"Obvious Cheating" — Couple Who Bought 1KG Of Bak Kwa For RM188 Found That It Weighed 577G
"I added that, if I had not discovered this case, does that mean their business process would continue as it is?"
By Wayne Garreth — 18 Jan 2023, 12:29 PM
With Chinese New Year just around the corner, some of our favourite snacks are making a reappearance on our dining tables.
Among some of everyone's favourite additions is the delectable bak kwa!
Coated in a barbecued texture, bak kwa is a Chinese salty and sweet dried meat product that bears resemblance to jerky. Grilled over a charcoal, the smoky texture of this meat makes it a staple at households for Chinese New Year.
However, a recent occurrence reported by Singaporean media outlet, Stomp, may have just seen this festive favourite baffle a few customers.
Recalling events from the beginning, the Singaporean, who is referred to by the acronym LLX, stated that his parents went to a local store to buy a packet of bak kwa for Chinese New Year
"My parents went to Chop Hup Chong at Senoko South Road on 7 January to buy Bee Cheng Hiang bak kwa," said LLX.
Explaining their purchases, he proceeded to attach an image of the receipt of items they bought while at Chop Hup Chong. Alongside a 300g packet of pork floss which was priced at SGD17.55 (approximately RM57), it also included a purchase of 1kg of sliced pork (the bak kwa) for SGD57.60 (approximately RM188.35).
After taking the packages home, LLX decided to weigh the bak kwa, and realised that it did not reflect the weight of what they intended to purchase.
"The receipt stated 1kg, but the actual weight was only 500g plus. My parents were charged SGD57.60 (approximately RM188) for 1kg. This is an obvious case of cheating the consumers," said LLX to Stomp.
Adding a photo of the wrapped bak kwa on a weighing scale with the Bee Cheng Hiang wrapper, the item does weigh 576.6g, almost half of what the contributor said his parents bought.
Revering Bee Cheng Hiang as a trusted brand for their family, LLX stated that he weighed the item on suspicion that it would amount to less than what they paid for
"True enough, it was short by almost 500g. In other words, my parents were charged double for the amount given to them," continued LLX.
After reaching out to the bak kwa brand for a statement, Stomp reported that the business said they are in contact with the customer to clear up the misunderstanding. However, no further elaboration was provided on the matter.
"I have given my feedback to Bee Cheng Hiang. They told me it was a misunderstanding. I told them it is very straightforward. My parents paid for 1kg, but they only received slightly over 500g. Hence, I do not know what the misunderstanding is about," emphasised the customer.
Nonetheless, LLX stated that Bee Cheng Hiang has agreed to issue him a packet of 1kg bak kwa, though there has been no confirmation as to whether it has been received as of yet.
In a conversation with Chop Hup Chong, the store in which LLX's parents purchased the bak kwa, Stomp reported that the issue could have occurred due to a mistake on behalf of their staff
"Our staff could have given them the wrong pack or made a mistake in wrapping the bak kwa, as there are times when the crowd is overwhelming. If the weight is 576.6g, they most definitely got a 500g pack instead of the 1kg pack," said the store in response to a query by Stomp.
"We do understand the frustration of the customer and we will rectify the mistake."
In his closing thoughts, LLX was forthright about sharing his experience to hold the brand accountable for potential mistakes that should be rectified, rather than labelling it as a 'misunderstanding'.
"I added that if I had not discovered this case, does that mean their business process would continue as it is? As many who went for the Chinese New Year day tour were mostly elderly people, they might not even have a weighing scale at home. If they encountered the same case as mine, they might not even know," he concluded.
Click here to read the full article by Stomp.
