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As you may have noticed, we we're offline this morning. This was caused by the "Thanks" plug-in going rogue and using up way too many server resources. This triggered an automatic suspension by our hosting provider as they thought it was a malicious attack. The "Thanks" plug-in has been disabled, hopefully temporarily so I can determine if that was indeed the cause, and take steps to prevent it from happening in the future.
I apologize for the disruption and for any confusion that may have caused.
thedius wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:49 pm
Guys, why do you spend more $$$ buying sharkey's off ebay and Ali and not directly from TaoBao through an agent?
The Yellow Tuna Sharkey comes @ $127 + $10 shipping:
Use an agent like SuperBuy to purchase things from TaoBao. They don't charge any commission. The shipping prices mentioned above are from SuperBuy using simple (trackable) China Post.
You can pay the agent with Paypal and therefore enjoy the protection that Paypal offers.
Sounds good. Just ordered the CW blue trident homage using SuperBuy.
thedius wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:49 pm
Guys, why do you spend more $$$ buying sharkey's off ebay and Ali and not directly from TaoBao through an agent?
The Yellow Tuna Sharkey comes @ $127 + $10 shipping:
Use an agent like SuperBuy to purchase things from TaoBao. They don't charge any commission. The shipping prices mentioned above are from SuperBuy using simple (trackable) China Post.
You can pay the agent with Paypal and therefore enjoy the protection that Paypal offers.
Sounds good. Just ordered the CW blue trident homage using SuperBuy.
deckeda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:00 pm
The Taobao links ... sorry, I don't speak the language. Is there a How To for how to buy something from them, that's worth the $27 saved?
I just copied the URL from Taobao into SuperBuy to make my purchase, and SuperBuy pulled the item up for me. So I did not have to figure out what was going on with Taobao. Just what SuperBuy was telling me.
deckeda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:00 pm
The Taobao links ... sorry, I don't speak the language. Is there a How To for how to buy something from them, that's worth the $27 saved?
I just copied the URL from Taobao into SuperBuy to make my purchase, and SuperBuy pulled the item up for me. So I did not have to figure out what was going on with Taobao. Just what SuperBuy was telling me.
Yes, Superbuy also Google translates. You still need to use your phone's camera + Google Translate for Android for the images that contain text and cannot be translated by Google text translator (also useful for ordering in Restaurants abroad that don't have English menus).
cel4145 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:00 pm
Anyone thinking of ordering a watch direct from China should do so in the next week or so. Chinese New Year is February 5th, and businesses shut down anywhere from a week to three weeks. Best to order a few days before that to allow for processing time.
1-3 weeks!?!? That doesn't seem consistent with the stereotype of Asians being insanely workaholic.
Do they work like maniacs all year and finally take off for this primary holiday? I'm admittedly an idiot on Chinese culture in general.
You nailed it Robotaz. I am an American, but I worked and lived in China for two years. I am married now to a lovely Chinese woman. I can tell you what I saw in the industrialized south of China (Guangzhou and Shenzhen). People there don't work 12 hour days and 7 days/week to buy pretty watches. They work to survive. That may mean working in the big industrialized areas (coastal cities for cheap transportation costs) far from their home in the interior of China. Returning home during the one big holiday, Chinese New Year, may require two to three days of travel on a sleeper bus (cots stacked 3 high inside the bus) because they can't afford airfare. Millions travel by train too, still taking days to get home. This may be the one and only time during the year that working parents can actually see and hold their children that the grandparents care for at home. The travel time and precious time to see family and children is why that one holiday is so extended. Chinese value a strong work ethic but they also highly value family - both more so than Western cultures IMHO.
deckeda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:00 pm
The Taobao links ... sorry, I don't speak the language. Is there a How To for how to buy something from them, that's worth the $27 saved?
I just copied the URL from Taobao into SuperBuy to make my purchase, and SuperBuy pulled the item up for me. So I did not have to figure out what was going on with Taobao. Just what SuperBuy was telling me.
Yes, Superbuy also Google translates. You still need to use your phone's camera + Google Translate for Android for the images that contain text and cannot be translated by Google text translator (also useful for ordering in Restaurants abroad that don't have English menus).
Thinking the Taobao, Superbuy, and other tips would be a good thread in the Deal Reports so it doesn't get lost in shuffle with other deals coming through. Could be good background info like the Rakuten Global thread.
Far and wide I will find 'em and I ride 'em
Bricks and mortar get my licks just for kicks
AD or authorized I don't analyze
Retail, wholesale never fail
Online or offline, I find I don't redefine
Too big to fail or yard sale they all hale
Run or hide just for fun deals I find
cel4145 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:00 pm
Anyone thinking of ordering a watch direct from China should do so in the next week or so. Chinese New Year is February 5th, and businesses shut down anywhere from a week to three weeks. Best to order a few days before that to allow for processing time.
1-3 weeks!?!? That doesn't seem consistent with the stereotype of Asians being insanely workaholic.
Do they work like maniacs all year and finally take off for this primary holiday? I'm admittedly an idiot on Chinese culture in general.
You nailed it Robotaz. I am an American, but I worked and lived in China for two years. I am married now to a lovely Chinese woman. I can tell you what I saw in the industrialized south of China (Guangzhou and Shenzhen). People there don't work 12 hour days and 7 days/week to buy pretty watches. They work to survive. That may mean working in the big industrialized areas (coastal cities for cheap transportation costs) far from their home in the interior of China. Returning home during the one big holiday, Chinese New Year, may require two to three days of travel on a sleeper bus (cots stacked 3 high inside the bus) because they can't afford airfare. Millions travel by train too, still taking days to get home. This may be the one and only time during the year that working parents can actually see and hold their children that the grandparents care for at home. The travel time and precious time to see family and children is why that one holiday is so extended. Chinese value a strong work ethic but they also highly value family - both more so than Western cultures IMHO.
Wow. Thanks for the explanation. Makes a lot of sense. Now I feel bad for so many people trying to get their life back in so little time. I guess we all have to do it to an extent, but that sounds grueling.
thedius wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:49 pm
Guys, why do you spend more $$$ buying sharkey's off ebay and Ali and not directly from TaoBao through an agent?
The Yellow Tuna Sharkey comes @ $127 + $10 shipping:
Use an agent like SuperBuy to purchase things from TaoBao. They don't charge any commission. The shipping prices mentioned above are from SuperBuy using simple (trackable) China Post.
You can pay the agent with Paypal and therefore enjoy the protection that Paypal offers.
deckeda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:00 pm
The Taobao links ... sorry, I don't speak the language. Is there a How To for how to buy something from them, that's worth the $27 saved?
Asking for a friend, thanks!
I'm glad this came up -- I hope somebody creates a dedicated thread.
I haven't purchased anything yet. Browsing products was funny. One listing might have numerous options -- like colorways. But some listings include unrelated options, some of which are OOS. It feels like a bait-and-switch at times. One time I thought I'd added one model to my cart, but when I looked in my cart later it was one of the other options. For the few things I looked at I saw little (or no) savings.
Blackout G-Shock DW-6900, J model, $75. eBay: $95. Amazon: $128. List: $108?. They have listings that say Pre-Order, which just means they'll notify you when (if?) they're back in stock.
UPDATE: Shipping is $28 from Japan, so never mind.
Courtesy of SlickDeals: Citizen Promaster Nighthawk Blue Angels quartz on bracelet, 42mm x 12mm, 200m WR, solar, internal slide rule bezel, mineral crystal, screw down crown, $180 with code SDSCZ40 (tested). List: $475. Model BJ7006-56L
