June 18, 2008
2008 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey
The 2008 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey is now up and available from the Kosher Community Surveys website.
You can also view the results of last year's survey, as well as completed surveys for other communities around the US, such as Cleveland, Boston and Philadelphia.
Incidentally, last year, in one of the towns surveyed, there was some controversy as to the appropriateness of these surveys; some rabbonim went so far as to decry them as lashon hara. My personal opinion is that not only are these surveys l'toeles, making them permissible (perhaps even compulsory), but in addition, using data generated in a statistical manner, from a large group of people, is the best way (other than, of course, divine revelation, which is, sadly, in short supply these days) for an uninformed person to form as valid an opinion as possible without direct experience. The statistical process ensures that even if a single individual answers irresponsibly, their results don't skew the overall outcome. Contrast this to the real world, where anyone with the necessary means and free time can shout their opinion from the rooftops and influence people in a less than valid way. A rabbi agrees with me.
It also happens to be free market research from an unbiased third party- something many organizations pay tens of thousands for each year. So its not only an asset for consumers, but also another way for these establishments to judge their own successes and failures.
Posted by: aml at June 18, 2008 7:21 AMSomeone should let them know that Krispy Kreme in Baltimore is no longer around.
Posted by: jstein at June 19, 2008 3:31 PMI did comment to them that Krispy Kreme is no longer around.
Posted by: Greg at June 20, 2008 8:40 AMMake that 2 Rabbis.
PS - We're having a sale on divine revelations this week, please call for more info...
We tried the "new" Max's restaurant at Amanda's yesterday. Oi vey!
We LOVE Max Original in Silver Spring/Wheaton, and had high hopes for its Baltimore counterpart. Unfortunately, our kosher-dining experience at the "new" Max was probably one of the worst of our lives, and I had to work hard to persuade my husband not to demand our money back and leave.
The wait was interminable (and we were one of the very few customers in the restaurant! imagine if there had been other patrons....) and the portions skimpy. My daughter ordered a Caesar salad for $9, and got a miniscule portion. My daughter is a classic "small eater" and she was starving afterwards. In fact, when we got home from dinner at the Baltimore Max's, I had to give everyone dinner. Grrr.
Never again!
