Just a misunderstanding? Tourist accuses shopkeeper of switching price signage on souvenirs

Was he a victim of "tourist pricing", or was it just a misunderstanding?

Twitch streamer Andy - better known as "Cooksux" - was buying souvenir T-shirts in Singapore when a shopkeeper changed prices by flipping a signboard over before his eyes in a video uploaded to TikTok last Thursday (Oct 19).

The video has since garnered over 140,000 views and more than 3,700 likes.

Andy was travelling with fellow American Twitch streamer Jake, also known as JakenbakeLIVE, and looking for souvenirs in Singapore, with some netizens pointing out that they were in Bugis Street. 

The duo were enticed by Singapore-themed T-shirts in the shop and decided to take a look, hoping for a good deal.

As they entered the shop and spoke with the shopkeeper, Andy asked if the shirts were being sold at four for $10.

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With a laugh, the shopkeeper apologised before flipping a sign over - it previously read "one for $4" and "three for $10", but was changed to "one for $10" and "two for $15".

Taken aback by the sudden switch up, Andy and Jake confronted the shopkeeper.

"Wait a minute, we just saw you do that!" Andy exclaimed.

Jake asked in Mandarin: "Is this tourist pricing?"

The shopkeeper continued to laugh it off, but then referred them to the front of the shop where he said there would be T-shirts sold at four for $10.

Although the shopkeeper did eventually make good on offering the deal that Jake and Andy were looking for, netizens still expressed shock at his actions.

@cooksux How did he think that’s okay??? With @jakenbakeLIVE #cooksux #jakenbakelive #singapore #scam #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound - CookSux

"What? I'm a Singaporean and I didn't know they do this!" A comment wrote.

Another said: "That price switch up is crazy!"

"What's the point of changing when they have already seen the prices?" A user also questioned.

However, many netizens also felt that the shopkeeper might have simply made an honest mistake.

"He probably just used the wrong side of the signage for the T-shirts," a user said. "$4 for a tee in Singapore is beyond rare."

Commented another user: "Think he used that board for many things, hence prices on both sides. Might have flipped over by accident. If he wanted to cheat he wouldn't tell them."

According to Jake's previous livestreams on Twitch, the last time the duo visited Singapore was in March last year.

AsiaOne has contacted Andy for more information.

ALSO READ: 'Joke's on us': Singaporean says he and companions were scammed of over $4,200 at Turkey pottery centre

khooyihang@asiaone.com