The StreetDeal.sg Story

Life is funny this way. I was feature on TheNewPaper just 1 week ago for being a really happy online shopping addict.


But horror strike rather quickly and I was on the papers again, this time on The Straits Times for being an unhappy shopper. Things sure change very quickly online.

Thanks for the pic @rainnabe (on twitter)

So what exactly happened? I will try to write the account in simple easy to follow point form.

StreetDeal 

1. Purchase 



I might be an online shopping addict but I only shop on sites that I really trust. For example Taobao, Lazada, Carousell, Amazon, Ebay, Q10 etc and it is really out of the norm that I buy things from sites like Groupon, Streetdeal or Deals because I've heard enough of them but when my blog buddy Melva approached me to help her buy something off Streetdeal.sg because their office blocked it, (for the best) I did not hesitate and just did the purchase.

2. Payment

So for those who are interested to look at the user interface on how I actually missed those details, here's how it looks.


Like I admitted. I did miss the whole banner which says $88 quaterly and also under the TnC. This screen shot was later sent to me by the streetdeal staff highlighting the two boxes.

2.1 Smith Vs Payment Page

The banner looks more like an ad to me.

The First checkbox besides "$88 quaterly" was default "checked" which means it was an "opt out".

The final checkbox is a MUST check in order to purchase and I really just click it after reading "i acknowledge". Yes my bad to not read the full sentence.

The $88 wasn't included in the total amount checked out. That is the most important box that we always pay attention to!

3. The Invoice 



3.1 Smith Vs Invoice

Once again, the total checkout amount only shows the $16.10.

Yes, they did once again show that there will be an $88 charge at the TnC, which I (and everyone else) did not see.

I did forward this to my friend as a confirmation and she too missed it.

This was the ONLY invoice I received. I did not receive another invoice about the later payment of $88. I logged into the purchase history and the $88 wasn't reflected as well. I only found out of this payment thanks to the Credit Card Bill.

4. Refund 

Me being me wanted to just let it slide and take it as it is my fault since I am well, in some way not attentive enough to see those fineprints. I am a fair person and I will admit to my mistakes. Although it looks as much that they tried their very best to hide it, I was ashamed by making an amateur mistake of trusting online sites so easily. I think I got too comfortable with online shopping.

We did not let it slide because my buddy Melva felt that it is unfair to hide it and after multiple angry emails, we managed to get it refunded in streetdollars which means I had to shop with them AGAIN!

I was served with "Fun coupons".

5. Gave up and Shop Again. 

I hate such tiring procedure and I thought since I have $88 credit back I might as well just spend it and call it a day but guess what?


I WASN'T ALLOWED TO SHOP UNTIL I CLICK THE SAME TnC AGAIN!! So once again I emailed them and they told me I can only buy non premium and non flash sale item.

How much more trouble must I go through for this like seriously!! I am seriously very tired and all I want to do is do some shopping.

6. The Rant 

Keyboard warrior at my best lah. So I rant on my Facebook page of course.


And I gotten many comments within my friends that they also encountered the same and some what similar issues over the last 2-3 years until today. And also the attention of ST.

7. Google Before You Buy 

I think this must be one of the greatest reminder. What happened to the very alert and vigilant me. I got soft over the years of living in peace of online shopping. I Should have googled them before I did my purchase! There are so many of such reported cases online about them and I simply miss everything!!

http://scams-singapore.blogspot.sg/2014/05/wwwstreetdealsg-premium-membership-scam.html

https://www.facebook.com/StreetdealSingaporeConsumersInterest?__mref=message_bubble

http://blackilocks.hubpages.com/hub/Streetdeal-Scams-More-Than-200-People

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/customers-complain-about-streetdeal-singapore-%E2%80%98trap%E2%80%99--company-responds-093640798.html

They were even on Yahoo some years ago and they are still operating now. You know what does that means? It means that CASE can't do anything to them. It means that the law can't do anything to them. Why? My best guess is simply because in the forms, we did checked the TnC that we kinda acknowledge everything. So, yes, I guess we have to pay the price for being careless.

According to the interview with ST they seem to have to answer to careless people like me pretty often. So I hope everyone read this and be more careful and do not trouble them anymore by asking them to refund and all.

Anyway 

So I guess it is my bad and I hope everyone stay alert for anything online. READ ALL THE TnC!


In fact, just shop at Taobao for all your needs. And also if you are interested in comments of this post.

Meanwhile if you are free you can check out my friend's post about being savy shopping online!

http://theo-deroza.com/blog/a-guide-to-online-buying-selling-on-online-discussion-boards-and-forums-prevent-being-scammed/

UPDATED 18 Aug: More links for your reading pleasure

https://vulcanpost.com/343071/scam-streetdeal-sg/

http://themiddleground.sg/2015/08/17/morning-call-august-17-2015/