An elderly man was shocked to find out that a plate of salted fish and bean sprouts at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre cost $10. The stallholder later explained that salted fish is not cheap.
Mr Wang, 71, a retiree, shared with Shin Min Daily News that he and his wife visited the hawker centre on Monday (September 1) at about 1 pm. They ordered one steamed fish head, one plate of salted fish bean sprouts, and two bowls of rice from the stall “123 Steamed Fishhead”
“I didn’t check the price when ordering. I thought bean sprouts in a hawker centre won’t cost much, so I just placed the order,” he said.
Salted fish bean sprouts cost $10
But when the food came, he realised the total bill was $31.
“I asked the stallholder how it was calculated. She told me the steamed fish head was $20, two bowls of rice cost $1, and the salted fish bean sprouts were $10,” Mr Wang recalled.
He felt $10 was too much for a plate of bean sprouts, but the stallholder explained that the dish included salted fish.
“I still think $10 for bean sprouts is too expensive,” he said.
Stallholder: Prices are shown clearly
When reporters visited the stall the next day (September 2), they saw the price list displayed there. A small plate of salted fish bean sprouts was $8, while a large plate was $10.
The stallholder, Madam Feng, 77, said she remembered Mr Wang and admitted he was unhappy about the price.
“I explained to him that salted fish is not cheap. One pack already costs more than $10,” she said.
She also recalled that a customer who came before Mr Wang ordered salted fish bean sprouts, which could have influenced him to order the same dish.
“I thought he saw the price list and wanted the portion for two people. I did not confirm the price with him,” Madam Feng explained.
She added that there are many other steamed fish head stalls at Chinatown Complex, so she cannot simply set her prices as she likes.
