Hongkongers in UK scammed by Chinese dessert store

With the Lunar New year fast approaching Hongkongers residing in the UK sought out traditional new year goods to continue to embrace their customs only to be scammed by a Hong Kong-owned store in Manchester.

A store in Manchester, which provides online services and deliveries and is operated by a fellow Hongkonger specializing in Chinese desserts and nostalgic snacks, came under scrutiny when a victim shared her frustrating experience on a Facebook page dedicated to Hongkongers in the UK.

She explained that she had placed an order for New Year and turnip cakes on January 14, intending to gift them to family and friends. 

The store had committed to dispatching the items by January 20 and even confirmed the shipment a day in advance. Unfortunately, the cakes never arrived.

The customer contacted the store twice regarding the delay. Each time, the store acknowledged the mistake and promised to deliver the cakes, setting a new delivery date for January 27 (Mon).

The store's failure to deliver on time and the lack of honesty led the customer to request a refund. However, by then, it was too late to order from elsewhere, as orders had ceased for the season.

The customer expressed disappointment, noting that she had intended to support a business run by fellow Hongkongers, only to feel deceived.

This sentiment was echoed by other netizens in the comments, who shared similar experiences. Some mentioned that other stores had also failed to deliver on time or had run out of supplies and offered refunds, which were slow to process.

Further complicating matters, some netizens revealed that the same store had a history of delayed deliveries, including an incident involving mooncakes and a reported case of food poisoning from their poon choi, which had been brought to the attention of the City Council.

The situation has sparked a broader discussion among the community, with some criticizing the store for resorting to deceit over something as basic as turnip cake, and others lamenting the recurring theme of Hongkongers scamming their compatriots