I was searching through CASE (Consumer Association of Singapore) with Google and I found this little section where they tell you some CASE tales. One of which goes this way:
A consumer had been using a set of kitchenware from a direct sales company for several years, but then received a phone call from a lady, asking for permission to send personnel to her flat to check the kitchenware. She agreed, thinking that she was calling from the company. The ‘technician’ that came to her flat told her that the kitchenware was defective, and not safe for cooking food. She was ‘persuaded’ to purchase a new set of kitchenware (and paid S$1,000 as deposit), which she later found out, was from another direct sales company instead. She approached CASE for assistance and advice.
CASE wrote in on behalf of the consumer to the 2nd direct sales company, citing that it had violated the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, by making misleading/false claims, and by not informing her of the 3-day cooling-off period. The vendor eventually made a partial refund of S$800 to the consumer. (Source: CASE)
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My mother just got cheated by some salesperson and is to pay $3200 for a wok and 6 lame designer pots that she doesn’t need. I’m sorry I’m just fucking pissed with the 2 salesladies.
They came to our house at 2, my mother let them in and it was a prearranged meeting. They gotten hold of our contact because my mother bought pots and pans from them 30 years ago. Can you believe it? Thirty years ago! God hasn’t created me that time.
And today, they came and start introducing. I have nothing against them trying to sell a product. They talked till 5. I was a little afraid that my mother would buy the product so I went to check on her.
Me: What are you selling?
She: A set of pots and woks, they win a Red Dot Design award and… (I don’t remember what she said, she talked for 5 minutes while I was eating an egg tart.)
Me: How much does it cost?
She: Oh, you can’t buy it.
Me: (puzzled) So why are you here?
She: I am here to conduct a survey.
Me: No, you’re selling something. How much does it cost?
She: You cannot buy this outside one. This set is exclusive.
Me: So how much does it cost? (I was feeling so what-the-fuck that time.)
She: This one is only available because your mother is a customer and she bought another set of pots and pans 30 years ago. She can trade in and get these new set of pots and woks in an exclusive deal.
Me: How much? (By then I am losing my patience.)
She: 3000-plus.
Conduct a survey. My ass. This type of sales tactic I see before like a hundred times. I left the house and my mother convinced me that she would not buy it. And guess what, my brother just informed me my mother decided to purchase it. (more…)
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YOU ANSWERED 10 OF 10 QUESTIONS CORRECTLY
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