Overcharged by Shops?

[FnTank]

Would anybody whom have seen/experienced overcharging in shops care to share their experiences/advice?

[alittlerisky]

Would anybody whom have seen/experienced overcharging in shops care to share their experiences/advice?

OK, there is shop beside the hotel I am staying at. I normally stop off there on the way back after work and buy 4 33cl can of beer. They are $4.10 each = $16.40. I don't really pay attention, but after a few days I was going back to the hotel and thought "Wait a minute! 4 x $4.10 does not equal $18.40!" But I couldn't be bothered to go back and argue as I didn't even have a receipt. But I kept an eye, and noticed that the woman would key up the 4 x $4.10, then hit a key and add on $2. This happened twice in a row again.

So I have stopped going there. Stupid really. She has lost a potential turnover of say about $500 per month, all for the sake of stealing about $6 from me.

[nakatago]

Would you happen to look non-Asian by any chance? It's probably the Ang-Moh/Foreigner "tax."

[alittlerisky]

Would you happen to look non-Asian by any chance? It's probably the Ang-Moh/Foreigner "tax."

Actually I do look Asian (I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 Myanmar) but can't speak Mandarin/Cantonese or whatever. In fact I speak English in the same accent you'd hear from a BBC newsreader. But its pretty obvious I am an Asian Ang-Moh.

[nakatago]

Would you happen to look non-Asian by any chance? It's probably the Ang-Moh/Foreigner "tax."

Actually I do look Asian (I'm 1/2 Irish, 1/2 Myanmar) but can't speak Mandarin/Cantonese or whatever. In fact I speak English in the same accent you'd hear from a BBC newsreader. But its pretty obvious I am an Asian Ang-Moh.

Was referring to OP; but yeah, once they identify your accent as that not from the straits, they'll try to pull a fast one on you.

[x9200]

Would anybody whom have seen/experienced overcharging in shops care to share their experiences/advice?

Two advices: (1) do your homework "research" before shopping (if anything above $100), and (2) always check other outlets.

Overcharging AngMohs, tourists and looking/behaving alike is reality and common practice in many if not majority small shops around. Only bigger shops, chains guaranty some safety.

[Splatted]

Would anybody whom have seen/experienced overcharging in shops care to share their experiences/advice?

OK, there is shop beside the hotel I am staying at. I normally stop off there on the way back after work and buy 4 33cl can of beer. They are $4.10 each = $16.40. I don't really pay attention, but after a few days I was going back to the hotel and thought "Wait a minute! 4 x $4.10 does not equal $18.40!" But I couldn't be bothered to go back and argue as I didn't even have a receipt. But I kept an eye, and noticed that the woman would key up the 4 x $4.10, then hit a key and add on $2. This happened twice in a row again.

Supermarkets do it too.. pay for drinks, they add a 15c surcharge if the drink was out of the fridge instead of off the shelf.

[rajagainstthemachine]

1st week after i moved in here :

talked to the guy in the Indian shop in English: how much for 4 cans of beer?
16 dollars
me: *pays and leaves*

4weeks later

same shop:
*casually walk in take 4 cans of beer*
me in tamil : "yo! i'm taking 4 cans bro, here's 10 bucks"
dude says nothing

from then on 4 kingfisher cans 10 bucks it is.

[WanWanWan]

I get overcharged about once a week or so here in Australia (16-year-olds on minimum wage have little reason to be careful with maths), but since I always work out the total as I take things off the shelves, I normally just point out the error and have the cashier double-check and correct the price before I pay. Nice and simple.

Would this not work in Singapore? I've heard a lot of stories of foreigners being overcharged. Do shopkeepers actually refuse to sell something to you at the marked price even when you point it out to them?

[Mi Amigo]

The problem in many shops here is that prices are often not marked. So you have to ask "How much is is?" and then you can visualise the cogs going round as the person works out the optimum ang mo markup (in my case). Quite irritating, especially when I see it happen in places that I have been shopping in for years.

So, FnTank, you registered on this forum just to ask that question, eh? May I ask what is the purpose for that? Call me Mr Suspicious, but we sometimes have 'journalists' doing that kind of thing because they're too lazy to do any proper investigation. But I'm sure that doesn't apply in your case, right?

[FnTank]

Would you happen to look non-Asian by any chance? It's probably the Ang-Moh/Foreigner "tax."

Well, I believe I look plenty Asian, considering both my parents are..

However, even though I have been in Singapore all my life, friends say that I "don't look like a Singaporean"..! (Perhaps due to my unusual fashion sense/a lack thereof? )

Also, because I spent much of my growing up years playing games and studying, I don't have much streetsmarts..

Thus I guess in such situations, such things come to bite me..!

[FnTank]

So, FnTank, you registered on this forum just to ask that question, eh? May I ask what is the purpose for that? Call me Mr Suspicious, but we sometimes have 'journalists' doing that kind of thing because they're too lazy to do any proper investigation. But I'm sure that doesn't apply in your case, right?

Well, to be honest, I am working on a Homework Assignment about the subject, and since the deadline given is in pretty short order, the tutor suggested looking online/in forums, etc..

Because of said lack of streetsmarts/savviness, I am not quite sure of the appropriateness/right place to go to. I am sorry if what I have done is inappropriate..(In which case, could you all point me to the right direction..?)

Thank You All Very Much for all the patience and help! I will stick around and do my best to contribute whatever knowledge/experience that I have from living in Singapore..!

[scarbowl]

Would anybody whom have seen/experienced overcharging in shops care to share their experiences/advice?

OK, there is shop beside the hotel I am staying at. I normally stop off there on the way back after work and buy 4 33cl can of beer. They are $4.10 each = $16.40. I don't really pay attention, but after a few days I was going back to the hotel and thought "Wait a minute! 4 x $4.10 does not equal $18.40!" But I couldn't be bothered to go back and argue as I didn't even have a receipt. But I kept an eye, and noticed that the woman would key up the 4 x $4.10, then hit a key and add on $2. This happened twice in a row again.

Supermarkets do it too.. pay for drinks, they add a 15c surcharge if the drink was out of the fridge instead of off the shelf.

Yes, even if they do not offer the same drinks on the shelf! Fair Price Finest does this.

[x9200]

So, FnTank, you registered on this forum just to ask that question, eh? May I ask what is the purpose for that? Call me Mr Suspicious, but we sometimes have 'journalists' doing that kind of thing because they're too lazy to do any proper investigation. But I'm sure that doesn't apply in your case, right?

Well, to be honest, I am working on a Homework Assignment about the subject, and since the deadline given is in pretty short order, the tutor suggested looking online/in forums, etc..

Because of said lack of streetsmarts/savviness, I am not quite sure of the appropriateness/right place to go to. I am sorry if what I have done is inappropriate..(In which case, could you all point me to the right direction..?)

Thank You All Very Much for all the patience and help! I will stick around and do my best to contribute whatever knowledge/experience that I have from living in Singapore..!

Yes, it is very inappropriate (cheating and manipulating!) and when combined with your request sent via PM for personal data to be included (name, country of origin and occupation for those who may wonder) I am very tempted to lock your account.

Moderator

[FnTank]

Oh, I was not aware that this would constitute cheating and manipulating!

Because of the short time period given to complete the school assignment, the tutor for the course did suggest that it would be possible to ask online, then contact the people to follow up..!

In my PM I asked if I could get permission to include the advice/case in an article I am writing for a school assignment, and because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to catch you all online in time for a second PM(before the deadline for the assignment is due), I asked that if I am allowed to include it, if I may also have your name, age and occupation/country of origin as I have to credit/cite the person whom I got my information from..!

On the event that the person is not comfortable/does not want to, I'd respect the person's decision and not include any of the contents of the postings at all in the assignment..! I assure everybody that it is purely for academic purposes only, and not for any commercial gains/profit!

I did not intend to cheat/manipulate, since I am pretty clueless about the matter myself, and was curious to find out more about it! Also, I'd believed that the tips/experiences shared would be beneficial for all who read, and be an interesting talking point..!

If I have indeed misled people, I am sorry! Please let me know how I should go about doing it so that I do not unknowingly offend/break any rules in the future..!