Thread 4 - the one with holy flaps

[Reastie]

Thanks @sorryiasked for thread 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

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Here’s Barbarara’s instructions from last year on doing clicky 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 by @ing me

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.

Cash back sites. You can order through cash back sites like Quidco and topcashback. It’s really simple, you just create a free account and then when you’re purchasing anything online you search on the cash back site the lace you’re ordering from and see if they do cash back and if so follow the link to place the order. You usually have to earn £5 minimum to cash the money back but it easily adds up. Go to the referral link page to join if you haven’t before.

The summer holidays 25% off at Tu was due to start next week, but has been at the least postponed, and probably cancelled. The next one is then usually October half term.

camel camel camel is a great page for price tracking amazon

A great website for looking up items of specific price so you hit the £20 free delivery at amazon here

Sockeatingmonster’s age old but very useful top tips for using aliexpress (note these are also relevant for wish website and anything shipped from China on Amazon and Ebay - you can usually tell by the estimated delivery time and multiple same pictures but different companies. Although you can filter search by country on Ebay. - thanks scrappydappydoo for that bonus point).

“1. Check reviews

1. 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
2. Aliexpress refund/complaints procedure is actually way more straightforward than eBay, and stacked in the buyer's favour
3. 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
4. I don't trust dress up clothes to be flame retardant, although I don't believe this is UK law anyway?
5. 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.
6. 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)
7. 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)
8. 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.”

Bargainmax here

Laser cut outs which have been popular on the thread here

Lisa angel is a very popular site with great regular sale discounts on jewellery etc here

Toysforapound has some well priced items here

Thanks @Reastie 😊

Thanks @reastie although I first came across holy flaps on one of these threads a few years ago so can't take the credit.

Anyone after dinosaur toys, Amazon have this boxed set on lightening deals now.

Thank you for the new thread and thank you very much @eliope for the information about rock tumblers. You dn't have one by any chance do you? I am wondering how ggod they are.

take along farm

Playmobil 123 take along farm £14.99 at Amazon.

Sorry wrong link above

take along farm

Thanks for new thread!

eBay has 20% off absolutely loads of stores today until 6 Sep with code POCKET20 (min £15 spend)
www.ebay.co.uk/e/coupon-offers/september-value-generic

Includes

• Playmobil store
• Outdoor Toys store (which has a small number of absolutely lovely solid wood mud kitchens left including the chamomile one for about £64, their non-eBay site has it with a pan set thrown in for about £72)
• Regatta has a sale of 70-80% off until midnight which includes lots of lovely men's coats such as the Lleyton quilted one.

Just ordered the Lego dots from Argos 2 for £15!
Not seen them before

@margaritasbythesea I had an industrial one for years but also had the smaller versions. I just checked and kerowcraft are out of stock. I had a good one bookmarked somewhere, I'll check for you.

Thanks for the new thread!

Opened my second Dust and Things delivery today, far too much going on yesterday to do it. Loving my new chopping boards, had to treat myself given they were on sale and used the 10% off code too. Also got a lovely slate personalised coaster for my sister to add to her pile of presents for Christmas. She can pop the "sister" mug I got her in the Lisa Angel sale on it. With the tea in it I got from Whittard in the sale (got the gift set with the silver plated tea strainer thingy) and also some chocolate cookies - all 40% off. Then she can relax with all that wearing one of the 4 face masks I bought her in the Rex London sale. When she's out and about she can wear the lovely Lisa Angel scarf that was on sale and enjoy her hot beverage in the lovely travel cup from the Rex London sale. What a lovely haul of presents for one person for under £37. I feel like I'm winning with Christmas shopping.

I bought the Lego Dots for my niece for her birthday last week (from Argos on the 2 for £15) - they were very well received and look quite impressive as they come with a sorting tray. Would recommended - she was 8, but a friend of mine bought them for her 6 year old son for his birthday and he's managed them fine.

Also - I ordered from Wild & Wolf over the weekend after the link from here, but I received an email yesterday to say most of my order had been refunded as they didn't have it in stock. I know these things can't be helped, but I'm still a bit sad about it.

Was in the right place at the right time in our Waitrose just now. Yellow stickers on Lego- got all four of these for £8.82- smyths have the mine craft one alone at £19

Ds wants that minecraft Lego set! I'll have to pop to our Waitrose and see if they've got them

@margaritasbythesea

ukge.com and then they have a dedicated site rocktumble.com

I've bought stone packs for my niece from here which were lovely and a good start. I think often with tumblers it's a case of trial and error before you get good results.

@margaritasbythesea my teenager asked and asked for a rock tumbler so eventually I relented. It was a hobby one rather than an industrial one. It was incredibly noisy and has to run for hours, we put ours in the shed when it was running as it drove me insane in the house. It was used twice then it lived in the shed gathering dust for a couple of years before I got rid of it. We could have bought some really nice “ready made” stones for the cost and bother of tumbling our own.

Oh just had an email to say my Lisa Angel package has been dispatched!

Thanks for the asda coat deal, I've just ordered myself one. This thread is dangerous...I've vowed not to buy anymore, but already caved to the paw patrol toys for no good reason really and a coat for me on top of my treat of the body shop calendar to use my cashback money.... I may need to shuffle off soon...

@nightowl19 (and anyone else who wants books) books2door have box sets like the book people used to, and the works have got quite a few in their sale as well. My 7yo loves diary of a wimpy kid and 13 storey tree house, she likes all the pictures breaking up the text. She has started wizards of once but I think she loses track of where she is.

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet but 9 photo magnets for £3 plus postage 9 photo magnets

Recieved my Look fantastic mystery boxes today. Had 2 purple (same) and one pink.
Photos attached of contents

Afternoon all

Just got my look fantastic boxes, got two the same out of three 😩

@Scoleah snap, I'm predicting there is only 2 boxes

O2 priority has a beauty kitchen box offer on. It was £41 down to £20.

Anyone seen a good deal on some noise cancelling headphones? Preferably as cheap as possible...