Two medicine shops in 'bullying tactics' row
Two Chinese medicine shops were accused yesterday of having misled and bullied customers into buying more than $130,000 worth of goods.
The Consumer Council said both shops, which are in Nathan Road, Mongkok, had used trickery and intimidation to make customers feel they had to buy items at well above the price they had expected to pay.
Trade practices committee chairman William Chao Pu-kong said 'shady' tactics were damaging to the industry and Hong Kong's reputation abroad.
Elderly local shoppers and visiting tourists were attracted to the shops by signs showing low prices, Mr Chao said.
But the price turned out to be for a much smaller amount than customers expected - a tael rather than a catty, for instance - and they were hit with a bill up to 16 times what they had expected.
When buyers objected, they were told that as the goods had already been sliced or ground ready for sale, they were obliged to pay.
'Some complainants alleged that when they protested, they were surrounded by staff in a menacing manner,' Mr Chao said. 'This could just be a bluff - it's unlikely they would really beat up the customer, but the customer may not know that and might think they can't leave without going through with the transaction.' Mr Chao named Well Ultra International, in Hollywood Commercial Centre, as being the target of 12 customer complaints since May, involving almost $83,000.
Yuen Mong Tong, in the Sun Hing Building, had attracted five complaints over nearly $31,000 since April. A further complaint, in which a tourist said he was cheated out of $17,000, was settled on the day the matter was to be heard in the Small Claims Tribunal when the shop refunded the money.
Mr Chao said the shops had been warned, but customers continued to complain. Both shops denied any wrongdoing.
'We've written down very clearly the weight unit and whether it's a catty or a tael - we've made it very clear,' a Yuen Mong Tong spokesman said.
A Well Ultra International worker said: 'You can go and look - all the things are clearly labelled.' The number of complaints about Chinese medicine and seafood shops has doubled in the past three years, and in May the council exposed three other Mongkok shops for similar behaviour. Mr Chao said only a very small number of shops were giving Hong Kong a bad name.
TIPS FOR SHOPPERS Ask what weight unit the goods are priced in; Ask the shop to weigh the product and quote the total price before agreeing to buy; Ensure goods are not sliced or ground before the deal is done; Call the police or Consumer Council if misled; or Refuse to go through with an unfair transaction and leave the shop.
Source: Consumer Council
