A day to remember
1 July 2007 marked a historic day in Singapore. It is the day when the GST (Goods & Services Tax) was increased from 5% to 7%. Peanuts some foreigners may say, compared to say average of 19.5% in EU countries, 14.2% in Latin America, 17.7% in OECD Countries. (Sources from here). To Singapore residents however, the plan of the 2% increase has caused major uproar and hoo-haa. But like some feel, what has been announced usually means a "Done Deal" no matter how much HOO HAA the people make. After all, the country wants nothing but the best for the people.
This 2% increased has caused Singapore residents to rush to purchase big ticket items. After all, since they can't fight against the increase, they might as well take full advantage of the opportunity to indulge themselves before the GST turns 7%.
I was in Takashimaya at Orchard with Chup last Saturday trying to buy a portable DVD player which I can play during my 4 hour journey when we drive up to KL to visit Chup's parents. First we were greeted with an almost FULL carpark (next to Crown Prince Hotel). Usually this carpark would have easily over 100 lots available. That day, it was down to 2 digit. We persisted and got ourselves a lot.
Then we proceeded to Best Denki on the 5th floor. The crowd was crazy! There were many many salespersons on duty, but yet their number was not enough to attend to the overwhelming number of customers. After hastily chosen our item, I had to queue over 20 minutes just to pay. The salesman who attended to me kept complaining that he doesn't understand the mentality of the Singaporeans. It's only 2% he said. What great difference does it make? Many certainly do not think like him. After finally having paid for my item, we made our way down to the ground floor.
Then we accidentally walked past GUCCI. Gee, there was a long queue there too! And since Chup wanted to get something from Kinokuniya, I thought I would just spend my time near GUCCI and the boutique next to it, BALLY. That was how I accidentally got myself a pair of new shoes :(From Orchard Road, we thought we would escape the crowd by going to Vivo City. After all, which weekend will Orchard Road not be jam-packed? Our plan was to visit Giordano and watch Fantastic 4 - a movie which we thought would have no problem obtaining tickets since there is another new blockbuster release, the Transformers.
When we reached Vivo, the 1200-lot carpark was only left with single digit lots!! We parked illegally that day!
We rushed to check for the movie tickets. You guessed right. Selling fast, which means possibly only 1st few rows left. So we thought, perhaps we would catch a quick dinner at Crystal Jade and move on to Tiong Bahru Plaza to watch the movie. However, it was a minimum 1/2 hour wait to get a seat in Crystal Jade. We left Vivo in frustration.
So we went to our ever-trusted good old neighbourhood cineplex at Tiong Bahru. There was quite a queue for the carpark too. But since we had gone that far, we were determined that we MUST watch Fantastic 4 that night.
We Checked the ticket queue, not too long. We would come back later after attending to our growling stomachs.
Back from dinner, the queue had grown till the entrance!!! We persisted and queued for the tickets. 3rd row!!! Chup said, Jessica Alba's face was so fat and her mouth so big from the bottom-up-angle we were watching from.
It was only today that I realized the reason behind all the madness that we experienced that day. That Saturday was the last day that Singapore's GST stood at 5%!!! 1 July 2007 minus 1 day. Goodness gracious! If only I knew...
Anyway, here's the damage for us during this GST increase coupled with GSS (Great Singapore Sale). But I must qualify that Jimmy was a present from Chup and everything else was bought with my Takashimaya voucher excepts on the Bally which I hade to top up S$96.70. So I am not a total victim in that sense......the one who have saved S$30 in terms of GST. How satisfying! HA HA!!!
posted by chuplin @ 7/02/2007 11:41:00 PM
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