Fradulent Retailers @ SimLim Square....Beware!!

[D60D60]

you should call & still can call the police to the scene.

police presence will make a lot of difference.

 

[P3ntx]

Called the police .... straight just repor the case... and see how ... I have no tolerance for crooks, that take advanatge of others people hard earn living.

 

[GavinTing]

Have you called the police yet anot?

 

[evilorgi]

Just to be clear on this: they took back the lens and gave you a partial refund? That means you paid them some money for nothing? And after taking your money, threatened you?

i think he actually said he wanted a full refund but the shop people refuse so they took back the lens and put back on the shelf to threaten him. however he settled for a partial refund so he got back his lens.

 

[yk200]

btw are u a tourist? If yes then you should report to tourism board as well. Blacklist that company!!

If you using ur credit card then for CASE can trace which company is charging ur the amount. So dont worry if that shop owner dont want to admit that they sell you the lens.

All the best!

 

[NoMoney]

This is unacceptable. Luckily there is still transaction record. Hope the authorities would do something about it.

 

[dordor]

This is outright bullying you and worst . If you dont make a stand for yrself first then how can others help u???

 

[francisdcx]

Thanks for sharing. Your story is spreading fast fast (read this from elsewhere). Please lodge a report. Better late then never.

 

[egnaro]

TS didnt reply after posting... I think he only want to tell everyone what happen and not going to do anything to pursue this issue...

 

[Exposure]

Sim Lim Sq has never been a good place to buy electronics and cameras.:nono:

i dunno why u go Sim Lim Sq... there are so many good camera shops like CP, AP, TK, MSC, and even Harvey Norman.

when u agree to the price of something and u buy it, that's it ! this is business.. case closed.

take it as a lesson learned.:sweat:

 

[undercoverone]

wa.$1500...really can buy a new 105mm 2.8 nikon lens

 

[phusion]

hi guys. i'll borrow this thread then since I was it the TS's situation before.

Yes, SLS is not a good place to buy things IF you did not do your homework. I know alot of shops there's practically ripping off customers/tourims. And hey, somehow the shops there are 1 way or another linked to one other, they're like buddies at times. If they see you walking around checking around for price, they would probably tell u dun waste time to look around and just buy.

I had the same situation 2years ago at SLS when I was setting my mind to get a new PSP for myself. I went from shop to shop to enquire about the different prices and packages and to my ultimate disgust, they are helping each other. They verbally psycho you once you step into the shop, then they try all sorts of way to cheat your 2cents.

If my memory did not fail me, I think I found a shop by then that was selling PSP FAT at just $300 with 4gb memory stick and stuff. I thought I finally could own the psp! And guess what. The stuns come out; seller say need to buy 2 UMD games (and they wanna sell each UMD game for like $50 and I ain't a foreigner duh!) and buy some psp beginner package and stuff. Almost add up to $500. I walk off immediately while hearing them ranting vulgurs at me. I don't care. They didn't inform me and I have the right to walk away without paying and thank god I haven't pass them my credit card else I would have landed a situation like yours.

SLS is a very 'black' place. Must really know the market and the shops there. 2 days ago I went to look out for a camera bag and those shops at level 1 quote me about $60. Its a rip off man. Orient photo at level6 was only selling $40! try to avoid the shops at the lower level, that's my advise to the thread readers!

Meanwhile, hope you can get some justice done!

 

[Mortichro]

the only i'll buy in Sim Lim are computer components and nothing else.. and i only trust some shops there..

 

[Luval]

SL is good for buying RWDVD and CDR

 

[kuppakofi]

Hi All,

This was my worst experience of shopping in Singapore....that too in Sim Lim Square. I am sharing here so that nobody else goes thru such problems again & all of us can be more careful before we deal with such fradulend retailers...

Yesterday evening I bought a Sigma 105mm 2.8 DG Macro from "FocusPoint Electronics Pte Ltd (#01-4B)" at Sim Lim Square. I spent about an hour in the store checking out various options of lens & finally settled for this lens. The price quoted was $1500 and finally settled for $1485 with a free soft focus filter & UV. I paid by my Amex credit card. Somehow I felt something was wrong. I checked the pricing on Sigma site & today morning also checked at other reputed retailers in Singapore and found that its only $730!! (inclusive of GST, Credit card charges etc etc..). I HAVE BEEN CHARGED MORE THAN DOUBLE!! I discovered that the store guy did not give me any invoice (he had told me that all warranty card, invoice etc in the lens box...... And I trusted his word..).

Today morning when I went back and asked for the invoice, I got it. After that I told him that I feel I have been worngly charged $1485, where as the actual price is much lower. For about 30minutes, the shop guy tried to convince me that the pricing is correct & tried to show me all false price lists. Finally I said I am not interested, and hence want to return the lens & take full refund (I know it will get refuned to my credit card only...and that I cannot expect cash..). He tried to convince me, and I did not accept any other offer.

Then he called somebody else in to the shop & that guy took the lens back & kept in his shelf & said...YOU GO & DO WHAT EVER YOU WANT. YOU NEVER RETURNED THE LENS TO US...WHAT'S THE PROOF! BETTER ACCEPT THE DEAL OF TAKING SOME PART OF CASH BACK OR YOU WILL LOSE THE COMPLETE LENS & WILL NOT GET ANY REFUND.

I had no choice but to accept his offer of some part of cash refund. When this was done, while I was walking out of the store, two more store staff told me " dont try to be smart & complain anywhere...we will take care of you outside once you go out of here...and we will get the cash back from you"..... This was a straight threat!!

I complained to the Sim Lim Square management (while discussing the complaint with the officer at the counter, I could see there were 4-5 guys from other shops trying to listen to what I was telling & in a very systematic manner the message was being relayed to the store from where I came out...).

My learnings:

1. Do not buy from Sim Lim Square.
2. If at all you have to, do adequate homework on pricing of products before you go there.
3. Do not go alone...take couple of friends along
4. I would never go back to buy any high value items from SimLim Square. I woud trust the more reputed retailers in Funan, Penninsula area....etc.

It is very disheartening to hear that there are still such shops around who are run by crooks! Really bring Singapore to shame especially SLS who are well-known to charge foreigners more than double the original price.

I personally would say that it is not the place or rather the shops which we should be more wary of. AP should be fine though they are situated at SLS. Nevertheless we need to do lots of homework and check around first. I normally do my research and know the market price before I buy.

Penninsula? I had my fair share of bad experience too! One of the shop sold me my camera with accessories taken away from the box. I forgot to check and the shop owner quickly packed everything and I only realised when I reached home. Too late... no proof to say that they took something out.:cry:

 

[hongmonk]

sad to hear your plight, it's absolutely disgusting to hear such things.

perhaps instead of emailing STB, you could reach STB by calling the Hotline at 1800-7362000... perhaps to list the above mentioned shop in the list of errant retailers to protect more consumers, and especially tourists.

more from STB List of Errant Retailers

 

[Lingkm82]

Hope those cheater shops have reallllly bad business till close shop...
My cousin once cheated with overpriced P&S camera also...
We complained to the shop about the overpricing they had charged us after buying & survey other shop's price...
But pretend to be ignorance...
A shop named Sxxx Bros. even charged me S$25 for a non branded 52mm UV filter... Blood suckers...

Then, I never buy any camera equipment from Sim Lim again except from Orient Photo & Alan Photo...

Orient Photo & Alan Photo are the only shop I TRUST in Sim Lim....
Others TRUSTED places will be MS Color & Cathay...

 

[StrifeYun]

"FocusPoint Electronics Pte Ltd (#01-4B)" at Sim Lim Square


Noted !!

i was once quoted 2x the price for a B+W filter :sweat:
sometimes i really 1 2 laugh at their shops ...

i always learn now is to nv buy anything i have not research about (expensive stuff that is)

 

[ongll]

I would file a dispute with credit card company. Certain Amex card carries a full refund policy (Platinum Charge card), where Amex will refund 100% if your store won't provide a refund. Even without such protection, you can always dispute the charge.

I am upset SLS still do this kind of trick. I had been been a good candidate buying my first digital camera 7 years ago, but I left the shop and ignore it.

Recently a friend of mine bought Sigma 105 macro lens too from one of this 'well known' dealers. He quoted $780 - Best Best Best price.... Left the store, called MS Color and Edison, it's only $696

When going to SLS, do your homework. Always go only to good retailers...

 

[ongll]

"FocusPoint Electronics Pte Ltd (#01-4B)" at Sim Lim Square


Noted !!

i was once quoted 2x the price for a B+W filter :sweat:
sometimes i really 1 2 laugh at their shops ...

i always learn now is to nv buy anything i have not research about (expensive stuff that is)

Song brothers? Funny, a big and well know shop but sometimes did a silly thing.
I ever want to buy a Sony photo paper for my FP90. 120 pcs/box price was S$36 which is sold by SonyStyle. they quoted S$ 60... Asked to confirm the price, said this is what we sell.

I never go there again.