OceanEleven

Yes. Quartz and granite have joint lines. Dark colours will look less obvious.

I had consolidated all my purchase and shipped via Amcon. Individual cost not available.

I think the "danger" is overrated especially for new home makers. In the first place, there no such issue such as buying things which may not be needed. In the first place, new home owners have nothing to begin with, so buying anything is not unnecessary will not exactly happen. There are so many things you may want and need in the early reno stage. Kitchen Sink, basins x 2, toilet accessories, foyer table, coffee table, side table, dining chairs & table. Smaller things like clocks, cart trolley, posters, hangers, clothes peg, deco stuffs etc All you need is a proper planning. Make sure things come in time for plumbing, electrical etc. Eg. when flooring is ready, one empty room is available to store everything. This was what I did. PLANNING. Things arrive in time for reno to be fix and install. I did mine shopping one time, all major items included. Now I am still Taobaoing but more for wants than needs. To your question of fulfilling Amcon 1cbm requirement. There is no need to meet this min requirement but Amcon will charge as 1 cbm. A lot of time, it depends on the item you are buying, you may feel it is big but actually the volume is pretty small. Eg a dining table of 1.8m length. The package may be only 2m x 1m x 0.3m = 0.6m3 and you are still short of 0.4m3 Then again, perhaps this table is selling at SGD2200 local but TB offers similar or equivalent at RMB4500. So doing the math using Amcon = RMB4500 + SGD110 (Freight) + SGD35 (Documentation) + RMB315 (GST). At a rate of SGD1 = RMB4.7 means total is SGD1169.46. So you have a saving of SGD1030 now. I guess meeting the 1 cbm does not really matter here. Post reno or casual I am unable to comment as I have yet to use any other forwarder such as Daigou or Peeka. I would rather wait or share the freight to meet 1 cbm with other like minded folks. All you need is one pax buying a sink and you have a good head start.

Looneygas is right. Sometimes crown and diamonds doesnt count much. I prefer to see sales volume and feedback & comments, they give a more accurate feel of the product. However if you still have doubts, you may consider to buy purely just from Tmall. Tmall vendors generally have a better rating, selling better quality products.

Yes, when you buy yourself, you still need a forwarding company to deliver to Singapore. Sellers do not deliver to overseas directly hence the need of a forwarding company. Forwarding company will help to consolidate all your purchase and arrange for one time shipment and one time delivery to your local address. Different forwarders offer different services and different shipping rate, eg Peeka helps to check purchase but Amcon does not. Then Peeka rates are higher than Amcon, so you decide yourself on who service to employ. Buying yourself definitely save on the buying cost. Some charges 3% of item value, Amcon is RMB50 per link etc. Again, I do not know what is the exchange rates they are charging you, so I cant comment. Buy by yourself save such fees but paying via Credit Cards incurred 3% more plus unfavorable exchange rate from banks CC is the second last resort to buying locally. Using CC defeats the purposes of Taobao, trying to save cost. If you know how to use CC to pay then I believe using Nets is not a problem. I have yet to make any purchase using Nets. I am sure when making payment with Nets there will be a step by step instructions to guide you thru. Dont worry, when it comes to paying money, all will make it very easy for you.

Wall Clocks Packaging is acceptable. Both came in one piece. Link: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.355.W38PDD&id=4896541999 Link: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.344.W38PDD&id=10764163193

IF Amcon is buying for you and you are paying Amcon to buy, then Amcon will monitor the arrival of the item. BUT if you are buying yourself and sending to Amcon, then you have to monitor yourself via Taobao in your ORDERED items on TB site. There, you will find the shipping status of your purchased items. When it is delivered, will mention something like signed and endorsed.

Try using a a bigger font next time, there are old folks here with fading eyesight.

SHOO! Go away! I dont know you. Errr...when you free har??

The world is ever changing. A slight update on Taobao and Tmall. Some folks are still a little confuse so I will try to be a little more detail. Set up an account in Taobao or Tmall, set up in one and you can use the same account in either site. Go fill up the delivery address in Taobao, as always, all on line shopping needs a shipping address. Shipping address, please refer to above quoted post. you MUST write in 2 address for Amcon to identify as you item. Else simply shipping to Amcon China will not indicate who is the buy or what is inside the package. Next is the payment in TB, I understand when nowadays when you sent up a Taobao account, you will auto get a Alipay account. Alipay 支付宝 is the payment platform similar as Paypal. If you did not get the account, suggest you to get set up one Alipay account as well. In Taobao, after placing an order, the site will direct you to payment page. From there choose this ： 海外其它地区版. From there, you will see Nets payment. Yes, Nets payment. Surcharge is SGD1 per transaction. And from here, I believe the rest is history. So there you go, Taobao made easy for all.

Some how I prefer a round down light as down light is fixed by cutting a hole in the false ceiling. Round one dont need a perfect round to fix in but a square one needs a proper square to sit in, else misalignment might be pretty obvious. And if the hole needs to be patch back, normally are done by plastering and likely not gonna hold properly as well. I did consider the down lights with glass edges, looks classy and elegant but the thought of cleaning and dust collect puts me off. And yes, keep this thread clear of TB questions, Mrs Lee had issued ultimatum. For folks interested to TB, I had updated a little on my blog.

Aint no expert on TB. Just been there, done that and time to give back. Wanted to venture into sound system but alas not now with such miserable budget. Was looking at the Akitmate previously but have to put to a halt for the time being.

You're welcome. If you need more discussion you know where to find me. Hope you have a good time Taobaoing.

I made some post on Taobao and Tmall earlier. Post #87 I think. Buying is easy, meeting the 1 cubic meter to maximize the freight cost is a little tough. Swivel Mirror Link posted. I use a transformer for the Sangean radio, the price of inconvenience when buying electronics from the States. Still I deem it a pretty good deal. The radio built is solid, feel heavy and sound is crisp. I am impress by the volume the radio churns out.

Link for the Swivel Mirror http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=19168316436&spm=a1z09.2.9.163.e4dl9V

As mentioned in my posting, this sink is off the shelf already. You can search for more or similar one from TB or Tmall.

Before proceeding, check again. I heard that Taobao now accept Nets at SGD1 per transaction. If this is correct then you save even more from the exchange rate. Updated I had just tried, Nets is really accepted. Guess many buy on behalf is gonna suffer a dip soon.

Seems like you choose a more expensive option for the bedrooms door. Normally bedroom door are about SGD300 each but yours is solid, not sure what the solid meant though? Nyatoh doors?

Hi, you can check out my blog. Page 3 post 87 and 91.

Kitchen Faucet. Bought from Taobao. Packing is good and quality feel pretty solid. Stand tall at 700mm.

Retro Clock. Battery operated. RMB125 Link: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.9.54.L3jAMn&id=7451428228

Yet to be install so dont know about the water pressure. Hand shower should be fine, most who had issues are with the rain shower. Propose you to read up more and you can easily get the information you want. Amcon cost: RMB550 per cubic meter + SGD35 documentation + GST + item cost.

Nah, not born for these, with my dynamite temper and aggression, will offend all parties. Better stick to sharing ideas and doing my own reno.

Grohe Mixer and Hand Shower RMB1599 per set. Works out to be approx SGD320.00 Link : http://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=17768925643&spm=a1z09.2.9.13.N1gy4k

Pardon me for the harsh words for I am infuriated by the position of the fridge when an ID is involved in designing layout. Part of the job scope of an ID is space planning, unless the ID did strongly emphasized on this outcome, else he should get it in the sack.