Another Sim Lim Story

[victorIIImd]

I was at Sim Lim yesterday to buy XD card for my cam. After doing my "assignment" I found two stores with the cheapest price and some more on their price list says " no additional charge for credit card and nets payment and additional up to 2% discount for cash payments". So I thought it is going to be a good price because there is around SGD5 difference with other shops. I first went to the shop in 5th floor and when I was about to pay, the guy told me that price is for cash payment only additional 2% for nets payment. I showed him a copy of their pricelist and the no additional charge thing. He told me that the no additional charge thing is only applicable to those items listed in the column immediately below the statement. I walked off and tried the other store in 4th floor. Same thing when I was about to pay the guy also told me "cash only additional 2% for nets payment". I just realized when I looked at their pricelist, pricing and format is almost the same. Probably the store is owned and manged by the same person(

Even with the additional 2% charge, which would be around 60 cents, the price difference is still significant. The thought that they are not honest with their advertisements, I would rather go to other stores and pay abit more for the shop's "honesty".

 

[Octarine]

Since a lot of price lists from SLS are available online it would be helpful if you could state the name of the shop.

 

[Parchiao]

This problem is not specific to Sim Lim, it has happenned to other places in Singapore and abroad. In Sim Lim, multiple shops can be owned by the same person or people while goods can be distributed by the same people or person which explains similar prices.

 

[ymmij]

Generally many shops do charge an additional 3% on top of the listed price when paying is by credit card. Most shops do not charge for using Nets.

But I do have a memory of myself experiencing a shop charging an additional of 1.5% to 2% when using Nets. I ended paying by cash. I am not sure if the shop is in Sim Lim Square.

 

[victorIIImd]

Pardon me but I don't want to name the store. Anyway no harm has been done and I didn't lose even a single cent. I just wanted to share the experience.

Lesson learned : never rely on their pricelist, ask the sales guy personally whether the price includes GST or can pay by nets without additional charge before paying. Go to trusted shops highly recommended by fellow csers.

 

[The Oracle]

you did mention they charge 2% which round to about 60cents more, compare to other shop you say are more ex by few dollar. End up still cheapers mah? If that is the case, i would rather pay 60cents more correct?

 

[lennyl]

you did mention they charge 2% which round to about 60cents more, compare to other shop you say are more ex by few dollar. End up still cheapers mah? If that is the case, i would rather pay 60cents more correct?

TS already pointed out it is not the money but the principle.

 

[khtee]

ATM macine is just downstair.... if you do not want to pay the 2%....

 

[snowspeeder]

Alternative: Take the lift or escalator to draw from ATM and save 60 cents.

 

[Lenscapes]

my take.. went to Cybermind 4th floor at SLS to buy a sandisk memory stick duo pro 4Gb for $48
front page of their flyer stated Visa/Master/Nets - no extra charges. up to 2% discount for cash payment.
paid with $50 but never get cash discount. asked him and he said " front page too cheap already, so no discount. If more then $100 then can give you 2% discount. "
so beware!

 

[GavinTing]

my take.. went to Cybermind 4th floor at SLS to buy a sandisk memory stick duo pro 4Gb for $48
front page of their flyer stated Visa/Master/Nets - no extra charges. up to 2% discount for cash payment.
paid with $50 but never get cash discount. asked him and he said " front page too cheap already, so no discount. If more then $100 then can give you 2% discount. "
so beware!

Did you ask for price before paying?

 

[Lenscapes]

Did you ask for price before paying?

it doesn't matter whether you asked or not.. it is stated clearly on the front page that there is a 2% discount for using cash. there is no small prints around to state otherwise.
i shopped at other shops in SLS and they gave me 2% if i use cash. don't even have to ask for it. :nono:

 

[genzo]

yea.. i think the prices there are competitive.. if they still allow nets they will not be earning much..nets do charge for their services thats why theres 2 %

 

[SNAG]

honestly, it's the same everywhere for the SLS shops.

Most of the time when you ask for a cash discount - it's always not given, as the pricelists say "Up to 2% discount", or that they tell you that there's no further discount.

Sometimes I feel quite peeved by the marketing gimmick, and I pay by NETS instead. :bsmilie:

 

[s2s1]

I just bought some pc parts for DIY 2 weeks ago. I went to Bell Systems at level 5, pay cash and get 2% discount. Maybe the card (total bill) less than $100 and they are not willing to give rebate.

 

[Simon_84]

i bought a external hard disk from shop over at funan, over 100 plus...still got 2% if pay by nets.
went to draw cash instead.

 

[saggice]

yes generally there will be extra charges if pay by nets or credit card.
think they print wrongly bah.

 

[chngpe01]

I was at Sim Lim yesterday to buy XD card for my cam. After doing my "assignment" I found two stores with the cheapest price and some more on their price list says " no additional charge for credit card and nets payment and additional up to 2% discount for cash payments". So I thought it is going to be a good price because there is around SGD5 difference with other shops. I first went to the shop in 5th floor and when I was about to pay, the guy told me that price is for cash payment only additional 2% for nets payment. I showed him a copy of their pricelist and the no additional charge thing. He told me that the no additional charge thing is only applicable to those items listed in the column immediately below the statement. I walked off and tried the other store in 4th floor. Same thing when I was about to pay the guy also told me "cash only additional 2% for nets payment". I just realized when I looked at their pricelist, pricing and format is almost the same. Probably the store is owned and manged by the same person(

Even with the additional 2% charge, which would be around 60 cents, the price difference is still significant. The thought that they are not honest with their advertisements, I would rather go to other stores and pay abit more for the shop's "honesty".

It is a matter of interpretation when you read the price list, instead of branding them as dishonest. They are honest to tell you before you pay. Have you ask yourself why all this has happened? It is because of NETS and VISA charges for commission. So why not boycotted these real culprit companies by paying cash instead.

At the rate you are going on your principle, NETS and VISA are laughing all the way because you are still their best customer who is willing to pay more for your "principle" and their "honesty"

 

[drakon09]

Well, ever since the NETS consortium increased their service charge, smaller shops running on thinner profit margins have resorted to passing the costs onto the customer.

It's not just SLS; some neighbourhood shops in the heartlands do charge a NETS surcharge per transaction, other shops just do away with NETS altogether.

Big-box stores like Best Denki, HN or Courts operate on higher profit margins, so it's less of a problem for them to absorb the service charge increase.

 

[Kirin]

It is a matter of interpretation when you read the price list, instead of branding them as dishonest. They are honest to tell you before you pay. Have you ask yourself why all this has happened? It is because of NETS and VISA charges for commission. So why not boycotted these real culprit companies by paying cash instead.

At the rate you are going on your principle, NETS and VISA are laughing all the way because you are still their best customer who is willing to pay more for your "principle" and their "honesty"

Agree!!!!, do understand those shop who are being bullied by NETS, they are still honest to let you to choice "by Net or by cash.".

The real culprit is NETS. :angry: