Taiwan CEO claims restaurant spilled 2 to 3 drops of wine on Hermès handbag, restaurant says she wanted S$37,294 in compensation & refused

Taiwanese businesswoman Anni Miao, CEO of a cosmetics and health foods wholesaler, had a frustrating dining experience in May at Ushigoro S Taiwan restaurant. She alleged that staff unintentionally spilled two or three drops of wine onto her Hermès Kelly To Go bag, a white crocodile leather handbag. The restaurant manager reportedly assured her that they would take full responsibility for the incident and that she could leave without any issues. Miao paid the NT$40,000 (S$1,605) bill for her meal and departed without a fuss.

Upon sending the bag to the Hermès store where she bought it, Miao discovered that the stain could not be entirely removed. She claimed that the restaurant failed to address the issue over the following months, providing no resolution or compensation for the damaged item. By October, Miao said her attempts to communicate with the restaurant went unanswered or were dismissed. She threatened legal action if the restaurant did not cooperate.

Fujin Tree Catering Group, the parent company of the restaurant, responded to Miao's claims on Facebook. They disputed her version of events, stating that she only pointed out the stain when paying the bill and not when the spill occurred. They also said that the CCTV footage from her private dining room did not support her claim that the restaurant staff were present when the wine was spilled.

The company asserted that Miao's demand for NT$930,000 (S$37,294) in compensation for the bag and associated costs was unreasonable. Since it was unclear who caused the stain on the bag, the company declined to provide compensation and said they were seeking legal advice.

Miao responded to the hospitality group's statement on Facebook, denying that she demanded NT$930,000 in compensation and sharing screenshots of conversations with restaurant staff.