Paying $10 More For The Same Hair Cut: Are Lunar New Year Surcharges Fair? | Talking Point
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- Singaporeans have had to grapple with surcharges while they prepare for the Lunar New Year festivities. From haircuts, manicures, car servicing and even pet grooming - businesses are charging their clients an extra cost on top of their regular prices. But why are these surcharges starting so early and how do we determine what is a fair surcharge? That’s what host Steven Chia investigates in this episode of Talking Point.
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• Talking Point | Full E...
00:00 Introduction
00:37 What do Talking Viewers think about surcharges?
01:55 How early do surcharges start?
09:06 How do businesses with no surcharges cope?
11:58 What do consumers think is a fair surcharge?
19:00 How businesses feel about self-regulation
21:26 Tips to avoid surcharges
About the show:
Talking Point investigates a current issue or event, offering different perspectives to local stories and revealing how it all affects you.
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What nonsense, better manage the bigger flow of customers n higher electricity cost? If u buy that , u deserved to b priced gouged. All merchants price gouged customers in all festive celebrations, Christmas, CNY, Valentine Days, flowers n chocolates, restaurants too. All the reasonings in this video were just justifications for their price gouging,,,lame.
Ikr. Seeing this I would never go to this idiotic barbershop. Just go EC house or Kcuts, no surcharge. Just look at how run down his shop is, yikes.
Lol i agree. Haha. Weird reasoning. Try again.
the barbershop really just sounds like spewing a bunch of BS just to justify the price gouging.
@@konadora yeah, absolutely BS. extra electricity, extra water, extra hours when it is imposed even during their normal operating hours. lol
exactly, he's talking as though electricity, water and hair product cost spike pre-cny, what a joke 🤣
If the surcharges are for the 1st 2 or 3 days of CNY by e.g. hawkers/service personnel, it is fair, as it takes time away from gathering with their families.
Ya but the thing is now they are starting weeks to a month before cny even start, like wtf is that
** BULL SH!T to the extremes. Cheers to CNA (Steven Chia) for covering this unscrupulous practice. EVERY BUSINESS has their cost - it NEED to be covered by the business OWNER, not the customers. This year i was "slightly lucky". My haircut was $8, the barber ask me if i can give him $10 due to CNY - i just said yes. They are humans after all. But what i am AGAINST is if the shop impose some form of extra charges with the excuse that "rising cost, inflation" and WORST POSSIBLE ONE of all "due to pandemic era this time need to increase". Next case CNA hopefully can cover about those hairsalon that sells "cheap haircut - $1,000 extra package".
For packages, there's no binding contract and you do not get your money back if they go bust. Also, it's not as if hairstyling is a medical issue that requires regular follow-ups at the same clinic/doctor. Packages are never necessary and are more than often scams.
They can update prices whenever they want. Saying that a business owner shouldn't be able to raise their prices (eg price controls) is silly, there are market forces at play.
My hairstylist did not do that
For some places, prices don't come down after CNY. That's the real problem.
correct
I am so amazed CNA never ran of story , their stories always an eye opener
When u have one more customer walk in, his regular fee pays for the extra electricity. Don't BS and say the surcharge is to pay for extra electricity during extra hours
Think CASE needs to look into this issue of CNY surcharges.
$30 for a haircut with an extra $10 CNY surcharge is really insane, I’m so lucky I can get a $10 haircut nowadays at a barber near my block and they never charge surcharges for PHs/festive periods.
Keeping it real and affordable for the average person which is why I keep going back to them monthly 😎
what i learnt from this is to not cut my hair at tim’s tenacious cuts
My previous hairstylist imposes a standard $2 surcharge regardless of what services you have, whether it's a simple hair cut or perm or wash etc. And all of it goes to a charity. She puts out a glass bowl during the CNY period for customers to put the $2 into, and after everything, she will display the receipt from the charity in her shop. Of cos, it's possible that it may not be the full amount collected, but hey, at least some of it is going to charity rather than at some other shops where we don't even know where any of it is going to.
$90/kg for bak kwa is f***king ridiculous! every biz big and small want to profit from it. extra $10 for haircut? wat shop is that? confirm have to avoid
Is the 10% service charge reasonable? We have been paying this 10% but nobody questions and nobody knows where it goes to. Nowadays we have to order the food ourselves using the QR code and even have to collect from the counter and we still have to pay the service charge.
Really meh? I never really encountered this. I just instruct the waiters to do it for me for the service charge restaurants. They have never said no so far
Pretty sure it's a simple concept of supply and demand. More demands, seller has more power to modify their rate. Business 101
exactly, literally just this. every other reason is just fluff. (except for CNY days from -1 to 5, i think is fair to charge)
cover electricity. hmm. does SP services and PUB spike rates during this period?
Haha yeah the logic that one business need the surcharge to cover for additional utility costs is BS. Because the per unit cost is the same per customer regardless of the usage. In fact, I would argue that per customer cost is LOWER because certain gadgets and electric appliances would be idling and running anyway without customers, but during peak CNY period, they are being fully utilised, reducing the overall utility costs per customer.
Customers can cooperate by not purchasing these services during these peak periods. If everybody evenly spread out their consumption, then there will be minimal issues. Personally, I usually go into hiding around this CNY period
Can employers give more salary on the month of cny as surcharge also?
Employers r using the surcharges from their customers as their Ang Pow for their employees, cheap employers,lah
This is why I support haircut businesses who refuse to jackup their prices over CNY despite the increase in demand
It is just another day within the working hours. What surcharge? Surcharge is only after the working hours if there is a demand.
So far, I did not have to pay any surcharge for my haircut and manicure. The only catch is no cancellation is allowed and they only take bookings from regulars.
You are indeed lucky. For me .. I was informed by my manicurist that not only there will be a surcharge but that I could not utilize my package during that period. Imagine that.
@@sharondecruz Obvious mah. You got a package discount when you bought it, right?
The funny thing is some places are already charging so high but they still charge a CNY surcharge...
The only reason people willing to pay the surcharges as much as 30-50%:
“. They reasoned…Ai yah, it’s CNY,once a year only”, that’s where they got u!
Why can’t merchants post a sign:” Ang Pow is GREATLY appreciated for CNY services rendered between Jan 9 to Feb 9,2024” Leave a bunch of ang Pow envelopes at the cash register n let customers give what they can or want. That’s fair,isn’t it?
Lol agree
@@david888a do business no need honest one. eat or be eaten world . that's the hard truth
What BS for all d additional utilities?! It's just BAU when more customers = more utilities = defrayed by more money collected from customers!!! This is pure price gorging!!!
So banks shd impose charges for withdrawing new notes is it?!
Is there any Rental/PUB increase during Festive months ?? If No, there's No Good Excuse to increase prices 🙄
the salon should put up the signboard to clearly showed the surcharge. I was charged double for rebonding. Usual is RM100, and I was asked to pay RM200. If I had known, I wouldnt do it.
Open mouth to ask. Unless it was more than 2 weeks before CNY, then ok. Maybe kick up a fuss loh
If you don't see the price, you should not have gone in.
Nearer to CNY, the operating hours are still same, so why need to charge more or levy surcharges? BS excuses to profit from the customers. Worst are all the goons who encouraged it by saying it's just "once a year only". If hair & beauty salons charge extra $2 22:18 one - two weeks bef CNY, it is still reasonable, but must put a big notice outside the salons to notify customers. As for restaurants, eateries, if they increased $2 fm CNY's Eve to the nx 3 days, that is acceptable. But hawker stalls shd not have any CNY increases, anyway they are all closed fm CNY's Eve to the 2nd day. If they are open, then they can increase by 50cts.
i cut my own hair. just like cutting my own finger nails. no need worry about price hike or scams.
True . No point in getting a haircut outside (30mins travel , 30mins wait) unless it comes with a shampoo massage
Luckily in our family we don't follow this tradition to have new whatever for the new year. Cut hair earlier lor.
I have encountered the same and pay surcharges weeks BEFORE CNY. What makes me ponder is that the barber is of a different race. I got charge additional surcharges before CNY, before Hari Raya also. It might be fair to pay for their new year but cny?
Can we have discount/ deduction when visiting clinics and hospitals? since the demand goes down during CNY period
Very interesting episode. Certain aspects that would be interesting to dive further to find out:
1) Certain businesses that charge a very high surcharge (30-50% more), especially the higher and highest towards CNY eve, e.g. for hair salons, are the people already deterred enough not to visit during this period such that the workers do not need to work extra hours, or are even idling as a result of that? That would debunk the argument that 'oh I need to pay my workers more because they are working extra hard for extra hours'.
2) Interview the workers and look from their perspective: How much more exactly and in what manner are they earning for working during this period, is it only a fixed amount increase on salary, per hour basis of OT etc.? How does that line up and is that proportionate to the amount increase of prices they are receiving from the customers. How much of these surcharges do they think are are profited by the business owners themselves.
Same goes for crazy bahkwah, roses on valentine's day etc. BTW, why is bahkwah considered as essential service during lock down? Don't eat bahkwah during covid lock down can die meh?
Ya lord. By not buying buying bak kwa for CNY, we will reap huge savings which will cover our entire year of bak kwa consumption. By not buying roses on Valentine’s Day, we can buy roses every month for the rest of the year.
So the water and electricity company charges a surcharge for CNY as well?
A salon for eg has to open early till late due to many customers, have you ever thought of it?
@@BWart-zp5hy They charge the customers right or decide when is the last customer to take. He has the right to decide, like how he decides to charge extra.
@@S2KV If there's long queue outside late at night near CNY, are u telling the Barber to work until midnight without compensation?
@@BWart-zp5hy No, it’s called having setup an appointment and knowing the cutoff point.
@@S2KV If there are walk ins, no barbershop will reject so many customers
Just boycott businesses that you feel are taking advantage. Makes sense if they're applying surcharge on the actual CNY days but for anything earlier is just daylight robbery
y
Tim looks like he needs a trim himself. Screw this CNY custom. It shouldn't be imposed into the customers, some of which are not even chinese!
I think there should be a law to prevent this no surcharge for this.
Profiteering and greed at play
I havnt had an issue with prices or... 'getting a haircut' since 2017 and even during the start of the lockdown/covid; because I'm my own barber and i seldom spend during CNY. :D
*i did not know the surcharges were so out of whack incl other services. I'm surprised. lol. Heck no will i pay so much $$$ just because a festive season is coming. :/
Hehe . Good for you , I too trim my own hair because the ones outside are too inconsistent and time wasting . To/fro journey , wait etc . Plus to really get a good hair groom I tend to need weekly trims , so I really don’t miss the days of getting a barber haircut at a public place
I used to feel unfair to be charged extra for hair cuts until one hairdresser told me it was like a bonus for them. As a worker myself, I love bonus so I can understand.
From then, I don't complain.
I'm a member of a hair salon. They only charge $5 for male haircuts, which is cheaper than most.😊
healthcare workers are also always working round the clock, and even on cny also need to report back to work. how come we dont have a surcharge or bonus given to us? totally unfair
The hospital will say:”u lucky to hv a job,lack alone a bonus or surcharge,😂😂😂
correct
Got. You never receive your bonus meh?
Nurses so what. No big deal
The barber is not talking any sense! HAHAHA how is charging customers more suppose to spread out the customer flow?! HAHAHAHA absolute rubbish.
And wait the pet grooming wants to compensate the workers for working long hours by charging the customers more because SHE ACCEPTED MORE BOOKINGS?
So customers who won't want to pay won't come
Because they are working harder during cny so a surcharge is fair. Are you expecting starbucks and kfc charge you more when the queue is long? Since when punishing your loyal customers is a common practice?
Since the beginning of time. It has always been the practice to punish people who come during high peak periods. Just that the practice is not consistent in the extent
@@John_Smith_86 we all knew this, the point here is the hike is not justified, the purpose of the program is to find out why and you merely repeating the fact we all know.
@@leehyunsong7001 I literally stated the reason why. And it is the obvious reason
Can accept surcharge maybe for the week leading to CNY. But to have it imposed for one month prior and to have increasing surcharge amount is just blatant profiteering. Imagine in a salon i regularly go to they charge 10% 4 weeks prior, 15% 3 weeks prior, 20% 2 weeks prior and a whopping 30% on the final week leading to CNY!!!
Yea. Thy don't want you to go near CNY mah. As per the video
The bigger problem is, once increased because of CNY, the increase will stay even after CNY. I agree, these business people are just profiteering
Everything are expensive during CNY, even hawker centres are rising their costs
Why is this happening here? Because Singaporeans like to just accept their fate. This happens, I have no control over this, whatever it is, just accept it. What can I do? No use one. Same for every other complaint they have like CPF SA cancellation for those > 55 yo, GST increase, etc. Complain, but just accept. So easy to bully.
We can decide not to have a haircut for CNY. It’s as simple as that!
now still can easily find below 10$ haircut in places, like hougang, AMK, TPY... these mature town.
sad to say those are mid age or old barbers those new age one charge 30-40 , worrysome for the future generations , lol
I call BS when bullshit is being uttered. Last time, maybe 20-10 years ago, the cny surcharge used to be 1 week before, then 2 weeks before to now 1 month before. So it's just cash grab.
And someone actually feels that surcharge shouldn't apply to food????but to beauty is fine?????smh
Let's go Faye!
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Instead of being happy about more customers, they increase the price.
Demand the normal price, surcharge during overtime, and otherwise place a piggybank on the counter and ask the customer to be a bit generous to the New Year staff.
For many businesses, they literally don't want these extra customers if the customer is only willing to pay normal prices. They rather they get lost
@@John_Smith_86 I believe you are correct.
On year my family's favourite chicken rice stall started charging + 20%. We were shocked. They knew us personally as long time customers, especially the manager auntie knew us well. We did not agree to this surcharge and passed. And we never went back. Whenever I pass that stall nowadays, there are probably 1/3 of the customers from years before.
@@krollpeter See? Win-win. They don't have to serve a cheap customer as you anymore, and you don't have to pay a premium anymore. Both parties are happy
@@John_Smith_86 Man what was I stupid! I did not think about it. You are absolutely right, that is how it works.
Lets increase prices everywhere!
@@krollpeter Exactly. Don't worry about you being stupid, happens to 50% of the population. :)
Surcharges are simply possible due to a lack of demand elasticity on the customer side - that suppliers are feeding on. It is known for hundreds of years that demand will be higher during CNY - and sellers order their stock months in advance. No surprise, no surcharge - just better business. How to get rid of surchages? Select the businesses that have none, avoid the ones that charge them, tell them you did not come because it was more expensive afterwards and if enough people act elastic on price changes surcharges will dissapear and businesses will just be happy again with just more business during festive times. So actually its our fault as consumers when we allow the businesses to successfully squeeze us.
Even with the preempt that CNA was gonna interview them, they still have no good reasons for the surcharge. If their reason was increased sales/work, u could easily reject business on basis of being fully booked, I don't see how that results in increased business costs. Now it would have been a different story is one needs urgent services on the eve, first and second of CNY, employees working during these days should be compensated more.
You can always give notice to customers ahead of time and/or make appointment.
well but there’s rush hour surcharge for taxis and as those NYE / CNY / XMAS EVE sales gigs pay double too. I guess the service providers can hike up rates as they deem fit cuz at the end of the day they offer optional services and customers are free to decide if they are willing to pay that much to have that service done during the surcharge days. it’s a free market - if u think it’s too much to pay then just plan in advance and cut your hair earlier next time (or don’t). if biz is bad as a result of excessive surcharges then maybe they’ll rethink the rates?
This CNA Insider don’t dare to go near “hair saloons” where women pay hundreds for cut and this and that included….. hehe 😂
Just talking for hair dresser: if they really are very busy and put in long hrs and stay open longer ok. I can accept that if the money really goes to the employees. The hairdresser I am using is not very busy nor has to extend the hours. Throughout the many years I use her I always generously tip all year round. But come CNY and I get the surcharge I do not tip as it really puts me off. In fact new customer may be turned away by this as I have experienced as well. I recommended that salon to a friend of mine with several children and praised her for her reasonable prices. Unfortunately they tried her out during this “surcharge” period and were put off. It makes a difference if you are a family of 6 and perhaps she wasn’t aware of this custom. Don’t think she ever went back. A lost opportunity. Perhaps something to consider when it is a new and potentially new longterm customer…..
The so-called expert at the end is ridiculous! A surcharge of 5-8% only? Walao! I also don't like to pay any surcharge but bo bian mah. Working during PH is double the pay, right?
Why is Steven not a prof yet, he conducts and present researches better than most of my professors 😂
So simply put there's nothing we can do about it lol haha. Always these videos talk so much details but in reality really nothing can be changed, simply solutions just do it early la like cut hair or buy your stuff early lol.
Simple economics of price gouging. CNY period typically more people will go for hair cuts to look their best (and CNY traditions of getting new things/looks) = More demand but supply remains about same. Hence, consumers become less price inelastic and businesses will charge more to capitalize. All other reasons are BS. Dont blame them of course, it is just business.
The first part . I listen. Still do not understand the reason given . 😮 …
I think every business will leverage on any opportunity to make more money. That is the nature of a business. To maximise revenue/profit. Why do people think it's not fair? You do have a choice to not seek those services/ purchase those items. No one forced you to make that transaction. No business need to justify surcharge. When they include surcharge, they also have risks that less customers will come.
it is ludicrous, most explanation are a joke! Makes little sense! Price gouging is the word!
If you want to avoid the price increase, simple , cut your hair 15 days before CNY. For those that are reckless, don't go back there anymore. Don't need to be angry.
I'm realistic. New things are mostly not going to change anything. In my parents 's era, they cannot afford stuff when they were children, now we can. No point doing during CNY esp with surchange. How are we sure it wil be the workers who will receive them?
That barber is very greedy. What nonsense of extra electricity, water, etc.. That extras are caused by more customers which meant he have more business.. Still not enough? Want to have surcharge 1 more before cny!
Actually if you cut your hair at those $12/18 quick cuts which is inconsistent at times you might as well buy a trimmer and groom it weekly/anytime you want rather than waiting for it to grow into a bush before getting that $12/18 cut worth . Minus the travel to/fro , wait , and coming home with bits of hair trapped in your body
Yah that's if u have skills
1 word greedy nothing else support those that do not charge you extra during CNY
$10 surcharge siao ar, of course cut 1 month before cny
Right or wrong, fair or unfair, is debatable. If you are not prepared to pay extra, could you try and avoid the occasion if possible? Doing business is about maximising profits.
$10 surcharge is insane. My neighbourhood barber started a surcharge of $2 around 2 weeks before CNY, which I think is still considered reasonable as the amount is not excessive. Food stall selling $1 extra during CNY period is okay for me too.
Yes, it is fair; business entrepreneurs need extra money to provide bonuses to employees. Who do you think you are to ask people to work on Chinese New Year's Eve and public holidays? Of course, you need to compensate them extra for their excellent service in serving you. However, imposing a $10 surcharge one month before Chinese New Year is too burdensome for his customers to absorb. Good luck to him, as he anticipates losing 25% of his customers after Chinese New Year.
Same question as why COE is so high.
Because the garment does not want us to have cars anymore.
My friend , all things follow a cycle . Master the cycle ..
I stopped having a haircut for CNY. 😂
Of coz it's not fair!! It's a rubbish practice and shd be made illegal!!
They took my IC once when I was on my 20s to force me go get d additional money to pay d hairdresser!
Is there surcharge for other festivals? In fact sometimes it is cheaper during other festivals, as owner wants all to celebrate including the poor. These surcharge and chinese new year menu is getting out of hand. The lower income cannot eat out and celebrate once a year .
Ayo, dont keep whack these small businesses. For those heavily rely on direct labour, such as grooming, salon and many more, and the boss decides to extend operating hours and pay OT to workers, how much should the boss charge to cover their mandatory 150% OT wages? These businesses in the show have very low market and bargaining power from the start. A fairer assessment could be made if CNA seeks an opinion from an accountant rather than an economist who explains at a general scale. Pls scrutinize Airlines, hotels, weddings, and funerals as they are the biggest culprits in fluctuating charges. Most people will just 'bo bian' and pay.
If haircut cost are given an ang bao to my hairdress why no ?.
But if the surcharges are not tip or given to the staff. Sorry I would not be paying.
For Singaporean Borned Chinese This Is A Chinese Traditional, Ask Your Ancestors If You Have Any.
Giving HongPau To Those Bangladeshi HDB Sweepers, Postmen, Etc
extra water ? lame excuse ... did PUB charge extra ?
Over the years notice the businesses with CNY surcharges don't last long as such practice loses customers.
All surcharges are fair when stated clearly to customers’ acceptance. Willing buyers willing sellers.
That barber’s scissors are very sharp
Suddenly people have a reason that the surcharge will go to the expensive products , bills etc.
1 month early surcharge is BS, your hair will be long by the CNY day
Steven, LNY is not equal to CNY ? !
How to evenly spread using surcharge? can i get frown please
U know how during school holidays, the air fares and lodging priced go up, then those who don't want to pay for that spike won't go for holiday?
That's how it's spread
Is Steve going to cut hair everyday for 2 weeks?
can i ask my boss for surcharge in my pay too?
Its not fair or not fair. If you don't want to cut, there are plenty of people who want to. Supply and demand.
It’s demand and supply. We can say no and don’t cut.
It’s the same for dinners at Chinese restaurants during CNY.
We are consumers, we have a choice.
My barber didnt have cny surcharge cause they already charge $40+
just come to malaysia to get hari cut all cheap no ridiculous surcharge guys!
Sorry, but business is business. It is called capitalism. Companies do not just increase fees for CNY. All major holidays see increases. Just look at air flight costs and hotel costs. When supplies of something goes down, prices go up. When demands go up, so do prices. It is up to the customer to decide if they want to patronage a business or not. For example, here in Thailand, many restaurants have begun charging a 10% service fee on a bill. It is usually the last time I visit that restaurant, and I refuse to give my standard 20% tip (even though tipping is not usually expected in Thailand).
If there is an opportunity. Which business owner will pass on an opportunity to earn out of it?
the money of the surge charge goes into my pocket
The host kena arrow around different places to get someone to answer him
How can Steve get so many haircuts at around the same time lol
He only got one
This is classic rob u when u are hungry.same haircut. Same time. Same everything
You do not see price increase in Hari Raya, Deepawali or vesak day.
Not true. I’ve seen many(not all) shops increasing their prices during racial holidays. Just more shops do it during CNY.
@@fayetk not as much as Chinese new year like what this TH-cam say.
15:46 5% to 8% surcharge as the market clearing price
CNy surcharge. Next time got Christmas surcharge.
Anything more than five percent is simply profiteering