Jimat dan Senang Kira - Rounding Up Bills
Come 1 April 2008 1 sen coins will soon be a rarity in Malaysia. (This is NOT an April Fool’s joke!)
The reason for this is that the Government is introducing a rounding mechanism for bills so that you no longer get odd total bills like RM589.99 but it will be rounded up to RM590.00.
Some points to note are:-
- The rounding is on the Total Bill NOT individual products. So, if your toothpaste costs RM4.99 it will not be rounded up to RM5 unless thats the only thing you buy.
- The rounding is on all cash and non cash (credit card) transactions
- Receipts, Bills and Invoices must show the total amount before and after rounding so check your receipts!
Here is a table from the Bank Negara site showing how the rounding mechanism works:-
The rounding up of the total amount of a bill (including goods and services subject to tax) are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5 sen
- 1, 2, 6 and 7 sen to be rounded downwards
- 3, 4, 8 and 9 sen to be rounded upwards
Most importantly, the 1 sen coin is still legal tender. So don’t listen to rumors that say that it is no longer legal tender or of no value.
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!
Gifts with Purchase - bonus or evil?
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.
Dont buy a branded bag just because everyone has it
Do you fall prey to this? Do you find yourself wanting a bag just because everyone you know has it or because everyone wants it?
A classic example is the by now infamous I’m Not a Plastic Bag bag by Anya Hindmarch. I fell prey to this madness and even tried to get it in KLCC when it was launched. Fortunately, sanity reigned and I opted not to queue up for it.
So, my little bit of advice for everyone thinking of buying a branded bag is to get one that is classic and that will never go out of style. Don’t buy a brand or model just because its famous or because some star was seen carrying it. Remember, celebrities and socialites can afford to change their bags every so often once they tire of it. Its a lot harder for the rest of us to do so. Above all, don’t encourage the madness that Louis Vuitton has tried to foist off on us by creating this monstrosity from scraps of cloth.
A classic design in a branded bag will last you through the years. A trendy design will merely date you in the future and if its no longer in vogue, it will simply be money wasted.
Also, you don’t have to own a branded bag to be cool. A cheaper option in a lesser known brand might look just as good, provided its well made. I have lots of bags, both branded and of smaller brands, and I sometimes find myself carrying the lesser brands’ bags more simply because the designs might be more practical or simply because I want to attract too much unwanted attention. But this will be the subject of a discussion another day perhaps? 
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