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