Couple claims to save $1k on appliance purchases across the Causeway: 'But was it worth the trip?'
A Singaporean couple who crossed the Causeway to Johor Bahru to buy appliances for their new BTO flat say they racked up around $1,000 in savings.
But after weighing up the pros and cons, they were left wondering: "Is the savings really worth the trip?"
In a TikTok post, the couple compare the prices of various appliances in Johor Bahru and Singapore, including a refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, and a 65-inch television.
Captioned "We spent 12 hours in JB to find out whether appliance shopping is worth it…", the post, uploaded on Nov 16, has garnered 143,000 views, 2,480 reactions, and 197 comments as of press time.
Listing out the pros and cons, the couple stress that delivery costs, taxes, travel time, and installation fees are separate considerations.
While there is an overall cost saving, they stressed:"Whether it's really worth it or not depends on the individual."
'No warranty? No Thanks': Netizen
"How come no warranty?" one netizen asked, while others noted that such warranties only apply in Malaysia and not Singapore.
"Recently bought electronics, spoiled in two months. Luckily, I had a warranty," another netizen noted.
Others raised concerns about safety, asking the couple: "Were safety marks considered?"
"Malaysia has its own safety standards," said the couple in response, noting that they bought the appliances from a recognised store.
"HDB fire insurance doesn't cover electrical fires that start from appliances with no safety mark," another netizen warned.
Others who bought appliances from Malaysia shared their experiences. "I bought a ceiling fan from JB and now it's been 8+ years already and still working," one wrote.
"At least $2.5k savings, sure worth lah," said another.
