Thread 11 - it seemed like a good deal but ......... can anyone tell me what it does and why I need it?

[Reastie]

Thanks @VividImagination for title.

Just a reminder you can watch the thread by clicking on ‘watch this thread’ at the top of the first message. It’s much easier for everyone than so many place marking every time which can use up a fair chunk of each thread to scroll through

Referral link here . Use this to post any links where you can refer a mner and you or both of you get an incentive. For ease and fairness please don’t post these on the main thread.

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Here’s Barbarara’s instructions on doing clicks links:

Open double square brackets
No space
Paste link
Space
Name of link
No space
Close double square brackets

Like this
[[www.amazingbargains.com bargain ]] but with no space after/before the brackets.
If I do it again without the extra spaces only the word bargain will appear in blue

For more links etc see message 2

If any link doesn’t work or you want to add something please let me know in bold or @ me

camel camel camel is a great page for price tracking amazon

Sockeatingmonster’s top tips for using aliexpress

1. Check reviews
2. Be wary of plastic toys. There have been concerns about toxic plastics from China, and I have binned plastic figures for having very unpleasant smells. I no longer buy any 'low-end' plastic items (UPDATE: I wouldn’t buy squishiest either, for the same reason) and only ever from sellers with lots of positive reviews
3. Aliexpress refund/complaints procedure is actually way more straightforward than eBay, and stacked in the buyer's favour
4. Beware of mains operated electricals, many of which are supplied without fused plugs. Always message the seller first if in doubt, don't rely on the photos
5. I don't trust dress up clothes to be flame retardant, although I don't believe this is UK law anyway?
6. Clothes can come up very small. Quality can be variable (excellent to awful). Photos are often of similar items, so take them with a pinch of salt and check the reviews.
7. Actually, all photos on Aliexpress should be taken with a pinch of salt. Again, check reviews (where buyers often post photos of the actual item received)
8. I wouldn't trust toys to meet UK safety standards and wouldn't buy anything that could pose a risk (e.g. Paint might not be safe for children to gum, there could be sharp edges/choking hazards, etc)
9. Lego alternatives don't tend to stick together as well as genuine Lego. Minifigures are still excellent value, but the odd one might benefit from a few drops of superglue.

10. Barbie and other doll clothes can be excellent value, but check reviews for fabric quality and finish (UPDATE: Type “18 inch doll” for clothes that will fit American Girl/Our Generation/Designafriend dolls. Shoes are particularly excellent value. Wash dark clothing first as dyes can stain dolls’ limbs) 11. Stationery is generally excellent value, although paper quality can be lower than expected. Type 'kawaii' into stationery and be prepared to spend a fortune!

Also to add I’ve seen a fair few posts from fb this year from small businesses where aliexpress have posted photos of their products and photos without permission, so be wary and be warned the photo might not be exactly what you get.

Wibbletooth has a great gift idea:

Best received grandparent/great aunt etc stocking filler that I’ve done has been a personalised glasses cleaning cloth, with a photo of the grandkids on.

I did it on eBay - was much cheaper than many other places - and the quality was great. Cost them was about £2.50, there seem to be 2 or 3 on there that are about £3 now so guessing it was one of them - didn’t recognise either of the listings. At the time it was cheaper to go through the eBay page than their website. There were two sizes - seem to think it was worth the extra 30p or similar to get the slightly bigger cloth - not much of a difference but enough to make it feel a bit more substantial.

They were all in awe as had never come across photos being printed on fabric. Also meant they always had a photo of the grandkids with them at all times without needing to carry photos with them as they always had their glasses and this glasses case with them and alwaûs had a cleaning cloth in the glasses case anyway.

Think I teamed them with a mini cleaning spritz and mini glasses screwdriver to get 3 related stocking presents.

Great deal in the MoneySavingExpert email this week, £10 off voucher at Buckley London, minimum spend £15 and it works on all items.

Code is MSE2019

Buckley London

Thank you for the new thread

Thanks for the new thread. Struggling to keep up this year 🙈

Thank you @AllAboutMyBoys for the code for Buckley London. It worked with sale items so I got 2 lovely gifts, Inc postage for £11.49 👍

Love the thread title

Wrt the Sainsbury’s double up...I’m trying to do it online now but it hasn’t yet given me the option to pick a certain category.... so say I have £50 worth of vouchers will it allow me to spend them across the different departments or should I be having to pick just one?

Love the title!

My Amazon wooden tree arrived today. Very cute.

Wondering when it is acceptable to put my autumn décor away and get the wintertime bits out before I go into full blown Christmas mode!

Did RL shopping yesterday. Got my DD some hatichimals from the entertainer for 50% off and also some secondhand dvds from Oxfam for 20p each!!

LetMeLayAmongTheStars last year they could be spent across all the categories

Thanks @AllAboutMyBoys, sorted a friend's birthday gift and a stocking filler for less than £10! Bargain!

Thanks for the new thread!

thanks for new thread, they seem to be moving so fast!

If anyone sees a wax melter (the ones that you put a tealight underneath and they melt a nice smelling wax) for a bargain price could you let me know? thanks!

Thank you for the new thread. I can’t believe I made the thread title!

@sleepismysuperpower1 home bargains or B and M often have them. Asda also do some and often have the Yankee home inspiration melts on offer. Though I also recommend the Lytham soap company ones from Amazon as well.

brilliant, thank you! @UrbanMage

I missed the Dot offer 🙁
If it comes back or they have a Black Friday deal can I ask, is it easy to purchase for someone else and also, can it play Spotify if you're not the Spotify bill payer? It my mother is on my Spotify, would it play for her?

Lastly I already have a google home, I assume they aren't compatible together?

Does anyone know what the quality of Wolsey clothes are like? Eying up some of the outlet items for DH but wondering if the discounts are genuine (ie the jacket that was £190, would it ever have been worth that??). Thank you.

I've been using Dr B cleansing bar instead of shower gel, think I'm converted!

Also still looking for a £10 Boden voucher (even if expired) so with the % discounts too I could get slippers for DD that aren't £ £

Ta to the PP who recommended Tawny El ... picked up some beautiful tiny mushroom earrings.

Had great customer service from book people, was accidentally sent an 8 pack of books instead of a lego book and they dispatched the correct lego one pretty much as soon as I called and said I could keep the 8 christmas books! Couple of gifts sorted for free there!

Thank you RaynaJames

Thank you Bellasblankexpression and Baileystruffe for the Elemis gift set and code, just ordered one for DH to put in my stocking lol

I had to use a new email address though as the code is for new customers.

Thank you for everyone’s help on Gravitrax, it seems fairly mixed as to whether it’s a hit or not! I’ll have to think of something else 🤔

Does anyone have a Hype code? I though there was one on a thread somewhere but this moves so fast I can’t keep up!!

Just in case you missed the end of the thread @eastmidswarwicknightnanny I couldn't use my rewards points on the discounted Max. It just said a discount was already applied, so I couldn't add another. I now have to go back and order my first DUNS, just to use the voucher that I'd already claimed before realising. Can't say I'm that disappointed!!

Thanks for the Disney code, just ordered ds the stitch he wanted.

Don't suppose anyone has seen a good deal on a Garmin Vivofit Jnr?

Evening all, anyone else getting fed up of the better deals coming through the day after you order. Only small differences so not worth returning but it’s almost as if the algorithms know you have bought something and want you to come back....