‘It requires more work’: Noodle stall owner defends 20-cent surcharge for dry noodles

SINGAPORE: Members of the public recently complained about dry noodles being 20 cents more expensive than soup noodles, a practice which they have found unusual. In a noodle stall located in Bedok North, a citizen noticed a sign posted stating that customers needed to pay the extra fee if they wanted to eat dry noodles and claimed, “I rarely see dry noodles costing extra.” 

Additionally, customers pointed out that if they want to have add-ons such as fish balls, meatballs, dumplings, chicken, and minced pork, they need to pay an extra $1. If they want to add shrimp, it will be an additional $1.5, as reported by Shin Min Daily News.

“The decimal point on the notice is unclear, and the 1.50 yuan for adding shrimp looks like 15 yuan,” a customer stated. 

In response to the issue, the stall owner admitted that dry noodles require more sauce, and the noodles and soup are being processed separately, which requires the additional cents. According to the owner, other stalls are charging 50 cents—more than what they charge. Furthermore, the owner emphasised that their pricing was clearly stated in their notice, so that there would be no misunderstanding. 

Regarding the misleading charge for the shrimp, the owner admitted that it was her oversight, stating that she might not have noticed the unclear decimal point when she wrote it. The owner corrected the misunderstanding on the spot to avoid any more confusion. 

“No customer misunderstood that it was an extra 15 yuan,” the owner claimed. 

With a clearer explanation of the procedure for how dry noodles were made and with the pricing now easily understandable, the owner is hoping that customers can better understand the charges and avoid confusion.

In other news, there was a report that a coffee shop located at Bukit Batok experienced three explosions, which eventually resulted in a fire. 

Due to this incident, several stalls inside the shop were destroyed, and one person was sent to the hospital for assistance. 

Read more about the news story here.