Not about sales but about shopping

Where do the warehouse sale goods come from?

It is not uncommon to see warehouse sales of branded goods. In fact, warehouse sales of goods of any kind are now common place here. The most common branded goods warehouse sale I’ve seen is the one with Levi’s, Dockers, Polo, Guess and Zara, MNG, Victoria’s Secret etc. I have personally been to these sales when they were new but have never found much to buy. This is mainly because most of the stuff are older stock or have dubious origins or come in too large sizes.

I’m uncertain if these branded warehouse sales obtain their stocks from dealers who handle closeouts clothing or clothing liquidators. These companies help branded stores or department stores to sell off their overstock of clothings in bulk at cheaper prices. I used to wonder what happened to clothes that don’t sell and I think I just got my answer.

These liquidators handle everything from women’s clothing to handbags; and since these overstocks are sold worldwide, I guess it is only a fair bet to say that some of the branded warehouse sales held locally may be obtaining their wholesale stock from such merchandise liquidators. As an example, GAP was available at such warehouse or factory outlet stores years before the GAP store was opened in town. Its is a sure sign that the world is getting smaller, when you can buy a clothes brand at a warehouse sale that you can’t even get in a proper store in a mall!

March 11, 2008 | Filed Under Discussions | 1 Comment 

TM Streamyx Combo Deal - worth it?

I’d been seeing many posters and ads for the TM Streamyx combo deals. What intrigued me was that TM were offering RM60 for unlimited broadband and no fixed line rental.

I was keen at first, because I did not want to have to pay for a rental of a fixed telephone line that I do not use. I don’t use a land line at home because I kept getting wrong numbers which was very irritating.

However, when I checked out the combo packages offered, I was appalled. The RM60 a month price only gives you 384kbps. That is hardly sufficient for surfing the internet!

streamyx-combo

Assuming I was satisfied with a 512kbps broadband line I would have to pay RM90 a month. I decided to check and see how it compared to a normal fixed line + streamyx package.

Streamyx Combo package = RM90 a month 512kbps (unlimited broadband, no fixed line)

Normal Streamyx package = RM25 line rental + RM66 unlimited broadband 512kbps = RM91 a month.

You save RM1. “wow”.

March 10, 2008 | Filed Under Promotions & Offers, Technology | 4 Comments 

Gifts with Purchase - bonus or evil?

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Most people are familiar with the concept of Gifts with Purchase or commonly known as GWP. You will notice that usually, it is beauty counters or cosmetic companies that use this idea of a GWP to attract customers.

I say that GWPs are actually evil. They are there to encourage you to buy more than you really need which is good for the seller but less so for the customer.

How often have you stopped to buy a night cream that you have run out of only to have the sales assistant tell you that if you top up another RM20 or buy RM300 worth of products or buy another item, you could qualify for a 5 piece gift set? If you are already planning to spend all that money, or planning to buy a few items at a go, then by all means, do so and get your freebies.

However, often you will find that you find yourself thinking that the gifts offered have such a high value that it would be more than worth your money to buy another item just to get that 5 piece gift set worth RM280.

I’d say you are better off keeping your money. These are my reasons:

  • The “gifts” are usually deluxe sized samples of skincare. Unless you use the skincare under that brand, it will just lie forgotten in your drawer.
  • The samples (whatever size they are) are just that - samples. They have no true value so whatever value placed on them e.g. RM280 worth of gifts; is just pro-rata based on the full size value and is not a true indication.
  • They try to entice you with a bag, but the bag is usually a cheap one. Some offer useful bags that can be used as document bags but most free gift bags aren’t useful at all
  • Some cosmetics brands offer a free lipstick. Usually it is in different (usually plastic) packaging because its a free item. Thus again, it is of no real value.
  • Some offer a free full sized eyeshadow or lipstick as a gift. Note that sometimes, the products may have been discontinued and they are just getting rid of extra stock this way.

I found this out the hard way. I used to succumb to GWP promotions all the time but am now much wiser in my purchases. It really isn’t worth spending the extra RM250 to get a GWP “worth RM280″ when all you are really getting is a cheap bag with samples in it. Well, not unless the bag is super cute or useful (e.g. Paul & Joe gave out trolley travel bags) or you get close to full size gifts.

March 4, 2008 | Filed Under Discussions, Promotions & Offers, Shopping hazards | 4 Comments 

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