When I was reading the papers last week I came across the announcement that the 2009 edition of the telephone directory was out so I went down to TelBru to pick it up only to be told that they were not available yet. So I went back thinking that they shouldn’t announced it in the papers if they weren’t ready to give it out. I don’t remember notice giving any starting date, so I would say it would be safe to assume that it was starting on that day. Oh well, so I thought I’d come back another day.

So today I tried to get the phone directory yet again and was happy to see the following sign on the wall at Telbru telling me to get them at Gate 2 parking lot.

Now perhaps it’s just me, but I didn’t know where Gate 2 parking lot is. But since I parked my car in one of the parking lots and didn’t see any sign of the Telephone directories I thought I should head to the other parking lot. I was happy to see a couple of white tents and even happier to see a familiar Daikyo recycling bin (view the entire list of Brunei recycling bins).

But did you notice something strange about the photo of the white huts? Nobody’s there! It’s not open. The entire thing is sealed shut! I tried to peer behind the canvas and I did notice a table and stacks of what it seems to be telephone directories in bundles wrapped in brown paper. However I could only get into the tent if I was willing to break and entering so I decided against it.

Sealed shut!:

 

So dejected and foiled yet again to get my telephone directories, I left the place. Leaving through a gate labeled as “Gate 3” and swinging around the front I passed the white tents yet again, and was waiting to see the sign “Gate 2”. But there was no sign to be seen except for the big “TelBru” sign…

Is this Gate 2?:

Lessons to be learnt

• If reference to the announcement in the newspaper: If you advertise, please state the availability date, don’t make your customers waste their time going there only to find out that they can’t get it
• If reference to the notice to collect at Gate 2: customers may not be familiar with your premises, so a map or directions to get to the location would be highly beneficial
• In reference to the gate with no number: if you give a location make sure it’s labeled clearly! The worse part is being the the right place and not knowing it
• In reference to nobody being at the tents: If you’re closed for business please state it, same reasoning as the first point.
• TelBru cares about recycling!

  

  I’m happy that TelBru is taking the initiative and giving people incentives to recycle. Good on them for helping us Bruneians play our part in helping to preserve this Earth. I’m glad to report that the recycling bin was practically full.

I know it may seem trivial to point out these things as in total it probably took up about an hour of my time, but I was pretty frustrated as it was my second time going there only to be disappointed both times and which no real explanation why I couldn’t get what I came for. But at least I hope this provides some constructive criticism to all and anybody who may face a similar situation.

Update: 3rd time’s a charm! And on the booth they had the operating hours as shown below. For accessibility reasons the operating hours are:

    Monday-Thursday: 0830-1200, 1315-1700
    Friday:0830-1145, 1400-1700

Why was the operating hours only on the booth that was enclosed in the tent? It serves almost no purpose because if you can see it, the booth is open and you can pick up the telephone directories. But if you get there and the tent is all closed up you’re left with absolutely no information… Guys next time do put the operating hours on the tent itself! Saves confusion and annoyance of coming only to find it closed again…