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Hi all, Today I will discuss about buying fans and this is my personal encounter while shopping for the fans. Good or bad, I think it can serve as a guideline or warning for the rest of us who are still shopping for items for our dream house. Initially, we wanted to buy the well known haiku fan! The cheapest quotation that we have gotten so far was $1100 from Universal Union. Did not give us any face when we told them we are just looking around still as we are undecided. Those who love haiku just head straight to this shop and don't bother with the others. I tried going down to phylux as well because they have both haiku and vento fino which I simply adore. They did not want to disclose how much discount they are able to give over the phone and asked me to go down to their warehouse instead. When I went there and checked it out, I was greeted by a very soft spoken lady. She told me they are retailing the haiku at $1380 not including GST! And the best price they can offer is to absorb the GST. Same goes for vento fino series. The vento fino version 1 costs $499 and version 2 a whooping $1399. I also told her that haiku costs much lesser @ 1.1k elsewhere and she did not seem to believe me. She even exclaimed that if it is so cheap, tell her where and she also want to buy. Also, if I wanted other colours I would have to order and the stocks will only come in a month's time so I am appalled and did not want to commit to their time line. Furthermore, they seem to be only interested in serving the richer looking uncles and aunties in the shop as I asked for their black WCs catologue and got nothing after waiting in vain for about 10 minutes+ so I just left. I would say avoid phylux and just go to the shops along geylang road. Universal Union Enterprises Pte Ltd. 710 Geylang Road Singpore 389625 (recommended - served by Ivy See) Phylux 160 Paya Lebar Road, Orion #01-08, Singapore 409022 (Boycott, not recommended) However, after much discussions with the man, we decided that haiku is still way out of our budget. Also, I am bent on getting the vento fino version 2 although it is so expensive. After researching, I managed to find out that by going over the causeway, vento fino version 2 is so so much cheaper! The difference in version 1 and version 2 is that version 2 can oscillate and the wind power is so much stronger. I really love the version 2 one. ... And I simply cannot bear to buy it in Singapore. I remember seeing this shop being mentioned a few times in this forum actually.. Tampoi Lighting Centre Sdn. Bhd. No. 2,4 & 6, Jalan Titiwangsa 3/1 Taman Tampoi Indah (Batu 6 1/2, Jalan Skudai) 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. (Highly recommended!!) There are a few ways to go to JB if you do not own a car. 1) By bus Bus service Route Operating Hours Fares SBS 160 Jurong East Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via Bukit Batok RoadChoa Chu Kang Road (BP5 Phoenix LRT)Woodlands Road (BP14 Ten Mile Junction LRT & NS7 Kranji MRT)Woodlands CheckpointFrom Jurong East: Daily: 05:30 – 00:00From Kotaraya: Mon-Fri: 06:19 – 00:32Sat, Sun & PH: 06:15 – 00:25Normal distance-based trunk fares. SBS 170 Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal via Bukit Timah Road/Duneard Road (NE7 Little India MRT & NS21 Newton MRT)Upper Bukit Timah RoadWoodlands Road (BP14 Ten Mile Junction LRT & NS7 Kranji MRT)Woodlands CheckpointFrom Queen Street: Daily: 05:20 – 00:10From Larkin: Mon-Fri: 05:20 – 00:30Sat, Sun & PH: 05:30 – 00:30Normal distance-based trunk fares. SBS 170 NS7 Kranji MRT to Kotaraya II Terminal via Woodlands CheckpointFrom NS7 Kranji MRT: Mon-Fri: 05:36 – 23:30Sat: 05:40 – 00:00Sun & PH: 05:40 – 23:30From Kotaraya: Daily: 05:15 – 00:00Normal distance-based trunk fares. SMRT 950 Woodlands Regional Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via Woodlands Avenue 3 (NS8 Marsiling MRT)Woodlands Centre RoadWoodlands CheckpointFrom Woodlands: Daily: 05:30 – 23:30From Kotaraya: Mon-Sat: 05:30 – 00:00Sun & PH: 05:50 – 00:00Normal distance-based trunk fares. Advance Coach AC7 Yishun Interchange to Kotaraya II Terminal via Yishun Avenue 7Sembawang RoadSembawang Way (NS11 Sembawang MRT)Woodlands Avenue 9Woodlands CheckpointFrom Yishun: Mon-Sat: 05:45 – 23:30Sun & PH: 06:00 – 23:30From Kotaraya: Mon-Sat: 05:00 – 23:50Sun & PH: 05:40 – 23:50Flat fare: S$2 (for cash payment in Singapore and all ez-link card payments)RM2 (for cash payment in JB only)Singapore-Johore Express Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal non-stop via PIE, BKE & Woodlands CheckpointFrom Queen Street: Daily: 06:30 – 23:30From Larkin: Daily: 06:30 – 23:30Flat fare: S$2.40 (in Singapore)RM2.40 (in JB)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW1 NS7 Kranji MRT to Larkin Terminal via Woodlands CheckpointKotaraya II TerminalFrom NS7 Kranji MRT: Daily: 05:30 – 23:30From Larkin: Daily: 04:30 – 22:45To be advisedOnly cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW2 Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal non-stop via Bukit Timah Road, PIE, BKE & Woodlands CheckpointFrom Queen Street: Daily: 04:30 – 23:00From Larkin: Daily: 06:00 – 23:30To be advised. Causeway Link CW3 Jurong East Interchange to Perling Mall Terminal via AYETuas CheckpointTaman Bukit Indah (Jusco, Tesco & Giant)From Jurong East: Daily: 07:30 – 23:45From Perling Mall: Mon-Fri: 04:35 – 21:35Sat, Sun & PH: 04:55 – 21:35S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW3S Jurong East Interchange to Sutera Mall Terminal via AYETuas CheckpointTaman Bukit IndahFrom Jurong East: Mon-Sat: 11:15, 15:00, 18:00, 19:20, 21:20, 23:15Sun & PH: 11:15, 15:00, 19:20, 23:15From Sutera Mall: Mon-Sat: 05:30, 09:10, 13:30, 17:20, 19:40, 21:15Sun & PH: 09:10, 13:30, 17:20, 21:15S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW4 Jurong East Interchange to Pontian Terminal via AYETuas CheckpointGelang Patah TerminalFrom Jurong East: Daily: 18:30, 19:20From Pontian: Daily: 05:30, 06:00, 15:00, 16:30S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW4S Jurong East Interchange to Sutera Mall Terminal via AYETuas CheckpointGelang Patah TerminalFrom Jurong East: Mon-Sat: 08:05 – 21:00Sun & PH: 07:30 – 21:20From Sutera Mall: Mon-Sat: 04:35 – 16:50Sun & PH: 04:35 – 20:20S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW5 Newton Circus to Johor Bahru Customs Checkpoint via PIE/BKEWoodlands CheckpointFrom Newton Circus: Daily: 06:00 – 23:30From JB Customs: Daily: 05:00 – 22:30S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedCauseway Link CW6 EW27 Boon Lay MRT (bus stop along Boon Lay Way) to Bukit Indah via AYETuas CheckpointFrom NS27 Boon Lay MRT: Mon-Sat: 07:30 – 22:40Sun & PH: 09:00 – 22:40From Bukit Indah: Mon-Fri: 05:00 – 21:30Sat: 06:00 – 21:30Sun & PH: 08:00 – 21:40S$4 (in Singapore)Only cash is acceptedTranstar Express TS1 Changi Airport to Kotaraya II Terminal limited-stop via TPESengkang/Punggol (SE1 Compassvale LRT)Jalan KayuSembawang RoadWoodlands Avenue 5 (NS9 Woodlands MRT)Woodlands Avenue 3 (NS8 Marsiling MRT)Woodlands CheckpointFrom Changi Airport: Daily: 06:50 – 23:50From Kotaraya: Daily: 05:00 – 22:00S$3 – S$7 (in Singapore)RM7 (in JB)Only cash is acceptedRefer to websiteTranstar Express TS8 Resorts World Sentosa to Kotaraya II Terminal limited-stops via Outram Road (EW16/NE3 Outram Park MRT)Zion Road/Kim Seng RoadScotts Road/Paterson Road (NS22 Orchard MRT)Whitley RoadPIEBKEWoodlands CheckpointFrom Resorts World Sentosa: Mon-Sat: 08:00 – 00:00Sun & PH: 09:00 – 00:00From Kotaraya: Mon-Sat: 05:45 – 21:45Sun & PH: 06:45 – 21:45S$3 – S$5 (in Singapore)RM5 (in JB)Only cash is acceptedRefer to websiteCompass Coaches Marina Bay Sands to Tune Hotel Danga Bay non-stop via Woodlands CheckpointFrom Marina Bay Sands: Daily: 09:00, 12:00, 20:00, 23:00From Tune Hotel Danga Bay: Daily: 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 21:30Refer to website. 2) Singapore Cross-Border Taxis to Johor Bahru Ban San St. Taxi Kiosk, Singapore 911832 5 mins walk from Bugis MRT station. Travel in groups of 4 and pay $48 to reach the terminal. The man and I decided to opt for the easy way out and requested to head straight to the lighting mall at $55. They do sell LED downlights, T5 lightings and other lights as well but since I have already bought my lights from taobao, I decided that we should only buy our fans there. Here are the long awaited loots. Elmark aeronamics - 23 56" DC Motor Ceiling fan in white for our living room. A good substitue for the haiku fan. **Tip: Remember to request for the shorter rod (5") and also whether you are going to fix it up on the ceiling directly (ask for cement bracket) or the false ceiling bracket. Also bargain somemore even though the prices stated there are already very cheap. Chose my Vento Fino version 2 for the kitchen in Mahogony. The maple oak colour is nice but more suited for Scandinavian style. We are going for a more brownish overlook so it did not really fit into the theme we had in mind. Also managed to buy our storage heater over there. We bought the Joven 25L for RM500. Total expenditure: approximate RM3000, which is approximately sgd $1200 for all three items!! Satisfaction: PRICELESS.

Thanks for all the welcome! Actually, the bulk of the cost comes from carpentry. Having lived in places where there were never enough shelving/cupboards, I grew up living with, but hating clutter. Now that we have the chance to start on a fresh slate, we're incorporating lots of storage into our design! I am currently working on a longer update with more details... But just to let everyone know, we HAVE found someone, despite our 58 FT of carpentry, to work within our budget!