First we have the L’oreal consumer products sale (L’oreal, Garnier, Maybelline etc) and then the L’oreal luxury products sale (Lancome, Shu Uemura, Giorgio Armani etc) both of which feature cosmetics and perfumes in great profusion.

There is also a Metrojaya warehouse sale at which perfumes and cosmetics again are making an appearance.

If you are planning to go for either, I’d suggest you watch out for a few things (coming from a seasoned warehouse saler):-

• Expiry Dates -  There is a reason why products are so cheap at these sales. Some are very close to expiry. Remember that products like moisturiser and sunscreen degrade even if unopened and they lose their effectiveness once approaching their expiry date. So, always always check the expiry or best before date.
• Mascara – I’ve bought mascara at a L’oreal luxury sale twice. Both times, although I paid slightly below retail, what I got was dry gunk that did not work. Now, if this was at a counter, I could return it or exchange it as mascara wands should always be wet never dry. But since it was at a sale, I had to suck it up and watch RM50 fly out the window. Its an expensive lesson to learn. So, unless the mascara is shrink wrapped, I’d steer clear of it at a warehouse sale. I’ve seen girls take one and there and then open it up to check. To me, that is one of the sources of the problem, because opening it up introduces air that dries it out. So, I’d be leery of mascara.
• Discontinued Products - Warehouse sales are an opportunity for retailers to clear stock. Sometimes, these stocks include discontinued products. If they were just discontinued and relatively fresh, that’s fine. The problem is if they have been discontinued for years. I’ve seen it happen. Products discontinued in 2003 were still being sold in 2006. So, know your products. If it is super super cheap, there is a chance it has been discontinued and they are just trying to offload it as quickly as they can.

So, bear these thoughts in mind when you hit the warehouse sales this week. And above all, be early!

Happy sale-ing!

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

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?

Laugh all you like at the cartoon, but fakes are a very real concern when you shop on Ebay, or on any online auction site for that matter. Whilst it is not always possible to spot a fake item, there are some telling signs that should ring warning bells when you see such auctions:

• The seller does not have many photos of the item from different angles. This is true for items like handbags. It would be advisable to ask for more photos of the item and satisfying yourself of the authenticity before bidding.
• Do not assume that if the seller says its “Authentic” it is. This used to be a benchmark but not anymore.
• The Buy it Now price is too low. Usually, sellers of authentic products do not sell their items for very low prices so this is a clear warning sign.
• The seller does not offer a money back guarantee. Usually, sellers of authentic items will offer a money back guarantee because they know their items are real and cannot be challenged.
• The seller has many of the same item. If it is an item that is easily found then its hard to tell if its fake. However, if it is a limited edition item e.g. a limited edition handbag, a seller who has many similar items up for auction should send warning bells ringing.
• The item ships from China or Hong Kong or Taiwan. This is usually in the case of clothes or handbags or shoes. I have nothing against people from these countries. I come from one that has such a stigma too and I too have been discriminated against. But if the seller puts their location as the USA but ships the item from countries outside, beware.

Fake items are not limited to clothes or bags or shoes. Even makeup and skincare are not spared. So, if you plan to buy something expensive or limited edition on Ebay hoping it will be cheaper, do your research first and make sure you know what the original item looks like. You don’t want to spend all your money and then find out that what you have in your hands are a worthless copy. In the case of makeup and skincare, it might even be damaging to your health.

So, beware fakes on Ebay and shop safe!

This post is part of the Daily Blog Tips Blog Writing Project: Tips and Tricks.

Money is not something that is easy to come by, and most of us want to get as much as we can out of our purchases. This could be in the form of getting free gifts with purchases or special buys at lower prices.

However, it is important not to let greed get in the way of trying to find a bargain. This was brought to me when I read an article in today’s newspaper about a woman who had lost RM33,000 in what she perceived to be a half price offer.

Upon purchasing 2 mobile phones for a bargain, she was told that she had won a cash prize but she had to pay a “commission” in order to receive the prize. This should set alarm bells ringing. Needless to say, she paid up and paid up more to win bigger prizes. In the end, it turned out to be a scam and she got nothing, except maybe her mobile phones.

So, when shopping, beware greed rearing its ugly head:

• You never have to pay money or commissions to win prizes.
• If something sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

This lady ended up paying RM33,000 for 2 mobile phones from a shady dealer she found in the newspaper ads. All because she wanted to save a little bit of money instead of buying them at a proper mobile phone dealer.

If you own an Ebay account, you may sometimes get emails purporting to be from Ebay, telling you to update your account information. Like Paypal, Ebay will always address you by your name that you registered with. They will never refer to you as “Dear Ebay Member” or “Dear (username)”. It will always be “Dear (your name)”.

Similarly, if in doubt, log into your ebay account by typing ebay’s address into your browser address bar. If you don’t have a warning message there, then its likely your email is a hoax. Whatever you do (real email or not) do not click on email links or risk getting your account hijacked.

If you aren’t an ebay member then, um… I guess you have nothing to worry about!