This is durian season and MPs, both opposition and PAP, are organising durian parties across the causeway for their residents. But where can you go to eat the king of fruits if you don’t want to be stuck in a traffic jam just so that you can sink your teeth into the juicy flesh of the succulent fruit in another country?
Well, if you are smart, you will head down to Chong Pang in Yishun Ave 5 where a ‘durian war’ has broken out. Two durian stalls – Chong Pang City Mao Shan Wang (who has been there for about 40 years) and 919 Evershine (a 2-year-old startup) – are competing for the stomachs of their customers. And what better way than to slash prices. Customers have said that the durians are being sold for as low 20 cents a piece.
The rental of the shop space is not cheap either. It is said that Chong Pang City Mao Shan Wang pays $60,000 a month in rent just to set-up stall next to the car-park near the very lucky 4-D betting outlet at the 7-11 convenience store at Block 102, Yishun Avenue 5.
The shop-owner is also selling his “premium” Mao Shan Wang durians at just S$16 per kilogram.
But also be careful. Some have also complained about the stall a few years ago saying:
“Yesterday had an incident, when someone bought 4 durian ( those $5 a durian kind) and ask for putting into boxes, but they were distracted by the $3 for 2 kg mangosteen and did not monitor the hawker…The employee quickly unpacked 3 durian instead of 4 into the packet and gave to the women….But the women complain that how come 4 big durian only can fill 3 boxes…but just quietly paid up…Most of the passer-by who saw this also keep quiet as do not want trouble…So watch out for these dishonest hawker…I really do not understand what is the point of cheating when there are mountains of durian unsold….but it’s very important to be vigilant unless you want to be short changed.”
But vigilance is a small price to pay that customers stand to win in a price war that’s set to benefit customers. Plus, you can also forget about the long traffic jams at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.