There is a Lagos distributor of LG products that collected money from some traders?
The traders are accusing the distributor of defrauding them.
They alleged that the firm closed its store without delivering their goods.
The store introduced “pay little by little” offer to traders last October.
It was gathered that some of the traders got their appliances but others didn’t.
A trader, Mrs Adetoun Abiolu, said she paid N53,000 out of N60,000 for a freezer, adding: “When they came last October, many of us joined because we saw that it was real when we got to their office. We paid whenever we had money. At times I paid N2000 sometimes N5000. We were issued receipts. I took my N7000 balance there last week but I was asked to return this week. Last December, I was told the price may change because the price of dollars had increased; I agreed. I am just shocked the store was closed on January 18. I haven’t seen any of the workers. I also heard the boss is not around.
“The painful part is that I introduced eight people and their money is times two of my money. They have been asking what happened and I am tired of explaining to them.”
Another trader, Chinedu Ogboji, said he paid N56,000 instead of N51,000, the initial price.
Chinedu said when he first went to the store to pay the balance, he was asked to come back as the product wasn’t available.
“After I paid N56,000, they asked me to come back last December 24 and when I did, they had closed for the year. When I got there on Monday January 11, I was told the price of the television is now N70,000 and that if I couldn’t afford it, I could pick a Samsung Television which I agreed. I don’t have the television, my money is gone and the workers are nowhere to be found,” he said.
Mrs. Olubunmi Fashina, who wanted to buy a washing machine worth N65,000, said she lost N42,000.
She said majority of the traders took advantage of the offer when the first set that started got their products.
“We are not happy about the situation. I even heard the workers are being owed for months and their boss cannot be found. Even when I requested their boss’ mobile line from one of the workers, he said she never disclosed her line to any of her staff. As if she saw this coming. What did they do with our hard earned money? It is painful. My balance is N13,000 but what of those who lost N250,000 to them. An old woman almost became unconscious on seeing the store locked last Monday. I remember the worker that registered me. He kept coming to my shop before I decided to join. I have been to their head office and I have not gotten a positive reply,” she said.
A trader, Oluwafemi Adebamigbe, who deals in jewellery, said it was the week after he collected his product that the shop was shut.
He said: “I am happy I didn’t fall a victim but it is unfair. Most of us can’t afford to buy what we need once; that is why we went for the offer and now we have been cheated. I pray they return soon so they can refund our money.”
At the Ogba, Lagos office of Fouani Ltd, the sole distributor of LG Electronics in Nigeria, the sales representative, who simply identified herself as Omobolanle, disagreed that the distributor has absconded with the traders’ money.
