Say No to Roadster!

Are you an online shopper? I am, and I shop for everything online, clothes, shoes, grocery, electronics,  almost everything.

For fashion  shopping I really enjoy shopping from  sites like Jabong and Myntra that offer a lot of discounts. Rarely have I had problems with product quality. Until recently!

I was shopping for myself when I noticed this good looking pair of canvas shoes on Jabong from a brand called Roadster. I thought my husband would like to pair these with his denims. I knew the brand was owned by Myntra and never suspected a qaulity issue. 

Roadster Canvas Shoes

The shoes were originally priced at Rs 1899 but due to the sale weekend Jabong was offering them for Rs 700. Since I had other things in my cart there was no shipping charge for me.

I placed the order and the shoes arrived within a week. The packaging was fine, the shoes appeared to be nice. They fit well and looked quite nice. Mr Husband started wearing them about once or twice a week with very little walking involved - car to work, a little walking on the carpeted floor in office, and that's about it.

After about 3 weeks he noticed the fabric inside starting to wear off. Within 4 weeks the shoes were ready to be thrown out! I contacted customer support but was told nothing could be done about it because the warranty period was over. I requested to be put in touch with the brand customer support but they sent me the same standard reply of out of warranty product.

Normally I would have let it go thinking it's a one of incident but then I googled about Roadster shoes and realized a lot of people  have had problems with their quality.

With no support from Jabong, no way to add reviews to their website, I decided to post this here so that anyone reading this can bebwarned before wasting their money.

 If you ever plan to buy anything from Roadster, think it over, rather, go out and buy something from a local store. Local stores will not only give you a minimum 3 month warranty on shoes, but they would also help get the shoes repaired if possible.

We used to wear canvas shoes in school, run around in them and still they would last a couple of years (until you outgrew the pair). But these shoes from Roadster seem to have cardboard support inside which you can see creeping through from where the fabric is torn out. From the top the shoes appear all nice but inside the quality is so poor that they are heading into a bin within a month.

Even if the products are heavily discounted, the discount is meant to be genuine and not a means to get rid of poor quality products.

Roadster is one brand you need to steer clear off no matter how much discount they offer.

I hope you find this post useful and you read it in time before heading for a pair of shoes from Roadster.

Say NO to Roadster!

Canvas Print Surprise!

Hi friends! Today's post is about a recent surprise I gave my husband (okay so when I started this post it was a recent surprise but I never got down to publishing it, so well, its over 2 week now).

We have a large wall in our bedroom against which we have our TV and rest of the wall is bare.
We had also been on a few trips in India last year and hadn't developed any of the photo prints. So, when browsing for Valentine's options when I came across an online website which did custom sized canvas prints I decided to give it a try.

I went through the options available and narrowed down on a thin wrap canvas print which is basically a stretched canvas framed on a thin wooden frame. This comes in a ready to hang state which was perfect for me.

So I dug up one pic in which both of us seemed to be enjoying ourselves and placed an order for a canvas of size 30x20 inches.

Canvas Champ Print - Wall Canvas

The lighting in this room is not perfect to show you how it looks but here's a closeup of another canvas I got done from the same place - just to show you the quality of the print.

How To Shop From The USA - myMallBox To The Rescue

You have this huge wish list of makeup, gadgets, food, and other nick nacks that you want to buy from stores in the USA. You ask all your friends if anyone is going there and could do you a favor of bringing the products for you. Sometimes you are lucky and a friend would agree, at other times, well you keep adding to that wish list of yours.

A lot of products are much cheaper in the USA than in India and other countries. Hence we all have our little wishlists that we keep sitting on. myMallBox.com is a website I came across a couple of months ago. They say "You Shop from a U.S. retailer and we ship to anywhere in the world".

This post is about my experience of using myMallBox to get hold of a few products I really needed. So let's dive straight in.

myMallBox.com is an online website which requires you to register before using their services. Upon registration you are allotted your own U.S. address. This is the address where all your products from U.S. retailers are shipped to. Basically it is a suite number that you get allotted in their warehouse. One big advantage of shopping with myMallBox is that their warehouse is located in a tax free zone - which means you don't pay any taxes when you provide the U.S. address allotted to you!

[When you sign up you can use my link to get $5 store credit instantly - register HERE]

You also need to enter the address in your own country where the items will be shipped to finally once you checkout. This would be your Indian address or U.K. address etc based on where you live.

Once you have registered, you have two buying options. The first option is simple. Buy products from any online retailer that ships in the U.S. and during checkout give the U.S. address that was assigned to you. This is like any other online purchase with the only difference being that now you have a U.S. address even though you may be sitting in a country far off. Your purchase is being directed to the myMallBox warehouse.

The other option is to ask the team at myMallBox to buy the products for you. This is very useful if you have an item that you wish to buy from a retailer who does not have online shopping options.
This option is called the 'Buy For Me' option. In this option you have to give precise details as to what is the product, which shop should this be bought from, and a picture if you have one. This option does have a small charge ($4.50 and 3% transaction fee). The good part is that if you are ordering several items from the same store you can create a single order for all of them so that the overall charge for the order still remains $4.50. Basically you are clubbing all your items in a single 'buy for me' order.

Gifting Made Easy With IGP.com

Online gift shopping has made gift purchases so convenient especially when you can personalize the gifts for your loved ones.

It's easier to shop online when the website helps you filter down the products based on age group, occassion, relationship to the person you are gifting, and even the type of person you are gifting too. Indian Gifts Portal or IGP.com is one of India’s largest online gifts store specializing in gifts for all ages and occasions.

IGP.com was established in 2001, and is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced online gifting option in the country. Indian Gifts Portal (IGP.com) specializes in a variety of areas - flowers, cakes, chocolates, personalized products, festival merchandise, kids, home & living and fashion categories - you think of it and it should be there on the website.

There shipping is hassle free and they even ship orders outside of India. They cover over 150 countries including USA, UK, Australia and Canada; and over 7,000 pin codes in India. You also get the option of same day delivery in 300 cities in India.

Simaaya Fashions - Online Saree Shopping For The Wedding Season

Shopping online for sarees, absolutely not - that is what my mom and dadi would say. You have no idea what fabric you are actually going to get and the colors are always off.

Well not anymore. I am a die hard online shopper. I hate having to wait in cues to try out things and detest the crowds in markets. And so it was a relief when my online saree purchase turned out successful!

Simaaya Fashions - Online Saree Shopping For The Wedding Season

This year during the fall season I have a cousin's wedding to attend. While searching for latest designs in sarees I came across Simaaya Fashions. I am helping my cousin do her shopping and wanted to purchase a single piece to make sure the quality is good enough. After browsing their website I narrowed down on one saree that looked nice and festive to me.

Simaaya Fashions - Online Saree Shopping For The Wedding Season

The saree came wrapped in a plastic cover safely placed inside a cardboard box.

#TheBigBillionDays Sale Is Here At Flipkart

Have you ever been told “Not Now”?

Well, that’s all about to change! You dream it, Flipkart does it and they’re back with the Big Billion Days sale. And I for one, am totally loving it!

Now, there’s plenty to look forward to- awesome deals and discounts and of course, stocking up on my favorite make up brands.

But guess what, it’s not just make up or fashion on sale, it’s EVERYTHING! Yep it’s time to take a serious look around and make the ultimate list of products you want to buy. The number of sellers and products to choose from is truly mind-boggling.

My favorite part of the sale, so far has been this fun video to announce the #TheBigBillionDays sale.

I am sure you guys would relate to some of the situations in the video. Reaching a bank in time only to realize the person puts up a 'Lunch Break' sign just happens so often! (Thankfully banking online is a respite to such situations now!)

Are you still waiting for that bonus saying 'Abhi Nahin' before you buy your favorite perfume?

Waiting for a special occasion as an excuse to buy that new outfit?

Putting off a birthday gift hoping the prices would go down?

Want to get dolled up for the festive season?

Well it’s now or never - Abhi Nahin Toh Kabhi Nahin!

The Flipkart sale is going to have the lowest prices and the awesome backing of extra fast Flipkart delivery. I just cannot wait!

And did you hear the awesome news? The #TheBigBillionDays sale is going to run for 5 days and it is timed perfectly before Diwali. The sale will be on from 13th October to 17th October. You can not only splurge on yourself but this is the perfect opportunity for you to buy gifts for all your loved ones.

Bring A Smile To Someone's Face - #AbHarWishHogiPoori

Making someone else's wishes comes true gives you a deep sense of happiness. A lot of times our dear ones forget to address their own needs when they are too busy sacrificing their time and efforts for others. When you surprise them with something they had always wished for you are rewarded with that special smile, a twinkle of joy in their eyes; it’s a completely different feeling altogether.

My friend Iswarya decided to gift a new bag, to her sister. I loved her story and how she was able to recapture a time gone by and repay an old promise.

I love to make my families little wishes come true. They are always extremely loving and caring for me. To be able to bring a smile to their face is priceless.

Smart Sophistication

If you have been shying away from shopping online then now is the time to take the plunge. Whether you are a college-going young adult or a technology savvy professional, whether you are a stay-home-mom or a travel expert, you need to look good, presentable, stylish- in a word Simply Gorgeous. There is no denying that beauty is skin-deep, but there is surely no harm in juicing up the exterior as well. You’ve got to look good to feel good!

I can hear a lot of you saying we don't have time, the kids keep us busy, it’s too hot to go out shopping, I always have guests over etc etc etc. Hey, gone are the days when you had to go out to buy every little teeny tiny thing. Now is the time to start shopping smart. Today I'll tell you how you can style yourself the smart way with the Flipkart app!

If you have a smart phone or tablet at home then you can download the Flipkart app, login with your account (or create one if this is your first time on Flipkart). Then let's begin!

For any occasion whether it’s a college farewell party/prom, a meeting at work, or just a day out and about town, we all need something that makes us feel like a million bucks. So let's take a look at the clothes section first! On you app select “clothes” and a huge list of options will come before you. We now go and filter out based on color, price, style and narrow down the list to our liking. Now browse through and select what appeals to you. Check the sizes available and add to your cart once you like something. Say you’re looking for a cool Summer dress, just hit the app- pick your shade of pink, sheath dress and viola! You’ll meet the dress of your dreams.

Smart Sophistication

That’s it, a few clicks and your outfit for that Sunday Brunch is all sorted.

Now we  move on to my favorite, the makeup section, if you have time you can sit and enjoy your time looking through the international makeup range right from the comfort of your hands. From L'Oreal's new Cannes 2015 collection to Maybelline Dream Lumi-touch concealer , just window shopping on the app makes you feel gorgeous.

Myntra's Magic - Cinderella's Fairy Godmother!

We all know the story of Cinderella and her fairy Godmother.

Myntra's Magic - Cinderella's Fairy Godmother! 

Now, put your imagination hat on and stay with me! What if Cinderella was transported from the past into 2015?

Picture this!

 Cinderella is waiting for her fairy Godmother to arrive, the clock is ticking away, and swoosh!

That was just a gust of wind! A piece of paper flies off the table- it’s an invitation to an awesome party thrown by her favorite celeb.

She looks woefully around and suddenly hears the ringing of a device with a crystal glass screen.
It’s her stepmother’s smartphone. She gently picks it up and tries to figure out how to stop the ringing.

She accidentally slides her hand over it and hears someone's voice.

The lady on the other end is screaming her head off. 'Cinderella! How dare you answer my phone! I have forgotten it at home, do not touch it!  I want my daughters to look their best for the party and I'm taking them out shopping today. You stay where you are and finish off the cleaning and remember don’t touch my phone' - the call disconnects.

Shopping From Sareez.com - Website Review

A few days back I tried my hand at a website that sells Indian traditional attire. I am very skeptical about material and workmanship while purchasing Indian outfits online but I really liked this piece while browsing online and so took the plunge.

Sareez.com has a huge array of Indian wear. Sarees, salwar suits, and even lehnga cholis. Each category then has many subcategories like printed sarees, embroidered sarees, anarkali suits, straight suits etc. You can filter on price, workmanship, color, material as well as occasion.

The best part is that the site caters to a huge budget range as well. Sarees start at a Rs 1000 for cotton sarees.

I got a Chiffon saree which is navy blue in color and the pallu is a fuscia pink butta work. The saree has very pretty embroidery with resham and zari thread. It has a stripe work and patch patti border. The saree is not pure chiffon (hence the lower price range).

Shopping From Sareez.com - Website Review 

Normally products are shipped in 25 days because they custom stitch it to your size. But if you are in a hurry (like me!) they have this special range of 7 day products. These products are shipped to you within 7 days. If you buy a saree they even stitch the blouse for you. I did not get mine stitched because I have other plans for this saree. Will share the final stitched product once it is ready and I am wearing it :)

Fashion: Jewelry Haul From Confusionfa.com

When I was in college I would see only young girls like me sporting "artificial jewelry" with no precious metals like gold. While as a contrast all working women would sport golds and diamonds. This rift I have seen is slowly going away as more and more women like to experiment with faux stones, and also a bit of color in their jewelry. I have always been a fan of non-precious jewelry because there is no maintenance cost and there is no fear of theft specially while travelling in public transport. This is why I keep looking out for new places to shop from and new pieces to add to my kitty.

I recently came across Confusion Fashion Accessories and decided to try out a few pieces from their collection. Moving away from my usual dainty pieces I opted for larger more bolder pieces. 

Fashion: Jewelry Haul From Confusionfa.com

I'll just tell you in brief about the website. Confusionfa.com offers necklaces, anklets, rings, broaches, hair accessories and even a few pieces for the men. They have a COD option available and shipping is free on orders above Rs 1000. A lot of different material based jewelry is available on their website. From metal cuffs, semi-precious stones, pearls, and even thread based necklaces, they have them all.

Relaunch Of Shilpa Shetty Sarees

Hi friends, just a quick update. Remember I had posted about the Shilpa Shetty sarees that were launched on Homeshop18 (check the post for more details HERE)  - well apparently the sarees were sold out in 22 minutes of the show going live on TV.

And due to the high demand they are now restocking those sarees back on the show - to check out these sarees you need to watch the live TV show on the HomeShop18 channel on 15th November at 3 PM.

So if you want to buy low cost sarees curated by the Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty then don't forget to watch the show!

Follow Me On instagram | facebook | pinterest

Review: Shopalike.in - Fashion and Lifestyle Under One Roof

Online shopping has become the norm today. I for one, love to shop online and I am always looking for the best deals on the product I need. Shopalike.in is a nice concept of bringing together product listings from several shopping websites under one roof so that you can compare the prices and buy the product from whichever site has the best price.

Review: Shopalike.in - Fashion and Lifestyle Under One Roof

The interface to the Shopalike.in website is very easy to navigate. You can search for a particular product or browse through the several categories it offers. 

There are several categories that are offered on the website in the fashion, lifestyle and home decor domain.

Review: Shopalike.in - Fashion and Lifestyle Under One Roof

Currently there are 22 top shopping websites from which Shopalike.in offers you results for comparison.  So if you are searching for a white handbag (as I was, I need a good white handbag!) it will throw up results from websites like Flipkart.com, Jabong.com etc and allow you to compare these products at one go. No more flipping through several different websites to see which one is offering you the best deal.

Homeshop18 TV Channel Independence Day Product Launches

To celebrate Indian Independence Day, on 15th August 2014, Homeshop18.com has come up with some new product releases in the lifestyle and technology domain.

The products are being offered at a unique price point for the next few days.

Some of the offers/products that you can look out for are:

Jewelry Special Dhamaal (by Zaveri Pearls) - a Rs 9999 worth collection for Rs 2999 and you also get a GV worth Rs 500. Look at the image and visit the website for more details - there are so many necklace sets and other jewelry pieces here!

Homeshop18.com Independence Day Product Launches

Puma Shoes offer (original price Rs 9999 slashed to Rs 2999)

Homeshop18.com Independence Day Product Launches

They will also be having offers on anarkali suits and sarees from Hiba as well as Zoha. Along with these there are offers on tech items and my pick out of the current lot is the Dual Sim Dual Core 3G Calling Tablet Royal Edition Tablet. Check out the freebies with this tablet.

Homeshop18.com Independence Day Product Launches

And before I forget there will be an offer on Lotus White Glow range as well - this offer will go live on Sunday 16th August.

Homeshop18.com Independence Day Product Launches

The list of products I have mentioned is not exhaustive - so don't forget to keep an eye out for the launches coming your way from Homeshop18.com this weekend. You will get discounted prices, freebies and gift vouchers as well with your purchase.

Do you have any special plans for the long weekend?

Update - there are daily prizes that you can win when you shop –100 Samsung LED TVs, 50 TVS Sports Bikes and a grand bumper prize of a Hyundai Verna car!

Follow Me On instagram | facebook | pinterest

Foodpanda.com - Website Review

How many of you hate to cook in the sweltering summers, please raise your hand! I love eating food cooked at home (by my mom!) and I hate to cook myself (I know its kind of crazy but I'll let you in on a little secret - I love to watch cookery shows and cupcake wars just keeps me hooked if there is nothing else to watch!) Anyhow, in summers I specially detest cooking and prefer to use the microwave despite the varying researches on whether its good or bad for the nutrients in the food. And I love eating out and ordering in.

Usually when we need to order food and have guests over we tend to order from multiple sites, so that we can cater to everyone's varying tastes. Some like pizzas, others want to have Chinese and some would like to have their traditional Indian food. It becomes crazy ordering from multiple sites (or over the phone) so this time we decided to try out foodpanda.in - I had heard good reviews about this and have also seen the mailers with special discounts as well. I thought I'd share my experience about using the site in case someone has not yet ventured to their website. (for those of you who are not based in India you can check out foodpanda.com and select your country - foodpanda actually has branches across 30 countries so do check out your local websites.)

Foodpanda.com Website Review

Charm Your Heart With Some Silver - fourseven.in Haul

I recently did a small haul from this website a friend asked me to check out - its called fourseven.in

Charm Your Heart With Some Silver - Fourseven Haul

Charm Your Heart With Some Silver - fourseven.in Haul

fourseven.in is a site that offers silver jewelry ranging from earrings, necklaces, and my favorite - little charms. The site is easy to navigate and details about the product are listed alongside so that you know the exact dimensions of the product you are buying.

They offer free shipping only if total amount is over Rs 2000 and your final bill will show the amount of tax deducted on the products (varies from 1% to 5%) so the MRP that you see of each product is inclusive of this tax. 

One good thing that they offer (which will keep you coming back for sure) is a point accrual system. So each time you buy something you earn some points - these points can be redeemed on your future purchase.

Online Shopping Trends - Are You Showrooming?

Recently a leading news paper carried a story on showrooming - where people window shop to check out the fit and size of products and later purchase it online at a much lower cost or with cashback deals. I think popularity of showrooming is really on the rise. One such online site that people are drawn to is Cashkaro.

Online Shopping Trends - Are You Showrooming?

Cashkaro is back with its second edition on Online Shopping Trends and it’s really interesting to see how 95% of the Online Shopping Population finds the concept of Cashback attractive!

Cashkaro conducted the survey among its Social Media followers to capture interesting shopping trends and found that Flipkart remains to be the favourite online shopping website and also found out that while cheaper price is the main reason people shop online, Deals and Cashback are becoming increasingly popular!

Check out the detailed info-graphic which gives details about the findings of this survey.

If you can't see the image properly click on it to enlarge it.

What do you think about this survey - does it match your own reasons to shop online? Do you prefer cashback too? Are you guilty of showrooming - I am and I'll rather say so proudly for saving my hard earned money :)

Elabore Store - A Storehouse Of Stoles & Shawls

Elabore Store 

Elabore is an online shop of luxury shawls and scarves. The range of shawls and stoles varies from the soft cotton variety to the more rich silks. Products showcase a foundation in vibrant colors and bold patterns.

Elabore Store - A Storehouse Of Stoles & Shawls

Elabore Store Story
Elabore was started in 2002 as Savita Exports which was  founded on the base of an ancestral experience of over 28 years. Mr Prateek Bansal gave the brand a luxury appeal after completing his degree in fashion designing.

Natural Beauty Haul - JoyByNature Online Shopping Review

Hi everyone, how is your week progressing so far? I am busy trying out new products and seeking to get my stuff organized, its in a mess - need to do a wardrobe makeover as well. Anyhow, recently I ran out of my body wash and started using an organic soap that my aunt got me from Kerala. I am using it with a loofah made of some natural vines dried out. I will share both of these in a detailed review soon. But, since I prefer using a body wash I looked out for online options to make my purchase.

Natural Beauty Haul - JoyByNature Online Shopping Review

This time I landed on a website called Joy By Nature and thought of giving it a try. I have shopped from other sites offering organic products before and always prefer online shopping rather than going to the shops to make my purchase (its just so much more convenient!)

Natural Beauty Haul - JoyByNature Online Shopping Review

Here is something about Joy By Nature (I just took this off from their site www.joybynature.com)

"Joybynature.com is about delivering joy from nature to your home.
JoyByNature.com aims to make accessible some revolutionary natural products that will significantly enhance your well-being and the quality of your day-to-day life.  This could be through products related to:
- Household cleanliness - making your household free of all unwanted flies, mosquitoes etc leaving it healthier
- Personal care - ensuring that your hair, skin, eyes etc glow at their very best, leaving you feel fragrant all day long
- Foodstuff - that would make you feel as perfect internally as you would externally through our personal care products
- Books - that would elevate your appreciation of self, and help you gain better control of your being
- Music - Yes! - music - that would leave your senses gratified by bringing you the best of sounds nature has to offer

My Shopping Experience With India Circus

I recently shopped from a site called India Circus. When I came across the site the first thing that attracted me was the quirky designs on a lot of pieces but while I was browsing I fell for these gorgeous white peacocks painted in a royal Mughal style.

Shopping Experience & Website Review: IndiaCircus.com

My Shopping Experience With India Circus

This is actually the painting done on a tray that I purchased. One look at this design and I just knew I had to have it.

India Circus offers products varying from personal accessories to home decor. Each piece has gorgeous designs by the designer Krsna Mehta. The pieces capture India in its various hues, from sophisticated designs to bold crazy ones, you will see them all. Browsing through the site just gives a whiff of fresh air with their unique designs.

My Shopping Experience With India Circus

Browsing is easy and they have a special sale section that lists down all the offers in one place. One great thing about the site is that they offer shipping to 200+ countries - so if you want a piece of India in your home you can purchase something from India Circus. Shipping is free on orders over Rs 1000 (don't worry once you go shopping at India Circus you are bound to fill your cart way above that value because you won't be able to stop at just one piece!)