dragonnite

when i was ordering, i added this in and it only added usd3-5 to my total delivery, i figured it's ok...hahah i think those joseph joseph stuff very heavy...hee

part 2 of my shipment from amazon... simplehuman 10L-Liter / 2.6-Gallon Slim Step Trash Can Retailing for SGD45.90 at home-fix diy...i paid about SGD32 including shipping... Waiting for my Joseph Joseph stuff next...

dunno leh...i will test it when i get it in roughly 2 weeks when my friend arrives back home...

U r so going to kill me ... or mebbe ur wife... Button coasters - it's already received by friend, says it's ok LP coasters - haven't arrived yet, not sure how good I dun like cork coasters cos they flake, neither do i like the silicon ones cos they pick up dust ... the fabric based ones also cmi ... i saw the stainless steel ones which gave me a bit of a pause but then when i think about hot stuff, i discarded them too... there are also acrylic ones which should be quite ok ...

nice try, mrsloo !

we won't tell if u dun tell ...

this one, is a stool but i'm planning to use it as a side table in my bedroom... http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.10.1.oJ331l&id=6218451785

Interesting, only volume stated... ask them over aliwangwang, this shop quite fast in responding ...they told me actual shipping cost to gz is 120rmb for 4 chairs which makes it around sgd116... besides Kim, who else wanted the chair?

hmmm, disregarding my PM, let me see if the shop can ship directly to us and how much it would cost since there could be 4 of us ... ahh, the guy replied - nope ... ****... going by 65daigou, ordering 4 (assuming all transparent) drives down the cost considerably - about SGD113 each compared to SGD121... wrong - i recalculated with the shipment, it costs about SGD126 so it's more expensive from this seller... hmmm incidentally, i'm looking at this shop instead - the track record is better... http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.10.1.oJ331l&id=6218451785

Yes, there are certain stuff still cheaper in the US than China so that's why even my friends in China still buy stuff from Amazon. Timex, Coach, cosmetics etc are still cheaper outside of China. Don't think there's any precise category that I can tell which is definitely cheaper in China ... Let me think ... Ummm, the same clothes made in China are definitely cheaper (e.g. Uniqlo, Columbia, Northface) ... Electronics are not cheaper unless it's accessories and add-ons ... I believe I did look at hansgrohe (or was it grohe?) taps - they were definitely cheaper cos some ranges are made in china ... I believe ppl have bought curtains etc and it's cheaper ... Ahh, then the copycat brands are cheaper e.g. emoi, and not forgetting the "OEM" manufacturers...

1) According to their faq, it's 4.9rmb to 1sgd...total cost is like this, i believe: seller cost + cn shipment cost (if not free) + 65daigou agent fee (8% of value) + shipping (dependent on method) they hv a calculator online which should be quite accurate, goes by value and weight 2) as far as i know now, no need cos taobao now accepts visa. as long as you can ship to a location in china (e.g. 65daigou), you should be fine. most sellers do not ship overseas except via EMS (which is very expensive, like DHL), and even to HK, there is a surcharge (ship in china is typically rmb10 or less, ship to hk is rmb30 and more) 3) if i use my lobang, the good thing is that i save on the exchange rate (cos i use my china bank account) and agent fees (zero). however, it means i have to pick up at the warehouse here, it's about $50/10kg or thereabouts etc, i.e. restrictions. using 65daigou, u can aggregate your various purchases together (and i believe they can repack for you) and they verify and check the item for you, which is very important. my lobang doesn't include the checking bit. i like the fact that there are various pickup points around singapore for 65daigou and mrt pickup - more convenient. if i'm juz buying the stool, it would be a bit pricier using 65daigou but not by much (sgd10 ?).

kim, i think should rename your blog to "online shopping" blog liow...

you pick sea shipment ? how long does it take to arrive ah ? my lobang must pickup at warehouse, a bit ma fan ... this one at least got pickup points scattered around SG...

I forgot to include some outdoor stuff which is so pricy here... http://the-second-step.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z0k.1000783.2.72.bIRVSX&shop_id=34052149 Good friend's friend's shop, my Leki walking sticks are from here. Genuine. http://fxhuwai.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z0k.1000777.1000393.123.UdfeLy&shop_id=70055866 Bought my fleece sleeping bag linerfrom here, quite good. Friend got her walking sticks from here. In general, you can find vaude etc stuff over there. Northface/Columbia are made in China, but again, many fakes exist on Taobao. Buyer beware...

From all the above sellers, good stuff as i've bought from them many times. Like I said, you need to know how to spot the bad ones. I have done countless (probably >1000 purchases) during my few years there, honestly, only 2-3 were bad transactions. Of course ah, if you buy fully aware something is not the original, then don't expect the sky. Sama sama for something that's so cheap it's too good to believe - chances are, it is.

Collectibles http://mengren.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.78.J0cbQL&user_number_id=17575193 Bought many items before, all items i've bought are confirmed from japan. Good and fast, abit more expensive but i figure i'm paying for the genuine stuff. Baking/cooking http://shop60868826.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.122.2cYAzT&user_number_id=105447868 Cookie moulds, quite good. http://diybar.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.168.2cYAzT&user_number_id=676271496 Only bought fruit picks from them, but they also have a big range of bento makers etc. Sourced from japan - good quality stuff. http://meiyaxiaotutu21.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.84.xGghe3&user_number_id=692923137 Bento makers, cookie moulds, fruit picks, sandwich makers etc. Have shipped the Hello Kitty and Tomica ones to my US friend before. Sourced from JP, good stuff. http://yixianghongbei.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.211.xGghe3&user_number_id=270968022 Bought almost the whole range of cartoon cookie moulds from here. Selling for S$8+ at taka, I'm told.

Clocks http://timode.tmall.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.65.Y8inRZ&user_number_id=272909058 Bought a clock that is awaiting delivery, should be ok. China brand, the mechanism is also chinese http://yurok.tmall.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a220m.1000862.1000730.3.BSlAPA&user_number_id=274518109 I actually like yurok's style (japanese) but didn't see anything i really liked. some use seiko mechanisms, even tho made in china. Mobile phone stuff http://peijian520.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.112.Y8inRZ&user_number_id=675848205 Bought many times before - mobile phone covers (iphone and galaxy), ipads, screen protectors etc. Good and fast. http://shop36768199.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.119.4yPtcf&user_number_id=13515048 Same as above. http://sztongbu.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.135.J0cbQL&user_number_id=22911646 Eneloop mobile booster, genuine. HK seller, good and fast. Warranty not valid outside of China. http://shdia.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.28.2cYAzT&user_number_id=722713381 Eneloop mobile booster, genuine. More expensive than the one above, but carries a lot of interesting stuff. http://gsmharbour.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.252.J0cbQL&user_number_id=264339004 Swarovski studded dust stoppers, all good stuff.

TMall and normal taobao stores differ not only by price but by the guarantees. TMall stores are guaranteed to be genuine, 7 day money back guarantee and a whole bunch of stuff. You will notice that some normal TB stores also offer these guarantees but the item's price is cheaper. You decide. Even though sellers have different tiers depending on the reviews/comments by others (diamond, crowns etc), my Chinese friends and I have never really taken that seriously cos it's very easy to buy those ratings. Instead, check every item in terms of the ratings given (scroll through a few pages). If many people have bought the item before, chances are it's a good thing. As I compile the edited list below, I realise that it's a very very long list stretching over quite a few years... If there's any particular category, I'll see if I know of a reputable seller. I won't post the whole list, just some of the more interesting and recent ones that i have based on my buying history so please don't expect an exhaustive one... Home decor http://funhaus.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.50.Y8inRZ&user_number_id=375664587 Bought once before, looks ok http://xcjj.tmall.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.226.Y8inRZ&user_number_id=444712617 Bought the autumn leaf door stopper that is going for USD8 on amazon. http://rocae.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.301.4yPtcf&user_number_id=16633697 Wall pictures, I bought the red flower but decided not to use it in the end. Will sell it at some point. Good printing, mounted on solid plywood. http://shop64082315.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.39.J0cbQL&user_number_id=640784290 Same comment as above, I bought this which I'm going to let go at some point.

no leh, this is only part 1...they split my 1 single shipment into like 4... i actually wrote a whole list of the taobao stuff but the post disappeared !! back to writing....

i digress first...here's part 1 of my amazon shipment : the napkin holder is very solid and heavy, those hooks seem to be bigger than I thought...let me go and put it at my place and see how it works...

ah, ok, since you mention bodum, let you all surf this one until i come back with the list ... Emoi is a company based in Shenzhen, Muji rip-off but quality is comparable (I've bought their stuff at their physical stores b4) ... no need bodum (all my bodums are gifts i buy here instead), their equivalent stuff is at a fraction of the price ... incidentally, if you are a coffee drinker and like the bialetti stovetop coffee makers, you can find them on taobao as well ... happy surfing !

yes...cos taobao deliver to doorstep - very useful in winter when it's bl**dy minus 10 degrees outside with windchill of a few more degrees...

sure , when i get home tonight...will be late ah...

hahah, too lazy to start a t-blog ... taobao stuff i've bought ah, wow, a lot by now cos i lived there for a while ... tonight go home and extract a few and let you see... i've bought collectibles, toys, clothes, shoes, bags, mobile phone accessories, electronics, garbage bags etc basically you can buy anything there, but you have to be selective about the sellers - i usually go by a combination of reviews (some of those reviews are "bought" one, you have to be able to filter them out, experience will tell you which ones are genuine and which ones are not) and a gut feel - it's hard to explain ... and i tend to buy from the same sellers once i get a good one ...

Based on the weight, a rough calculation of total cost was around S$105, as it comes packed in a wooden box etc. Got lobang to tompang other ppl's container, i think it's about S$50 per 10kg or so - not sure if that's expensive or not but should be market rate. But i'm still thinking about whether i want to buy it, will let you know if i actually decide to get it over ... heh ...