Beware of Pixels n Shutter (SLS) - from tourist

[virtualme78]

I'm pretty sure option don't work.... if its effective, why are they still in operation victimizing tourists and unknowing customers?

Proof:

I tell him that I will complain to case, and the "boss" tells me that CASE cant do anything, so its no point. And says that what they have done is not a "criminal offence"....

You have 2 options:

1. File a complaint with CASE. If what he charged you is above Canon's RRP, you definitely have a case against them.
2. File a complaint with Canon too. If they are a Canon reseller and overcharge like that beyond RRP, Canon can withdraw their reseller license.

 

[virtualme78]

I meant option 1 mentioned by Rashkae

 

[edutilos-]

Just because of one shop or a couple of bad experiences, don't badmouthed the entire complex(SLS). There are quite a lot of reputable & professional shops there like Alan Photo & Hai Chew. The thumb of rule when shopping for electronic or computer equipment at SLS or anywhere - don't buy at the first shop even though the price seems to be fair. Don't ask too many questions at the shop - do your research online or from friends who knows about the product & don't haggle over the price if you are not intending to buy - asking for trouble.

I do not consider Alan Photo reputable or professional.

 

[edutilos-]

This is a very expensive and insulting for a lesson to learn...
I just don't understand why these type of cheating still continue and will continue, yet no actions taken...
We symhatize on what happened to them, got cheated in SG, but are the people here would not do anything? Are we good only on telling them to move on, learn your lesson, etc
Are these shops UNTOUCHABLES?
How many tourists, honest customers this type of shops will going to victimize, today, tomorrow, in future?
Are still we going to tell them to move on, learn from that lesson?
How do you fell if you go other countries and you got cheated like this?????

I have one question to you, if you buy canned drink from NTUC and buy from 7-11 in Orchard Road, what is the price difference?

 

[greggill]

The true is that in usual developped countries you are supposed to put a price tag on it and sell it at that price, no discrimination...

This is basic honesty. Buy from challenger, harvey norman or any shop who put their tag..

 

[spree86]

The true is that in usual developped countries you are supposed to put a price tag on it and sell it at that price, no discrimination...

This is basic honesty. Buy from challenger, harvey norman or any shop who put their tag..

Its true that this will be the ideal case but i think only TK Foto places price tags on their products, even so, its not on all of them. Buying from challenger and harvey norman will ensure that you will not get cheated but the price you are paying is significantly higher compared to buying from the usual reputable stores.

 

[fireflame88]

You have 2 options:

1. File a complaint with CASE. If what he charged you is above Canon's RRP, you definitely have a case against them.
2. File a complaint with Canon too. If they are a Canon reseller and overcharge like that beyond RRP, Canon can withdraw their reseller license.

Sad to say that if u already agreed to pay at the price mentioned at the point of time, and then you paid, there is no turning back. Its not like the shop uses a gun and point it against your head to buy their products. Just know that you always have the option of leaving the shop if you feel that something is amiss.

I know that we will feel really piss out if we are treated like carrots. But just take it as a lesson learned and not go back there again. Or just come to this forum to see do some homework.

 

[cabello]

The true is that in usual developped countries you are supposed to put a price tag on it and sell it at that price, no discrimination...

This is basic honesty. Buy from challenger, harvey norman or any shop who put their tag..

In most "developed countries" there is a consumer protection act that protects consumers from practices such as this. CASE is as much use as a sXXt flavoured lollipop.

 

[betta01]

I have one question to you, if you buy canned drink from NTUC and buy from 7-11 in Orchard Road, what is the price difference?

You will know the difference if one day you become a victim too of dishonest shops!!

 

[edutilos-]

You will know the difference if one day you become a victim too of dishonest shops!!

Wonder why I haven't, 4 years into photography.

Maybe it's because I know fair well that for ANYTHING of significant value, when I cannot take the risk of getting ripped off, I will do my homework.

It's easy to argue that someone has to protect all the poor little consumers quavering in their boots - that's really such a pathetic picture painted. Are you saying it's that hard to pick up the phone and call for 3 quotes from 3 different shops to protect yourself? Are you saying at Sim Lim Square it is so hard to hold off on purchases and hold off on pressure to purchase from the salesman to compare between 3 shops?

Even if the right price is given, there are so many tricks that shops can do. Being alert is the best way to avoid getting ripped off. Just like how the police can patrol and patrol but no system is perfect.

So far I have seen so many wonderful complaints full of creative juices focused on what they want to do to shops, on the description of these shops... But few people have brought up the problems that come with any "bright" ideas of regulation of prices when it comes to such things. All follow RRP? All must put price tags and stick to it? Do you really think such measures, even if enforced properly will have no rammifications on prices overall?

 

[edutilos-]

In most "developed countries" there is a consumer protection act that protects consumers from practices such as this. CASE is as much use as a sXXt flavoured lollipop.

In most "developed countries", there are countless stories (which have been told before in previous threads, actually, not just by me) of the girl who went to a clothing store, bought an evening dress, hid the tag, wore it to prom, and returned it the next day, no questions asked.

It's easy to just push for your side of the coin, unfortunately it's always a compromise. Consumers gain, the shops lose. It is perhaps simplistic to think that the consumers are "protected" rather than granted rights beyond what they should receive. And how do the shops react? By accounting for such behaviour, they factor it into their sale prices....

 

[betta01]

Wonder why I haven't, 4 years into photography.

Maybe it's because I know fair well that for ANYTHING of significant value, when I cannot take the risk of getting ripped off, I will do my homework.

It's easy to argue that someone has to protect all the poor little consumers quavering in their boots - that's really such a pathetic picture painted. Are you saying it's that hard to pick up the phone and call for 3 quotes from 3 different shops to protect yourself? Are you saying at Sim Lim Square it is so hard to hold off on purchases and hold off on pressure to purchase from the salesman to compare between 3 shops?

Even if the right price is given, there are so many tricks that shops can do. Being alert is the best way to avoid getting ripped off. Just like how the police can patrol and patrol but no system is perfect.

So far I have seen so many wonderful complaints full of creative juices focused on what they want to do to shops, on the description of these shops... But few people have brought up the problems that come with any "bright" ideas of regulation of prices when it comes to such things. All follow RRP? All must put price tags and stick to it? Do you really think such measures, even if enforced properly will have no rammifications on prices overall?

I am a careful consumer too, never been cheated coz I too diligently do mine homework.
However being human, we are bound to have moments of weakness or misjudgement. Lets all be alert when buying.

 

[baggiolee]

Wonder why I haven't, 4 years into photography.

Maybe it's because I know fair well that for ANYTHING of significant value, when I cannot take the risk of getting ripped off, I will do my homework.

i've been buying electronics for the past 20yrs+, and i've not been cheated even once. And it's nothing to boast about my 'proud record', it's just that i'm lucky to learn early enough from forums and friends about the importance of doing homework.

 

[Snappers143]

Good shops should move to other places...."SLS" really not a good place to buy things. Maybe a past time place...can..
- Im really scared to be there? And really dont know what will happen--- if i con, So help me god..............................

just my opinion...

 

[Snappers143]

Our Brother and Big brother are always with you next time you come...
You can offer him a free round trip ticket to Philippines with free accomodations and a pocket money...

hi. i'm jerry from the philippines. i'm kinda new with photography. i got tricked/OVERcharged by pixels n shutter at sim lim (although i will admit that it's also my big fault :embrass

i went to singapore for vacation last week. usually i research about any stuff i plan to buy and also search for blacklisted establishments and modus operandis of different people/companies and i avoided so many scams already. only this time i didn't. and my girlfriend already told me not to spend on things i don't really need.

i went to sim lim on my 2nd to the last day of my vacation in singapore. i was just roaming around then i passed by pixels n shutter and asked for a filter for my 50mm lens and cleaning kit. then he started offering me other stuff like battery for my 550D and extender 0.45x. that's $28 for filter, $80+ for battery, $15 for small cleaning kit, $180+ for extender (he said it's promo price lol from $850 to $350 to smaller) so total of $320 but he didn't write the prices of each item on the receipt.. just the total amount.

I exchanged the extender to digieye pro320 tripod because the extender produces crappy image quality and he told me that he forgot to mention that it's only for auto settings. the filter i bought also got stuck on the lens when he used the extender and he can't remove it. (i wonder why i didnt complain) he asked for around $240 for the tripod. so total of $370+ now. well i don't know what happened to my mind but i bought them... maybe i got hypnotized or i lost my focus from the very start..

i went back to the hotel and researched, saw this forum about bad experiences with this shop and the price of the tripod on other site then i told my girlfriend i was overcharged then she got mad at me saying i'm stupid lol and it ruined our vacation.. i went back to the store and complained. they just gave me a nikon bag. i didn't want to waste more time because vacation time is short.

i deserve it and call me dumb if you want hehe but i just charged it to experience. next time i'll be more careful. i should've just bought myself a new PS3 to replace my YLOD one.

*their style is when you're trying to look for an item they will recommend another item and then another one and some overcharged. then ask why i am hesitating and forcing me to tell my reason like insufficient funds or other purposes but he will counter it with more hypnotizing sales talk. they also use words like "singaporeans are not scammers, we are professional photographers, we want long term business and recommend us to your friends, etc." he also uses full auto mode for test shots and tells me not to use any manual mode lol. i know this style of scamming and i avoided that here in the philippines several times but i don't really know what happened to me in that particular time at PnS.

attached is his picture. his name is samuel.

 

[lenechar]

Our Brother and Big brother are always with you next time you come...
You can offer him a free round trip ticket to Philippines with free accomodations and a pocket money...

And send him to Basilan and offer him to the ASG....

 

[geraldkhoo]

I have one question to you, if you buy canned drink from NTUC and buy from 7-11 in Orchard Road, what is the price difference?

From what I understand from someone in the business of canned drinks, canned drinks sold to different shops/stalls differ, e.g. canned drinks sold to supermarkets are less than to a coffee shop. The principle would than maximize his profits.

 

[daredevil123]

This is a very expensive and insulting for a lesson to learn...
I just don't understand why these type of cheating still continue and will continue, yet no actions taken...
We symhatize on what happened to them, got cheated in SG, but are the people here would not do anything? Are we good only on telling them to move on, learn your lesson, etc
Are these shops UNTOUCHABLES?
How many tourists, honest customers this type of shops will going to victimize, today, tomorrow, in future?
Are still we going to tell them to move on, learn from that lesson?
How do you fell if you go other countries and you got cheated like this?????

I have been cheated before myself in singapore. So I took it as a lesson learnt and moved on. I did not get cheated again here in singapore or overseas, because now I have that lesson behind me.

CASE is an association, and not an authority. They cannot order any shop to close down, nor can they deny business license. All they can do is to prepare a black list. But black lists only works if people check the lists before doing their shopping..

I really do feel sorry for these victims. I will tell them to move on, and take it as a lesson learnt. So, let me ask you this question: If you feel so strongly about this, what are YOU going to do about it?