All about Shopping!

Not pictures of the sale.

There’s the FJ Benjamin Branded sale on this weekend. If you like La Senza, Guess, Banana Republic, Gap and Raoul make sure you head on down to Bangsar Village II in Kuala Lumpur (3rd Floor above MPH bookstores) to grab some deals.

I was there today. I thought prices were so so. Raoul ladies shirts were RM80, skirts were RM120 for 2, dresses were RM150 for 2 but designs were awful (to me). Banana Republic dresses were RM200, tops ranged from RM70-RM120. Gap jeans were RM120 and tops ranged from RM20-80 or so. La Senza had a good range of sizes for bras and panties this morning but I’m not sure how much is left.

There are loads of stuff, and loads of people and you don’t really want to be spending precious time in the queue for the fitting room when you can be digging through the piles of clothes for bargains right? So, here’s my tip for how to dress at a clothes warehouse sale.

• Wear a light or short skirt - it makes it easier for you to try on pants and jeans or skirts which you can slip on under the skirt in a quieter corner of the hall. A light skirt will help also when trying on a dress so it doesn’t look as bulky.
• Wear a light T-shirt or spagetti strap top - It makes it easier for you to slip on shirts and T-shirts and dresses don’t show up so bulky as well.
• Wear flats - It is easier to move around in flats or flip flops and it makes it easier to try on shoes. Besides, you’ll be  considerate to other shoppers who don’t like being stepped on with heels!

So, what did you get from the sales? Spill!

Tags: Fashion, Shopping hazards, Tips by ParisB
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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.

Tags: Discussions, Promotions & Offers, Shopping hazards by ParisB
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One of the hardest things to buy in my book, is a mobile phone. The reason being that the selection out there is so vast and varied that you would do to be boggled by the choices available to you. However, in my recent phone buying experience, I drew up a little checklist anyone might find useful, when buying a mobile phone.

This checklist wouldn’t be applicable for anyone who already has their heart set on a particular brand or model though. It is for people like me who suddenly find a need for a new mobile phone (in my case due to theft) and don’t have a particular brand or model in mind.

• Budget - I set myself a budget and tried to work within my budget. Many good phones can be bought for under RM1,000 as I found out.
• Specifications - Work out what you want in a mobile phone and then work within budget. I wanted a phone that could make and receive calls, send and receive SMS, have a decent camera, have bluetooth, and is slim. Others might place emphasis on a good  radio or on a good camera. I was less fussy about those bells and whistles.
• Original sets - I always believe in getting an original set i.e. one with an original warranty because if a problem arises with the phone you can always take it to the original manufacturer to be repaired or replaced if needs be. I am aware of sets known as AP sets which are cheaper but these sets aren’t covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and are thus at risk.
• Know your retail price - Always know the original retail price before you start your shopping. A friend got conned by a vendor who tried to sell him a phone at higher than retail. I too was quoted higher than retail rates before, so always check the retail prices before starting
• Shop around - From experience, I’ve found that shopping around a few different mobile phone vendors will give you a good idea of what a fair price should be before you start bargaining.
• Bargain - If you buy from a reseller in Sungei Wang Plaza or Low Yat Plaza, then you can bargain with them for a good price, or have them throw in some freebies. Some are willing to oblige if they want to close a sale. I ended up buying from one of the vendors because he gave me a good price without too much haggling, and was honest and pleasant which plays a big part  my decision to buy from any particular vendor.
• Check the phone before accepting it -  A friend found that a phone he bought was filled with unknown numbers. It turned out it was a phone that had been used before that by persons unknown. Once it was pointed out to the vendors they were quick to replace it with another new set.

This list is by no means exhaustive and if you have any further tips to add, feel free to leave a comment. I’m sure it’ll help someone out there who might be shopping for a mobile phone too! Incidentally, I ended up with a Samsung D900i for RM880. It fulfilled most of my requirements so I was happy.

Picture credit of Hachimaki

Tags: My Buys, Shopping hazards, Warnings by ParisB
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There is a Shiseido warehouse sale this weekend, starting Friday 5 October 2007. I used to be a regular at this particular sale because it was less popular, and I rather liked my finds there and I got great bargains.

I am sitting this sale out however, simply because the last one did not meet my expectations and I actually walked away with nothing in hand - quite unheard of in this shopaholic! Also, I’ve figured out that Shiseido as a brand, isn’t really for me so I’d rather save my money up for some other warehouse sale!

For all those planning to go, here are some tips I have for surviving a cosmetics warehouse sale, simply because when you have cheap cosmetics + women, you get total madness!

• Arrive early. When it says it starts at 10am, be there at 9am. You will find it easier to find parking, and probably find yourself at the front of the queue or near the front of the queue which makes it easier for you to enter the hall, find what you want and get out early too.
• Do not bring any bags. This is crucial. Bring a bag and you slow yourself down because you’ll have to bag it or leave it at a bag counter and there are instances of bags going missing or have things stolen. Just bring your wallet and mobile phone.
• Wear pants and comfortable shoes. You will be squeezing in the crowd. Believe me, you’ll thank me for this! I like to wear cargo pants so I can keep my hands free to grab stuff.
• Check expiry dates on sale products. There is a reason they are on sale. Skincare products and cream based cosmetics have a shelf-life of about 2-3 years only. Powder cosmetics have a longer shelf-life but if its too old, skip it. Your skin deserves better.
• Find out about the brands available before you go. Pop by a Shiseido counter to see what you’d like to get before you go. At the counter, you can ask all the questions you want and find out about the products in your own time. At the sale, no one likes someone who is picking up products and asking how to use it. The sales people are sometimes not trained beauty staff and they too maybe unsure of how to use the product. Also, there are a number of brands listed, so find out about them BEFORE you go.
• If you don’t know how to use it, don’t buy it. It’ll just go to waste because you have no idea how to use it, and that RM60 that you thought was a saving could be better spent elsewhere.
• Know your foundation colour/shade before you go. If you plan to buy foundation at the sale, check your shade at the counters first. You’ll save a lot of time and hassle by just telling the staff to get you the colour you want instead of trying to find a tester and making a snap decision at the sale itself. Remember, foundation is a tricky business and you cannot settle for anything less than perfect. Read these foundation tips on how to find your perfect foundation.
• Know your retail prices. If you don’t know your retail prices, how would you know if you are getting a bargain? Generally, the Shiseido brand is pretty expensive and their savings at the sale is substantial. However for the cheaper brands found at the pharmacy, sometimes, it might be about the same price were you to buy it at say, Guardian or Watsons during a sale.
• Try to pay by cash. The cash lane is usually shorter because most people use credit cards. So, if you bring a wad of cash and pay by cash you’d be out of the mayhem faster. Also, there was an instance when I was too early and the credit card machines were not yet set up - major madness.
• If you don’t think you’d use it or like the colour very much, don’t buy it. Not even if its the cheapest Shiseido lipstick you’ll ever buy. Trust me on this one.

These tips are based on my own tried and true experiences and apply not only to this Shiseido warehouse clearance sale, but to all cosmetics brands’ clearance or warehouse sales. I picked up these tips through trial and error and they have worked for me like a charm every time, saving me money and time! Have fun at the sale!

Sale promo picture courtesy of ShoppingnSales

Tags: Beauty, Promotions & Offers, Shopping hazards by ParisB
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