I always thought that I have enough experience after all this year in business, but still I was caught in a scam job.
It happen 1 month ago with a phone call from someone by the name of Andy working for a agency call Discovery. He mentioned that they have some deal with Singapore Airline (SIA) nad Cathay Pacific and will like to conduct a survey. ASking me question about my recent trip on SIA etc., etc.
I have forgotten about this until I recieved a call from a very excited (nervous maybe) Andy telling me that for my help in the survey, I have won a $1,000 gift voucher, a 8 nights stay in a Thailand 5-stars for 5 and also some other gift voucher.
Of course, my initial reaction was to hang up the phone, but before I coud do that, a very ernest Andy managed to say that there is no condition attached, I just have to march into their exhibition site in one of a very exclusive buiding in a Singapore prime shopping area to collect the prize and go. emphasising the "collect and go"
He mention that there is no obligation attached to the voucher, meaning you can use it as cash in shopping and need to come up with any upfront cash. He also said that I will not have to attend any seminar first just to receive the gifts.
Well, after much persuation and thinking that it is along the way and nothing for me to lose, I agree to go over and collect my gifts. Then he mentioned that because they are having a exhibition and ther is many sonsors involved and to justify or rather to answer to the sponsor, can I stay for a couple of minutes (90 minutes, he suggested) so that he can brief me on the gifts and also show me their offers and exhibits.
Well, wiry me just mentioned that if I am not comfortable with his talk, I will walk out and he agree.
SO the next day I went over to collect the gifts. The company front looks presentable, many busy staffs running around, no refreshment like Andy promised, but it is okay. So I signed in and wait. After a couple of minutes of waiting, a staff handed me the gifts and said that Andy is not availble and say I can go after explaining how to collect the gifts.
I was thinking, lucky me, no seminar and no 90 minutes talk and tour. But when I start reading the terms and condition of the gifts certificate, I knew it is not that simple. 1 gift certificate required that you earn a yearly income of in excess 30,000 Eur per year and that you will have to attend their seminar when you are at the holiday resort or else the will make you pay the full price of the package.
Another gift certficate required that you bring another member for the Cruise Cabin stay but you must pay for your companion, meaning it is actually a 2 for 1 price.
The third gifts certicate required that you log on to their website at www.woarewards.com. You have to pay US$10 to register and just key in your gift certificate number to qualify for $1,000 worth of gifts.
I thought this don't sound right but out of curiousity I pay the US$10 and register into the site. It was then that I realised this is a scam set-up.
All items on offer are either "junk", over-price" or out-dated and there is limited item on offer. It is more like a garage sale. And reading into the fine print, you will realised that the shipping and handling cost, which incidentally you will have to pay is more expensive then the item on offer. What's worse, the item on offer is more then double normal price.
I am still trying to reconcile some nagging question I have in my mind, why is it the go through this trouble conning me. Maybe they couldn't conned me because I was not in the talk and they couldn't sell me anything, or maybe there might be other agenda.
I have put this up in this forum so that, firstly, this community can ahve a good laught at my stupidity and secondly, may raise up more point as to the real motives behind all this. And lastly, I understand that this is not just happening in Singapore but globally. This so call "Gift Certificate" has been issued by car dealer, promoter, entertainment outlet and even online now. (Just incase someone want to buy, I can offer mine for anyone who can cover my loss of the US$10, hahaha).
So my dear friend out there, this is for your information.
I always thought that I have enough experience after all this year in business, but still I was caught in a scam job.
It happen 1 month ago with a phone call from someone by the name of Andy working for a agency call Discovery. He mentioned that they have some deal with Singapore Airline (SIA) nad Cathay Pacific and will like to conduct a survey. ASking me question about my recent trip on SIA etc., etc.
I have forgotten about this until I recieved a call from a very excited (nervous maybe) Andy telling me that for my help in the survey, I have won a $1,000 gift voucher, a 8 nights stay in a Thailand 5-stars for 5 and also some other gift voucher.
Of course, my initial reaction was to hang up the phone, but before I coud do that, a very ernest Andy managed to say that there is no condition attached, I just have to march into their exhibition site in one of a very exclusive buiding in a Singapore prime shopping area to collect the prize and go. emphasising the "collect and go"
He mention that there is no obligation attached to the voucher, meaning you can use it as cash in shopping and need to come up with any upfront cash. He also said that I will not have to attend any seminar first just to receive the gifts.
Well, after much persuation and thinking that it is along the way and nothing for me to lose, I agree to go over and collect my gifts. Then he mentioned that because they are having a exhibition and ther is many sonsors involved and to justify or rather to answer to the sponsor, can I stay for a couple of minutes (90 minutes, he suggested) so that he can brief me on the gifts and also show me their offers and exhibits.
Well, wiry me just mentioned that if I am not comfortable with his talk, I will walk out and he agree.
SO the next day I went over to collect the gifts. The company front looks presentable, many busy staffs running around, no refreshment like Andy promised, but it is okay. So I signed in and wait. After a couple of minutes of waiting, a staff handed me the gifts and said that Andy is not availble and say I can go after explaining how to collect the gifts.
I was thinking, lucky me, no seminar and no 90 minutes talk and tour. But when I start reading the terms and condition of the gifts certificate, I knew it is not that simple. 1 gift certificate required that you earn a yearly income of in excess 30,000 Eur per year and that you will have to attend their seminar when you are at the holiday resort or else the will make you pay the full price of the package.
Another gift certficate required that you bring another member for the Cruise Cabin stay but you must pay for your companion, meaning it is actually a 2 for 1 price.
The third gifts certicate required that you log on to their website at www.woarewards.com. You have to pay US$10 to register and just key in your gift certificate number to qualify for $1,000 worth of gifts.
I thought this don't sound right but out of curiousity I pay the US$10 and register into the site. It was then that I realised this is a scam set-up.
All items on offer are either "junk", over-price" or out-dated and there is limited item on offer. It is more like a garage sale. And reading into the fine print, you will realised that the shipping and handling cost, which incidentally you will have to pay is more expensive then the item on offer. What's worse, the item on offer is more then double normal price.
I am still trying to reconcile some nagging question I have in my mind, why is it the go through this trouble conning me. Maybe they couldn't conned me because I was not in the talk and they couldn't sell me anything, or maybe there might be other agenda.
I have put this up in this forum so that, firstly, this community can ahve a good laught at my stupidity and secondly, may raise up more point as to the real motives behind all this. And lastly, I understand that this is not just happening in Singapore but globally. This so call "Gift Certificate" has been issued by car dealer, promoter, entertainment outlet and even online now. (Just incase someone want to buy, I can offer mine for anyone who can cover my loss of the US$10, hahaha).
So my dear friend out there, this is for your information.
I have notice that many people have the misconception that fake are considered illegal, that fake is a copy, that fake is of inferior quality.
I wonder if most of us know what is legal and what is not.
Take for example electronic gadget like the MP3/4 player, Mobile, PDA etc. There is lots of similar product in the market and many label them as "fake" or even worse "copy".
There are now so many makers of OEM and ODM and this same manufacturers produce goods for Companies that produce Branded product. If this same manufacturer were to produce for a company OEM or ODM product that varies slightly in design, can they be considered making a "fake " or "copy" product.
Most of the product in the market, OEM product included, pay their due or royalty for the use of "proprietary" item or components used in mobile and some sound card. So how can be be consider making "fake"?
There is lots of items in the market now that looks like iPod and branded mobile, but actually have a slight variation in the design, can they be considered as a "fake " also.?
Unless the manufacturer copy a patented design and used the patented Trademark of a brand, will there be a case against these manufacturer.
We buy "original" mainly because of the reputation of the company that carry these branded product. They may have better quality assurance, after sale services, warranty etc. These and many other criterias set branded and non branded item apart. But there is always exception to the rules.
Some OEM product do have good quality control and do give warranty. They may even have good after sales services. And most will have very good pricing. Of course, the more they spent on R and D the higher their price compare to those who do not. But still their price will be better because they for one thing, do not carry higher overhead.
Branded company has to advertise, maintain a good research and legal team, good showroom and promotion. All these costs are factor into their sale price.
Now having consider all these fact, we should be careful how we label a product. They may be similar to certain extend but certainly not "copy" or even "fake", the best you can label them is "clone". You have the right to chose what you want to buy, but there are many company who will have to hang on to the tailcoat of a "branded" prodcut just to survive, so give them a chance. It is good for market competition anyway. Who know, these companies may well be the next generation of Sony or Samsung.
My point raise may be vague and may not totally correct in many aspects. I will like those more knowledgeable contributor to help clarify this matter more and maybe set a more leveled playing ground for manufacturies.
