One advice for everyone that goes to Sim Lim Square (SLS) – Singapore: Be careful… be really careful. Do your homework before going to SLS not after. Ok… the advice might be sounds so “Duh” but better safe than sorry, its SLS afterall.
Today I was going around town to find a handphone for my father. He keeps complaining that his Nokia 9xxx series is spoilt, way too bulky, archaic and… did I mention bulky?
I found several good offers in town area. After much thought and SMS with my mother, the choice falls to N70 for SG$678 (u.p. 700 something). Other offers include N3230 for SG$358 and N7xxx for +/-SG$330. They are fixed offers: means unnegotiable.
With that information in mind, I went to SLS with hope that I will get a better deal. Furthermore, I also need to buy a Wacom Tablet for my friend.
In one particular shop, I asked this particular guy about N70. He said that its SG$680. I told him that I have found better offer at town and hope to get lower price from him.
He laughed and tried to convince me that the offer at town does not include 5% GST (a form of tax).
I told him that I am a tourist. “Could I get 5% refund?”. His eyes glittered.
He impulsely lower his previous bid to SG$670 plus 5% GST of course (700 something). Saying that I could get the 5% when I fly away – FYI: I am not eligible for GST refund despite the fact that I am technicaly a tourist since I had studied in Singapore for more than a year.
Something fishy here. Oh… other advice: “in case of doubt, scam (gracefully)!” and so did I.
I was so damn correct. Later I found that the offer in town does INCLUDE 5% GST. That unscrupulous seller LIED !!!(or plain stupid to assume the offer in town exclude 5% GST) Lucky I have “gracefully escaped” from him.
I believe this is not an isolated case. SLS together with place like Orchard’s Lucky Plasa is infamous for such intentional/unintentional scam. However what bother me most is that that lousy shop got “STARetailer” award from SLS Traders Assosiation. The worst part is that I think I could not sue such supposedly conman.
Why?
The award implies that the retailer shall not sell something above recommended rtail price (which the seller has abide), to be honest (which the seller could plead innocence as he is such an ignorant and naive trader), to remain courteous (which was the case) and to train & employ well-traind and knowledgeable staff (which is quite useless to be used as basis of bringing up a case).
I could not name the shop or the seller as I could not remember the name of the shop. What I am really sure is that
- the shop sells many other electronic products in addition to handphone which only occupy small corner
- the lousy seller owns an almost new N70
- the shop is not in level 1… most likely in level 2.
- the shop has STARetailer award prominently displayed (yuck)
When come to SLS… beware!!!
On the bright side, I found this shop which sell Wacom Graphire 3 to be most friendly and honest. Tec-Drome of level 5 or 6 if I am not wrong. Not so much because I got an extra discount of SG$4 but most importanly that the sellers are honest and knowledgeable (yes… Since I have done much homework for this product, I could confirm most of their statements as true). They sell original PC games and various input devices btw.
I think I am going to buy N70 at some other place tomorrow.
