Singapore Retail Website Grumble

[Mary Hatch Bailey]

If it's imported, then it should cost more. I get that part of the equation. What I don't understand is walking into the former Borders and them asking 25% more for a book that was printed in Singapore.

Or a shop keeper who won't sell you the last one of something because then he "won't have any."

Or employees who have no basic knowledge of their product or basic information like where they are located.

Or shops that don't post hours or open at 11:00 only to close down for lunch at Noon

[nakatago]

If it's imported, then it should cost more. I get that part of the equation. What I don't understand is walking into the former Borders and them asking 25% more for a book that was printed in Singapore.

Or a shop keeper who won't sell you the last one of something because then he "won't have any."

Or employees who have no basic knowledge of their product or basic information like where they are located.

Or shops that don't post hours or open at 11:00 only to close down for lunch at Noon

This.

[movingtospore]

Or shopkeepers who ask you to come back later because they're too busy right now. Seriously. I was trying to buy my kid shoes one day and the lady had one other customer and said she was too busy to help me and should come back some other time.

Makes one want to shop online, oh, wait, right, can NOT.

I think the importing argument is a load of you-know-what though, in this day and age. The same crap all comes from China and environs. No reason for it to cost 40% more here than it does in KL, Jakarta, Bangkok. Not to mention the US, Canada and some parts of Europe. But the locals don't seem to know better. Why does a kids pencil case cost $5 here at NTUC, when the very same one costs the equivalent of 99c in KL? Somebody's getting rich. I guess the high rents account for some of it.

[x9200]

I avoid buying from online local shops because (from my experience):
- what you buy may not be in stock and you can wait long weeks to get it
- you can get used goods

If for some reason I have to buy from a completely unknown to me shop I do it only if they offer the paypal payment so I can open a dispute and file a claim if something goes wrong (done it already).

The underlaying problem with all the local retail shops (online and RL) is IMO the mentioned service quality. Singaporeans are used to the bad service and they are very tolerant even if they see the service is bad.

[Travailes]

I think it's partly because locals don't shop online much. Nor do they demand good customer service and competitive pricing.

There is not a lot of retail competition here. So they charge what they want, and don't seem to care about losing customers due to a lack of transparent pricing, bad customer service or over-inflated prices. They just don't care as far as I can tell - I don't think it would even occur to a lot of retailers here to put prices on their web sites - even just for customer service! And, as other pointed out then maybe they would have to start being more competitive on price...

I actually make it a point now to tell shop-keepers each and every time I see something overpriced. I tell that that I will wait and order in from out of country at a cheaper price. They usually just stare at me blankly.

Time and again I hear people blaming expats for the high prices here but I dunno, most expats I know buy from outside SP because they demand better prices. It's interesting!

Good post. I have now started to look outside for simple goods, ie kids clothes basics - tshirts, shorts etc I can buy outside the country online much cheaper including the postage.

I still don't understand how there can be so many shops here selling essentially the same items at the same price especially at the luxury end of the market. Are they all franchised ?

And then you go to some of the smaller malls and there are hundreds of shops which don't seem very busy. How do these people stay in business ?
I understand that higher prices are set to pay rents and wages - but how do these people make a living after than ?

I'm sure the prevailing economic conditions are going to shake this place alot.

[Gustav Gabrielson]

message deleted

[Strong Eagle]

^^^^^^^^^

Why are my tic-toc senses on red alert?

[x9200]

Yep, I am watching him too.

[x9200]

Gone.

[morenangpinay]

my experience isnt really with prices but its a WTF moment nevertheless. I was in the mall and i passed by the singtel shop. i was trying to decide if i will recontract or buy a new phone. so i asked the sales person if I wanted to recontract am i eligible. he said just call our customer service. so I said but Im already here..he insisted i call the customer service.

[Strong Eagle]

my experience isnt really with prices but its a WTF moment nevertheless. I was in the mall and i passed by the singtel shop. i was trying to decide if i will recontract or buy a new phone. so i asked the sales person if I wanted to recontract am i eligible. he said just call our customer service. so I said but Im already here..he insisted i call the customer service.

Sort of depends if they are actually Singtel or exclusive retailer... sounds like you got an exclusive retailer too lazy to actually help you out.