SINGAPORE- The new Hello Kitty trinkets or charms that can be used in place of ez-link cards have been snapped up within four days of going on sale.
The first wave of the charms, which feature the popular Japanese cartoon cat went on sale on April 30. They cost $24.90 each, or five times the price of an ez-link card. The price excludes any stored value.
A check on the company's website on Monday afternoon showed that all four types of charms are sold out.
EZ-Link, which manages the sale, distribution and management of ez-link cards, did not disclose the profit margins on the charms.
The charms, which can be hung on keychains and mobile phones, expire in two years, compared with five years for an ez-link card.
EZ-Link explained that the expiration dates were set based on the expected lifespan of these items, given wear and tear.
Commuters can recover any remaining value stored in their expired charms at TransitLink ticket offices in MRT stations.
