About two months ago, I bought some snacks from a downtown sundries store and was handed a fortune cookie containing a slip that said, "Free 8-ounce soda or coffee." There was no expiration date. When I recently went in, the clerk would not honor the slip, saying it was valid only during the store's anniversary. I paid for the drink, but told her it would have been good business practice to put an expiration date. Law is vague on coupons
without expiration datesShe said it was on the promotion sign, which I hadn't noticed. Should they have printed something on the fortune cookie slip specifying an expiration date?
That's a "tough question," said Jo Ann Uchida, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection. If you file a complaint (call 587-3222), her staff will investigate.
"We would have to look at all the facts," she said. There is no specific statute that addresses promotional "pieces of paper." But off the bat, if there is no expiration date on the fortune cookie slip and you gave it to a friend or relative, there would be no way that person would know about the restriction, Uchida said.
The state's general "unfair and deceptive practices" law could bear on the case, she said.
"We would look at it (to see whether) it would be deceptive not to put a disclosure" of expiration on the slip, she said.
I recently went to a movie at the Hawaii Theatre. About 10 feet in, there is one small step and as you go down the aisle, there are three or four more tiny stairs. Because of the lighting and carpeting, people can't tell there are stairs. I saw at least four people stumble within a 15-minute span. Even with ushers there, it was a problem.
Can theater management do something to indicate there are stairs there so people are aware?
When the auditorium is fully lighted, the steps are clearly visible and are highlighted by railings of a highly contrasting color, said theater manager Burton White. However, the social atmosphere before and after live performances does tend to be distracting, he noted, so the theater has posted volunteer ushers at each location to verbally highlight the steps.
"The theater has supplemented the aisle lighting with additional lighting in an attempt to increase patron safety," White said. Also, ushers are posted inside every aisle door during the darkened performances, and "in the particular areas of discussion, are equipped with flashlights."
White said the theater will monitor the situation and appreciates comments from patrons regarding their comfort and safety.
Every morning, there's a man who lets his dog go unleashed at the beginning of the Ala Wai, then picks him up farther down on the Ala Wai. The dog is permitted to poop and shi-shi. Doesn't the owner have to pick up after the dog? There are two things that come into play here, said Eve Holt, spokeswoman for the Hawaiian Humane Society.
The society enforces the leash law, so "having the dog off leash is a violation," she said. Since it appears the man and dog are in a certain area at a predictable time, Holt advises you to call the society at 946-2187, ext. 280.
"The poop is another matter," she said. That would be covered by the litter law and is enforced by police. However, she acknowledged this is difficult to enforce, unless police catch the dog actually pooping on public property.
But the society's inspectors "would clearly let him know" about the litter law if and when they catch up with the owner, she said.
Mahalo
To a generous gentleman in a white truck with license plate "REX." On Nov. 19, at the Moanalua Intermediate recycling bin, he surprised us by sharing gigantic pomelos. We three gals send him our grateful appreciation.
