Harvard Economics Professor Goes After Restaurant Owner Over $4.00

[InTheLight]

Ben Edelman, Harvard Business School Professor, Goes to War Over $4 Worth of Chinese Food

Ben Edelman is an associate professor at Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets unit. Ran Duan manages The Baldwin Bar, located inside the Woburn location of Sichuan Garden, a Chinese restaurant founded by his parents. Last week, Edelman ordered what he thought was $53.35 worth of Chinese food from Sichuan Garden’s Brookline Village location. Edelman soon came to the horrifying realization that he had been overcharged. By a total of $4.00.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Harvard Business School professor thinks a family-run Chinese restaurant screwed him out of $4, you’re about to find out.

http://www.boston.com/food-dining/r...hinese-food/KfMaEhab6uUY1COCnTbrXP/story.html

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Ole' Ron Duan stepped in it big time with the words "for quite some time".

 

[Use of Time]

Ben Edelman, Harvard Business School Professor, Goes to War Over $4 Worth of Chinese Food

Ben Edelman is an associate professor at Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets unit. Ran Duan manages The Baldwin Bar, located inside the Woburn location of Sichuan Garden, a Chinese restaurant founded by his parents. Last week, Edelman ordered what he thought was $53.35 worth of Chinese food from Sichuan Garden’s Brookline Village location. Edelman soon came to the horrifying realization that he had been overcharged. By a total of $4.00.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Harvard Business School professor thinks a family-run Chinese restaurant screwed him out of $4, you’re about to find out.

http://www.boston.com/food-dining/r...hinese-food/KfMaEhab6uUY1COCnTbrXP/story.html

Wow, what a toolbag.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I'm with him. He presented his case very well, and gave several chances for Ron to make it right.

I bet they keep their website updated from now on.

 

[Use of Time]

I'm with him. He presented his case very well, and gave several chances for Ron to make it right.

I bet they keep their website updated from now on.

I can't wait for the Grisham novelization.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

It would be more like Douglas Adams. :laugh:

 

[Use of Time]

It would be more like Douglas Adams. :laugh:

Oh, that would be even better. He is truly missed. :laugh:

 

[Bro. Curtis]

You realize this is the highlight of my day ? Soon this board will descend to the depths. Look forward to talking to you again sometime.

 

[Use of Time]

You realize this is the highlight of my day ? Soon this board will descend to the depths. Look forward to talking to you again sometime.

I take the levity where I can get it. Keep your head down out there.

[flicks cigarette, straps on Kevlar, picks up rifle and wades back into the Baptist board forums.] :tonofbricks:

 

[just-want-peace]

I take the levity where I can get it. Keep your head down out there.

[flicks cigarette, straps on Kevlar, picks up rifle and wades back into the Baptist board forums.] :tonofbricks:

I'm leaving!!!
The recruiter promised I would get a cushy office job!
(Can't believe anybody these days.)

 

[Use of Time]

I'm leaving!!!
The recruiter promised I would get a cushy office job!
(Can't believe anybody these days.)

War is hell kid.

 

[carpro]

Ben Edelman, Harvard Business School Professor, Goes to War Over $4 Worth of Chinese Food

Ben Edelman is an associate professor at Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets unit. Ran Duan manages The Baldwin Bar, located inside the Woburn location of Sichuan Garden, a Chinese restaurant founded by his parents. Last week, Edelman ordered what he thought was $53.35 worth of Chinese food from Sichuan Garden’s Brookline Village location. Edelman soon came to the horrifying realization that he had been overcharged. By a total of $4.00.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Harvard Business School professor thinks a family-run Chinese restaurant screwed him out of $4, you’re about to find out.

http://www.boston.com/food-dining/r...hinese-food/KfMaEhab6uUY1COCnTbrXP/story.html

Yeah. He had a good point and stated his case really well.

Then he had to go and massage his own ego and lecture this poor slob of a business owner by demanding triple damages.

He needs to get a life. If it's that important to his ego, he can send me a bill for $12 and I'll send him a check on the condition that he just SHUT UP. Nobody really needs to know how important he thinks he is. Then maybe he can get a real life and stop feeling so full of himself. He can always buy his food elsewhere.

 

[InTheLight]

Yeah. He had a good point and stated his case really well.

Then he had to go and massage his own ego and lecture this poor slob of a business owner by demanding triple damages.

He needs to get a life. If it's that important to his ego, he can send me a bill for $12 and I'll send him a check on the condition that he just SHUT UP. Nobody really needs to know how important he thinks he is. Then maybe he can get a real life and stop feeling so full of himself. He can always buy his food elsewhere.

Pretty much my exact feelings on the matter. I presume he used this little escapade as a lesson in his classroom, which makes it doubly shameful.

 

[Rolfe]

The guy needs to visit his proctologist to have the burr removed from his backside.

On the other hand, were I the restaurant owner, I would have given him his $12 in the hope that I would make it up in return orders and also to avoid a bad reputation.

 

[carpro]

The guy needs to visit his proctologist to have the burr removed from his backside.

On the other hand, were I the restaurant owner, I would have given him his $12 in the hope that I would make it up in return orders and also to avoid a bad reputation.

I'd have paid him $100 to never visit my business establishment again. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Use of Time]

The guy needs to visit his proctologist to have the burr removed from his backside.

On the other hand, were I the restaurant owner, I would have given him his $12 in the hope that I would make it up in return orders and also to avoid a bad reputation.

The restaurant did a great job of countertrolling. They refused to pay up the $12 and basically called him on his bluff to bring forth a lawsuit and contact the authorities. Well played.

 

[Rolfe]

The restaurant did a great job of countertrolling. They refused to pay up the $12 and basically called him on his bluff to bring forth a lawsuit and contact the authorities. Well played.

I disagree. My understanding is that the authorities had been contacted.

A good reputation is valuable to a business. Some live and die by their reputations. Happy customers rarely voice their pleasure, but unhappy ones are more likely to express their dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, a few bad reviews can do much more damage than many good ones.

 

[Use of Time]

I disagree. My understanding is that the authorities had been contacted.

A good reputation is valuable to a business. Some live and die by their reputations. Happy customers rarely voice their pleasure, but unhappy ones are more likely to express their dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, a few bad reviews can do much more damage than many good ones.

Yeah, you are right they were called. I saw the statement from the owner that "we will await the authorities" or something to that effect. Nothing came of it though right? I mean it's not like the authorities are going to go on Yelp or anything right?

If you look at any online review you will see bad reviews. You can get a feel for what is a legitimate recurring theme and when someone is just being an entitled twit.

 

[Rolfe]

You can get a feel for what is a legitimate recurring theme and when someone is just being an entitled twit.

Agree to a point. Many people can discern the difference between the two. Most do not want to spend the time or effort to do so. A few bad comments/reviews are much more influential than many good ones.

 

[Use of Time]

Agree to a point. Many people can discern the difference between the two. Most do not want to spend the time or effort to do so. A few bad comments/reviews are much more influential than many good ones.

Agreed. Usually you can tell a bad apple from a recurring theme in the reviews but sometimes they are so sporadic and vague that you just have to go see for yourself.