Relax - S'porean shopper held in Taiwan store after bargaining incident

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A SINGAPOREAN woman and her friend were held captive in a shop in Taiwan for almost 40 minutes following a spate of heated bargaining, the Shin Min Daily News said Wednesday.

The shutters of the shop were allegedly pulled down to prevent the duo from leaving, the evening daily reported.

At around 9.30pm last Tuesday, the S'porean known as Mis Li and her Taiwanese friend had walked into a shoe shop located in Fengjia night market in Taichung.

Ms Li had taken a liking to a pair of shoes which cost 1580 NT (S$68) but was advised by her companion that shoes would normally cost around 390 NT- 490 NT(S$17 to S$34) in a night market. The pair decided to bargain down the price.

From Shin Min's understanding, Ms Li's companion had asked the shop assistant what was so special about the shoe, but she was unable to provide an answer.

Ms Li later found a defect in the shoe. But just as the shop assistant was about to apologise for it, a middle-aged man rushed out and told them agitatedly that any questions should be directed to him.

The two ladies felt that the service quality was lacking, and hence left.

Later, Ms Li decided that she still wanted that particular pair of shoes so she returned to the shop, with the purpose of getting it at the quoted price.

However, this time, the sales assistant and middle-aged man questioned their intentions, did not want to sell the shoes, and even pulled down the shutters to hold them in.

Shin Min understands that during the next 40 minutes, a heated argument went on.

Ms Li later discovered that the shutter door was not fully down, and together with her friend, managed to leave the shop via a small gap.

The manager of the shop has since apologised for the assistant pulling down the shutter door.

However she said firmly that they did not restrict Ms Li and her friend from leaving the shop.

The shop assistant has also explained the situation to the police, seeking advice on what to do if a similar event happens.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY

According to the shoe shop manager, Miss Li and her friend were making a scene at the shop.

They allegedly forcibly occupied the counter for 20 minutes, kicking up a fuss in front of other customers.

The shop assistant had tactfully told them that the price could not be negotiated down, and if the products were flawed, they would be sent back to the factory.

During the bargaining, the middle-aged man - who was the salesgirl's father - and being protective over his daughter, told the customers to address any problems to him.

When Ms Li and her friend returned, the sales assistant had already been instructed to let them have the shoes at a lower price.

But according to the manager, Miss Li's male friend, said to be in his 40s caused a ruckus in front of the other customers. The pair expressed their dislike for the goods in front of other shoppers.

The sales girl, in her 20s, was at a loss of what to do, so she waited till the other customers left before pulling down the shutters, with the intention to call the cops.

S'porean shopper held in Taiwan store after bargaining incident

AsiaOne | Fri, Oct 16 2009

Salesgirl pulls down shutters of shop to allegedly keep S'porean woman and her local companion in for some forty minutes.

S'porean shopper held in Taiwan store after bargaining incident

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