Why We Return Our Hitachi Fridge

The Hitachi Innovation Forum at Suntec City on 19 November 2014, in conjunction with their 50th anniversary in Singapore, touches on solutions that meets the needs and challenges faced by ASEAN cities and societies.

We have no experience with Hitachi products but through their exhibitions, we have noted that they have some of the best looking products around.

So when our 5-year-old Samsung refrigerator broke down, we selected the R-VG690P3MS Hitachi 2-door fridge due to its mirror-finish.

The promoters assured us that the parts were from Japan.

It was a surprise therefore to find that it emits several tinnitus-like sounds - eeeeeee, wheeeeee, pheeeeeeee - for quite a larger part of the day and night, with volumes ranging from low wind sound to whining to outright nagging. 

We followed instructions, and only turned on the fridge after letting it settle down for a day after delivery.  We even fill it up with some items in case it helps to moderate the thermostat. After monitoring for another 2 days, and finding that the sound appears to be characteristic of the model, we knew this fridge was unacceptable.

It was then that we combed the forums and realized that the high-pitch sound of Hitachi has been raised enough times by various members across several forums for us to decide on a one-to-one exchange to another brand.

Hitachi tried brand retention by suggesting that a muffler be placed around the compressor.  But forum members had already warned against doing that at the risk of shortening the life span of the fridge.  Their suggestion to muffle the sound with a foam-like material appears to contra-indicate the suggestion during delivery to leave the fridge 5 - 10 cm away from the way for air circulation purposes.

Folks with tinnitus often spend a fortune to seek a cure.  It was ironical to be told that the tinnitus-sound churned out by the compressor was normal.  It took quite a load of explanation before our predicament was taken seriously.  Gain City, the retailer, finally effected an exchange to another brand, which is serving us well. 

High-pitch sound impacts on health, research have shown. Although there are customers who eventually gets used to the sound, far too many people have reported finding the pitch intolerable.  Since Hitachi boasts a social innovation unit, they may like to start with solving this mystery of why they are ok with using a compressor that makes a tinnitus-like sound. 

Former China Tour Guide Yang Yin

40-year-old Yang Yin, embroiled in a legal tussle over the assets of Madam Chung Khin Chun, a wealthy 87-year-old widow, has falsified receipts of Young Music and Dance Studio, amounting to over $450,000.  Apparently, he wanted his company to reflect a hefty income in order to obtain a Permanent Residence or Citizen status in Singapore.

This is his latest miscreant act among the others he was caught with earlier.

There appears to be a few lessons to be learnt from this case which is why we have been following the case avidly.

Of concern is the well-being of Madam Chung.  At her age, and with dementia sometimes affecting a normal lifespan, immediate steps should be taken to allow her or a suitable representative to regain stolen assets and protect her from further loss. 

We have first-hand awareness of dementia.  Unlike what many thinks, reasonable judgment still resides in persons with dementia at the odd moments when lucidity returns.  An experienced doctor or caregiver can easily recognize these moments. 

Persons with dementia should be allowed to stay in familiar surroundings.  We hope her home is safe enough for her to return to, and good caregivers be by her side.

In the end, life isn't all about money.  But you still don't want it to go to the wrong hands!

The hearts of (some) men are desperately wicked.  We hope justice will be restored.

Yang Yin_Weibo