Sim Lim Square is not new to reports of unfair practices, but these do not apply to the majority of its retailers, only the errant few that keep coming back despite attempts by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to disrupt their business.
In an interview with Coconuts Singapore, CASE executive director Mr. Seah revealed that most retailers have been co-operative during attempts to negotiate and achieve a win-win situation for both parties in areas of conflict, but there are some who refuse to heed the call to adopt fair practices.
And while the industry watchdog has been working with STB and the Sim Lim Square management to put out regular Consumer Complaints Alert Lists in the building, displaying names of retailers with the highest number of complaints for customer reference, shady businesses have found a way to get around them.
Photo: Now shuttered Mobile Air, which has been making headlines for forcing a Vietnamese tourist to beg for his money back; Ilyas Sholihyn“Many of these business owners often close down and set up again under different names when their cases start to pile up,” said Mr. Seah. “Basically they play the hide and seek game with the consumers each time they get highlighted publicly.”
That these businesses rent directly from the landlords is also a problem.
“Sim Lim Square is a Strata Title mall… as long as (these shops) do not breach the rental contract, they are free to set up their business at the mall. Even the mall management has difficulty interfering.”
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