Not about sales but about shopping

When shopping can be a little home business

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Picture by: garethjmsaunders

I’ve recently had a friend in the USA shop online for me. It was for a bunch of stuff and brands I can’t get here in Malaysia and something I’ve been wanting for a long time. I was lucky that she was lovely enough to do it all for me without charging me extra like some others have. :)

Some Malaysians living overseas have turned from doing friends a favour by shopping for them, to a small business opportunity where they buy certain items and then sell them on to their friends or online for a profit. I personally know of someone who has been doing this for years and turning a small profit as she goes along, without having to declare anything. For a housewife, she’s doing pretty well! I can’t say its a bad thing, to be honest. Heaven knows, there are so many things I want from other countries which I can’t get here, and if the mark up is within my budget, I don’t mind paying.

Because there is a return policy on goods overseas, I have also seen people who buy certain items (especially branded goods) on sale and then sell them on. While we might not get it at the exact sale price, it can still be markedly cheaper than buying it on sale or at retail in Malaysia.

For all the legitimate entrepreneurs out there, I take my hats off to you. If you want to buy such items off online sites, do be careful that you are paying for the real thing. And if you are, relish your bargain purchase!

December 10, 2008 | Filed Under Shopping hazards, Tips | Leave a Comment 

Always check for the Health Ministry’s approval

We can’t deny that we are now in the age of instant results. When we go to a restaurant, we no longer want to wait for our food and we get impatient when we do. We forget that food preparation is an art. We want to get our food NOW and eat NOW hence the proliferation of fast food restaurants.

With all that instant food comes instant fat and then we want instant results in getting rid of that fat – liposuction, plastic surgery, tummy tucks, never ending searches for the best diet pill to get rid of that fat RIGHT NOW!

Well, if you belong in that category of wanting to take a diet pill in the hope that it will help you lose weight quickly without having to exercise and cut back on food, be sure to do your research first. Remember, it is medication and that means it comes under the Health Ministry and they have to obtain the Ministry’s approval before letting the product go on sale. This is to ensure that the product is safe for consumption even if it might have other side effects. At least you know you aren’t going to die from taking a poisonous pill!

Here is a link to the Health Ministry’s site where you can check if a pharmaceutical product has passed the Health Ministry’s approval. It not only covers pharmaceuticals and medicines but also cosmetics and skincare! Don’t believe me? Try searching for Bobbi Brown and you’ll see a whole long list of items plus their owners/distributors. Pretty cool tool! :)

November 21, 2008 | Filed Under Discussions, Shopping hazards | Leave a Comment 

How to dress at a clothes warehouse sale

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! :)

May 2, 2008 | Filed Under Fashion, Shopping hazards, Tips | 5 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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