McDonald's Singing Bone Hello Kitty (aka Black Kitty).

People have gone crazy (once again) over the Hello Kitty plush toys sold at McDonald's.

This is something which I don't understand and probably never will.

You know what is even more difficult to understand? People paying $50 for a "collectible" Hello Kitty plush toy in the "black" market!

Collect them all?

Well, apparently, there is a black color Hello Kitty which is supposedly a limited edition. To me, it looks like Hello Kitty went for an x-ray and got a really bad overdose of radiation!

Anyway, whatever's your poison, right?

Pssst... Ever wondered where these toys were made in, who made them, how much they were paid and what were their working conditions? I wonder.

Don't pay inflated prices for N95 masks.

No smoke without fire. Er... unintended pun on the haze. Anyway, the stories are true. What stories? Stories of profiteering.

All businessmen are out to make money. There is nothing wrong with money making, is there? If there is no money to be made, why go into business?

However, to profit obscenely by taking advantage of a crisis that affects the entire nation, to me, is just a nauseating idea.

This was the official statement issued by CASE just a few days ago:

It has come to the attention of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) that some retail outlets in Singapore have increased the prices of face masks, especially for the N95 face masks during this haze period.

CASE understands that many retailers have run out of stock of face masks due to the high demand for the masks. As such, some retailers may try to profit from the situation by selling face masks at a higher price. There have also been cases where individuals have brought face masks in bulk and resold them to the public at a profit.

CASE urges all suppliers and retailers to remain transparent and abide to the regular recommended retail price. They should not take advantage of the plight of consumers and inflate prices in this critical period of time.

Additionally, CASE advices consumers to exercise caution when purchasing face masks from unknown brands or retailers online. Such masks may not provide adequate protection from the haze. Consumers should also be wary of retailers taking advantage of the situation to sell face masks at unreasonable prices. They should stay vigilant and shop around instead of paying inflated prices at the nearest store.

 With the haze situation having improved temporarily, we have time to shop around for reasonably priced N95 respirator masks. The haze is likely to return with a vengeance when the wind direction changes again.


Say "NO" to profiteers!

Related post:
Buy 3M N95 respirator masks for less.

My two boxes of 3M N95 8210 masks.
Things will worsen in the coming weeks according to NEA.
Be prepared.