Monday, April 23, 2012

If Life Gives You Lemons

Everybody dreads the chop on the receipt, "Goods Sold Cannot Be Returned". Singapore passed a "Lemon Law" in Parliament on 9 March 2012, due to come into force from September 1 or thereabouts. It comprises amendments to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA), the Hire Purchase Act (HPA) and Road Traffic Act and covers all general consumer products purchased.

The amendments in place, hopefully there will be additional remedies beyond rejecting the flaky goods and getting a refund. Retailers may first offer to repair or replace the defective good within a reasonable period of time (more reasonable than the time to call for a by-election) and without significant inconvenience to the buyer. If this is not possible, the consumer may either keep the item and get a partial refund, or return the item and get a full refund.

Although intended for apparel, electronics, furniture, and big-ticket items such as THX certified home theatre systems and cars, the appeal has some parties seeking similar remedial protection for procurement of pets. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), jointly with Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), has written to assure the public that sufficient laws are in place to protect consumers if a pet does not conform to the sales contract descriptive at delivery. Under the AVA licensing conditions for pet retailers, all animals displayed for sale must be healthy. Sick, diseased or injured animals that have been treated must be certified fully recovered before being displayed for sale again. Just like the Lemon Law which requires retailers to ensure that goods match their description as marketed and promoted. CASE plans to educate the public about the new legislation.

What CASE probably won't address is what happens if lemons end up in parliament. The list is long but distinguished, almost as long as the Hotel 81 front desk register. No need to stoop down to the level of detail provided by the mainstream media, the initials LSS, VB, YI, VN, HK, BYK, TSL, LTY are on the tip of everybody's tongue. LTY is practically a permanent feature - just ask the recent lot of commuters who had to walk the LRT tracks to their final destination. "Clowns Elected Cannot Be Rejected" must be imprinted on every frustrated mind.
That's it folks, the end of the ride. You fall, your problem.

21 comments:

  1. I like this slogan.
    "WARNING: Clowns once elected, cannot be ejected for the next 5 years".

    Great slogan for GE 2011.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think Lemon Law is unnecessary consider Singapore already has CASE to protect innocent buyers. The law is nothing but to pass the bug from CASE to consumers. Traders will have no choice but to jack up prices so as to cater for rejects and law suite. Who are the winners? Inflation; Lawyers and Additional profits for sellers! Again, we are the poor suckers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. more like a few dozen Lemons in parliament with some past their sell-by-date.

    that is the trouble when the emperor puts a nitwit at the helm, Clowns can pass off as talent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  5. LTY must be envying NEH right now when four 550 gulfstream were delivered this week. At least he is getting the fanciest coolest toys to play around, whereas he's stucked with some rotten problematic infrastructure where he has no more execuses to defend.

    And that's because LTY still prefer to wear his wishbone where his backbone ought to be.

    Yeah, we can't eject the clown for now...'but when life gives you lemon, slice those suckers up and grab some tequila and salt! Then sit back and watch the show..

    ReplyDelete
  6. In fact this is a good opportunity for LTY to prove to the world once and for all that he is worth the big fat salary and bonuses, an envy of other ministers around the world. But unfortunately he did not shine during this moment of need. What a waste.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree!

      But I give him full marks for acknowledging commuters anger and rightly so!! Other than than, we still expect him to deliver - ie. overhaul the transport system for the better.

      Delete
  7. So Lui tries to justify the recent breakdowns by citing the 'bathtub curve'.

    What I do remember is Whitney Houston and her bathtub effect. Her death was declared as 'Drowning + Heart diseases due to cocaine" which pretty much ended her stardom & glorious life. Kinda like our SMRT overloading + Population attack. Indeed, everything else that happened in between is moot now because she's dead for good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Does lemon law applies to the 48men, a teenage hooker & a pimp?

    ReplyDelete
  9. The clown told us recently right in our faces that if we don't vote for the Govt, don't expect the Govt to help us either even if we all pay the same kind of taxes. Anyway the clown thinks that maybe we should happy that we can always help ourselves to the free porridge in Hougang.

    Did anyone of us bargained for these type of clown ? And can anyone still remember whatever did he ever say sorry for ?

    Looks like they have some other reason for the Meansters obscene pay to keep this type of clown in power, as good pay is simply not enough to keep their dignity intact to make sure they do not pose a challenge to our incompetent clown ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In dfficult times, clowns are there to divert all anxiety by making everyone laugh. It is good as a temporary relief but bad for the country in the long run.

      Delete
  10. For the millions of $$ these Clowns received, I can only enjoy a good laugh if the taxpayers can get them to bend over and take turns to kick their butts...even a few hrs wait is worth the while. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  11. In Sinkapore, CASE is exactly like Trade Union. CASE functions exactly like Trade Union. Just replace employer with goods or services provider, employee with consumer, and the government remaining as the controller, what is the different? Only daft Sinkies believe the functions of CASE to protect consumers interest. CASE is also lead by MIW as Trade Union does. Further, CASE would need you to pay $35 to join as member before they will consider your complaint and the outcome is never warranty. See, it is economy in action.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just like PTC..never really looking out for commuters interests..
      Useless.

      Delete
  12. He has his hands full handling the MRT lemons, why kay poh with the durian dropped by Professor Lim Chong Yah? Can claim refund from the builders of the train systems or not?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would not accept life's lemons! In fact I would make life take the lemons back, because I deserve much more! And I will make combustible lemons to burn down life's house!

    Now that that's out of the way, have you noticed how they used the term 'detrained' for the LRT breakdown? First 'ponding', then 'detrained', any more euphemisms in the near future that we should take notice of?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose "disruption" is an euphemism for breakdown?

      For example, what happens when a rolling stock is "disrupted"? The minister becomes a laughing stock!

      Delete
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