Don't Shop Lucky Plaza!!!!!!

[Cdog]

Warning: Don’t ever buy electronic goods from Lucky Plaza mall in Orchard. They overprice the items they’re selling. They will lure and cheat you in buying. Don’t ever buy from this store. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lucky Plaza Singapore 238863 Tel No: xxxxxxxx It’s just in front of Lucky Plaza basement, you will see it right ahead when you’re coming from Wisma Astria via the Taka underpass. They have the most dishonest and rudest staff.  I went to Lucky Plaza with my 2 friends  and bought a PSP. The staff said it’s for $250 plus 7% tax.  And so I thought we’ve agreed on the price.  Knowing that is a PSP and should be portable, it should come with a battery.  But then, he told us that battery wasn’t included! So I ended up paying $300 for the PSP unit.  I even called a guy friend to ask if that’s a good price and $300 is not bad for a PSP unit.  Tired from a whole afternoon of PSP scouting, and the shops were about to close, we paid $320 (w/ tax) for the PSP unit. We only found out when we got home that the PSP I bought was a ripped off !!! It was a PSP FAT (1000 version!) and not the PSP Slim (2000 ver.).  I felt cheated.  Plus, he billed us $25 for the tax. If it’s 7% , it should be $17.50 only.  I was so disappointed.  After the Chinese New Year, I went back with 3 of my friends to have it exchanged but he said its non-returnable and non-exchangeable.  He’s firm about it and he didn’t even apologize !!!  I asked him. “why would I buy a PSP Fat for a price of PSP Slim?”

[sundaymorningstaple]

It would seem that you are a victim only of your own stupidity. You should have done your homework using the internet BEFORE you went shopping so you would know the range of prices, models and equipment that comes in the box . This is a simple case of buyer beware. It's a salesman's job to sell, it's a buyer's job to ensure that he knows what it is he's shopping for BEFORE he steps into the store. (unless the store employees knocked you down and took your wallet and physically removed the money from you. But if you voluntarily handed him the money, well, what to say..... You screwed yourself as you could have walked out of the store without the PSP couldn't you.....

[pakjohn]

I agree with SMS and nearly learned the hard way myself, except it was at Sim Lin Square. I actually did a lot of reseach on an MP3 player and figured I just walk up to a shop in SLS and pick one up. Boy was I surprised when the first price was 40 percent higher before tax! I went to 4 other shops and got varying levels of higher prices. Long story short I left with out the MP3 player! I read other people accounts on here regarding buying from small shops and went back prepared to negotiate armed with prices and details on paper from the net. I did manage to get a good price after haggling but it was a real pain and even then I left thinking I'd been swindled.
For Electronics I found Funan to be more forgiving; you still have to watch the prices,but they're not the hucksters you find at SLS.
So sorry you had a bad experience, but to learn that lesson for just 300 dollars is not terrible, could be much worse. Use SLS for the very hard to find items and show up with model numbers and prices. If they don't have what you want, make your first offer at half price, then try and end up 20 to 30 percent under first offer at a minimum. Prior to negotiating, have them show you everything you're buying and let it remain on the counter while you're talking.
I bought a high end set of binoculars there just before the U.S. Presidential elections. The guy was really stuck at one point with the price and wouldn't budge till I reminded him Obama was about to win the election and would surely bankrupt most expat so he should sell at a lower price while he still has customer. lol! He laughed and gave me another 5 percent off.

[sundaymorningstaple]

PJ, at least you weren't lying to him about Obama!

[EADG]

caveat emptor here goes without saying

I will add that I had an exceptionally good experience at Sim Lin - the guys at the store there helped me out with a router problem that was bugging me after trying just about everything - I won't give the name but Storage guys on 5f.

They could have charged me but didn't, and were really helpful.

I will buy from them next time I need what they sell.

Still you go into places knowing full well what you're getting into and should have no surprises.

[rattlesnake]

So sorry you had a bad experience, but to learn that lesson for just 300 dollars is not terrible, could be much worse.

Well actually the PSP he bought must be worth something - maybe at least half the $300 so in effect the lesson is around $150.

Look on the bright side, you got ripped off at Lucky Plaza but got a half price lesson on SingaporeExpats. Life just took a turn for the better.

[pakjohn]

Well actually the PSP he bought must be worth something - maybe at least half the $300 so in effect the lesson is around $150.

Look on the bright side, you got ripped off at Lucky Plaza but got a half price lesson on SingaporeExpats. Life just took a turn for the better.

I doubt the original poster would agree; anytime you buy something that is not what you want, the value is nil. He wrote several paragraphs describing how unhappy he is with the purchase.

[smayrhofer]

it probably has a resale value on the second hand market, so value isn't nil even if it isn't what he wanted. he could recoup some of the $300 by selling it, after all.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Actually the lesson only cost him $77.50 as he was ready & willing to buy it for $250 when he went in there. He actually paid $320 plus tax of $25 which was too high by 2.60. so 70 x 1.07+2.60= $77.50.

Aggravating to say the least but still a cheap lesson. It could have been a Merc! Or he could have bought a Rolex he paid a discounted price off'n the original and arrived home with a Lolex!

[cirkus]

Ummm, there are certain peculiarities about those shops- be them in Lucky Plaza, Sim Lim, or anywhere else on the island. If you s****d enough to go to those shops WITHOUT having done your homework first, then... I'm sorry to say the fault is clearly on your side.

I've had a case where a merchant in China Town asked me for 10X the price than another shop just next to it. (350S$ for a porcelain picture compared to 35S$). Difference was that in the shop next to it I went with a local!

Then there is the story of a VGA-Digital adapter that I wanted to buy in Sim Lim. One guy asked me for 35S$, another one for 28, next one for 15, until I finally found a store that sold them for 6...

Then there is the story of the fruit stand in HV...

You get the idea.

When shopping in Singapore, you are in a 3rd-world country. No transparency whatsoever, or have you ever seen shops advertising their prices on the internet?? Nada. Too transparent.

You are not in the US, nor in Europe. You are in South East Asia, my friend.

Oh- and b.t.w. I think you are putting shame on all the Ang-Moh lian's here!

[Strong Eagle]

It really is 'caveat emptor' and I would not shop lucky plaza as a rule unless you really know price and will bargain.

Even minor stuff is way overpriced at asking... consider a bum bag... a belted carry bag... 19 to 23 bux at lucky... and no one wanted to negotiate with this ang mo... as compared to 9 to 13 bux for the identical product at mustafas.

Is there more to say?

[EADG]

just that Mustafa is not always the cheapest place in town, though it seems to have that reputation

and no one wanted to negotiate with this ang mo... as compared to 9 to 13 bux for the identical product at mustafas.

Is there more to say?

[QRM]

And lets not forget the oldie but goldie trick.

After agreeing on a price the shop keeper makes a big deal of filling out all the forms, inserting batteries, sticking on lcd protectors. Then at the till he causally mentions the agreed price PLUS GST!!

That's when you walkout, and his scam backfires because he has already opened all the accessory he has to get you back to buy it.

Then you can play him at his own game, renegotiate the price and ask for a further discount because hes has been an butthole, the law requires all prices to include GST, the exception being F&B, and if the retailer does not comply there is a potential of a $5000 fine.

[road.not.taken]

the law requires all prices to include GST, the exception being F&B, and if the retailer does not comply there is a potential of a $5000 fine.

So if I walk into a shop and say: how much is this? And they say: $100 ~ it is supposed to be inclusive of GST at that point? I always assumed it wasn't.

[sundaymorningstaple]

QRM is absolutely correct (And I just paid my GST for the 1st quarter on Friday - around 70K).

http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.as ... arging_GST

Charging of GST

Only GST-registered businesses are allowed to collect GST. Check whether a particular business is registered for GST. Always ensure that the correct prevailing GST rate is being charged to you.

Ensure that you are billed correctly. Generally, the price that is displayed should be the final price that you are paying. Find out more information about price displays. (However, note that Hotels and the Food & Beverage industry are allowed to display GST exclusive prices if they charge service charge.)

Shoppers

When shopping, note that the final price displayed should be the amount that is inclusive of GST e.g. $107 instead of $100+.

Tourists

If you are a tourist and you buy goods in Singapore from participating GST-registered retailers, you can claim a refund of the GST paid if the goods are brought out of Singapore via Changi International Airport or Seletar Airport within 2 months from the date of purchase.

You cannot claim GST refunds on services as well as goods that you have consumed in Singapore. For example, you cannot claim GST refunds on your hotel stay. Find out more information on Tourist Refund Scheme.

Buying services

When buying services such as spa/facial packages, note that the final price that is being offered to you should be inclusive of GST.

Dining at restaurants

Service Charge:

When you dine at restaurants, GST is charged on the sum of price of the food/beverage and 10% service charge. This is because GST is a tax on the final value of any good or service consumed in Singapore and service charge is part of the price payable for the consumption of goods and services.

Display of GST-exclusive price:

Due to operational difficulties in displaying GST-inclusive prices because of the imposition of service charge, an administrative concession on price display was granted to hotels, restaurants and public houses.

Thus, restaurants are allowed to display GST-exclusive prices for all goods (including delivery/takeaway items) and services. However, restaurants must have a clear statement on their price display to show customers that prices are subject to service charge and GST.

Travellers (including locals) bringing new articles, personal effects, souvenirs and gifts into Singapore

If you are a bona fide traveller, other than a person who is a holder of a work permit, employment pass, student pass, dependent pass or long-term pass issued by the Singapore Government, you will be given GST relief on new articles, personal effects, souvenirs, gifts and food preparations (excluding intoxicating liquors and tobacco). Please refer to the Singapore Customs website for more details.

Goods that are imported via postal parcels

You may purchase goods via the Internet and arrange for the goods to be imported into Singapore via postal parcels.

There is a 7% GST levied on all goods (including new articles, personal effects, souvenirs, gifts, food preparations and dutiable products) imported into Singapore. GST relief is granted on goods (including new articles, personal effects, souvenirs, gifts, food preparations and dutiable products) imported by post if the total value is not more than S$400. If the total value is more than $400, the entire sum would be subject to GST.