Japan Home investigating after woman says they sold her a "used" thermometer

Getting their hands on a coveted thermometer may be enough for some to be feverish with excitement but a woman in Singapore was left boiling after the thermometer she bought appeared to be less than new. 

Home goods chain Japan Home said on March 30 that it has launched an internal investigation after a customer claimed that she was sold a "used" thermometer with someone else's name written on it.

The customer aired her complaints in a Facebook post on March 29, calling on other members of the public to be vigilant when purchasing thermometers from the chain.

She also included several photographs which showed a digital thermometer with a name written on its back, as well as scribblings which appeared to say "3J" and "33".

The thermometer in question was one of two that she had purchased from Japan Home's Compass One outlet on March 28, she said.

"This is ridiculous and gross on so many levels. How can Japan Home be selling a used thermometer during such times, when we are supposed to be practising good hygiene habits?

"Even if someone were to exchange the product, shouldn't Japan Home have checked the product before placing it back onto the shelf for sale?"

Despite receiving a refund the next day, she also complained that the staff did so "unwillingly" and "tried to push the blame" on her by claiming to have bought thermometers on the same day with "no problem".

The unnerving find had many commenters speculating, with some giving Japan Home the benefit of doubt and positing that a student had swapped their own used thermometer for a new one.

However, according to the customer, the thermometers were displayed behind the cashier, making it unlikely that an errant customer could have pulled off the switch.

In response to AsiaOne's queries, a Japan Home spokesperson said that they were "shocked and distressed" to hear about the incident and had launched an internal investigation after receiving the customer's complaint.

Although Japan Home verified that their remaining inventory has not been tampered with, all outlets have stopped the sale of the item as an added precaution, they said.

The company is "fully engaged" and "determined to find out at which point of the supply chain the tampering occurred".

They have also contacted the customer and resolved the issue "amicably", the spokesperson added.

In an update to her original post, the customer said that she would be "closing this issue" in light of Japan Home's promise to investigate the matter.

kimberlylim@asiaone.com