ADVENTURES OF A CHEAPSKATE

In recent times I have realized I can be one hell of a cheapskate. I’m one of those people who will go to some interesting lengths for a great deal. No shame by the way! The kikuyu in me cannot, and I repeat cannot, let me spend more money than I need to. I will wake up in the wee hours of the morning to get the sale, panda a Safe boda motorbike to Kisumu for a deal, haha! I’m just being silly but I’m sure you get the drift.

But as I write this, my hunger for good deals almost got me conned. Heh! Heh! Heh!

Let me indulge you.

My colleague had recently discovered a Facebook page called Jumuia that had really great deals on electronics. She knew that I was planning on moving out soon so she had to put a sister on. 💪💪💪. The Facebook page had a post that they would have a 7^th anniversary sale soon so I was mad hyped.

Mimi nani… I put some money away looking forward for the sale.  Earlier today (1^st July) they put up a post that they are selling a microwave and fridge for some throw away prices.

Was going for 9,000/-

I was not going to let this kind of deals pass me by. No siree!  😂😂😂I decided to call the number indicated to ask a couple of questions just to get the jist and pick their minds abit about the products.

The mother tongue influence on this jamaa was mad thick, you shikanisha half the things zingine zinapita kupita. 

But I was so determined I was willing to decipher any language, or what sounded like an imitation, just to get the goods. 

Upon calling the sick bastard, first and foremost, he insists that payments need to be made before delivery and that there is no compromise. Aiii!!! (RING THE ALARM!!) If Jumia is a well-known online platform and they allow payment on delivery, why would this unknown one not agree? SUSPECT!

RED FLAG!!!!!

I was feeling uneasy about the whole thing so I asked where his physical location was in order to not only look at the items but to survey the business. He was sounding kidogo shifty and I wasn’t taking chances with my coin. When I tell you his mother tongue ilikuwa imeshika like superglue on anything, I’m not playing. He was saying Kaka House and all I could hear was Paka House.  Hehe! Anyway, he was so against the office visit and was intimating that the payment needs to be facilitated prior to the visit and then I can pick the item soon as I get there. Whaaaaaaaaat!!!!! I'm telling you i'm 5 minutes away and you are still insisting on the payment? You've got to be kidding me!

That’s a red flag after another red flag! But I had to see this for myself. I had left the office over lunch hour and headed towards "Paka" House on Maua Close to see the items. I kid you not, soon as we got off the lift on 6th floor we were welcomed with a JUMIA SIGN! Oh my God! This guy was playing us all along! Imagine if we had been foolish enough to send him the money before hand and not even bothered to go see the office just to feel comfortable?

Some of these online businesses are looking for people like you and I to take advantage of. Please be very careful. One of the team managers at Jumia told us that there had been quite a number of complaints with regards to this same fake page and that they have been looking for him. He was using the sale pictures on Jumia to lure in the clients, get their money and performs a disappearing act thereafter. He was quite the magician, if I might add. 

Please ensure you do your due diligence before engaging with this online businesses. Insist on paying on delivery. 

But please DO NOT stop looking for great deals, haha! And send them my way while you are at it. A sister has got to move and she's on a tight budget!😂😂😂😂 

The Adventures of the Cheapskate continue!!!

Spread Love & Light,

Njeri💗