DISCLAIMER: This blog post (“post”) comprises the original review – written on Wed, 11 Sep 2013 – and notes added over the course of my interactions with Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
The post was written by me and has been edited for clarity.
I am not responsible for comments left by other users. They assume all liability which may result from their comments.
THE SHORT OF IT:
This is a review of my experience with Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
The decision I finally reached was: I’ll do it; I’ll put up the requisite cash to get Pooters fixed and repaired and roadworthy, even though – pragmatically – it makes more financial sense to get a new scooter.
After doing a bit of research, I decided to go with Scooter Narcotics.
This was in the context of:
Having to look for a new mechanic.
W, the regular mechanic I used to go to, became reluctant to work on my bike after a while.
I wasn’t sure why initially: I’m a loyal customer; I always pay in full and I seldom (if not, never) haggle.
But from what I heard, W found my bike “troublesome”. My bike kept on breaking down and the battery kept on losing its charge inexplicably (more on that later).
W had every right to reject my bike if he found it cost-inefficient to work on it – i.e. more time spent fixing the bike than what it’s worth.
Nevertheless, I’m starting to believe it might not have been my bike; rather, it might’ve been W. I’ll explain this in a bit more detail below.
Looking to build a long-term relationship with a new mechanic.
I used to go to W for about three or four years.
Prior to that, I used T, another mechanic, for three or four years until an unpleasant incident occurred at T’s workshop. That was when I decided to look for a new mechanic and found W.
Like I said earlier, I’m a loyal customer; I stay with a mechanic if I find that s/he knows what s/he’s doing, and s/he can and wants to take care of my bike.
So I was also looking for a mechanic to take care of my bike for as long as possible.
After a phone call to verify that the mechanic was able to fix Vespas, off to Scooter Narcotics I went on 14 Jun 2013.
I made it clear that my intention was to keep the bike roadworthy for the next ten years.
I decided to go with the first stage of options, which cost me SGD1600, of which I paid SGD1000 as a deposit, as shown in the picture below:
Scooter Narcotics – receipt provided (without item listing of battery).
The agreement was for the following:
Replace a full transmission set;
Replace the rectifier (also known as a voltage regulator);
Replace the magnetic coil;
Carry out a normal servicing; and
Replace the spark plug coil.
On 27 Jun 2013, when I finally collected my bike, I found that Mark Yeow had installed a new battery without consulting me.
Scooter Narcotics – installed battery without consulting me, provided battery of an unsuitable size and charged me SGD75 for it.
To clarify this point:
I hadn’t requested for the battery to be replaced initially.
However, Mark Yeow was of the view that if he didn’t replace my battery, I wouldn’t have been able to ride the scooter.
I couldn’t inspect the battery because he’d already placed it in the scooter.
Mark Yeow also passed me the battery box from the scooter – he had to remove it in order to install the battery he recommended.
This demonstrates that the battery was of an unsuitable size for my scooter.
I did a test ride of the scooter and it was running fine at that point in time.
Hence, I indicated to Mark Yeow that I accepted his explanation and paid the remaining SGD600 along with the additional SGD75 for the battery.
Altogether, I paid SGD1675.
(A point to note that will be relevant later: Mark Yeow didn’t give me any of the old parts which he had purportedly replaced. I didn’t ask for them either; that was my own naivete.
Nevertheless, most mechanics automatically give you the old parts which they’ve replaced as a form of accountability/transparency.
To put it in perspective, the analogy is that all mechanics should show what they’ve taken out or replaced; I’ve gone under the knife a couple of times over the course of my life, and where possible, the doctors give me the parts they take out: teeth, screws, etc.)
Within three weeks – on 17 Jul 2013 – Pooters broke down again i.e. it couldn’t start, the same problem that had been plaguing it since the start of the year.
I was extremely frustrated because there was little I could do about it, especially since:
Pooters broke down at NUS, which was miles away from home – and what more, at night – so returning to collect it/arranging a towing service for it was difficult;
It was a very busy period for me, and the next time I actually could settle this issue was on 3 Aug 2013. (Efficiency is a very big reason why I always want to go to a mechanic who will keep my bike in tiptop condition, which minimises problems for me; I don’t want to have to constantly deal with niggling issues like these as my time is precious.)
And after paying SGD1675 for repairs and having my scooter break down within three weeks, I didn’t feel very good about going back to Mark Yeow and Scooter Narcotics.
On 3 Aug 2013, I brought Pooters to A, another mechanic, whose advice was to change the rectifier/voltage regulator, the magnetic coil and the battery.
I also asked around at a couple of bike shops and found that the battery which Mark Yeow provided me was retailing at between SGD28 and SGD40.
I told A, the mechanic, to go ahead with the repairs and got my bike back on 10 Aug 2013.
These were the parts which A, my current mechanic, gave to me after removing them from my scooter in the condition that he received it in:
The magnetic coil – note its condition.The magnetic coil – note its condition.The magnetic coil – note its condition.The magnetic coil – note its condition.The other side of the magnetic coil (the original part as you can see from the date).The other side of the magnetic coil (the original part as you can see from the date).The voltage regulator/rectifier.The voltage regulator/rectifier.
Condition of the parts: old and grungy/dusty. The magnetic coil even has a date stamped on it which looks like “2002 5 03”.
***
Yesterday, on 10 Sep 2013, I returned to Scooter Narcotics with the parts to ask for my money back.
I arranged an appointment with Mark Yeow at 8.30pm, but he arrived at 10.00pm.
This was the gist of our discussion:
Mark Yeow insisted that he’d replaced all the parts he was supposed to have replaced with new parts;
When I asked him why he didn’t give me the old parts then, his response was: “Did you ask for them?”
He was adamant that he was not going to return me a single cent; and
He told me to “go to the authorities”. So I’ve already lodged a report with CASE – I hope they’ll take it up.
***
UPDATE: Mon, 23 Sep 2013
After CASE replied to me with some clarification, I weighed my options and decided to lodge a claim at the Small Claims Tribunal.
***
UPDATE: Fri, 4 Oct 2013
Together with Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics, I attended a consultation at the Small Claims Tribunal.
My view: I wanted to reach an amicable settlement.
Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotic’s view: he was not going to refund me my money.
The assistant registrar fixed a date for a further consultation on Thu, 17 Oct 2013.
***
UPDATE: Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Together with Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics, I attended a further consultation at the Small Claims Tribunal.
My view: I wanted to reach an amicable settlement.
Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotic’s view: he was not going to refund me my money.
The assistant registrar fixed the hearing date for Fri, 25 Oct 2013.
***
UPDATE: Mon, 28 Oct 2013
I went to the Small Claims Tribunal for a hearing on Fri, 25 Oct 2013.
The referee ordered Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics to pay me SGD619 in costs, based on the fact that I had to go to another mechanic to change/replace/install parts which were supposed to have been changed/replaced/installed by Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
I will provide more updates when I receive the payment from Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
***
UPDATE: Tue, 26 Nov 2013
As Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has not paid me the SGD619 in costs, I have proceeded to file a Writ of Seizure and Sale.
This will allow the bailiff to enter Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics’ premises to seize his items for auction.
The costs owed to me by Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics will be recovered from the proceeds of the auction.
The total amount, inclusive of disbursements, is now SGD759.
***
UPDATE: Wed, 4 Dec 2013
As of today, Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has not made any attempt to service the debt.
Hence, the bailiff has proceeded with executing the Writ of Seizure and Sale at Mark Yeow’s Scooter Narcotics workshop.
***
UPDATE: Fri, 17 Jan 2014
As of today, Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has not made any attempt to service the debt.
Hence, I have filed a request for the bailiff to proceed with carrying out the auction sale of the items that were seized from Mark Yeow’s Scooter Narcotics workshop.
This is so I can get back the monies owed to me by Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
***
UPDATE: Wed, 12 Mar 2014
As of today, Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has not made any attempt to service the debt.
I called up the Small Claims Tribunal to ask for an update on the auction of the items seized from Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
The bailiff went down to serve the notice of auction to Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics but found the seized items missing, and an investigation is being carried out.
***
UPDATE: Thu, 13 Mar 2014
As of today, Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has not made any attempt to service the debt.
I was informed that Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics moved from his previous workshop at Ubi to a workshop at Kaki Bukit.
I filed a new request for the bailiff to proceed with carrying out – at the new location – the auction sale of the items that were seized from Mark Yeow’s previous Scooter Narcotics workshop.
This is so I can get back the monies owed to me by Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
***
UPDATE: Tue, 1 Apr 2014
The bailiff went down to serve the notice of auction sale to Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics informed the bailiff that he was willing to make a settlement.
A meeting for Thu, 3 Apr 2014 at 9.30am was arranged at the State Courts, in which Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics will make a settlement.
***
UPDATE: Thu, 3 Apr 2014
I arrived at the State Courts today at 9.20am.
I waited until 11am but Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics did not show up.
During this interval, I asked the bailiff to try contacting Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics. The latter could not be contacted; his phone was switched off.
At 11am, just as I was about to leave, Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics called the bailiff and informed him that he could not attend the meeting today because his father had taken ill.
Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics agreed to do a transfer of the monies owed to me – SGD984 at this point in time – into my bank account by 6pm today.
I emailed, Whatsapped and texted Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics my bank account details and the amount owed to me.
At 6pm today, I checked my bank account balance but Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics had not made the transfer.
The bailiff will proceed with the auction sale as planned so I can get back the monies owed to me by Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics.
***
UPDATE: Fri, 4 Apr 2014
Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics has transferred SGD984 to me as settlement for the case.
I will proceed to file the release papers.
***
UPDATE: Fri, 11 Apr 2014
I filed a Request for Release, in which the property taken from Mark Yeow trading as Scooter Narcotics and seized on 4 Dec 2013 will be released by the Bailiff.
The request has been accepted for processing by the State Courts.
This year, I’ve reviewed Eastern Heathens: An Anthology of Subverted Asian Folklore (Edited by Amanda Lee-Koe and Ng Yi-Sheng).
I forgot to mention this on Facebook, but special thanks to Jessie Koh for helping me bring the text up to Korea when I was there from April to May 2013.
I like having some lead time to read and digest the text/stories so that the review can ferment on its own and more or less write itself by the time I begin writing.
Bending laws, reclaiming lore Writers (re)narrate traditional tales for a contemporary audience
Literary writing in Singapore has entered a renaissance; a Reformation, in terms of both the amount of literary work and the type of writing produced. The last half a decade or so has seen a marked increase in the number of Singaporean writers publishing and performing their literary works. Within these works, a further trend can also be observed – the subversion, reclamation, revision or redirection of narratives (traditional or otherwise) in Singapore writing, evident in works such as Jean Tay’s Boom (2008), in which the modern Singaporean narrative of economic progress and prosperity is given a careful rethink, through to Ann Ang’s Bang My Car (2012), a novella that challenges form by mixing multiple writing genres and using Singlish in place of Standard Singapore English.
These counter-narratives are indicative of the post-postmodern Singapore zeitgeist: a desire to reclaim narratives as an act of remembrance of a Singaporean past that is constantly being demolished and, at the same time, to wrest power away from the ones who traditionally tell the narratives by retelling the same narratives in different ways. It is in this context that Eastern Heathens: An Anthology of Subverted Asian Folklore is situated, inhabiting an equally important space in this segment of Singapore literature that focuses on revising or unearthing narratives for a contemporary Singaporean audience and beyond.
