I OBSERVE that an increasing number of shops and stalls in
Singapore are issuing receipts with printed details that fade away
in a matter of days.
The fading away may be due to either the use of glossy paper or
inferior printing technology.
Initially, such receipts were given by supermarkets, provision
shops and eateries where, reasonably, the receipts were not
intended for long-term reference. However, recently, even DVD
outlets and household appliance and mobile phone vendors have
started issuing them.
The practice has serious negative implications for fair trading
as customers will be unable to show proof of their transaction when
the item they bought malfunctions during the warranty period. They
would also be at a loss should they discover discrepancies in their
purchase a few weeks later.
Although warranties of many household appliances and electronic
items are now registered online, or even automatically, there are
also product manufacturers that insist on the original receipt
being produced before repair to make sure of the purchase date.
Would the authorities and the Consumers Association of Singapore
care to comment on this matter?
Jimmy Ho
