Getting My Hands on EasyBreath Snorkeling Mask @ Decathlon Experience Launch Party Singapore

Friends on Facebook might have noticed my status check-in to Decathlon Singapore earlier this morning and i shall now share more details on exactly what i bought from the launch party that was in celebration of a new, physical office where consumers can try out some of the products available on the web store!

It's the EasyBreath Snorkeling Mask! 

Featuring a revolutionary design that fuses the breathing tube with a mask that covers the entire face, i have desperately wanted to get my hands on this darling for the past few months when i first saw it online!

Okay, a person would look kind of like an alien when they wear this but who cares when it would make snorkeling a much easier affair than before! For more information on this innovative product, click HERE for the write up.

Anyway, i guess i might as well take this opportunity to share with all of you about Decathlon Singapore's physical office at No 58, Kim Yam Road which would cater to picky shoppers like me who are uncomfortable with online shopping and prefer to feel / try the products.

It was fifteen minutes to the inaugural opening and right in front of me was a queue of ten persons. Darn, i thought i would be the first few kiasu customers to grab hold of a limited stock of easybreaths which would also be officially launched on the same day at a promotional price of S$89 each!

As expected, a big chunk of those in queue went straight for the easybreaths at 10 am and made payment almost immediately! For me, there was no way i am going to waste my parking coupon (with a balance of 40 minutes); hence, i shall check out other sections.

There were around a hundred available on the rack and i am unsure if you could still get any in the next few days. Nonetheless, you could always call the hotline at 6225 4773 on weekdays from 9am to 6pm to enquire. 

At the moment, only size L / XL is up for grabs; a casual check with the friendly staff revealed that other sizes would only arrive in the first quarter of 2015.

Note: this isn't your typical retail shop with high end decorations, huge-ass panel wall posters etc to attract your attention. Such expenses would be better spent on their shopping website.

No frills would be my best (given my limited vocabulary) description for the store (well, the staff members prefer to call it an office). Besides serving as a collection centre for online purchases, it offers products for you to test / try out on the spot!

Kids may even try out the trampoline in the middle of the store! Honestly, this would be a great product to keep Jovyn and Jerald busy at home.

This 'office' should have been launched before my Korea trip as i can see many items that i could have purchased to make my hike up Hallasan a lot more comfortable!

Prices were not expensive too; a pair of swimming goggles for only S$6.90?! I remember paying over twenty bucks a few years ago! Anyway, to answer my friend's comment on Facebook, i am not buying speedo lah; have to wait till i get my abs back which might be mission impossible for the rest of my life!

Categorised into different sports activities, it was relatively easy to navigate the shop although i don't think it has the full display of products listed in their online store. Whatever the case, it was comprehensive enough for me to dedicate some time to slowly browse through.

I was more keen with this section on fitness!

Almost paid for this ABDO Gain - said to allow individuals to better train their core abdominal muscles in different styles, i decided to purchase on a later date as i need to rein my expenses this month!

By the way, early birds were given a S$10 voucher and try their luck on a sure-win lucky draw! I am not sure if fate was playing a joke on me; what am i supposed to do with so many snorkeling masks?! Aside from easybreath, i had another snorkeling mask purchased in Tioman! 

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Location

58, Kim Yam Road

[Very Near to Mohamed Sultan Road]

Map

As above

Operating Hours

Weekdays - 9 am to 8 pm

Weekends - 10 am to 7 pm

Closed on Public Holidays

Website

http://www.decathlon.sg/

Additional Information

Payment is online using your credit card (no point bringing any cash)! In order to save time, i would strongly suggest you create an account on the website before proceeding to the shop.

A major problem with online shopping has always been the after-sales service. I haven't had the need to experience it at Decathlon Singapore yet but i am really assured by the promises made in the above notice especially the 30-day free return and believe it or not, a 2 years guarantee on "all products for material / manufacturing defect recognised by their after sales service team"! 

Guess i would be making more purchases soon! 

KBox K Lunch Buffet - Valid Till 31 October 2014 @ Orchard Cineleisure [Singapore]

The Teo siblings had not been out for their singing sessions for the longest time ever and a date was finally set for us to embark on tone-deaf screaming that would be somewhat masqueraded as professional singing.

Our intention was for the cheap K Lunch but when we heard of the K Lunch buffet promotion, we jumped on it! The price differential was almost non-existence with free flow makan and nett pricing (including the copyright surcharge)! In fact, i thought it was more worth the value than the lunch sets!

I know many of you would be curious on the buffet variety and i shall keep this post as short and as sweet as possible. By the way, only two K Box branches offer the K Lunch Buffet and they are Cineleisure Orchard and Marina Square.

Sufficient to whet your appetite? There wasn't any foie gras, sushi etc but seriously, what would you expect for only S$15.80 nett and this included 3 hours of non-stop screaming singing!!?

The food pictures so far do not reflect ALL the dishes we tried! Some were left out because the photographs eventually didn't turn out well. Anyway, it might also please you to know that there were soft and hot drinks like coffee, cappuccino etc! 

After singing ourselves hoarse for 3 hours, i must say we left the place feeling incredibly satisfied and full. Darn, we were actually supposed to go for ribs at Tony Roma's!!! :(

Notice indicating no fighting allowed!? Tsk tsk tsk, person sings that badly also cannot be violent what...

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Website

http://www.kbox.com.sg/

Price for K Box Buffet

Weekday Lunch - S$12.80 nett per person

Weekend Lunch - S$15.80 nett per person

Additional Information

Reservations are strongly encouraged! Call K Box Cineleisure Orchard @ 67563113 and K Box Marina Square @ 65623113. The K Lunch buffet promotion would be valid till 31 October 2014!

NoQ Store - Shop Online for Economically Priced Books and Get Them Delivered for FREE!!

As a rather active blogger, i have been approached quite a number of times for sponsorship and frequently, it was a direct rejection as i don't see the point of mincing my words just because i am getting something free. 

I would rather pay money and write an honest review! This principle doesn't sit well with many sponsors and i was therefore not expecting a reply from NoQ store when the marketing team sent me an email late last month which i replied in accordance to my 'standard' policy. 

Imagine my surprise when the above email was delivered to my singnet mailbox! If there's anything i would appreciate from merchants, it's their confidence and acceptance that sponsorship comes with no strings attached. 

Online shopping is no stranger to me although this would make it the first time i am shopping for books on the world wide web! With over 14 million titles to choose from, i was a tad frustrated when the search function didn't appear to be intuitive. Things got smoother after a few more tries; indicate the "search filter", input the key words and then select the category to streamline your search!

I have always lamented that iPhone has destroyed my love for reading and i spend most of my free time nowadays watching videos and playing mobile games (my recent obsession was Minions Rush)! It took me a while and i finally decided on a 'practical' book; David Busch's Nikon D7100 Guide to Digital SLR Photography! 

Before i click the "checkout" button, i thought it would be necessary to compare the pricing of the guidebook with other local online stores! NoQ's pricing was S$40.00 (with GST) while Kinokuniya was offering it for S$44.14! Delivery for Kino was also chargeable for orders below S$50! 

Order was placed shortly after. As you can see from the print screen, the sponsorship granted to me was a S$30.00 discount that i could offset with any purchase (besides books, NoQ also sells stationery, diaries, calendars, reading accessories etc)! 

The only thing i could not quite understand is why GST isn't included in the initial price shown to interested buyers. It can be irritating when i assume the price is XXX and the final bill comes with an additional 7%! 

Delivery took around two weeks; fifteen days in my case. Why so long?!?!?!?! I have the answer actually; most products are not physically kept in Singapore and could come as far as United States / United Kingdom! 

Do note that there is an option to top-up S$1 an item to gift wrap and attach the present with a card (small one i presume). Since the guidebook is for myself, i am already quite happy to see it being double wrapped. 

Why was it so thick!?!?!?!?! 

Whatever the case, i sure hope this guide would provide me with more insight on the uses of my Nikon D7100. As i mentioned before, i am a lazy photographer and have always preferred the "auto" or "program" mode. Let's keep our fingers crossed that i would be able to advance to the "next" level. 

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Website

http://www.noqstore.asia/

Readers' Privilege! 

Some of the products are already discounted but all of you would get a much better deal; an additional 15% discount for ALL products in NoQ store! Yes, you read it right; store-wide! Just remember to input the promotion code CAVIN before you click "place order"! 

So what are you waiting for?! Have a fun time shopping at http://www.noqstore.asia/! Do keep in mind that promotion would end on 31 October 2014! 

Additional Information

Up to 50% discount on books; free delivery in Singapore for orders above S$25; numerous payment modes which include credit cards, paypal and even eNets! 

Swanston - Your Essential Store for Cheap Toiletries! @ Chinatown [People's Park Complex Food Centre]

Right above People's Park Complex Food Centre, where you get the insanely famous yong xiang xing yong tau foo stall with a 40-person queue that i have personally encountered, are two levels of shops seldom patronised by many except the regulars.

I am one of 'those' regulars. 

And my favourite shop is none other than "Swanston"! 

Frankly, i wonder if i should even be blogging about this since there is a potential risk that i am just adding to the list and i absolutely detest the fact that the place seems to be getting more crowded recently! 

Nevertheless, i simply could not resist not sharing this good find, especially when i have a "stingy consumer" label tagged to this blog and the toiletries sold in Swanston are so cheap; i have severely cut down on trips to Metro / John Little expo sales!

Baby Johnson shower foam for only S$5.50 when competitors were selling them for as high as S$8.00 each! Reputable hair dye that could be gotten for less than S$10.00! Oral B toothbrush that was priced at a bargain! 

Every trip was a guaranteed basket of toiletries that seldom get past the S$50 mark! Saw that Darlie toothpastes? They only cost me S$3.90 for a pack of three (160g x 2 + 90g x 1)! The 580ml milk bath could be had for S$4.20 for two bags! 

For the regulars, don't get yourself frustrated when there are just way too many people! You should consider walking one level up (on the third floor) where there are similar establishments selling the toiletries at mostly the same price! 

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Location of Swanston

32 New Market Road

(Beside OG Chinatown)

Map

As above.