11/09/2014

What to do when shopping in Singapore? Caveat emptor!





Singapore built its name as a shopper’s paradise over several decades. This reputation is going into the gutters with the spade of abusive and ugly incidents involving tourists became cheated in Sim Lim Square. Case and the Tourist Board are stepping into the picture to warn tourists or anyone visiting the shopping centre to be careful when making purchases.


Apart from posting warning posters in the shopping centre, this is what Case executive director Seah Choon Seng said, “We hope that consumers will be able to stand firm and say ‘no’ to pressure sales tactics. The money is in their wallet, and they can choose not to sing the sales agreement and pay the money.”


In addition, the Mypaper reporter Cheryl Faith Wee added more precautionary measures needed to be taken as advised by Seah. These include checking the receipts for details like formulas, symbols, etc and how the price is presented, cancelling out empty spaces, asking questions if not sure, and getting the shop keeper to sign to show agreement on the receipt.


Seah also said, “Consumers should exercise their rights to ensure that all the costs are broken down before accepting the transaction . If you do not have the invoice, it is your word against the rtailiers and it is very difficult for organizations like Case to arbitrate.”


The Singapore Tourism Board also advised ‘consumers to do what is necessary to protect their interests, such as researching products, checking return policies and coverage of warranties before agreeing to purchases.’


I think someone should conduct a course on how to shop safely in Singapore to protect from being fleeced and cheated by unscrupulous merchants. Shopping in Singapore’s shoppers’ paradise is going to be very demanding today. The best advice is not to shop here if one is not prepared to take all the above precautions.


As rightly pointed out by an engineer, Ng Jian Min, “Singapore should be a safe environment for everyone to shop in. I find it quite ridiculous that I should have to check my receipts so closely.  There must be more severe laws to punish these shops.” What say you CASE, STB?


Personally I will not shop there, and if I do I will bring my lawyers along, and better still, bring two burly bodyguards to make sure that I am safe from being harassed.


I didn’t know that shopping in Singapore’s shoppers paradise has become so dangerous.

I read an article in the Sunday Times this morning on Jover Chew.  He was praised sky high as a very clever man and knew the law. The best part, he has not broken the law. What he did was legal. Eeeeeeeeee....mummy, Jover never committed any crime or done anything illegal! I think there is no case against him and he cannot be prosecuted. He has the law on his side, he is not outside the law. He is inside the law. Got shadow or not(this phrase should be read in Hokien).

I thought of changing the title of this post to , 'What Jover Chew did is legal'. And to nail  Jover, there must change the law. And Rip Van Winkles are talking about it now.

Kopi Level - Yellow

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a true reflection you'll see when you scratch beneath the surface of the glossy veneer. It permeates from the very top, like the proverbial turd that runs downhill.

Anonymous said...

What to do when voting in Singapore?
Cabeat emptor.

Anonymous said...

The best part, he has not broken the law. What he did was legal.
RB

He repaid the customer in coins for more than $2. This shows that he does not know the law and has broken it.

But I think the penalty for this is light lah, no jail one. So break the law also never mind. At most fine only what, tio bo?

Anonymous said...

Right calibre to be a politician.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

There is one thing which emanates like a fart in an elevator form Singapore's mainstream media:

When some small conflict occurs, the hack-journalists of Singapore's MSM never fail to editorilize by taking the fake moral high-ground. These junior writers, reporters and editors cannot wait to lick their older senior editors' crusty assholes and suck the hairs off their scrotums in the hope of "being noticed" as the next literary genius -- as if their on their merry way to winning the next Pulitzer. Talk about being delusional...

Redbean will know what I'm talking about. ;-)

Anyway, I have always advised that no matter where you are, every transaction needs to be framed within the context of caveat emptor. You simply cannot trust 100%, always leave a little room for DOUBT.

One thing is for certain the free market has been most effective in dealing with this low-level goon at Sim Lim. Singapore's netizens rallied forth and practically ruined this motherfucker's business -- long before the govt could even mount a noticeable response. Well done, kampong internets! .

Caveat emptor simply means that ==>> YOU <<== TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS you choose to engage in. Suffice it to say, not every one-on-one exchange is going to turn out right. Occasionally you will encounter an asshole who will attempt to cheat or bully you, simply because the have the LEVERAGE to do so.

As I've said before, if you are a cheapskate looking for a better deal, then make sure you have the confidence and the wherewithal to shop at Sim Lim.

If you are a wimp who walks this earth in a delusional state -- thinking "life is fair", then fuck off and shop at the Apple Store or Funan. Stay the fuck away from Sim Lim.

Sim Lim has a long history of shoppers getting a "negative experience". However those who do shop there know they can pay less for goods.

REPUTATION comes at a PREMIUM. You want cheap, then there are dangers. You want to pay full price...then you'll probably be able to drop your guard a little.

You choose lah, kotek. Everything is priced in the market.

Ai pee, ai chee, ai tua liap nee. <<== pay attention lah!!

Anonymous said...

Cie bey chim mr Mati.

patriot said...

What kind of law-makers do we have that allow scammer, cheater, bully and other rogues to have their cleverly drafted unfair contracts accepted as legal?
Do the Law-makers know their PRIMARY DUTY IS TO UPHOLD JUSTICE, ENSURING THAT NO ONE SHALL SUFFER ANY UNJUSTIFIED LOSS OR GAIN.
IT IS ALSO THEIR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE WEAK, IGNORANT AND INNOCENT ARE NOT BEING BULLY AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

IF RULERS ARE INCAPABLE OF PROTECTING THEIR SUBJECTS, THEN IT IS A SIN TO BE ONE, AS HE/SHE IS UNABLE TO FULFILL A BASIC DUTY,

AND IF REGIME IS IN CAHOOT WITH ROGUES, THEN IT IS MORE THAN SIN.

patriot

b said...

In this world that runs on the system where rich becomes richer and poor becomes poorer, poor people can only complain and suffer. Thats why some groups (such as Hitler, Osama etc) can lure so many people to join them in the name of restoring true justice.

agongkia said...

Poster everywhere or course to educate how to avoid being bullied or being shortchange no use one lah.
Its a matter of these peoples upbringing and only those greedy or no principle merchant or salesmen will resort to cheat or bully in order to survive.

I now only worry that that bully may make the watlumkia TL and may cause them making me crawl instead of kneeling on my next visit to watlum.

Virgo 49 said...

PAP claimed to have 20/20 fore sight but have minister who said is shocked by the Sim Lim fiasco.

These cheats been on for so long and they must have been in their ivory towers insulated from these happenings.

Same like wise the noise nuisances and the bullying of the neighbours. After events had happened and some one paid the price then they will appear and wayang something must be done.

As law makers, do they have the initiatives and fore sight to see and prevent these unpleasant incidents. ??

They should nip the problems before they arises.

Anonymous said...

Nip the problem is only words. NATO.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of Minibond Saga where many innocents investors are cheated off their hard earned money and law is on the side of the financial institution

b said...

The law is written by the rich to protect the rich. Justice is a commodity else Jesus would not have been died.