I was on my way to my parents’ when I came across some flyers along Jalan Jelatek, in KL. It was an advertisement for a “phone fair” that promises a cut-down price as much as 70%. Phones from reputable manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG are quoted. Since I’m a sucker for discounts and mobile phones, I decided to check out what the hooplas are all about.

The venue is at the new Dataran Jelatek (exactly opposite Setiawangsa LRT station). Parking is ample, as long as it’s by the roadside and can be as long as the Jalan Jelatek itself (check out the pic above).

My expectation is quite high, keeping in mind that the phones from Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson are of very good qualities and demanded a high market share between them.  Even their lowest end phones are usable and will possibly guaranteed usages for several years (ehem, just like my trusty Nokia 3310).

Once I entered the first tent (yeah, they’ve erected some tents within the Dataran’s compound), I am bitterly disappointed. What I saw inside the tents definitely not what the sellers are advertising! I saw rows of China-made phones bearing the likeness of Apple’s iPhone, BlackBerry’s Bold, Nokia’s E72 and E71 and some phones that double as game machines. What the fark, I say! Phones, they are….Original, they are not. Unless you call a copied (read: ciplak) Crocs a Crocs, then you’ll labelled the China-made phones as originals.

What intrigued me is, even the phones are clever copies of the real ones, people came in droves and bought a lot of these shits! The phones are cheap, I have to admit, but how about the durability of it? How long the phones can last? What about the after-sales service?

The scenes inside the tents reminded me of how Kotaraya Shopping Centre looks like nowadays (I dare not taking photos inside the tents). The place is full of phone shops and counters selling China-made phones. And they cleverly created the same environment outside of Kotaraya in a so-called posh area of Jalan Jelatek, where the famed Seri Maya Condominium is situated.

My brother tried to ask some questions on the mobile phones, and these are the answers that we get:

• “Semua handphone ori maa. Singapore set”;
• “99% original” (where in hell is the remaining 1%?);
• “This iPhone is original. Only some functions not there” (WTF?);
• “Boss, you try first laa. Then you know ori or not” (double WTF?);
• “iPhone. Buy 1 free 1. RM328 only” (how I wish the actual iPhone is this bloody cheap!);

In short, life is too short to NOT shortchanged people and sell them China-made phones. In the midst of looking for good bargains and at the same time to save some couple of bucks, most people will buy something without even thinking more about it. Do I like to be in this kind of society? I think not.