How to shop Taobao?

Does the idea of getting quality tops at $5 and bags at $10 entice you? Check out my video below so you can judge for yourself the quality of products I recently purchased from Taobao. (This sounds like those cheesy TV ads selling magical kitchen equipments lol)

A little background for people who aren't familiar with Taobao. It is basically a massive online shopping website based in China. There're many shops selling clothes, shoes, and even household items like sheets or curtains. The prices are really competitive which's why I'm so attracted to the site such that I shop there more than necessary. Even developed a tendency to stop myself from shopping locally because I know I can definitely find something similar on Taobao for a quarter of the price. A challenge most people face is the language barrier. The entire site is in Chinese which means people who don't know the language are pretty much excluded from this awesomeness, and there's only so much Google Translate can do.

I was approached by a Taobao agent, Yoybuy.com, to get to know more about their established website. Please note that I was not paid to write this nor did I benefit in any way by talking about Yoybuy here. All opinions are my own excluding the background information of the site which's provided by them.

The only reason why I'm sharing it is because I'm hoping this would be of help to those who don't understand Chinese and are looking for a reliable agent which they can trust to help them with shopping on Taobao. Good things should be shared! I did talk a little about Yoybuy in my video so I'm just going to add on some other information I feel is important.

Yoybuy.com makes the Taobao shopping experience extremely easy and fuss-free. A few examples:

• Service fee is fixed at 10% of item price + China domestic shipping
• Attention: Certain sites may state that they charge lesser for service fee but because they calculate it based on the product's entire price including international shipping, it is actually more expensive!
• Products on Taobao are already on-site, and sorted by categories in English
• Besides searching for items on Yoybuy itself, you can also paste a Taobao product URL to the search form to access and purchase it
• Yoybuy provides reliable shipping methods e.g. DHL, EMS, Aramex

Another thing I am going to emphasize on is the level of customer service. If you've been reading this space long enough, you'll already know horrid CS is a major pet peeve of mine. As I've worked in retail for quite a bit and did really well at it, I expect the same of staff in CS out there. It's called customer service for a reason right?! So anyway, I am so glad that Yoybuy promises efficient CS.

• Emails to their customer service department (service@yoybuy.com) usually get answered the same day within 24hrs
• Live chat during Beijing business hours from 0930-2000 for urgent enquiries
• Yoybuy's Facebook pages (in English, Spanish, and French of course) as well as their VK.com page (Russian) introduce new Taobao products and updates on information about Yoybuy

Based on all the information provided, I would give Yoybuy.com a try should I want a speedy Taobao experience without having to slowly read descriptions in Chinese. Should you require any form of assistance, I'm sure the ever-ready team at Yoybuy would be glad to help you too.

A huge thank you to everyone who has dropped me an email asking how to shop at Taobao (you inspired this blog post!) and I hope I have provided enough information for y'all here.

Happy Hari Raya Haji to my Muslim friends and have a lovely day everyone!

List: Taobao Stores

Realized I should've published a blog post on this longgg ago but for some reason it hasn't occurred to me till now.

Since my first Taobao haul uploaded on YouTube, I've been getting emails asking for the exact links of items and also a list of my favorite stores. Unfortunately, I'm usually unable to provide the exact links of items as my hauls are filmed perhaps weeks or in this case two months after I receive my items. By this time, the items aren't in stock anymore or I don't save the links of items or my Taobao cart is full of new items added right after my existing purchase is done. Woes of a shopaholic.

As for my favorite stores, this was the first list I sent to people who've emailed me.

http://shop71085288.taobao.com/

http://ollbtgirl.taobao.com/

http://yiyicool.taobao.com/

http://sudayouhuo.taobao.com/

http://shop35645318.taobao.com/

http://tanguomy.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.3.0.35

I am now going to add on a few newer stores to that list so for people who've emailed me before, just add on these new ones will do!

http://mrzz.taobao.com/

http://shop57148694.taobao.com/?spm=2013.1.1000126.3.R5A4cs

http://luoluoyichu.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.3.0.36.SHFp7z

http://shop63465658.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1.3987274.1.94b466

http://tt-621.taobao.com/

If you see an item you like in any of the stores but the price is out of your budget, copy and paste the important parts of the item name and make use of the search function to find the same item elsewhere for probably only half the price. For e.g. 蕾丝 (lace) 西装 (blazer/vest) 碎花 (florals) 短袖 (short sleeves) 上衣 (top) 九份裤 (capri-length pants)

Have a happy weekend browsing!

Eye Spy A Stye

My right eye is currently swollen and painful because the dreaded stye is back again. Haven't had it in ages so I guess it missed me and decided to make a painful comeback to make sure it hasn't been forgotten. It's a weird kind of pain that makes me feel like crying when I'm washing my face and that is really annoying!

So much work due this and next week that I have no extra energy to worry about my current horrid appearance with this swollen eye. I could go on and on complaining.

Tornado Taobao

Instead of shopping lesser after my Taobao shipment came in, I shopped even more. My email account is so full of invoices that I've lost track of what I've ordered and how much I've paid for everything. It's been crazy but I think I only go this crazy once/twice a year and that's towards the end of it. I don't even shop for new clothes when it comes to Chinese New Year!

Instant gratification seems to be my aim when I shop. Many friends/family have said this to me actually. When I see something I like, I just have to own it. It's like a compulsion to either buy something I already have and love it so much I need to have it in all colors, or buying something because it looks nice at that point in time and vowing to switch out my entire wardrobe to match that one item. This is why online shopping doesn't really work for me. I don't get to feel the item and hold it in my hands immediately after paying for it, so there isn't that instant gratification. Therefore, I shop more.

I hope not many people are like that because that's a sure-fire way to empty your bank account. Especially when you're subscribed to 81724632648 e-mailers from stores.

Inner conflict aside, I finally got to go for a pedicure session for my severely neglected feet. Was so excited to see they had the new OPI Skyfall collection which is extremely extremely pretty. I was spoiled for choice! (I haven't even watched the movie hahaha)

I don't have a pretty photo of my pretty toes yet but I chose Skyfall (which is a dark red) as a base and The Living Daylights (the festive glitter) as a top coat. My toes are so ready for Christmas!

Awwww

Usual conversations between Darren and I...

He was referring to his Kinokuniya membership card, which I had custody over. Or more like stole and forgot to return for weeks now.

Hamster's bloated face is baaack

On a particular day I went shopping at F21 and saw some cute boots!

After Whatsapping Mel frantically asking if it looked nice on me, if it would match this and that and was it worth the money... I found out that the zippers at the side of one boot was broken. She said it was a sign to not get it. I was pretty sad.

Well thankfully I didn't because this past weekend while I was out with my cousin, I found my ideal heeled oxfords from Seours located at Cineleisure! I've a pair of wedges from them which I love but don't get many chances to wear, so I was very happy to find a pair of oxfords that I could incorporate into my daily outfits. Will take photos for another entry :)

Pretty good ramen at the food basement of Ion

Under my best friend's recommendation (budding food connoisseur), I tried this Tu-Tu Kueh from a stall at the food basement of Ion and was quite impressed. It's unlike any TTK you get from night markets. The flour is so fragrant and doesn't disintegrate due to condensation. The coconut filling is so moist and doesn't get stuck to your teeth or in your throat. This picture was taken about 4-5hours after it was made because I brought it home for dessert. Do you see how intact it looks? I got my helper to steam it for 5mins so it would be warm and it was still good. 5 for $3.50 I think, but worth it! You won't miss the stall.

Napping

Her wet nose on my sheets ugh

My cousin brought me to try out this tiny Japanese eating place in Far East Plaza. I felt so claustrophobic eating there but I can see why there's always a long queue for the food according to her. Funny thing is when we reached, there was no one outside. Once we sat down, a long queue started forming outside. Lucky for us!

Bad service overall

Beef set meal

Although the quality of the beef I had was good, it was way too oily for me. I paid S$20 in total. There's a rule that S$2 would be charged per seat and we can each choose a drink. So it's a mandatory S$2 plus each seat has to order a dish. You're seriously bound by rules when you dine there.

Been trying to eat healthily recently for the sake of my digestive system. If I want it to continue working for the next couple of years.

Going to rest my eyes now before it rots further. I hope y'all are having a better start to the week compared to me (looking like a gargoyle). Have a lovely day and stay warm and dry and cute if it rains!

Taobao Haul

Hey gorgeous souls, I just uploaded my Taobao haul so do watch it here!

Besides receiving these Taobao items and American Eagle shipment over the past weekend, nothing else interesting happened. I was working on a group presentation and am pretty happy with the way everything turned out. Took so much revision from my group mate and me but it's done. But honestly, how exactly do you squeeze an entire explanation of a disorder into 20 minutes? Even my tutor needs 3 hours to go through 1 disorder we learn every week so...

Sundae has been up to no good recently. I've no idea what is up with her but she's been very into destroying my things lately. The strange thing is that she only disturbs me and not my sister. I posted this Instagram photo of her standing on my desk with all of my stuff strewn across the floor. Don't even know how she got up there in the first place but she tipped over the pouch which I usually bring out with me. My chapstick, lipstick, mini hand lotion, eye drop bottle, all fell out onto the floor. Have yet to check if the MAC lipstick is broken -_- I'm really thankful she didn't try to eat any of those even though my helper found the eye drop bottle in Sundae's nest. She must've been saving it for supper or something.

Hmm okay that's about all the updates I have for now :( Shall find something else to do while waiting for my hair to dry so I can sleep soon.

Bye!

Pre-Exams Rant

Exams officially start this week and here I am doing some last minute revision. It really did help that I have perfect attendance in tutorials for 3 out of 4 of my modules this semester. Certain information that I'm studying from the Powerpoint slides now are actually familiar and not foreign. Compared to the past few semesters which I had no idea what I was doing...

Been doing quite a bit of shopping lately as well. The funny thing is I'm shopping for clothes to wear on my vacation when the aim was to bring an empty suitcase and buy everything there, like I usually do. Shall just blame it on the pre-exam stress and boredom because my parents and Darren are all too busy to care about me #somature.

Sundae loves parcels too!

GAH! Not all are mine, thankfully

Taobao has been my go-to place for clothes these past couple weeks. As gratifying as it was to shop at the local Forever 21 and try on the items before purchasing them, it still brings me extreme satisfaction to be able to get good quality clothes for so much cheaper. I'd like to think my standard of Chinese also improved during this period of time.

Warning: Rant ahead!

Sometimes, I don't get it when people think that items on Taobao are of bad quality because it's all 'Made in China'. It should come as no surprise that most clothes we purchase from Forever 21, H&M, and other chain retail stores are all made in countries like Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, etc. So why does buying directly from these manufacturers immediately mean that the item is of a lesser quality?

When I visited Vietnam, I saw locals selling items from Hollister, Abercrombie, and American Eagle at the wholesale centers. I got to touch the fabric and examine the item first-hand. Guess what? They're of the exact same quality as those I bought in America. Many of the clothing I bought in America were tagged 'Made in Vietnam'. Logically speaking and after careful examination (because I hate hate hate fake goods), this means those in Vietnam were 99% authentic! I'm stating that percentage because there's always room for error in case somebody thinks I'm really wrong about this. I've taken into account that there could be many reasons why those locals were selling those brands (not going to get into that).

Imagine a blouse (Made in Vietnam) being sold in Vietnam for 2USD and in America for 35USD. If you think the 35USD one is better just because it's being sold in America... Does that judgement even make sense? Hellooo the extra cost is added to pay for shipping and tax incurred. The quality is still the same! Adding 33USD to the price doesn't mean the cotton suddenly got 97% purer during shipment.

Maybe some prefer the idea of stepping into the boutique of that actual brand and buying items from the store itself. I do that myself so no judgement there! But if you were to pre-judge and scoff at the quality of items just hearing where they're made, even before checking the items out yourself, I suggest for you to get off your high horse and accept the fact that your $125 branded blouse is being made in the exact same countries you've turned your nose up on.

My boring humble wardrobe

This is my 3-door wardrobe. Initially I confidently told my parents, oh I only need a 2-door one and probably another glass cabinet to display/store my bags because I don't want my tiny room to be so cramped with furniture. Mom was deadly against the idea of that and insisted on getting a 3-door wardrobe first, then adding on other furniture if needed. I gave in to her just to keep her quiet, and thank goodness I did. Just clothes are taking up so.much.space. I don't know how I would've survived with a 2-door wardrobe. At the rate I'm going, my parents think I should just move into a storage box and store myself in it as well.

But give up shopping? Never.

Okay back to studying I've spent way too much time here!