Shopping

Why now might not be the best time to buy beauty products from overseas online stores

May 21, 2020 Paris B 17 Comments

If online shopping hadn’t already captured your imagination before this, these past 2 months being cooped up at home might have made you a convert.

It’s become to convenient to shop online for everything from groceries to fresh fruit, meat and vegetables, and of course, the little bits and bobs we need around the house. Even my Dad has taken to buying things online, something I never thought he’d do!

I too have been doing a bit of online shopping, but mostly things for my dog or some household items. The pup has amassed quite a goodly selection of toys and accessories since we got locked down LOL 😛

But instead of buying from my usual overseas websites, I have been spending a lot of time on sites like Lazada and Shopee. For those outside the region who are wondering what these sites are, these sites are rather like Amazon, where you can find anything and everything under the sun.

What I have not been buying since March however, when we were put into lockdown, is beauty products from my usual overseas online stores.

So, when I received a few inquiries by email and through Instagram from people having inordinate delays receiving their beauty purchases, or in more than a few cases, having their items returned or prevented from being delivered, I was a little puzzled. This hadn’t happened to me before.

But I have an idea why it might be so.

What staying at home has taught me about my spending habits and spending prudently

April 6, 2020 Paris B 7 Comments

Being ‘forced’ to stay indoors has its perks. It’s allowed me to spend a little time being introspective, and getting my thoughts and affairs in order.

As I shared with you before this, one of the challenges I’m facing during this troubled time is worry. Worry about how the world will change after this, how our social interactions will change, and more practically, how we will all be impacted by the declining economy.

The reality is that businesses are already feeling the effects of this forced shut down. Some people have already lost their jobs, or are told to take leave without pay. Others are feeling grateful they still have a job and a pay cheque at the end of the month.

If you belong in the latter category, be thankful for what you have. But also, consider this your wake up call, to set in place a more careful and prudent financial habit. As much as we don’t like admitting it, money does make the world a more comfortable and happier place.

Here are some things I’ve observed about my spending habits at this time, and how it may help you be more aware about your own 🙂

My Experience with shopping online from overseas retailers for delivery to Malaysia : A definitive guide

December 21, 2018 Paris B 106 Comments

There is one question I am asked a lot when I talk about products or brands that are not readily available locally here in Malaysia. It is this – “Did you buy it online?” and usually the follow up questions will be “Is it safe? Did you get taxed?”

I have also noticed that many otherwise seasoned shoppers balk at shopping at overseas websites. They’d rather wait for it to be available locally, buy from a local website despite a mark up in price, or use a personal shopper/reseller, to save on the perceived hassle, or perhaps get instant gratification.

Nothing wrong with that, except when I’m told by these same people that they find it hard to shop online from overseas, because they’re afraid! Well, there’s no need to be!

shopping online for delivery to malaysia - a guide

I was a little slow off the starting blocks with online shopping back in the day. Then, many websites did not ship to Malaysia, and it was very frustrating. Today, most do, with the odd exception.

I have become quite an avid online shopper. But I am very careful with what I buy and where I buy it from. And because I get so many questions, I thought it would be helpful to share my experiences and tips for a more painless shopping experience 🙂

I started writing this, thinking it would be quick and easy, only to realize after a spell that it was a lot bigger than it looks LOL! 😀 So, suffice to say, settle right in with a cup of your favourite beverage and maybe some sustenance. Even take a few days if you like 😛

YOUR SAY: Will your beauty shopping habits change now that prices of goods are expected to be lowered?

June 8, 2018 Paris B 37 Comments

In Malaysia, we have just done something that few other countries have done – we will be abolishing GST (Goods and Services Tax). GST was introduced here back in April 2015. In 3 short (but long) years, it had contributed to a rather shocking rate of price increases of goods locally. Granted, not all of it is due to the GST – many other factors were at play. But GST was an easy and visible target.

With the new Government in place, GST has since been rated to 0% and it is expected to be abolished when Parliament sits in July.

Leaving aside my personal views on GST, I noticed quite quickly that for the most part, prices of goods were reduced by a factor of 1.06. In some cases, these reductions were quite significant. I was browsing on Ikea online, and immediately thanked my lucky stars for not dropping by earlier LOL!

I was also at The Body Shop within a few days of the announcement that GST was being removed, and I noticed that prices of products had been adjusted. So yes, they are lower than before. I also spotted similar price adjustments at various stores like Bobbi Brown. In fact, I just received an email from Sephora urging me to take advantage of the lower prices – tempting!

But I was also wondering if the reduction in prices at present might push you into shopping more than you did before? I asked this on Twitter, and the answers surprised me.

Shopping

I tell stories on Instagram @parisbmws