MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent?

[SNAblog]

Is Gan Kim Yong being imprudent?

http://news.omy.sg/News/Local+News/Story/OMYStory201103250036-232118.html

Designer chairs for MOM staff

IF YOU are a staff member working at the Ministry of Manpower's office in Kim Seng Road, count yourself lucky you may get to sit on a comfortable designer chair.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has spent almost $272,000 to buy a total of 472 Herman Miller chairs for its staff.

The model Celle, which MOM bought, was launched in 2005 and is named after its cellular suspension. Its seat and back are made up of loops and cells which flex individually to give good support.

Herman Miller is an American manufacturer of office and home furniture based in Zeeland, Michigan. The tender for the chairs, which was placed on the Government's electronic procurement portal, GeBiz, was awarded to home-grown furniture company Xtra Designs on Jan 31.

"We conducted an open tender in accordance with government procurement guidelines. The brand of the chairs was not specified in the tender invitation," said a MOM spokesman in reply to queries from my paper.

Xtra Designs, located at Park Mall, is the sole authorised dealer for the brand here.

The MOM spokesman said that the chairs, which cost $575 each, were chosen because of various factors, such as their ergonomic design, durability and value for money. "Taking all these factors into account, the successful tenderer meets our requirements and offered the best value for money over the lifespan of the chairs," added the spokesman.

The chairs, which have not been delivered, will arrive in batches. Xtra Designs was selected out of a total of 11 companies which submitted their quotations to the ministry.

The chairs come with a 12-year warranty, which covers all parts, including on-site support and the option to repair or replace.

Xtra Designs managing director Lim Choon Hong confirmed the warranty coverage. Mr Lim also highlighted that a feature of the Herman Miller Celle chair is that it is 99 per cent recyclable, and is made with 33 per cent recycled content.

He said: "This is an important acknowledgement and response to the global and our Government's direction towards environmental sustainability."gl

 

[GoldenDragon]

Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?

Civil service must be changing. My time, everything must be the cheapest. Wonder what Head of Civil Service has to say on these purchases. Why only MOM gets this benefit? Get OSIM for their staff to relax next?

 

[SNAblog]

Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?

Civil service must be changing. My time, everything must be the cheapest. Wonder what Head of Civil Service has to say on these purchases. Why only MOM gets this benefit? Get OSIM for their staff to relax next?

I wonder what will the late Goh Keng Swee say if he is alive today.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?

All the spines no good must sit good chairs with better back support?

 

[denzuko1]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

I think the same kind of chair cost only SGD200+ at Ikea....

 

[GoldenDragon]

Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?

I wonder what will the late Goh Keng Swee say if he is alive today.

While we are discussing this at SBF, GKS is also discussing this with KGC in another world. Maybe they invite Barker and Lim Kim San to join them. JBJ not invited.

 

[SNAblog]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Whats next? Golden tap for Gan's private toilet?

 

[Cestbon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Commission is legalise now is on top of table. No more undertable.

 

[middaydog]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

this one ?

 

[Cestbon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

this one ?

Purchaser very happy so do the saleman . Staff also quite happy but the tax payer mad

 

[po2wq]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

dese kind ... :o

 

[GoldenDragon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Just recalled that end Mar is close of their FY. Whatever they have left, they have to spend the money so as to avoid being penalised in next year's budget. You are not likely to hear of these unnecessary purchase until the period Feb-Mar whereby all hell breaks loose. I think I am right here. I went through that before. Ask for necessities, never get. When FY closing, they beg you to buy.

 

[Char_Azn]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Just posted this in the other forum I'll just copy it here

Actually it's not that expensive if you work it out from a corporate company's point of view. It's only expensive if you only look at the up front cost. However U have take into account the warranty period of the Chair which in this case is 12 years. The Chair is an asset and its value depreciates over that 12 years.

$575 a chair, over 12 years is about $48 a year. It's actually cheaper for them to buy something like that then to buy say a $100 chair with a warranty of only 2 years. In the record books they are losing just $48 a year as compared to $50 a year for the cheaper chair. Yeah it kinda sounds stupid but that's what my Finance pple taught me how to look at fixed assets

Of coz this being a chair U will sit in for 12 years, it has to be nice and comfortable to sit in for prolong periods of time so cost is not always the top piority

 

[Char_Azn]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Just recalled that end Mar is close of their FY. Whatever they have left, they have to spend the money so as to avoid being penalised in next year's budget. You are not likely to hear of these unnecessary purchase until the period Feb-Mar whereby all hell breaks loose. I think I am right here. I went through that before. Ask for necessities, never get. When FY closing, they beg you to buy.

Yeah this is another one of thsoe stupid Finance thingy I can never understand. Overbudget. Must spend on garbage so as to make sure you will at least be given the same amount next year.

 

[SIFU]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

NB some pap doggie very free. come out with grandmother story trying to justify the expensive chairs.

there is a question for u at the politics folder. why dun u get there to answer it since u so free and so loyal.



http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?87633-1-question-to-MP-wannabe-Dr-J-Puthucheary

 

[Cestbon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Just recalled that end Mar is close of their FY. Whatever they have left, they have to spend the money so as to avoid being penalised in next year's budget. You are not likely to hear of these unnecessary purchase until the period Feb-Mar whereby all hell breaks loose. I think I am right here. I went through that before. Ask for necessities, never get. When FY closing, they beg you to buy.

Yeap I understand. If they not spend the budget given within the year . Next year they will get less budget because the department prove that it can be done. I also happen the be the purcahser. Buy alll the extra spare part and all the best equipment as long not over budget no one will question. But this is not MNCs but is tax payer money.

Just posted this in the other forum I'll just copy it here

Actually it's not that expensive if you work it out from a corporate company's point of view. It's only expensive if you only look at the up front cost. However U have take into account the warranty period of the Chair which in this case is 12 years. The Chair is an asset and its value depreciates over that 12 years.

$575 a chair, over 12 years is about $48 a year. It's actually cheaper for them to buy something like that then to buy say a $100 chair with a warranty of only 2 years. In the record books they are losing just $48 a year as compared to $50 a year for the cheaper chair. Yeah it kinda sounds stupid but that's what my Finance pple taught me how to look at fixed assets

Of coz this being a chair U will sit in for 12 years, it has to be nice and comfortable to sit in for prolong periods of time so cost is not always the top piority

12 year . Very funny feedback. Mostly maybe 6 year max. Most will be damage after 5 year.

 

[Devil Within]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Is Gan Kim Yong being imprudent?

http://news.omy.sg/News/Local+News/Story/OMYStory201103250036-232118.html

Designer chairs for MOM staff

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has spent almost $272,000 to buy a total of 472 Herman Miller chairs for its staff.

This is a clear sign of our decadent PAP government, when they have no qualms about wasting taxpayers' hard earned money unnecessarily.

 

[Char_Azn]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

12 year . Very funny feedback. Mostly maybe 6 year max. Most will be damage after 5 year.

Dude read the article. It's stated clearly in there meaning this will be spelt out in the contract

The chairs come with a 12-year warranty, which covers all parts, including on-site support and the option to repair or replace.

Xtra Designs managing director Lim Choon Hong confirmed the warranty coverage.

 

[GoldenDragon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Yeah this is another one of thsoe stupid Finance thingy I can never understand. Overbudget. Must spend on garbage so as to make sure you will at least be given the same amount next year.

I am pretty sure with all the brains in the Civil Service, most on relax mode, they can initiate something more meaningful.

Decades ago, wanted to go for a learning trip up north. Put in proposal. Rejected. Appealed. Later, went through. Was 'adviced' not to take for granted these trips will be OKed in future. I told the chap it was not $$$ I wanted as I could always drive up to KL without claiming mileage or whatever. I wanted official leave!

 

[Cestbon]

Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent

Dude read the article. It's stated clearly in there meaning this will be spelt out in the contract

Not all the part are warranty. Should read the fine print and lobour cost is not free.
Warranty 12 year maybe body. Not included roller/wheel and they can mark up labour cost to $150/chair but free part.
That the business game.