STOMPer Claudine said she was "lucky" to have won a Samsung DVD recorder at her company's dinner and dance draw. But she did not feel so lucky after she found out that her recorder was a display set.
"The set has a 'display' cardboard attached like those you see in electrical stores - 'advertising' and highlighting the features of the electrical appliance.
"The manual looks slightly crumpled and the warranty card is missing!" she said in an email to STOMP yesterday (Jan 23).
The STOMPer said there were fingerprints on the screen. The 'display' cardboard is slightly crumpled, while the side sticker showing the serial number is peeling. She saw what looks like stains or rust underneath the recorder.
The STOMPer called her company's human resource department the next day.
"They said they ordered the items (more than 10 pieces of different items) in bulk and the items are delivered to the office. They did not open the box at all. The only thing done was just removing the price tag on the external packaging," she said.
The STOMPer said the HR staff called Best Denki at Great World City.
"Firstly, the staff asked why the warranty card was not there and they told us to go down to collect it ourselves!
"Wonder if it's normal for appliances to come without any attached warranty card (unless it is those that only requires online registration)?" Claudine asked.
The STOMPer suspected the DVD recorder she received was a display set.
"We demanded an exchange. They told us to bring it down for exchange," she said. "We trusted BEST as it is a reputable store but were appalled to have such unpleasant findings.
"They did not seem apologetic and only told us to come down for an exchange if we are not satisfied with the item. How could anyone be satisfied with a display set?" Claudine asked.
"Imagine if items are bought by tourists/ foreigners, how would it reflect on our service standard/quality not to mention the feeling of being "scammed" by a big retail store!"
The STOMPer said the DVD recorder is still sitting beside her desk.
"We do not have any available personnel to send it down for exchange. What a disappointment and inconvenience to have purchased such an item!" she said.
STOMP contacted Best Denki and it replied in an email today:
"We have looked into the matter concerned. According to our record on the calls received by the store, there was no caller by the name of Claudine.
"However, we wish to assure Ms Claudine and our valued customers that it is Best Denki's standard practice to inform the customer before a display set is sold and only if the customer is agreeable to the purchase of the display set.
"We were informed by the store that in this particular case, it was a bulk purchase by Ms Claudine's company and the DVD recorders were sent to her company in their original packaging, unopened.
"We are sorry to hear that the DVD recorder Ms Claudine received was a display unit. We have also contacted the supplier for an explanation as to how this may have happened.
"We would like to apologise to Ms Claudine for the incident and any inconvenience that it may have caused her. We understand that an exchange had since been done."
Company orders from Best Denki for lucky draw but gets display set 
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