Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Things Indo Shopkeepers Say That Puts You Off Shopping

Indo shopkeeper can be very friendly (when they want to). However, they sometimes can't filter what they say...

In a clothing shop trying on jeans
Me: It's too small, I can't zip it up. Do you have one size up?
Shopkeeper: No, that's the biggest one. It's because your butt is big.
Me: -__- not buying anymore.

Got a text message when I got to department store from Skinfood about 50% off today (sometimes it's scary how they know where you are and text you special deals once you step your feet into the mall. Or parking lot of the mall... I wonder if Indo has privacy law in place). So I went.

Me: *browsing through the skin care products*
Shopkeeper: Hello...
Me: Hello.
Shopkeeper: We have special offer of 50% off skincare today.
Me: oh yeah, ok, thank you.
Shopkeeper: Sis, this product would definitely suits you very well. I guarantee it! *smiling widely while pointing her finger to a range of products targeted for acne prone and troubled skin*
Me: Wth... Let's go -_-"

My mum took us shopping pyjamas at the market as we needed some clean pyjamas for staying over at my bestie's. While looking, my mum also took a look at the range of nighties the seller had.

Mum: Do you have anything that's a bit wider from waist down? Nowadays the nighties are not as wide as they used to be at the bottom... (This is actually true. I noticed that too since I like flowy and loose nighties).
Seller: Ah, can't be, they are always the same size. Your butt must be the one getting bigger ma'am.
Me and mum: -.-
Me: Sir, you better not say that kind of thing to your customer if you don't want to drive them away -_-!
Seller: hahaha...

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

My Funny ANZ Complain

As you all know, we bought our first home early this year. The whole process was a complete nightmare that I keep putting it aside to write. I have a draft written since early this year, another notepad with all the points I'm going to write, but never had enough willingness to toughen up my heart to remember everything and put it to words. Because I know, I would have my blood pressure up and brain boiling while typing it all down.

However, this is a little bit too good not to be written straight away, so here we go :) *deep breath*

I have my home loan with ANZ, and they do have quite a big part in making the whole thing with buying my first home a headache. Therefore, I wrote a letter to them last Sunday and lodged a formal complaint.

In my letter, I said when I decided to take on ANZ homeloan, I felt I was in the good hand. Everywhere there is ANZ ads, there would be those awards badges on them too. So I thought I would be fine. However, from the very first chance, ANZ stuffed it up. 
  1. My letter of offer had wrong interests rate on it.
  2. I went to the bank to open an offset account to be linked to my loan account. I specifically told the guy, I wanted to open it for my offset account and gave him my account number. Next time I went back to the bank for other thing and casually mentioned it, guess what? My offset account hadn't been linked to my loan -_- AND, I got charged for account keeping fee as it wasn't linked to an mortgage account. This $10 was later on reimbursed.
  3. I took home insurance with ANZ too, and later on I wanted to change the excess. So I emailed the woman who I took the insurance with, asking her if it's still possible and how much would it cost. It took her few days to reply and another few days to return and say she'd do it soon. But then she emailed me back saying she couldn't and that she'd get someone from insurance to contact me.
  4. Time passed and I got a letter from ANZ saying they noticed that they haven't got my building insurance cover details. They sent me a form for me to fill out with the details. Refer to point 3 please. Duh??
  5. Got a letter from them saying they will charge me $107 for registration fee on withdrawal of Caveat. What caveat???? No heads up or further information. Just that. This again was cancelled, after a lengthy chase done by me and my broker. During the whole process, they told my broker they would call me directly, but nope, not a single phone call.
  6. In August, they increased the interests rate for investment loan. However, they only sent the letter in September. So by the time I got the letter, my interests charges were already increased.
I lodged this complain to ANZ using their complain form online. I thought hm... good, they have complain form. Plus, the textbox character limit was 10,000 chars, YES! My whole letter was 6000+ characters. So, I copy pasted it into that box. Then... yep, only 3/4 of it got in. Great.

So, while lodging my formal complain, I actually added point 7: Your complain form sucks. It says max 10,000 characters, but can't even take my 6,000 characters letter. 

I'm speechless.

Yesterday, I received a missed call from their complain department, and today too. So I called them back. Told the guy that I received missed call from this person and got this reference number. He then put me on hold and transferred me to that person.

The lady: "Hello Vicky"
Me: "... er... it's Purple Lady"

Awkward....

My name is completely different to Vicky.

Anyway we discussed about the whole thing. She was very nice and understanding and sympathetic and understood that I was furious with the whole thing. I actually felt bad for her and anyone who work in complain department. She tried to explain about the whole caveat thing, and about the interests rate. She explained how the increase was passed on by the government and there's nothing ANZ could do about it. I made it clear that my complain wasn't about the increase, but rather about their delay in notifying the customer and the way they word the letter to sound that it starts in October rather than August. She acknowledged it and promised to pass it on to relevant department. She also asked which branch I opened my offset account and the insurance cover, and said that she's passed my feedback about the complain form to their IT department.

Afterwards, she said as a goodwill gesture and since I've been a customer since 2004... *wrong answer buzzer honks* Another mistake ANZ, true I opened my saving account in 2004, but that account was non-active for almost its whole life! I closed it down few years ago completely. And plus, did she mean that have I not been a customer since "2004", she wouldn't offer me anything? OK, back to her words. "As a goodwill gesture, and because you've been our a customer since 2004, we're going to credit $375 - your Breakfree package fee - to your account, and we'll pass all your feedbacks to relevant departments." 

Honestly, when I heard about it, my thought was, all those headaches, energy, and stress they caused me are only worth $375????? It's worth WAY more than that! I actually felt a little bit insulted. And also, seems like my 11 years loyalty isn't that appreciated too. But that's the only thing she could do, and it's better than nothing. What else could I do?

She assured me this is not ANZ's standard of service. She also said that they would take my feedbacks and improve. To which I reply, yes I hope so too. Coz next time I get the chance, I'm leaving ANZ.

It's funny that when I was lodging a complain, I actually managed to add something to my complain list. And while on the phone with the complain department who's trying to deal with my complain, even they made a mistake on the "Hello", and ended it too on the wrong foot with "since you've been a customer since 2004". 1. I hardly used that account, so obviously they didn't check thoroughly. But well at least they checked something. I give you that. 2. As a goodwill and a customer since 2004, so what would happen if I weren't a customer since 2004? Do they only offer that $375 only if I was with them for 11 years? Hmm..


I'm not happy with the title of this post, but can't think of anything else really :/

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Clocks, Please Tick Slower :(

I don't know about you guys, but nowadays I feel that time goes quicker and quicker. Sometimes I actually believe that Earth rotates faster and faster as it ages, though I don't get how come all the clocks in the world know they need to tick faster.

When I turned 21, my workmate said to me, "Time starts to fly after you turn 21". God, how correct she was!

Nowadays I never feel I have enough time. True, everyone has 24 hours in a day, but come on, just like not everyone gets full with a bowl of rice, I believe most people don't find 24 hours enough too. Especially if you work full time. When I was 7-8, I remember I was home drawing. Everytime I looked at the clock, only 5 minutes had passed. It was so damn slow! Now? Everytime I look at the clock, another hour's gone. Except when I'm having that famous Friday meeting...

I go to work around 7, arrive home either 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm depending if I go to gym. Then shower, eat, and there 8:30 or 9. I only have 2 hours before bedtime. Then I get confused, what should I do? Should I do some reading? Should I watch movies or series? If yes, what series should I watch? Conan, Lan Ling Wang, Perfect Couple, Hotel King, Bones or Lu Zhen? Or should I refresh my Mandarin? Or should I do some crafts I haven't finished? Which one? Then I pick one of those things to do, but when I'm doing it I think, "Would it be better if I do other thing?". As the result I wasn't satisfied :l

Same thing with weekend. When I'm home, I calculate how many hours I have before I have to go out or before bed time. And there goes those thoughts again of what to do now.

I wonder if it's the process of getting old. I used to love sleeping in. I still do now, but nowadays I feel like I better not waste those time sleeping and better wake up early so I can do weeding instead while the sun is not too hot!

Today is Thursday. Now, everytime Wednesday or Thursday come, instead of being happy that weekend is so close already, I think, "OMG, another week's gone already??". Well I'm still happy when the weekend comes, but you know what I mean.

I wonder if it's because we have so many things to do nowadays. Go to www.YouTube.com and you are guaranteed to waste a lot of time there. Open your instagram and half hour's gone. And that's just instagram, not facebook. Plus, all those messages and people on whatsapp you need to respond or contact. I actually have to think first what I want to watch on YouTube before going on the site. Therefore when I'm there, I can go straight to it instead of staring down at my home screen and find other random thing I end up wasting my time on.

Last Sat to Mon I had a kind of mobile detox. My prepaid credit expired on Friday, and I didn't recharge it until Monday (i was stingy to recharge on the weekend thinking I would be at home anyway and could use WiFi instead XD). I actually quite liked it. No responsibility to reply whatsapp messages, no urge to check Facebook and instagram, there was no need to check on my mobile really. It was calming. I could even turn silent setting off as I wouldn't get all those annoying noises for notifications. Maybe I should really turn all those notification noises off and I can keep my setting to normal hmm.. and you know what, those days felt a little bit slower.

I always think 24 hours a day is not enough. It should really be 30! And I think everyone should have 4 days working week instead of 5. That would be soooo good!

Do you feel your time goes too quickly too?

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Greenwood L'occitane Grand Opening Haul

Hehehe... I did a haul at L'occitane yesterday XD I knew Greenwood L'occitane was opening yesterday, and I knew they had this bag of gift for 50 first customers... which I wanted!! XD Unfortunately when I arrived, they haven't opened yet. And unfortunately again, yesterday happened to be the training day -_- so I was tossing to come or not.

The training finished at 9:15. I was so happy and couldn't wait to run out of the door. But... Superexcited started talking and talking, and making questions for us to answer (or to read his mind -.- sometimes I wonder, it is obviously clear that what he thinks most of the time is not what everybody else thinks, so why waste time to train us to be mind reader?). He also said that none of us asked questions! Excuse me sir, 2 people asked questions before -_-

At last, the training officially finished at 9:30. I straight away checked my email, nothing urgent needed to be done, great, then rannnnnnnnn to catch a bus. I had to wait like 5 minutes for the bus -.-
When I got to the store, it was PACKED! I saw someone giving out small bags of samples, so I hung around hoping to be given one XD Not long after, I did get one wooohoooo!

L'occitane Opening Day Samples
 Not bad ay? Really not bad for samples. That shampoo is big for sample size, and the perfume is not vial size too! If they're not stingy with me, I won't be stingy with them too! Here are the list of samples:
- Magnolia & Mure Eau De Toilette 7.5 ml
- Precious Cream 1.5 ml
- Amanda Milk Concentrate 6 ml
- Creme Perfectrice 1.5 ml
- Dry Skin Hand Cream 3 ml
- 5 essential oils shampoo 75 ml (Travel Size!)
- Voucher for Elle Hand Cream Collection with a spend of $30

My plan was go to the store, grab a hand cream, and then pay! What happened was, I got confused where the damn hand cream was, so one of the lady staff asked me if I needed help. I did ask her about the hand cream, and she did show me where. Then, she asked, "Would you like me to give you a hand spa?". I said "Yes, please!" *banging my head on the wall" I completely forgot my original plan and that I MUST go back to the office ASAP!

The handspa was awesome by the way. She exfoliated my hand and put on the most popular hand cream in the world, so popular that 1 tube is sold every 3 seconds. And then asked me to compare it with the non-treated hand. I could really feel the different and it felt good :) I was nervous though, thinking I had to go back soon.

Finished with that, she asked me if I needed anything else. I said I actually needed moisturizer. Every change of season from winter to spring, my facial skin always goes super dry, cracking, itchy and bumpy. Sometimes it gets incredibly bad, I don't even dare to put on my normal moisturizer as it makes my face stings! (I really shouldn't have said I needed that since I really needed to leave! But after that treatment, I thought maybe... there is a product that can help too).
She asked me how do I want the product to be like. I said I don't really mind as long as it's not too strongly perfumed. I've been using Garnier lately, and their products smell SO strong! I have always liked fragrances, can't believe that because of those products I'm actually turning into my mum who hates fragrances -_-.

She then brought the cleanser, exfoliate and moisturizer. She said that I needed a good cleanser and exfoliate as those bumps are dirt and needs to be cleaned out. She tried them out on my hand and yes it felt great. Damn. 

She then apply the moisturizer on my hand and asked if I liked the feel of it. It felt good, but it was a bit heavy to my liking. It was still a little bit oily when touched. I asked if that would be fully absorbed during the day, coz if not then I wouldn't like it. She said it will, but if I thought it was too heavy, there is another one she can show.

The other one has less fragrance and the price was not as expensive. It is absorbed more quickly and doesn't leave oily feeling on my skin, I liked it better. She did say though that I should only use it during spring. It wouldn't cut it for summer. Well I can try it first right? If it's good, I can always come back.

I ended up getting the cleanser too since it was half price. $14 instead of $28. I always use supermarket bought cleanser, so maybe it will make a difference? (I still have a lot of them at home though, what to do??? :P). Plus, since Dove cleanser cost me around $10 last year or the year before, this is actually a good deal :) So I went and queued to pay for those and also the small hand cream. She got me a membership form to join too.

While waiting, another staff saw that my purchase was going to be more than $60. They have a special opening day offer to get a bag of Gift with Purchase - The ‘Scent of Provence’ for $25 if you purchased more than $60. The content looked like it was worth it so I got that too. Later on I saw that bag had some tubes of mini hand cream too... I then left the hand cream I originally wanted to buy :P

They tried to care for the customers by giving out a cup of lavender earl grey tea, and there was also a box of chocolate at the register. I dunno if that's their standard customer service as this can really be considered as my first real visit to L'occitane. The staffs were friendly and helpful too.

While queuing, I wasn't sure if I could still get the free goodie bag, but then the guy at the register took 4 bags of them out. Yes, I was still in the game! Then another staff came up and asked how many more bags left? That guy said 3. I started to get worried :l My line was taking forever! The other line was faster. The guy who served my line took his time to show the samples, sprayed tissue paper for the bag with jasmine and bergamot perfume and even getting us to sniff it. Nice service, but not when you are racing against the other line to get the free bag!! Lol

When it was my turn, there were only 2 left. I asked him (tactfully), if I still could get the free bag for 50 first customers? He put 1 next to my stuffs and said, lucky! Phew.... =P the women at the next register got the last one down too. Lucky I did it first, there were in a group!

Sooooo here is the photo of the items I got in L'occitane that day!!! XD Both paid and free :P The bottom ones are the samples just for turning up. 

The top left ones, the blue pouch and 6 items below it are the $25 Gift of Purchase. It consists of shower gel, 2 tubes of mini hand cream, block soap, Jasmine and Bergamot Eau de Toillete and body lotion. 

The wrapped tall bottle and small brown box in the middle are the moisturizer and cleansing milk I bought.

And finally the hot pink pouch with 4 items below it are the goodie bag for 50 first customer I've been eyeing since few days before the opening *shamelessly happy* XD It includes mini hand cream (the one that is sold every 3 seconds), Rose Nude Lip Balm, Perfecting Cream and a body soap. I really shouldn't buy any more beauty products until next year -.-

After that I ran straight to catch a bus back. In total, I was away for 40 minutes @__@ Lucky nobody asked *phewwwww

I put my bags at reception and then with my colleague in the other department just so I didn't have to carry them to my desk and made it so obvious hahaha XD

Don't tell anyone ok? ;-)