public Backlash and a Calm Resolution
Since the root of the issue was exposed, the owner has seen a few online rants. He’s not one to get flare‑up: “If folks stay nagging, I will take legal action,” he declared. Yet he also insists he wants to let this matter be – the rain is falling, so why bother fighting in the mud?
It’s a classic case of a business owner keeping the shelves stocked, the crusty customers content, and the online critics… hopefully, he can do so with a smile and a happy mess of chutney.
