According to the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case), shoppers' complaints have risen steadily, from 119 in 2006, to 188 in 2007, to 133 so far this year. The Funan IT Mall, by comparison, usually receives between 20 and 30 complaints a year.

The increase comes amid a push by Sim Lim to shed its image as a haven for pirated software, pushy salesmen and shady shop owners.

Five years ago, the management tried to clean up the tarnished image of the Rochor Road IT mall by launching a programme that highlights honest merchants. Those shops were allowed to paste stickers on their shopfronts certifying them as a 'STARetailer'. Before the cleanup, police also raided shops that sold pirated software.

But the statistics from Case suggest that many stores have slipped back to their old habits.

Shoppers commonly complained about being overcharged and sold defective goods. Others grumbled about unsavoury sales tactics, misleading claims about products and a failure to honour refunds.

One of the most serious cases came earlier this month, when a shopper claims he was beaten up by three employees of a second-floor game shop.

The man, who corresponded with The Straits Times via e-mail and did not reveal his name, said he was about to buy a PlayStation Portable when a salesman jacked up the price at the last minute.

That led to a heated argument, after which the man claims he tried to take a picture of the store.

But the store manager slapped him in the face, said the man, who was with his girlfriend.

Before he could retaliate, two other men rushed out of the store and started whacking him with stools, he recounted.

The fight stopped only when the building's security officers arrived and called the police.

'I never thought this kind of blatant scam and violence would exist in this wonderful country,' said the man, who moved here from the Philippines in May.

'I still think Singapore is a great place to be in, I just know now that it's not exempt from these kinds of events.'

He filed a report with police, who are investigating the Aug 2 confrontation.

The owner of the store said the salesman did not start the fight and employees did not gang up on the shopper. He told The Straits Times that it was a 'one-on-one fight'.

The management of Sim Lim Square said the store is among the roughly one-third of retailers who are not members of the programme that highlights honest shops.

When asked how errant retailers are kept in check, building manager Chan Yew Tinsaid: 'We will inform the landlord of the unit and tell them that such complaints are considered when their lease is due for renewal.'

When The Straits Times spoke to retailers, however, one said the programme is sporadically policed and shops are investigated only after the management receives complaints.

Most retailers are worried about Sim Lim's reputation, especially as tourists account for between 30 and 50 per cent of their business.

' I think the locals know which shop to trust or not, in Sim Lim. But this image we've cultivated will scare tourists off,' said Mr Woo Liah Meng, manager of games shop Tec-Drome.

'We cannot afford to, as they have been steadily forming a big part of our business since I opened shop in 2004.'

The Singapore Tourism Board, which supports the STARetailer programme, said: 'As in any city, there will be a small number of errant retailers. The STB takes a serious view of any malpractices by retailers as these will adversely affect Singapore's reputation as a shopping destination.'

tanwz@sph.com.sg