Ideasmiths

Because most of us are inexperience? Especially with big ticket item. For example, some contractor wanted 10% downpayment, but when you sign, you see that the small print says that if you default you need to pay $x for this, $y for that....so on 'confirmation' day, another 40% need to be paid, then after delivery the other 50%.... Sometimes we are just too gullible Well, at least I think me and wife can get some money back, we made a police report and the banks would reverse the charges. Lol, asked the policeman if I see Mesin at Expo again, what can we do? He says not much.... Sigh..

I have a temporary solution to the stupid door design at the Master Bedroom. I decided to remove the stopper at the top and relocate towards the right before it hits my shower head. If you remove the black stopper (its a nut and washer there), don't do it if you don't have the tools to put it back, you will see a screw there. I asked my carpenter to do a favour and grind it off without damaging the tile, but he says no need, seem like it was screwed on, so just take plier and screw it out. I figured if there is nobody at the shower area, the door can swing until there and I can use the mirror and washbasin without my left elbow being obstructed. If showering, then close the door so no issue Here something to note: Talked to the HDB plumber and he says the HDB valves are easily recognise, they are white and short levels as shown. My ID plumber also another totally can't make it person, for both my WC he added in the spray hose but reconnected the pips so tightly twisted that I fear they would break in use, so asked the ID to rectify the 'defects'. Today went to see the results and realised that he tried to save work by twisting the pipe more to 'untwist it'. Ended up one of the valves as shown is so tilted that the valves cannot be operated properly unless you turn it hard against the nut as shown. For valves, they should be perpendicular (like the one on the right). called my ID up and she says "oh...so you want him to change it back to the original position?"...I say "NO, I want your plumper to get it in the right position, just do the job correctly". ID 'rectified' the valve, but the water pipe become twisted again...sigh, she says cannot be help, it is like that. What?

At the courts last weekend there was a mega raya sale, some fridge were on sale, I bought a samsung RS20NRSV (510L), 3 tick for $788, plus $50 NTUC voucher PLUS choice of oven (so called worth $139) or Samsung phone. The normal price is $1299 (check gaincity website for the 'retail' price). So sometimes on sat morning, 6 am go buy the straitstime, see where got good limited offer (like only 5 sets), rush there, queue and you get the item...hee hee

if you paid using VISA card like myself, get the banks to reverse the charges. first I went to the police and lodge a report as this is under CBT, then with the report give to bank with the forms. With more people making the police report, the higher the chances of winning. Police report is quite easy and because we are on the 'correct' side, it's quite a good experience. The police won't do any investigation, the paperwork is there so that in the future you still got options to make it a criminal case or small claim or legal case.

liao, my wife just pointed out something which I totally missed... Here is a learning lesson for others to follow: Regards the cement based for the fridge, looking at the item all the while I thought it is okay...nicely build. Except, I think my fridge will be unsupported. What happens is that the completed solid top table, is protruding out a bit, my camera can't take the full vertical view showing the base and the top, so got to draw a bit. As you can see, the side of the fridge maximum can only lean against the side of the solid top table, so basically there is a big area where the cement base is useless. Worst, because the support legs of the fridge are equidistance from the center of the fridge, and then the outer body of the fridge is further 'out' from the support. This could means that 2 of left support could be hanging in mid air Sigh, tomorrow must call that Hazel again and ask her to extend the cement base left. Another note: When you select the fridge, make sure the door don't bang against something when open. Because you may need to swing the door wide (especially the right side in my case), for you to put in and take out stuff. If there is a tabletop in the way or you push the fridge too far in, got problem.

Okay, for all Bedok newcomers, do not use Hazel from *****.....because of the poor handling of the renovation work of my unit (see the issue of the kitchen sink thingie). I have no beef with *****, but I think this junior desinger cannot make it. Design skill - 6/10 (it's supposed to be design, then build, not on day to build..oops cannot fit here, cannot fit there, nevermind anyhow build. Later owner say WRONG, nevermind lah, it's designed, it's like that one, cannot change...blah blah blah). 3 incidents, the kitchen, the bookshelf, the fridge base all show lack of detailed design skills. 3D graphic skill - 8/10 (that's her forte)...can show you nice nice drawings, unfortunately it's not my flat, I can see it's was a recycled or default showpiece. Operation skill - 6/10 Defects checking skill - 0/10 (I do all the work)...an ID if looked at the finished work should be able to spot any improper mistakes immediately, not wait till the owner spot it for you then ask contractor to rectify. This already shows a bo chap attitude, build mistrust. Rectification skill - 3/10...everything also cannot.. This latest issue is my bookshelf, which I thought is one of the safest thing to do...but just to share with people here. 1) This is the pocket space in our study room (room 2) and here is the HDB drawing I asked her to put the bookshelf in the space as shown in this drawing. This was discussed in the first week during design phase (back in 2nd week of July) This is the actual location of the completed bookshelf, done on day around early August. Because of 'no' design, on the day she and the carpenters 'realised' that the bookshelf cannot be 'flat' when inside the space (don't know what that means), so she made the decision to built it flush to the outer wall. This leaves an empty pocket inside which is about 30 cm deep (ie one ruler) and 1.8m high. I asked her why if she realised cannot built, how come she didn't see it during the design phase? Then on the spot she didn't even ask me for the variation and made the decision herself to waste some space for me. She gave the usual 'blah blah...trust the designer lah...lots of experience lah, crap excuse) After discussion (and arguing many many times with wifee, I decided to shift to this location. This is because we paid for that 'space' and by 'design' (i'll update the picture later), the upper cupboard opens and bang into the wall. She says very difficult to change lah...I insist, she says expensive lah....I insist, finally she say must pay $250 to get the worker and the laminates. I told her go ahead....but I will be talking her boss. Finally got it rectified

One MAIN important criteria, make sure the ID can specify down in black and white, line by line details of the work to be done. For example, my experience is that my ID wrote in the package '4 ft shoe cabinet'...happy we sign. Then nearer to construction date, we don't know what is the design, how many levels, what accessories etc. feel like kanna con. The ID might as well just give me a 4ft rectangular box "nah, your shoe cabinet". So during the discussion, if the ID is willing to get it down in black and white. 4ft shoe cabinet, 3 layer plywood, a drawing of the layout of the shoe cabinet, when going to do, where EXACTLY in the house going to place, where it is going to face ....and so on, the more details, the better. This goes for the rest of the items like your kitchen cabinet....etc etc. Its ALL in the details. Details = Quality (at least higher chance)

Hi, you mean 'occupant' right? Because when you take in your maid, you would have lodge the details at MOM, where she work, stay etc. So IMHO no need.

Was trying to get to Philips Sales this afternoon but it rained, can't bring my boy boy there so ended up at courts. not too bad, bought a Samsung Fridge 2 RS20NRSV (510L) 2 vertical door type for $799 (2 years parts and labour, 5 years compressor), and comes with $50 NTUC voucher plus one gift (oven/DVD player etc). Also got myself a Samsung Washing machine. Almost bought a Samsung LCD too but decided to wait for the Comdex next thursday. Well, my furniture event with Mesin may turn out to be okay....their supplier called up and we went down to deal, placed a $100 deposits and they will deliver the furnitures we ordered, then we pay the rest of the balance. At least something here , better than total lost (Mesin closed down and run away with all the customers' money ), or go to small claims. Also doing my window grills for $1300 for the 4 room flat, all the windows/grills. Seem quite reasonable

As on 23 August 2008, Mesin allegely Closed down. one of their furniture supplier offering me alternative, looks more reasonable then Case or Small claims, my risk is a $100 deposit to complete delivery of all items then I pay the balance in full. Details as follow http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?s=...st&p=329281

Update as on 23 August 2008. 1) mesin closed down BUT this edwin guy still go around and collecing all the 'deposits'! 2) A furniture supplier informed me that mesin owe some of them monies so they now refuse to send good to mesin. They instead contact me and arranged. Was contacted by James from Hee Tat Enterprise (Co reg no 37476900000-D, 19 Mandai Estate #02-03 S(728811) Tel: 64683595 and hp 91806888. www.heetat.com. Also, same place ELRCA MARKETING ENTERPISES (co reg number 383757400000-E). What happens is that I paid $x to mesin as deposit and outstanding $y dollar. So Hee Tat will deliver all the stuff to my place, then I pay up the remaining $y. I placed a deposit of $100 To get to Mandai Estate, take to Kanji MRT, take bus 170, 5 or 6 stops, walk a bit, if not take a taxi in, about $7. 3) saw that there is a few people who is in the same situation, some even paid in full. 4) During convesation with James, someone called up (another mesin victim) and says that this Edwin guy still got guts to drop by his place and ask for deposits....

Okie....tomorrow who is coming to look see my 'completed' ID flat? PD Door says will be installing between 10.30 to 11. So lets say lunch time 12 pm can? Because by 1 pm I got to go somewhere liao. People who are coming just PM me so at least I get a count. No need to ask, just drop by 220B #05-40 and if door is open pop in (take out shoes please) and say hi to my boy. He will show you to his room. As mentioned earlier, this week not much stuff, only the standard package, next week the other furnishing will be in (my furnitures have gone up in smoke, looked under posts mesin furniture ).....

If you continue to shout at the other forumers and cross postings, nobody will HELP YOU. I don't know where you come from but stop using all captial letters, its rude

Oh oh, someone just called my wife and told her that the sofa will be delayed to 23 October 2008 which was supposed to be delivered by 6 September...I gave them enough time to do the job. Sigh, looks like some trouble ahead. I'll probably have to call the credit card company to reverse the charges.... In the mean time.....suggest most people do not deal with Mesin Furniture (or derivatives) Wtf: got an sms today 22 August 2008 2 pm from a james from Hee Tat Enteprise, 19 Mandai Estate $02-03 S729911 says that they took over all of mesin furniture goods and asked me to go down to 'talk'. Sigh, getting ready to go case, small courts, police, credit card, magistrate and then send my lawyer liao. Waste my time and some more now must go select all my furniture all over again.... PISS OFF!!!

Only you and hubby? Comeon...garhmen giving $$$$ for more...MORE>>>>> The MBR is design so stupidly....sigh, but I got a thinking, see if your ID or contractor can help you change it to right swing instead of the left swing. Use the same door, just rotate 180 degress, but the latch needs to change side so some drilling on the door frame (one the left) and patching of holes is needed (unless you change door frame)

Ho kee sell one french made dual flush organs for $120 plus installation. Acutally the flush 'power' depends on the quantity of water. So even if we change to dual flush, the power would be same or less. The problem is that our system is water push the stuff down the pipe. There is this brand called the caroma (or something) from Australia, I think around $300 to $500. same quanity of water but the design creates a sort of 'whirlpool' effect that water goes first, then 'suck' the stuff and drag down the pipe. Yesterday I discovered that BOTH of my wc leak water. This is after 1.5 months since I done my defects check, it seem that the HDB installed the pumps incorrectly and when I turned on the water, it filled the tanks, use a few times and started leaking.....lucky HDB still agrees to service it because it is covered under the 'inherent' defects during usuage for 1 year clause. So check your wc...oh yeah, one of the showerhead leaked too, due to dry seal....that one easy to change.

Go to the gift and stationary show at suntec now till this Friday, I think Hall 401. Looks like gifts items to me...

Mine is 4 room, about $1668 for 4 rooms. The total cost depends on a few factors, a) obviously material $, the 'better' the material, the more $ b) but ALSO the dimensions of the raw material, for example, if you choose the $20 ones, some of the size are smaller so you need to stitch a few of them up vertically. if you choose the bigger ones (cost $), then less of them are needed. ie less wastage c) If you choose the patterns one, then MORE wastage because some patterns (lets say flowers), they have to cut and match when they stitch vertically! d) If you choose the aluminium rails, less problem. If you choose the wooden ones like my wife, then you need to sew the 'rings' with the velcro, EACH stripe and ring cost $ Most shops would be around $1.9K to $2.3K, but because the bedok one had a sale on the day curtain (around 80% off, ie around $8 per meter), so my quote was cheaper. Also sat down with auntie talk nicely, negotiated that they minus off the item d) by using any 'spare's Actually for me, i wondered why the heck we need day curtain for some rooms, most of the time we won't be using them.....sight..but scare my boy boy will expose himself to the neighbours acroos at 221B and C...no choice..

In Singapore context paying peanuts is totally different okay. I stay near NKF aka the 'little peanut house' for the past donkey years....so I don't mind getting paid 'peanuts', heck, as long as I keep my mouth shut and not finger the other people who shared my peanuts, I get a great job earning $20K a month now....(oops, a bit political here). Regards curtain, was doing mine with the shop at bedok near to KFC and realised that the quality of the material is very important. If you get cheap curtains, lets say day curtain, the material may just break apart after 1 or 2 years due to the sun/washing. Same for night curtain. The boss there made the curtain the standard industrial height, so in future if I change won't have to incur so much extra $ to make 'custom' ones....lagi good ones can cost around $40 per meter or something... PS: to bring some life back to LG...next time you past bedok KFC, look out for this sign

My new wardrobe will be done by them too. Knows their stuff well and talked to two different people at two different locations (one at their showroom at Balestier) and one at expo, both gives me the good impression that they know what they are doing. Threw in a couple of nasty illogical stuff, they wasn't irritated and explained to me why can't be done....test past. You get what you paid for, for me 10 years of gurantee is good enough. My ID didn't even dare to go over 1 year warranty..ask her inside my wardrobe got what? What's the layout, she says up to me lor.....lucky never engage my ID...nightmare

I have checked with them a) They only do the inside of the bomb shelter, ie, the hinges. b) Its up to the owner to dismantle their own bomb shelter door and store somewhere. They will not do it. It's illegal lol. I wonder any HDB inspector ever come to check?

I think it's against some forum rules to post here....so I will pm all who have requested. But no hurry right, can see how mine works first.... About this weekend, I estimate Saturaday 10am to 1 pm I will be there to knock on the tiles and doing QC check. Just drop by 220B #05-40 and if the door is open, I'm there. >1pm most likely bring my boy boy out for weekend fun liao. Oh yeah, this weekend only the work completed by the ID, next week then part of my furnitures will come in, last week of August then the other batch of furnitures and finally in September I will try to move in. So this weekend only can see things like tiles, painting, lights, plumping, kitchen cabinet, bookshelf, shoe cabinet, PD Door etc. Nicer stuff like closet design, sofa, TV, fridge etc will be later as scheduled.

More material = more $ The normal door size is $288 (ie bathroom/kitchen), the bath area, the shower screen alone is about 1.5 times bigger than the normal PD door, so it's more material for the panel. But for me, 'why need the panel?'. When the PD guy came to my house that time for measurement, I told him can replace the wooden door and put his PD door at the same place, so when I go into the bathroom, I can use the PD door as a screen! (ie purpose is to prevent water splashing all over the place. Of course in this mode, i have to close and lock my MBR door (which I think is logical because you mean you take shower in the MBR toilet, you leave the MBR door open? I could be walking naked out of the shower to my wardrobe right? Might as well save the trouble and get into the routine of closing the right door. This weekend, let me see, most likely will be Saturday because I will be there to check for defects before my ID ask me for the remaining 10% of the money. Will update nearer to friday....

All please raise your hands who has ever been on the phone talking to anyone for more than 30 minutes for the past 10 to 20 years of their existence? Okay, please lower your hands if that 'anyone' is someone you know....ie, lets rephase the question to the context of strangers such as customers/suppliers etc etc. The point is that, unless your job is to sit at a table and talk to a customer, you will NOT have the skills to communicate as effectively over the phone. Most people may not realise that talking over the phone is not as easy as you think. This is because most humans are visual people and we take cues from body language, facial expression etc. So it is VERY very easy to miscommunicate when you write (like what I am doing now), or talk over the phone. It would be better if the communication is face to face (ever wonder why some ministers fly all the way to meet their counterparts? Heck, why can't they just call or videocall?) So do discount a bit the experience and the next time, goes down to the store and talk to the kiat person. Your body language and tone would have 'shown' what really happen and the salesperson body langauge and tone would have let you 'know' how far they would have service the request. BTW: Training for customer service is **** difficult in singapore in our context of how 'we' the customers treat the service staff. You just take macdonals or other fast food (or even the bus captains). In the beginning they will say "good morning....can we help you...thank you" and what not, but over time, when the average Singaporean shows them that with or without the GEM service, the transaction is still done within 60 seconds, most service staff will drop the troublesome routine. Just my 2.07 cents worth (with inflation). PS: Maybe ask your spouse or someone to go down with the receipts and talk to someone 'other' then the person whose business relationship already damaged...and see if the store service the complain differently B-) Hope that make sence

I was also wondering that. One other solution I am thinking of is to get a swing right door from any of the linear greeners who is selling them off (the one from the other toilet), then dismantle the exiting left swing and put on the right swing one. This way, if open, it will open away correctly. PM you about the PDDoor contact