JOHOR BAHRU \u2014 After nearly an hour walking through stalls at the Johor Jaya Chinese New Year bazaar, William Sim and his family bought only a few sticks of fried snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They left the bazaar on Feb 10 without bags of festive goods, even as Chinese New Year drew near. Mr Sim, a 32-year-old business owner who lives in the Mount Austin suburb, said the visit was mainly to check what was on offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his family was holding back because they expect better deals closer to the holiday. He used the local term \u201clelong\u201d, meaning last-minute fire-sale discounts, to describe the price cuts he hopes to catch on the final day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Sim said he did not see prices as unusually high. Still, he believes waiting could stretch his budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some families, that approach is part of a wider shift in spending habits. Browsing first, buying later, and targeting end-of-season markdowns are becoming more common tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also reflects growing caution among local shoppers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents told The Straits Times they feel increasingly \u201cpriced out\u201d in parts of Johor Bahru, especially downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some have begun calling it \u201cSingapore pricing\u201d. The phrase refers to higher prices that locals link to cross-border shoppers and their stronger spending power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In simple terms, \u201cSingapore pricing\u201d is a local label for goods and services that feel set for visitors rather than residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price is not the only concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Locals also pointed to heavy congestion and parking problems in central areas. Together, these factors make downtown shopping feel less worthwhile, especially for routine purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, some residents are changing where and how they shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Johor residents appear to be shifting to hypermarkets in suburban areas that are seen as more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The areas mentioned include Masai, Permas Jaya, Pulai and Skudai. For many households, these locations offer a more predictable shopping experience, with easier parking and fewer crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That matters when families are trying to manage tight budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
E-commerce is also playing a bigger role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some residents said they are turning to platforms such as Shopee and Lazada to get better value. The appeal is straightforward: more price comparisons, frequent promotions, and the ability to shop without the hassles of traffic and parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others are taking an even simpler route. They are buying less overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johor Bahru\u2019s festive season is still drawing crowds, but the tone among many locals is changing. With \u201cSingapore pricing\u201d becoming a common complaint, more residents are shifting spending to suburbs, moving online, or delaying purchases in search of last-minute bargains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOHOR BAHRU \u2014 After nearly an hour walking through stalls at the Johor Jaya Chinese New Year bazaar, William Sim and his family bought only a few sticks of fried snacks. They left the bazaar on Feb 10 without bags of festive goods, even as Chinese New Year drew near. Mr Sim, a 32-year-old business […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-singapore"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n