Interview on PopcultureOnline

On top of having a full time job (yes I have a full time job), saving the world, writing my own blog, playing basketball, having a really awesome social life, 

I recently also started a comic blog - Ben Ben Diaries with the talented Mr.Dan Kuah from Dan's Comic Realm 柯建立漫画空间.

It's not as if work ain't busy enough but it is such pet projects that keeps me going instead of simply earning dough and work your life away without 

something you can call your own. 

I try my best to manage my time between work, play, family, gfsss and my own me time projects.

No thanks to the talented cartoonist and really funny son, ben ben, 

we managed to get some attentions very quickly from readers, medias and even publishers. ($_$)

It might not be TIME Magazine level of interview yet but we managed to score 

ourselves an interview with popcultureonline.net. 

What's a better way to get interviewed then in comic format right?

Anyway do check them our and also read the original article here: http://www.popcultureonline.net/into-dans-comic-realm/

We did not set up ben ben diaries hoping to get famous nor rich, all we wanted was something that 

we can have fun with, a space to express ourselves as well as to fulfil our love of sharing. 

I am no successful business man (yet) so I shall save you from my preaches of what you 

should do or what you should not do in life to make money or even how you should manage 

your time but here's one quote that I would like to share with you.

best things in life come unexpectedly.

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The StreetDeal.sg Story

Life is funny this way. I was feature on TheNewPaper just 1 week ago for being a really happy online shopping addict.

But horror strike rather quickly and I was on the papers again, this time on The Straits Times for being an unhappy shopper. Things sure change very quickly online.

Thanks for the pic @rainnabe (on twitter)

So what exactly happened? I will try to write the account in simple easy to follow point form.

StreetDeal 

1. Purchase 

I might be an online shopping addict but I only shop on sites that I really trust. For example Taobao, Lazada, Carousell, Amazon, Ebay, Q10 etc and it is really out of the norm that I buy things from sites like Groupon, Streetdeal or Deals because I've heard enough of them but when my blog buddy Melva approached me to help her buy something off Streetdeal.sg because their office blocked it, (for the best) I did not hesitate and just did the purchase.

2. Payment

So for those who are interested to look at the user interface on how I actually missed those details, here's how it looks.

Like I admitted. I did miss the whole banner which says $88 quaterly and also under the TnC. This screen shot was later sent to me by the streetdeal staff highlighting the two boxes.

2.1 Smith Vs Payment Page

The banner looks more like an ad to me.

The First checkbox besides "$88 quaterly" was default "checked" which means it was an "opt out".

The final checkbox is a MUST check in order to purchase and I really just click it after reading "i acknowledge". Yes my bad to not read the full sentence.

The $88 wasn't included in the total amount checked out. That is the most important box that we always pay attention to!

3. The Invoice 

3.1 Smith Vs Invoice

Once again, the total checkout amount only shows the $16.10.

Yes, they did once again show that there will be an $88 charge at the TnC, which I (and everyone else) did not see.

I did forward this to my friend as a confirmation and she too missed it.

This was the ONLY invoice I received. I did not receive another invoice about the later payment of $88. I logged into the purchase history and the $88 wasn't reflected as well. I only found out of this payment thanks to the Credit Card Bill.

4. Refund 

Me being me wanted to just let it slide and take it as it is my fault since I am well, in some way not attentive enough to see those fineprints. I am a fair person and I will admit to my mistakes. Although it looks as much that they tried their very best to hide it, I was ashamed by making an amateur mistake of trusting online sites so easily. I think I got too comfortable with online shopping.

We did not let it slide because my buddy Melva felt that it is unfair to hide it and after multiple angry emails, we managed to get it refunded in streetdollars which means I had to shop with them AGAIN!

I was served with "Fun coupons".

5. Gave up and Shop Again. 

I hate such tiring procedure and I thought since I have $88 credit back I might as well just spend it and call it a day but guess what?

I WASN'T ALLOWED TO SHOP UNTIL I CLICK THE SAME TnC AGAIN!! So once again I emailed them and they told me I can only buy non premium and non flash sale item.

How much more trouble must I go through for this like seriously!! I am seriously very tired and all I want to do is do some shopping.

6. The Rant 

Keyboard warrior at my best lah. So I rant on my Facebook page of course.

And I gotten many comments within my friends that they also encountered the same and some what similar issues over the last 2-3 years until today. And also the attention of ST.

7. Google Before You Buy 

I think this must be one of the greatest reminder. What happened to the very alert and vigilant me. I got soft over the years of living in peace of online shopping. I Should have googled them before I did my purchase! There are so many of such reported cases online about them and I simply miss everything!!

http://scams-singapore.blogspot.sg/2014/05/wwwstreetdealsg-premium-membership-scam.html

https://www.facebook.com/StreetdealSingaporeConsumersInterest?__mref=message_bubble

http://blackilocks.hubpages.com/hub/Streetdeal-Scams-More-Than-200-People

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/customers-complain-about-streetdeal-singapore-%E2%80%98trap%E2%80%99--company-responds-093640798.html

They were even on Yahoo some years ago and they are still operating now. You know what does that means? It means that CASE can't do anything to them. It means that the law can't do anything to them. Why? My best guess is simply because in the forms, we did checked the TnC that we kinda acknowledge everything. So, yes, I guess we have to pay the price for being careless.

According to the interview with ST they seem to have to answer to careless people like me pretty often. So I hope everyone read this and be more careful and do not trouble them anymore by asking them to refund and all.

Anyway 

So I guess it is my bad and I hope everyone stay alert for anything online. READ ALL THE TnC!

In fact, just shop at Taobao for all your needs. And also if you are interested in comments of this post.

StreetDeal customer bought a set of drum sticks on sale for $16.40, but was charged an additional $88 for 'premium membership'. str.sg/ZhPS

Posted by The Straits Times on Sunday, August 16, 2015

Meanwhile if you are free you can check out my friend's post about being savy shopping online!

http://theo-deroza.com/blog/a-guide-to-online-buying-selling-on-online-discussion-boards-and-forums-prevent-being-scammed/

UPDATED 18 Aug: More links for your reading pleasure

https://vulcanpost.com/343071/scam-streetdeal-sg/

http://themiddleground.sg/2015/08/17/morning-call-august-17-2015/

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Smith Leong - International Man of Mystery.

It's Monday and I just feel like writing something although I'm not exactly inspired these days. I've been focusing too much on NBA playoffs and also work.

I think I've talked about this too many times but I guess it still amuse people. The fact that not many body knows what I do for a living. Every single time when people ask me about it at any social setting. It just become too long a conversation. I wish I could like just tell people using one word like most people. "I sell property.." or "I teach at a school".

Don't have to be a shame about not knowing what I do if you are a close friend because even my mum doesn't really know what I do. In fact from what i gathered, my close friend doesn't really read my blog.

I mean sometimes I do tell people things like I'm a superhero, money launder or even like I'm actually James Bond. But people choose not to believe me so I also bo bian right?

I was also voted by popular local sites like OMG.SG, TheNotSoSmartLocal, Asia362, FatherShip, SuperAdrianNotMe to be the best James Bond ever. 

And being a secret agent is not easy because that means I need to wear many identities in order to confuse people also.

Bob the Dragon Boater 

Like for example my most recent piece of work. I was Bob. Bob is cool. Bob loves dragon boat but just not too sure about when to do it.

Watch full video here.

Masturbating Man 

I think I should be done with stroking my own (no pun intended. ya right)  ego with my short appearance in the movie Rubbers but I wanna do it again to ask you guys to watch the show and support condoms! 

Jia Hua The Blogger

So many people like to ask me if I am a full time brogger but I guess that doesn't work very well with my bank account so I drop that Idea. It is really more of a hobby.

Why are you invading my media! 

That's what some of my friends and neighbours have been laughing at me. I did not go into full time acting (lucky for you guys) but I guess I got lucky with knowing people around and given opportunities. Many people asked me why have I been doing things like this but I guess it pays very well it is really more for the fun of it. I can tell you these shoot like the one with Mediacorp, I wasn't paid and the rest of the projects didn't pay me enough for a drinking session. It was really fun seeing myself here and there. Some people ask me if I am doing this for fame but to be very honest, I am already in my 30s, not too handsome and not that talented. Getting famous is something I don't think I can or want to try. 

Some people also tell me about how this can be affecting my image. Some people feel that I should be doing something where my staff, my clients or even my kids in the future that they can take me seriously and more professional. 

Engineer

Bio Lab Researcher

Doctor

Nuff' said? 

- Blog Awards 2015 - 

Anyway, not sponsored or told to do it but do check out the awards as it is here again. If you guys are into blogging and feel like you deserve to be on the bigger stage, sign up and try your luck today! 

http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/

http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/

http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/

http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/

Mr.Smith, after reading this, still not sure what I do lor...  

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What is a lifestyle blog?

I've done many crazy things in my life. Wearing unicorn suit, taking wedding shoot at NTUC but those your already know. What you may not know is that I went till the extent of interviewing myself because I thought I am so cool and somebody should already have done that but didn't. I was just being pro-active.

Smith interviewing Smith

No shame on that.

Lucky for you guys is that besides this lame self-interview, I actually gotten myself a real interview by the press for winning the Singapore Blog Awards 2014 - Best Lifestyle Blog! 

What is a Lifestyle blog to me? You can read the full interview here!

So besides the English version, they actually managed to translate my response into mandarin and got it published onto yesterday's MyPaper! 

My future son or daughter is gonna be so proud of me. #JustSayin #WifeNotPregnant

If you noticed the journalist who did a good job translating it and find her name familiar, it is because she was the "female-lead" for my 1st online series "drama". Watch it here if you don't remember. 

The guys from OMY/SPH are really generous giving me so much attention. If you are into media buying and PR you will know how much media dollars I have earned. Just check these out. 

Omy.sg Facebook Page - 27k Likes

SBA FB Page 1,610 likes

OMY.SG Main Page Rotator. Average Page View - Above 4 Million

Blog.omy - Alexa Ranking top 300 sites in Singapore.

And also MyPaper average daily circulation of 250,000 copies! 

That's not all! I was also featured on GQ Magazine! 

Ok fine, this is fake. It's okay to dream right?

I really don't know how to express my happiness and gratitude besides saying thank you! Also maybe break into a song

Mr.Smith, Started from the bottom now I'm here.  

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