T3 a big fiasco!

[makapaaa]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Two shops at T3 shut due to slow sales
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Airport will help other retailers by launching promotions, on top of other aid schemes </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent
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One of the promotions, starting next month, will help spread the word that 28 of the retail outlets at T3 are offering GST-free shopping. -- ST PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->HIT by declining sales, two of the 37 shops located in the public area at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 have closed.
Artisans d' Angkor, which sold Cambodian artefacts, and Goldheart Jewellery packed up and left about two months ago.
To stop more businesses from closing shop, the airport is set to launch another marketing blitz, after spending more than $2.5 million last year to promote T3 as a shopping and dining haven.
Since the new terminal opened in January last year, retailers have complained of slow business. The facility has twice as many shops in the public area compared to Terminals 1 and 2 combined.
But T3 is less well-known to visitors than the other terminals, adding to the lack of customer traffic.
With only a handful of carriers operating out of the new terminal, which was built to handle double the traffic it currently does, there is also less activity.
Given the current travel downturn, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) wants to help boost sales and has planned several promotions to run throughout the year.
The first, which will run from Feb 26 to the end of April, will help spread the word that 28 of the retail outlets at T3 are offering GST-free shopping.
Apart from the usual banners and newspaper advertisements, 300,000 fliers will be dropped into mailboxes at housing estates in the east.
Each will come with a $5 coupon to be spent at the airport. Newspaper ads will also have the coupons, but with stipulated conditions.
There will also be weekly lucky draws with six winners in total - each walking away with $500 worth of shopping vouchers.
These promotions are on top of other assistance schemes, such as a 15 per cent rental discount that is already in place.
Many retailers welcomed the ongoing publicity and marketing efforts by CAAS.
'The various proactive airport programmes have improved sales, especially over the Christmas period,' said Mr Ken Tse, managing director of cosmetics and perfume chain Nuance-Watson.
'We are also driving sales at our three perfume and cosmetics shops in the public area with special buys for Singaporeans, which have been very successful.'
While overall takings for the company grew last year compared with takings in 2007, business has slowed in the last four months.
The Straits Times understands that some of the retailers have asked for further cuts in rent.
When asked about this possibility, a CAAS spokesman said: 'In view of the current economic downturn, we are closely monitoring the retail situation at the airport.'
CAAS also said it would gauge the success of the no-GST initiative at T3 before deciding whether to extend the scheme to food and beverage outlets there.
If necessary, the no-GST scheme could also be extended to retail outlets at the other terminals, it added. [email protected]

 

[scroobal]

A good case of rentals going mad. The desire to milk the building of any rental potential is obvious. The design is so bad that travellers cannot intuitively find the information counter, the CIP lounges, and the foodoutlets. Surprisingly the toilets are sited well.

Stand at the main concourse, and you can see travellers repeatedly heading towards currency exchange counters for direction. Spoke to the amex staff who told me that they have resigned to the fact that they now have to give directions.

If there is going to be T4, I bet you they will design an entry where you have pull your thru bags thru shops , meander thru aisles before reaching the gates, similar to Melbourne just before the gates.

 

[johnny333]

A good case of rentals going mad. The desire to milk the building of any rental potential is obvious.........

People using T3 at least have other options available(T1, T2, budget terminal). If you are taking the ferry at Harbour Pavillion, no such luck. They are forced to subsidise Temasek.

Heard from a cabbie that T3 is more expensive than T1 or T2. Progress in Spore.

 

[klongtoeytalk]

T3 is a building designed by some very ambitious people, with very little sense of direction. Like they say, some shops are literally hidden from view and getting to one of the lounges is like walking in a maze.

I have always love T1, simple and fuss-free

 

[scroobal]

People using T3 at least have other options available(T1, T2, budget terminal). If you are taking the ferry at Harbour Pavillion, no such luck. They are forced to subsidise Temasek.

Heard from a cabbie that T3 is more expensive than T1 or T2. Progress in Spore.

Thanks god for T1 and T2. At least got Toastbox, Wangs etc. Where is Harbour pavillion, is it harbourfront? If it is they are renovating.

I don't why they send all this scholars overseas and end up specialising in rentals.

 

[scroobal]

T3 is a building designed by some very ambitious people, with very little sense of direction. Like they say, some shops are literally hidden from view and getting to one of the lounges is like walking in a maze.

I have always love T1, simple and fuss-free

Maze is the correct word. They should organise corporate games where the maze is used as a bonding lesson. Anyone who can find SIA Business lounge without asking for assistance should be declared a winner. Also the lighting makes it feel seedy.

You know how it is - like the automated scanner for fingerprint. It has not helped productivity since day 1 but no one dares say that it is a mistake. You can clearly see the normal queue clearing faster all the time.

 

[Tiu-leh-see-fart]

You are right.
T1 was built in simple and practical design. At that time, singapore had real and sincere leaders(exlude LKY).

T3 is a building designed by some very ambitious people, with very little sense of direction. Like they say, some shops are literally hidden from view and getting to one of the lounges is like walking in a maze.

I have always love T1, simple and fuss-free

 

[johnny333]

Thanks god for T1 and T2. At least got Toastbox, Wangs etc. Where is Harbour pavillion, is it harbourfront? If it is they are renovating.

I don't why they send all this scholars overseas and end up specialising in rentals.

Oops, its Harbour something

I just go there to take the ferry services, haven't even gone to the new & expensive Vivocity. I wish they'd leave things alone Now they've moved the ticket counter to the 3rd floor, from the convenient 2nd fl. So you 1st go to the 3rd fl to buy tickets, then immigration on the 2nd fl, then to the 1st floor to wait & board the ferry.

In the past there was also more seating for those waiting for the ferries but they've removed the seats & converted the space to retail space. However I notice the stores are having problem finding enough business, many have closed.

They now have to ration the seats in the departure area, you are not allowed to clear customes until closer to departure time.

When I travel I don't like to waste time on non-essentials like shopping at the airport :p Food outlets is fine for a quick snack, but who really shops at the airport

 

[congo9]

What so great abt GST discount ? Place is far , parking is expensive ! The only thing i like abt that place is just that it spacious. Shopping there ?????? NO NO NO

The food court there is atrocious .............. OVER PRICE and food is just NORMAL !

 

[scroobal]

Oops, its Harbour something

In the past there was also more seating for those waiting for the ferries but they've removed the seats & converted the space to retail space. However I notice the stores are having problem finding enough business, many have closed.

They now have to ration the seats in the departure area, you are not allowed to clear customes until closer to departure time.

Thats terrible. Imagine the primary purpose is for travel but no seats for travellers.

 

[blackmore]

You know how it is - like the automated scanner for fingerprint. It has not helped productivity since day 1 but no one dares say that it is a mistake. You can clearly see the normal queue clearing faster all the time.

Well, the lackeys at ICA will never admit to their masters that the system is a complete failure from the start. All are balless anyway. In fact they will praise and praise till no end.

Even if the average joe has the balls to complain to the media or ICA. What makes anyone think that the complaint will be made know to public or even get across to the proper channel with attention given to the matter. A lot of things has been suppressed too long.

The finger print scanner is a failure for travellers. It takes thrice the time to clear a person compare to the normal counters. But the irony is that people in the Singapore/PR lane still gets directed by these ICA buggers to clear at the finger scanner. Worst of all, you can;t refuse them.

 

[klongtoeytalk]

Maze is the correct word. They should organise corporate games where the maze is used as a bonding lesson. Anyone who can find SIA Business lounge without asking for assistance should be declared a winner. Also the lighting makes it feel seedy.

You know how it is - like the automated scanner for fingerprint. It has not helped productivity since day 1 but no one dares say that it is a mistake. You can clearly see the normal queue clearing faster all the time.

U said it right. Even overseas pals are comparing T3 to 'a nice box of chocolates with no chocolates inside'. I literally had to ask for direction to get to the lounge, which I remembered only happened in other run-down airports I've been. Call this a world-class airport? I think its hardly even 3rd class. But I realized it seemed only to be 'world-class' supposingly for those who travel in first-class, i.e. gorgeous huge comfotable lounges, special airport services, VIP treatment. They even have special limos for these priviledge few.

 

[klongtoeytalk]

You are right.
T1 was built in simple and practical design. At that time, singapore had real and sincere leaders(exlude LKY).

If I may compare, T3 is like an impressionable and ambitious young lady. For T1, I always regard it as a much mature but beautifully charming lady.

Cheers

 

[The_Latest_H]

Well, the first time I was there last July, I almost couldn't find the food court where my friends were as they were sending me off to Australia.

Turns out they were in the basement level. And there was little indication at the above floors that the food court was there.