My Favourite Online Shopping Site

So I was discussing with some friends about going overseas and what kinda trips is your dream trip. If you asked me this question few years back I would probably tell you I love shopping trips over site seeing or beach holidays. Not exactly because I got into this beach life style but it is simply because shopping online has became so easy and you can almost get and everything online while at the comfort of your underwear!

Shopping in underwear can be a lot less weird if you are doing it at home and in front of your computer actually.  (pictures from google search)

Before you all think this post is a sponsored post by multiple brands I am telling you it is not. Although some of these sites were my sponsors once but I am still spending money with them! #OnlineShopaholic. And also because it is very busy to be a superhero, fighting crime and protecting you all. So I don't really have time to go to the shops and buy things myself. 

THE COUNT DOWN BEGINS!

5. LAZADA.SG

Although it has been awhile since I bought something from Lazada but I must say they are the go-to place if you are looking for any gadget, watches or home appliances kinda product. Not only do are the items prices reasonable but their service is great. Their shipping speed and the condition of the items reaching me is perfect.

4. CherryAffairs.com

Because sex toys.

3. Playstation Network Store - PSN

Because you're just jealous of our boobs. PS4

Because Playstation is the coolest console ever. There's really a lot of fun games you can download for you PS3/PS4. Especially the classic games that you can no longer find in stores. And best of all your wife can't keep track of how many games you have gotten this month. :D

2. Carousell 

I know there are a lot of jokes and negative feedback and even a site dedicated to trolls but carousell is really your solution to anything 2nd hand. Ever since carousell, I hardly go to forums to look for 2nd toys or stuff anymore. Carousell is really a good place to look for anything which is off season and hard to find at retail anymore. Best part is it is really easy to use on the smart phone. Who would have though a simple app started by some student can come so far!

1. SEA.TAOBAO.com

Can't get a nice screen grab. This looks like I'm saying "HEYYYY"

No money for getting this correct. They are my "favoritest" client back then and I must say they really change my way of shopping. I will "taobao" to check the price or if I can get it off taobao before buying things from anywhere else. I saw a deck of poker card the other day that was selling at $19.90 in retail and it was $2 on Taobao before shipping and only around $3 after shipping. Tell me why shouldn't Taobao be number 1 on my list? And also because of Taobao, shopping at Bangkok, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan got a lot more boring.

Honorable Mention: Hipvan

They sell really cool and quirky stuff to be honest. Some of their things are like life hacks and really hipster like and make you feel way more unique than your friends but the reason why this ain't one of my shopping site is because they things can be pretty pricey. I guess this works for you if you are rich!

Shop and Save

Not the popular super market. I was introduced to this new service known as Shopback. I haven't try it myself but it looks pretty interesting. Basically it is like a credit card cash back function but specifically for online shopping site where you get certain cashback and they also earn a card for helping their clients (shopping site) to promote shopping on their site. I thought it is a pretty cool site. Maybe I would try it on my next purchase or you guys can let me know when you guys try it.

Quick Poll

P.S. Anyway in case you find this shopping post boring because you don't like to shop online, here is a MTV For you - Thrift shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Read More

Ecovacs Robotic Cleaner Review

You know your friends and you have grown up when you posted a picture of a robotic cleaner and everyone got very excited asking for reviews, price and where did I get it. You just can’t say no to time I guess. * shrugs *

Anyway, the long awaited review has arrived! I shall do it in a FAQ Version for easy reading.

* For the lazy people, scroll all the way down for TL;DR Version

Does it really clean?

To be honest, I guess that is the very 1^st question everybody ask. Everyone gets very skeptical about a new technology including myself. I’ve tested it and let it run and it really does clean the house pretty well especially for my place because of  the mess created by the the cat litter box .

You can actually set the timer and it will automatically moves around the house and do its round. The censor is pretty accurate and it will move around the whole house as long as you pick up all the floor mat that might tangle it. So the magic is set it an hour or 2 before reach home and you will always be greeted by a clean home when you return!

If you are not much into the timer cleaning function, you can also just turn it on when you are home and it has a few style of movement. You can also control it around like a remote control car! Haha.

Very Sexy Packaging too!

Is it noisy?

It is actually very quiet. Way quieter than conventional vacuum cleaners for sure.  If you know how db works, it is only 56 db.

Watch this video of how it moves around and how quiet it is.

From this video you also can tell how smart it is. It will not move into furnitures or wall. So you do not need to worry about it getting “hurt” or “hurting” your expensive furniture.

You have dogs and cats right, Is it pet friendly?

My cats got a little freak out the 1^st few times but they just ignore it and jump onto high ground for safety. The dog just follows it around for a short while and lost interest it in shortly. So I guess I can say it is very friend. It’s not like a high speed robot so it will not hurt your pets for sure.

Told my wife I was vacuuming the floor and my dog ain't even affected by it moving around. Two fans? Because I'm fabulous like this. 

How much ah?

It is currently on a promotion. Including shipping it is approx. $527 SGD.

I thought I saw got cheaper version. What is the difference? What so special this one?

There is a cheaper  version from the same brand as well. The one I have gotten here is smaller, lower at 88mm as compared to the 92mm. So it can actually go lower. (* cough.. snigger*)

Going down down down down~

It also has a bigger capacity bin. 0.7L vs the 0.3L which means you can have it clean longer before clearing out the dirt from the bin. So how big is 0.7L?

GPGT!!

More importantly for me is that it is the quieter version. 56db vs 60db. But to be honest, I am not sure how much louder is 4db.

You might not believe it just like I did not, this version actually comes with a mop function instead of vacuum. Just replace that vacuum part with the cloth given and it becomes a mop function. To be honest, I don’t really trust that part of it. I will still just use it as a vacuum.

And for people who are into product design, this version has a sexier remote control too.

Here's the very sexy remote! 

Where to buy?

Where else but SEA.TAOBAO! But point to note. *** Very Important. NO PARCEL FORWARDING, parcel forwarding doesn’t support lithium batteries so this can’t be bought using our forwarders that’s why special deal shipped direct

Place order with Singapore / Malaysia Address. Uncheck Parcel Forwarding. UNCHECK YOUR FORWARDER!! ***

Buy Here: http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=39289896134&tracelogww=ltckbburl

Since CNY is round the corner and you are buying this, you can check out the other CNY promotions too!

http://www.taobao.com/market/global/groupon2014.php

Conclusion

This gadget is really very good for maintaining the cleanliness of your house on a daily basis especially for lazy young couples like my wife and I. It takes up much duty from us after a long day of work and I really think this is a very good investment.

Bonus!!!

And if you are really considering buying it, check out Taobao Facebook Page as well as it will be releasing a 20Yuan Hongbao to offset this purchase. So don’t forget to check it out! https://www.facebook.com/taobaosea

UPDATE 26th Jan 2015

Looks like this article was pretty well received and I've gotten quite a fair bit of replies and more questions from you guys so I am going to share a little bit more here! 

What if some of the parts spoilt leh? 

They are pretty much ahead of us. Just look at all the spare parts that came in the package! 

The grey cloth is the mopping cloth I was talking about earlier! 

Can I check out its bottom? 

That didn't sound very right to me but here you go. As you can see there is an all directional rotatable front wheel which helps it to move into any area. You can see the "flippers", and you also learnt that they are replaceable from the previous spare parts picture. The two silver mental piece is actually the charging port where power is restored. And the green duster area is actually when the dust will be sucked in.

How do I clear the dust? 

Just like any vacuum cleaner, you can simply remove the bin compartment. 

How Does The Schedule Function Works?

I think this is one of the most amazing function which I have mentioned earlier. Just to share a bit more in details. You can actually set a timing like an alarm clock and Deebot will be activated on its own. Deebot will clean your place and it will save a small amount of battery enough for him to find his way home and continue to charge again. Yes! Deebot knows his way home. Got Video Got Talk! And yes, this is my favourite function. Super cool! 

For demonstration purposes, I will just use the "Back to base" button which is on the remote. There are more than 1 way for it to go home and you do not even need to carry it yourself.

The RESULT

I think this is the most important part. The result! I let it ran like 1 hr a day for 3 nights and this is the result.

That's the charging unit at the back ground

Power of 3 pets.

TL;DR Version: GOOD! BUY IT NOW!

Read More

Valentine's Day Present

Every year there will be these people complaining about Valentine's Day being commercial, complain that Valentine's day is a scam and every day can be a valentine's day if you love each other blah blah blah but I guess on top of birthdays, anniversary, birthdays, it is not ALL bad to have another day just to buy a gift and get a gift right?

Not sure what to get for your bf/hubby for this coming Valentine's Day? Don't play play hor, don't just because it is ONLY Jan and you think you have a lot of time. It is really just around the corner.

So besides sailing the 7 seas and trying to save the world. I actually made time for this interview and sharing session with one of my favourite online retailer.

So shopaholic Smith is here to share. Where else besides Taobao?

I know it's a very old photo but it's cool. Comon.

Cheap, good, fast and they have everything!!

Oh lucky for my wife, she just have to follow this shopping list. HAHA.

See the full article here! 

Relationship is about give and take. She give and I take. :p

Read More

How to shop on Taobao?!

If devil has a face it will probably look like me because I am an advocator for one of the most dangerous and addictive thing online - Online shopping. Not just any online shopping but shopping at SEA.Taobao.com!

Over the months I've been talking about how to buy or what I bought but I still get a lot of PM's, messages and even phone calls from friends who haven't called me like for years asking me about how to shop on Taobao. #TrueStory

So thanks to Taobao we kinda did some short videos together, let me call it Taobao X Smithankyou project. LOL. Here is episode 1!



There will probably be another 2-3 episodes. Not really my style of doing video cause it ain't crazy enough but hey, it's informative!

Mr.Smith, SHOP TILL YOU DROP!

Read More

Why I offer Free delivery for SEA Taobao to my friends?

SEA Taobao has totally changed my life of shopping. I no longer spent hours and hours walking around in malls looking for things I can't find and neither do I go around looking for cheaper deals because all these can be done within a click.

This might be me in near future but who cares. (Image from Disney's Wall-E)

To me, shopping at Taobao is not just easy but also addictive and fun. I'm so obsessed with it till the point that I even shop for my friends who complains about not knowing how to set it up or read Chinese.

I mean I tried. 

Read other post related to how to shop at Taobao or What I usually buy.

A small disclaimer, I am not a Daigou or neither do I earn from this whole thing. Although Taobao is my sponsor I do not earn a single cent from helping them to get people to buy, neither do I mark up my friends' purchase nor do I charge them anything for delivery. (Sharing the shipping cost is one benefit for everyone!) Yes, FYI, I deliver to their doorsteps most of the time. 

SIAO AH? WHY? PETROL CHEAP AH? 

Not sure about you but I love Christmas. I love gifting and the look on their face when they get a gift. I can't be playing Santa Claus and do gifting everyday but giving people free delivery puts that (almost) same smile onto their face. That sense of happiness can't be replaced! And of course when these guys appreciates your help, it makes you feel good! 

Toys - Checked! 

Jersey - Checked! 

Laptop Stickers - Checked! 

Books - Checked! 

Soft Toys - Checked! 

Costumes - Checked! 

Of course, I don't just randomly help people to buy things even when I've nothing to buy and who am I kidding... Nothing to buy on Taobao? There is always something for everyone! So after awhile, you will get people tagging you in every other Taobao post. HAHA. 

So I guess I'm just kaypo like that and for those who are wondering what's in for me. Making you guys happy makes me happy! So have you "Taobao-ed" today? 

Mr.Smitha Claus is coming to town!

Read More

SEA Taobao FAQ + Buy of the Month!

It's time of the month again where I show off my Taobao SEA buy!

#happyparcelday ? More like #DamnBlardySuperHappyParcelDay

Other than showing off my buys over and over again, I will be sharing some of the links of the things I've purchased. This is partly because I've been getting too many requests on the images for links and also quite a few questions. I guess I will start with the purchases link and followed by the FAQ.

*Point to note: there are always more than 1 seller selling the same thing so feel free to find alternate ones if you think any of the things should be any cheaper.

Necklaces: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=14434726638

Animals Pajamas : http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.1.w1004-3420537405.11.Xy4gnH&id=17828442081

Lego Toys: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.5.0.0.hJZ7Rc&id=35781729726

Craftholics: http://trade.taobao.com/trade/detail/tradeSnap.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.27.Ne4LZy&tradeID=500791681424981

F . A . Q: 

Q: How to buy at Taobao ah?
A: Good people at Taobao has got the answer! Link

Q: How do I ship to Singapore? I thought Taobao doesn't send to Singapore?
A: Good news, the (not so) new Taobao SEA does! They have four selected partners working with them on that! Not just Singapore but also Malaysia!

Q: Do I still need a 3rd party shipping company or middle man? Where do I find them?
A: Nope! The good thing about Taobao SEA is that everything is done on the site itself. You do not need to find your own middle man or pay the seller, pay the shipping bit by bit, everything is done seamlessly on 1 site as if you are buying directly from 1 person.

Q: How much is the shipping? Is it really saving us money? Is it worth it?
A: Shipping cost as below. Every 1st Kg is 35 RMB which is around $5 SGD and 24 RMB there after.

Q: How many days does it takes to reach Singapore?
A: Usually for the forwarder that I uses (4px), it takes them about 3-4 days to reach Singapore which is pretty standard, but for the seller delivery to 4px, you guys might need a bit of luck because it differs from seller to seller. I've had a seller who told me that she only send her product once a week so if you are lucky and you click on purchase before the cycle you will get it rather quickly cause their domestic delivery usually takes no more than 3 days. Else, if you miss the cycle you will have to wait for 1 week before she send her product out.

Q: Got English version or not? I see Chinese text until I want to faint already.
A: If you are on Google chrome, you can actually use google translate which is pretty good but I prefer the original Chinese context.

Q: The things you buy so cheap. Is it real?
A: It really depends on what is real to you.  If you are skeptical, you can always message the seller for more information. They are usually honest about it, if it's A grade OEM products they will give you a headsup.

Q: Any final tips?
A: Always search around for option and not jump onto the 1st shop cause each items can be sold by different seller at different price. When buy in bulk, always use the blue "water droplet" icon, talk to seller and ask for discount or free domestic shipping. Also, always bookmark your stores you like, cause they will always have new items!

I hope I answered some of your questions on this post. Feel free to drop me a comment below or Tweet me at @Smithankyou. I will be more than happy to answer your questions regarding Taobao or sex

Here is the video I did last month on the things I've purchased previously! Enjoy!



Mr.Smith, People who says that money can't buy them happiness didn't heard of SEA Taobao!

Read More