You picked the wrong person to cheat on, Harvey...

You always remember your first time.First times are special and leave a irrevocable memory and impression. It may be your first car, your first bike, your first kiss, your first couch, your first "a-hem", or even... your first sound system.

I remember the very first time B* decided that it was time to buy a new flat screen LCD for his couch potato sanctuary. The cabinets were built, the space was rearranged, carpets cleaned, surfaces polished. SO for the next one month, we marched in and out of appliances stores to check out the most cost-worthy tv that was to take throne at his sanctuary. Finally, he decided on the model and size, and what would a lovely big tv mean without a good surround sound system? However, since his new one eye monster took up most of his budget, he decided upon a rather sleek classy looking LG 6 piece set of surround speakers.

The thing about men is, gadgets and electronics are like shoes and designer bags to us women. They become your pride and joy and you look forward to caressing them everyday ( whether it is the remote/ or for women, the fine texture and neat sewing of the bag) Not one woman i know would shrug it off if her Gucci bag's leather started peeling off after a mere usage of 1 year. Hell would break loose.

So after a year of purchasing both the items, one fine day, B* realised that one of his surround sound speakers was not working. Since warranty was for 1 year and we didn't buy extended warranty ( yes, these days you have to BUY warranty- they might as well say, buy at your own risk ), we had to hoist the 4 feet tall speakers into his backseat, and carry it to the store. It took us half and hour to fill in paper work, to check in the spoiled speaker. We were told that we had to pay for it. We took it with a pinch of salt, and left.

We were told that we would be called back after two weeks. After almost 2 months, not a pip of squeak from Harvey Norman. So we marched back to Harvey Norman Midvalley to check on the speaker. It took them more than half and hour to check where the speaker was. Finally, after pulling a fuss, the sales girl rolling her eyes at me as I raised my voice, they found the speaker in some nook and cranny of their store room, and told us that they had sent it back to LGfor repair, and nothing could be done about it. It was spoiled beyond repair. So B* asked, "what can be done then? Can we buy "one" speaker?" We were unceremoniously shooed away with cynical replies. They even suggested that we buy a new surround sound system again, because this one was gone for good.

I wasn't satisfied. There was no written report or account of why the speaker was spoiled. It wasn't about the money, or B* trying to be cheap. It was his right as a consumer, to be given an account of why a product could spoil right on the dot of when it's warranty ended. So B*'s uncle, who was a retired mechanical engineer, took the speaker home to attempt a repair himself. Ten minutes, and it was working the way it did when we bought it.

So what was wrong with the speaker in the first place? A wire fell out of place. That was it!!! 

So what really went down at this reputable electrical appliances store? Did LG pull a fast one on us, in hopes that we would be dimwitted enough to succumb to spending more money on a new 6 piece set? Or did Harvey Norman even bother sending the speaker to LG for repair as they claimed to have done. What's the point for buying appliances at a reputable store if their after sales service is comparable to any other dingy kampung shops?

I see it plain and simple. It's called exploitation. Very few people would question much when they are told that something is "spoiled beyond repair". This is called a scam. And this whole shebang, was to see how far we would go in terms of claiming our rightful consumer rights. It wasn't accidental that they didn't notice a wire fell out of place. It wasn't the possibility of an incompetent set of electricians that worked at LG. It was a plain simple feat to cheat.

Sorry Harvey, you picked the wrong person. I'm going to get you down, if it's the last thing I do!