The popular IT sales/show/exhibition (which is which?) is here again in Suntec Singapore. Comex 2009 now occupies [sic] levels 1,2,3,4 & 6. Actually there are several redemption counters in level 1 and some boots in the corridors in levels 2 & 3. The main exhibition halls are in levels 4 and 6. I still cannot solve the mystery of the missing 5th level at Suntec City.
IT gismos are becoming more and more sophisticated but at Comex the sales and promotions of IT products are moving in the opposite direction. Be it an international brand or some unknowns, most stores resort to “pasar malam” lelong tactics. This also reminds me of the old days in Chinatown where intimidating looking durian sellers with tattoos all over, shouting to attract customers. Except in Comex you have young girls in scanty uniforms doing the same for their software. Also you have men standing on pedestals trying to push sales for the latest flat screen TV. I suppose at night they continue on at the Hungry Ghost road-show as an auctioneer. Yes, it is now the Hungry Ghost Festival. What I cannot fathom is in every TV promotion, there is always a guy with a whistle responding to every offer mentioned by the promoter. Maybe next year they will come with cymbals and drums instead of just a whistle. You have been warned.
Another strange encounter in this Comex is the presence of banks touting their credit cards. Yes, touting for sure. There is normally an army of promoters in front of their store and no one passing by is spared. One promoter tried to get me to accept an application form and pestered and even followed me two stores down the hall. I eventually found a sure-proof way to counter these hard sell promoters. Later when approached, I declared that I was jobless with no income but I needed a credit card to help pay for my purchases. You could see the horror expressions in their faces. Yes, I was treated like a pariah and liked it.
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