Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by chriskk

Contractual Bonus

chriskk — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:39:16 +0800

Hello all, got question regarding contractual bonus. The contract state that i will get a retention bonus as long as I am still a permanent employee when my project is complete.

Project schedule complete : 30th May
Resignation notice period : 3 months

If I resign at early April, I will work until early July to serve my notice period. Will the company still pay me the bonus?
Also, my performance bonus is suppose to pay out at end April. Does that means I'm doomed to lose the performance bonus?

Viewing Multiple Subsale Condo Units

chriskk — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 12:59:27 +0800

I am planning to buy a subsale (coz cheaper!) old condo unit for own stay in an area in PJ that I like. I found this agent via IProperty and got him to show me a few units already (first viewing, all within the same area on same day, so it's not like I made the agent run here and there multiple times).
The agent is now "doing his job" to rush me to do 2nd viewing and make quick decision to book any of the unit that I like best.

However, I much prefer to look-see more and don't want to rush. After all, this is one of the biggest benefit of buying subsale - that I get to have multiple choices and take my time.
But I wonder at what point will it become too much and make the agent fed up? 5 units? 10? 20?

Also another question - if the unit I view is the agent's direct unit (aka agent hired by the owner), do I still need to pay him agent fee for brokering the deal between me and the owner since he is already getting his fee from the owner?
I just know agent fee is max 3%. So for example, can he demand 2% from the owner and 2% from me?

Shopee Dispute Problem

chriskk — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 12:02:39 +0800

UPDATE : Dispute closed! Please see edit 3&4 below to find out what happened

This is to warn everyone to avoid Shopee if you want to avoid problems with delivery and disputes. Their customer service sucks big time and always side with sellers. I didn't know this before, until i encounter a dispute and check on Lowyat for advice - only I found out there are many similar cases in which buyers have to waste so much effort in problematic disputes!

My story timeline as follows :

12 June - Place order and paid for an Amway product
21 June - Order status still hanging at "to ship". cannot wait already since 10 days has passed and I need the item urgently so I cancel order
21 June - Seller rejected my cancellation and immediately update status "shipped" with DHL tracking number
23 June - DHL rider called and inform me the package is empty - just a plastic package. I told them to return the package to seller.
24 June - DHL rider delivered empty plastic package and inform me to request return via Shopee as seller is refusing to accept return of the package.
24 June - I requested refund/return via Shopee
27 June - Seller raise dispute
28 June - I provided all evidence to Shopee
29 June - Seller provided statement saying item is "shipped via Amway Truck"
30 June - Shopee agreed with seller and informed that request to refund will be rejected since item is shipped
1 July - I demanded shipment details because seller has not provided any information at all
1 July - Seller provided a tracking number which can only be tracked via Amway website in which the account user (the seller himself) can view the status of delivery.

So that's what happened - 3 weeks of frustration. I had to purchase the product from another seller (it's not cheap!!) because I urgently need it - got it within 3 days too.
And for this particular seller - i still have no idea when his item is coming.
Seller has abused the delivery tracking system setup of Shopee by sending fake empty package to ensure i cannot cancel.
Shopee has supported such seller by not holding him accountable.
I have done all I can think of in this dispute, and now I am just sitting duck waiting to lose the dispute. Maybe someone have advice for any further action.

Just additional information - I did check the reviews of the seller - they are all good reviews (fake or not, i'm not sure). I've always been careful about choosing which shop to buy, and never face any problem or dispute on Shopee until now - consider it bad luck on my side.

But bottom line is - bad luck can strike anyone in terms of horrible sellers, but we get the choice to determine which platform to use - so I am definitely banning Shopee from now on!!!

Edit: adding image of dispute proof because someone is questioning the authenticity of my story, also to add that this dispute is still not closed, but Shopee has informed that it will be closed once I receive the replacement product
Edit2 : Some people are questioning DHL's rider's action in calling me - I wish to point out that the rider is actually very good in proactively checking with me before he deliver the item to confirm that I am actually expecting a package from the seller and that he notice it is an empty package (he was just holding the plastic package and felt that it was empty) - I received the plastic package unopened, in good condition - just that it is an empty plastic package (refer to photo below). The product order is a very bulky item which should be packaged in a box.

Edit3 : Update 2nd July - Took everyone's comments to heart (thank you for all the support and advice) , I decided to make a huge fuss by writing a long rant on the dispute channel scolding the shopee agent for not checking properly the seller's evidence, threatening to complain to KDPNHEP if this this is not resolve immediately. Also, i found out today that a friend of a friend works in Shopee - due to the large value of this dispute, I decided to ask favor from for my friend to check on my dispute. I don't know if that has any effect but I finally got a reply from the dispute agent finally providing some form of support to me by instructing the seller -"upon checking the tracking is invalid. Please do update us on the shipment details by 03/07 before 5pm."
So hopefully I can get some resolution out of this soon.
Edit 4 :
Update 2nd July - Seller is now saying the delivery is via "Ninja Van" - but he still gave the same tracking number that he gave for the "amway truck". Went to Ninja van site to track - but the number is invalid
Update 3rd July - Some driver in green Proton car delivered a package today noon. Was totally caught surprised. Yes - it is my ordered product.
Upon checking, took note of several shady details on the consignment note - printed on the note is showing that it is a city-link express, & not ninja van, not amway truck. Consignment note tracking number is still the same as that given by Seller during dispute, so i again check the tracking number status in citylink website, but it shows invalid. I'm guessing by now that the delivery tracking is most probably fake. Anyway it is all totally shady.

I decided to close this dispute up. Although I am forced to double purchase the same item (due to the fact that i bought from another seller after receiving empty package on 24th June), I will have to accept today's product as a spare because I am tired of feeling angry over this whole situation. Also, my initial warning still stands - I believe that it was only after I made the huge fuss (and maybe because at the same time yesterday I sort of got help from my friend to question the internal people in Shopee) that the seller somehow "magically" delivered the product via "DHL-Amway truck, Ninjavan-City-link" so quickly. I am not sure if Shopee will actually take any action against the seller for their shady tactics, but I included a list of all the problems i noticed in my message.
I'm adding a photo below to show the amazing compilation of courier companies of DHL-Amway truck-Ninjavan-City-Link that the seller involved in this journey.

Finally, thank you to those who advice and also sharing your own experiences (both negative and positive). And Happy Safe Shopping Online!

Any German tutors in Penang?

chriskk — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 18:23:45 +0800

Wondering if there is any native Germans in Penang who provides beginner level tutoring in German Language? I need a super-intensive crash course before going there next year March.

Please pm. Thanks

Why is Mazda 2 resale value so high?

chriskk — Sat, 26 May 2018 01:58:09 +0800

Hi guys. I need some advice regarding resale value of 2 year old Mazda 2.
It's always been common knowledge that the resale value of Mazda is lower than more popular cars (eg Toyota & Honda). But I've been checking the prices on carlist & mudah, and I can't understand why the price listed there are so high.

Numbers below taken from listings in carlist.com for comparison:
On average, a 2016 Mazda 2 (high spec) is listed at RM78k. That's a depreciation of only 15% from the original RM91k price.
In contrast, a 2016 Toyota Vios 1.5-G average listing price is RM63k. That's a depreciation of 30% from the original RM90k price.

Further investigation shows the market value of the 2 year old Mazda (62k) vs Vios (RM59k). This shows that the dealers are hiking the resale price of the Mazda unreasonably compared to Vios.

Is this normal? Can anyone advice why this is happening? I haven't got the time to check other Mazda models to see if same case is happening.
It's also quite interesting to see that the market value of the used Mazda is actually higher than Vios.

Working in a publishing firm

chriskk — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:29:15 +0800

I am a fresh graduate trying to apply for editorial post at several publishing firms. Examples of such firms are Fajar Bakti or Times Publishing. Would like to ask if anyone knows the salary range in this field?

And if possible, can tell what is the working environment like in these type of companies?