Universal Motors / Seng Motor Hung

[Battlemad]

Last year I got a used motorcycle from this shop Universal Motors at Alexandra Centre along Alexandra Road. Their garage for repairs is located at Bukit Merah Lane and is named Seng Motor Hung. I just want to share my experiences with them.

 

Incident No.1: No doubt they carry used bikes in good condition, that's what attracted me to them. So after eyeing a bike I decided to get into serious negotiation with the sales person at Alexandra Centre Showroom. I was offered a $200 discount off the machine price plus other trivial stuff like free helmet etc. Thereafter I went home to consider, went shopping some more and decided to buy from them. So I went down another day to confirm my buy. Next thing I know, the sales person completely denied offering me any discount in the first place and made no mention of free helmet. Best part was during our first negotiation, he actually wrote it all down (the breakdown of the price, freebies etc, usual practice) on a piece of paper for me to bring home to consider. It was precisely the discount which was a major motivating factor to buy the bike. I was wondering if that constituted mis-representation already. Anyway after producing the paper he had no choice but to give it to me. I was already tired of shopping around for bikes. Note: This isn't an insult to my fellow bikers, but if I were really that affluent I'd have bought a car instead of going around Singapore looking for a cheapo motorcycle.

 

Incident No.2: So I went back to Universal Motors to pay my installment. Mr Forgetful Salesman was still there. However, somehow their computer didn't work or whatever and I had to go to their garage, Seng Motor Hung to make payment. Well they did offer me some alternatives like GIRO or funds transfer to their bank account, which is the first time I've heard of. So I had to make an extra trip down to pay my installment. Luckily it wasn't located in Ubi...

 

Incident No.3: After dutifully paying my installments for a few months, there was a month (May) when I was slightly later than usual due to work commitments, but still within the month of May. Don't ask me why I didn't take up their GIRO option. It's just simply because I don't like using GIRO deductions and I have the right not to. They wanted to charge me a late payment penalty on my installment, claiming I paid up later than the contract agreement date. Now I know that it's all in black and white, but after buying 6 bikes from so many different bike shops in the past all over Singapore, even owning a car once for a year, nobody had the cheek to impose a late payment penalty when I'm still paying within the month. Only after making some noise did they agree to "waive" the charge. Now I have to go pay on time or risk late payment penalties, regardless if it's still within the month.

 

Incident No.3: Today I went to pay my installment again, and I paid as always with NETS. Somehow I expected something was gonna happen, and true enough, the lady at the counter told me she had to impose a 0.1% or 1% (I can't remember) charge on all NETS transaction. As you all know, NETS has increased their transaction charges to the retailers. But at the same time, they do not allow the retailers to pass on the increment to their consumers. And I know this because I happened to watch that particular news report on TV, even though I rarely watch the news. I told the lady that that wasn't the case, but she insisted she had to, simply because NETS raised their charges. For a moment I thought NETS had approve the passing on of the charges but I missed the news report, so I refused to pay and went to the ATM to draw money. At the same time, I called up NETS and I was informed that it is still not allowed for retailers to pass on the increment to the consumers. So I walked to Queensway Shopping Centre and back with cash to pay my installment. After paying up, I told the lady I've already called NETS up and that she's not suppose to impose the increment on consumers, and that she'll be expecting a warning from NETS soon. She just gave me a "Hah" and appeared unconvinced. Wasted enough time with them already and I just left immediately.

 

Somebody convince me Universal Motors rocked your world, please.

[Jacq]

all I know is most of the motortiam impose the NETS increment to customers who are paying by NETS although they are not allow to do so. Look on the brighter side. if they dun do so, they might just increase price for everything to cover the extra cost.

[Battlemad]

Most motortiams?! Is that for real? Have you or your friends been paying that increment to many different shops?! I'm saying this because it's mandated by NETS themselves not to pass on the increment to consumers. If NETS and the Competition Commission of Singapore says it's alright then I'll gladly take it along with smoking bans in pubs and such.

 

As a business they probably will and have increased the price for everything already. How else is profit going to come admist rising costs of everything, not just NETS or GST increment. Unless you're their auditor you can't tell for sure.

[arsonist1986]

the motortiam where i bought my bike also has this increment. but i dono ah, just pay by cash is easier.

[stonecold]

Juz pay by cash lor.

 

Mah doesn't even allow us to pay installment by NETS liao, only cash.

[Jacq]

Most motortiams?! Is that for real? Have you or your friends been paying that increment to many different shops?! I'm saying this because it's mandated by NETS themselves not to pass on the increment to consumers. If NETS and the Competition Commission of Singapore says it's alright then I'll gladly take it along with smoking bans in pubs and such.

 

As a business they probably will and have increased the price for everything already. How else is profit going to come admist rising costs of everything, not just NETS or GST increment. Unless you're their auditor you can't tell for sure.

 

Not only NETS admin charge, some shop also charge 3% admin for credit card payment. I'm 100% sure. Have they increase the price yet? Those motorshop I went to hasnt. I'm not sure about yours. But one shop already told me that they will increase the price for everything else as they dun want to bear the extra 2% admin charge.

 

To me, it's fair that the shop impose the charges to those who are using NETS. Coz If I'm paying by cash, why should I pay extra just because others use NETS?

[nongsao]

A simple calculation. NETS charges 1.5%. A $200 instalment will cost $3.00, and mutiply by the number of transactions daily. The total can by quite substantial.

 

Don't blame them. The culprit is NETS.

 

I heard from my friend even Seng Siong supermarket collect NETS charges. Bought a printer from a Sim Lim Square and also had to pay NETS charges.

 

The problem here is when too many people depend and rely on NETS to make payment they are actually giving power for NETS to increase their charges. If all consumer stop using NETS, i m sure they will think of ways to win us back. But easier said then done. Their consumer base are already very huge and are invincible.

[Battlemad]

Very good points indeed. Cash it is. No more trouble with Universal in future hopefully.