Be me, think you are very smart, and still get scammed by scammers half my age.
- Land in Hong Kong (still not China)
- Be aware there are lot of scammers trying to sell you electronics product
- Think I have been here many many times, I am scam proof
- Go for a walk
- Run out of battery
- Walk into a store to buy a power bank (this is in a busy tourist area)
- The teen working in the store first shows me regular ones at 30-40 USD.
- She then brings a special one and upsells me this 20,000mAH battery pack
- It has beautiful packaging, looking like an item from a sci-fi.
- Great thing it can be carried on train/airplanes in China (@levelsio, thanks for the reminder)
- The teen tells me it is 130W, can charge Macbook Pro for 2 times, more like 3 times
- The teen tells me it is twice the price compared to all other batteries as it is Hongkong brand (yeah, now you know where it is going)
- I read the packaging "serving you since 40 years" or something like that.
- I agree to pay the asked price 110 USD (haggling is below my dignity, later I see it should not be above 70-80 USD. Who cares for 30$! Other packs were at 30-40 USD, but I always pay for quality you know).
- I remember that flash of light in her eyes when I agreed to pay. She probably couldn't believe her luck.
- I thank the teen for being such a wonderful salesperson. I say to her I hope she gets enough time to study, and she will be very successful one day (she really upsold me really well)
- She looks down refusing to make eye contact, as if now feeling guilty.
- I charge mobile a bit in the store, the power bank drains rapidly. I think may be it wasn't charge properly (yeah there is such a thing. Stupid me.)
- Come back to hotel. After charging it to 100% - I now try to charge my Mac.
-I am dreaming all the freedoms it is going to offer me. Sit in a park, or by the beach and work for hours without worrying about power.
- Then notice, it can not even charge my laptop to 50% when it was supposed to charge it at least 2 times, more likely 3 times.
I read about the brand online. Find nothing!
Try to go to its insta page. Doesn't exist!
I can still go back to the store and argue, but will cost me 1-2 hrs. Not worth. Also, given how dense Honk kong is may not even be able to find it.
These businesses are predicated on fact that most outsiders won't return to argue. They keep such "special items" hidden from locals (probably).
Not much money, but it hurt me a bit how easily i got scammed. This electronics goods scam is pretty common in this part of the world, I knew it and still fell for it so easily😂.
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