Negative Nancy’s email shocks Queenstown firm

A Queenstown business owner was shocked to receive an email delighting in the struggles the town is facing.

High-end fashion boutique Angel Divine was sent an email last week claiming the economic issues confronting Queenstown as a result of Covid-19 were karma.

“Well well well, we hear you are doing a bit of a freeze down there in Queenstown, and Brrrrrr winter is coming and it will even be colder,” the email said.

“But you will be pleased to know that up here in Auckland business is booming.

“We can call this Karma, call it what you want, but we have absolutly [sic] no mercy for you whatsoever.

“You have had it too good for too long, charging exhorbitant prices with huge mark-ups, $$$$ fleecing all the unsuspecting overseas tourists.

“Now the Gravy Train has stopped . . . and hopefully it will stay this way for many years to come. Oh ha ha ha ha ha”

The email’s sender, apparently named Nancy, bemoaned the fact she had been charged $8 for a cup of coffee last time she was in Queenstown.

“Each time we read about another Queenstown Business going belly-up we pop the cork and open another bottle of Champagne. So hang in there as long as you can because this virus aint going anytime soon,” the email finished.

Earlier this month, RNZ reported on a stream of vitriol directed at the previously booming tourist town.

Angel Divine owner Deirdre Ussher said it was the first negative outburst she had received since taking over the business in September.

“My manager got the email . . . and she came out and said ‘You’ve got to come read this email now’. I went out and read it and I was kind of waiting for the punchline,” Ussher said. “I got to the end and thought who sends this?”

She had been further shocked to find other local businesses had similar invective directed at them.

“I just can’t believe anyone feels like that, like anyone feels that they pop open a champagne when they hear a business is going belly up.

“What kind of person writes that? What kind of person has those feelings?”

The assessment of the business as failing also could not be further from the truth. “Ours is actually going really well. We have had a huge amount of support from Auckland people and all around the country. It’s been an incredible time for me taking on the store in September after Covid wondering what will lie ahead,” she said.

She understood not every business was doing as well and hoped if people had anything to direct at them it would be kindness.

In response to Nancy’s email the store offered a 15 percent discount using the code NANCY15, they even alerted the sender to the discount if they wanted to shop for themselves.