Hundreds of locals in Gia Nghia Town of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong Tuesday flocked to the Tay Nguyen restaurant to return cooking utensils they had bought a day earlier from Chinese traders thanks to their poor quality.

A group of traders, including Chinese nationals, leased the restaurant on July 15 to run a customer conference and goods display. It attracted local market-goers by offering them free pans, knives, and saucepans. The products bear labels stating that they were manufactured by Hoang Ha Co Ltd, based in Guangzhou, China. After the day of free offers, the traders began to sell the products at discounted prices. A pressure cooker was sold at VND1.6 million (US$76), with a knife set offered as a freebie, buyers told Tuoi Tre. A set including four cookers fetched only VND3.2 million. The dirt-cheap prices proved appealing to local residents, sending hundreds of them to buy the utensils. And it only took them one day to realize the real quality of the cheap products. Nguyen Xuan Ngoan, head of the town’s economic police, told Tuoi Tre on Tuesday that the traders have produced false advertisements about their poor products to lure customers. Police have made a report on Bui Thi Thu, who introduced herself as the manager of Dong Thinh Co, the importer of the Chinese goods. The company failed to present valid invoices and origin certificates for the products, which also violated regulations on goods labeling, said Ngoan. Police currently hold 145 products worth VND232 million as returned by local residents. Meanwhile, the Chinese traders fled following the authorities’ raid.