to Accessories,

to Beauty Products

to Gift Vouchers.



By looking at the range of products, you can conclude that this online shopping site is created just for the ladies out there.

But guys, it does not mean that you are not allowed here. You can always surprise your wife or girlfriend with gifts by buying it online here.

The idea of selling gift voucher is rarely seen in online shopping as many exclude it out from their marketing tactic. If you have a friend whose birthday is near and also loves to shop online in SweetGift, gift voucher is a good alternative.

However, I feel that the number of apparels in Sweet Sakura & Fashion Style sections is quite limited (at least 1 page of apparels in each section), as compared to those established, well-known online shops, such as Victoria Secrets whereby they have a lot of apparels for the customers to choose from (at least 4 pages of apparels in each section).

RATING: 4.5 / 5

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3. How to shop

a) Signing up / Logging in

SweetGift requires all customers to open their account, so as to do a follow up after you have confirmed the buying and keep track of all sales.

If you are first time customer, you will be brought to My Account Information page for the filling in of personal particulars.

b) Selecting Dress

Specification of the dress will be stated.

Eg. Chest Size: 36cm across, Shoulder Width: 47cm across, Total Length (down) excluding strap: 81cm

If you like it and want to buy, you add it to cart.

However, you cannot choose the colour of the dress.

Pro: You may feel that it is an one-and-only dress, since it comes in that specific colour and design.

Con: Some people will meet into a situation whereby the colour of the dress is not their preferred colour or does not match to their skin tone. Therefore, they may end up regretting not being able to buy that dress due to the colour unavailability.

c) Selecting the payment mode and shipping method you prefer (will be covered later)

d) Checking order status

You will see one of these terms when checking its status.

Order Received – Order has been received and will be verified shortly.
Pending payment via InterBank – Awaiting Cusomer’s payment via Bank Transfer.
Pending payment via Paypal –Awaiting Customer’s payment via Paypal.
Order In Process – Payment received, processing order.
Order On Hold – Upon Cusomter’s request.
Order Delivered – Parcel is sent to SingPost.
No Reply From Customer – Order cancelled due to no reply from Customer.

e) Receiving a confirmation of order via email.

You will receive an email acknowlegement on 'the same business working day or next working day for orders received after 6.00 PM Singapore time'.

++++++++

Exprience of the online shopping is good, as the steps are easy to follow.

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RATING: 4 / 5

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4. Modes of Payment

2 types of payment:

i) Bank payment via Internet.

Since this is Singapore online shopping business, they accept Local Bank (UOB/OCBC/DBS/POSB) Transfers.

By including this payment mode, SweetGift does not neglect that those customers, who are without credit card, including me, and thus, give them a chance of online shopping experience.

ii) Credit card payment via Paypal.

Given that they are also accepting overseas orders, Paypal is chosen as it is famous for its easy-to-use and safe payment scheme.

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It is important to look out for a safe payment mode like Paypal, as you want to make sure that you do not pay twice for the same product.

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On top of it, SweetGift provides information on their security policy, so as to inform us that they are 'committed to protecting the confidentiality and integrity of personal information' we provide. They really know how to assure us.

RATING: 5 /5

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5. Shipping method

According to SweetGift, the rates are as follows:

By Local Registered Mail (A flat rate of $2.50 per parcel applies only, regardless of the number of items (For SINGAPORE only))
SGD$2.50

By Local Normal Mail (FREE OF CHARGE) (No shipping charge added. Customers are strongly encouraged to select the registered mailing option (For SINGAPORE only))
SGD$0.00

By Overseas Shipping (For Overseas shipping fee, this is the total estimated overseas shipping cost including shipping and handling fee.)
SGD$37.80

DSPREE Customers only (Please click here to confirm your order, and you will receive our email confirmation for your order)
SGD$0.00

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I like the local shipping method as it saves me quite a sum of money, since I stay in Singapore.

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RATING: 4.5 / 5

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6. Other unique features

a) Wholesale order, Advertising & Business Opportunity

Besides the gift vouchers mentioned earlier in point 2 'Different types of products', some mall apparel businesses can contact them if they are interested in wholesale orders with SweetGift.

It also goes for advertising and business opportunity. Interested parties can call them up.

++++++++

I feel that these 3 features are cool, espcially advertising and business opportunities, because this not only giving SweetGift more businesses, but also creating jobs for people by offering chances.

++++++++

b) VIP membership

If you intend to continue online shopping here and wish to get some discount when buying, VIP membership is just for you. There are 2 types stated: VIP-Silver and VIP-Gold.

[VIP-Silver]

• Purchase $100 and above in 1 single receipt.
• 10% discount of price only, excluding Nett price, sales and promotional items.
• Special pre-view on new items exclusively for you.
• Exclusive advance order.
• Valid for 1 year from date of purchase.

[VIP-Gold]

• Purchase $500 and above in 1 single receipt.
• 20% discount of price only, excluding Nett price, sales and promotional items.
• Special pre-view on new items exclusively for you.
• Exclusive advance order.
• Gift with Purchase.
• Valid for 1 year from date of purchase.

++++++++

I feel that the membership is one good way to retain their regulars and attract new customers by giving discounts to different type of membership. I like the way SweetGift set their terms and conditions for different membership, because all, except the discount rate and gift with purchase, remain the same. It shows that they treat the customers equally.

++++++++

RATING: 5 /5

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7. Terms & Conditions

I feel that SweetGift's Terms and Conditions is a place where customers are informed, assured, and caution.

Why do I say that?

You will be informed of how the parcels are confirmed, priced and sent and the kind of payment mode SweetGift accepts. In addtion, you are assured of their goods that are in 'excellent condition for sale'. You can also expect that 'utmost care' is given when SweetGift packs and wraps your goods so as to avoid any damages in the mail process before they delivers.

Warranty conditions will also be given when you receive the parcel. SweetGift will ensure billing accuracy by 'manually checked for errors'. This really boost the customers' confidence in them as we know that they try their very best to minimise billing error.

SweetGift warned the customers that they do not allow cancellation of orders, exchange or refund once the customer has 'confirmed, submitted or paid' the order. I think they want the customers to be responsible for their decisions after confirming the order.

RATING: 4.5 / 5

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Overall experience

RATING: 4.5 / 5

Thanks for staying with me till now. I guess you now know more about online shopping, as well as my personal views and feelings about it.

Stay tune to Holistic Sensei for more interesting posts. See you soon.

- LoUIsA -

All pictures and informations are taken from http://www.sweetgift.com.sg/index.html

This is the home page of Forever 21.

My cousins were the ones who intoduced this website to me, because they wanted to buy some clothes and shoes. So, they asked me to join in, as there would be free shipping if you spend over a certain amount of money. Forever 21 also sell a variety of stuff that I like.

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1) Purpose of the wesbite

The purpose of this website is to allow online shoppers to shop for things that they want, without having to go to the shop to buy.

Thus, it saves people the time and effort.
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2) Accessibility of the website

This website is easily accessable by people as the web address is easy to remember.

The layout of the website is staright forward so people won't get confused on what to do when they shop online.

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3) Categories of products

There are different categories of stuff being sold on this website.

For example, under the women section, they sell a range of stuff like accessories, foot wear, bottoms, castual tops and many more.

Under the different cateories, you can go specifically into what you want to look for. Like under bottoms, there are skirts, jeans, pants, shorts and active.

Therefore, people can find what they want easily.

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4) Information on Clothes

The table on the left is a size chart. It provides consumers with the information on the different sizes and lengths.

As consumers, we need to know the size before buying the clothes. We don't get to try on the clothes, so the length in cm and inches play an important role in providing the information that we need.

Not only that, there is also an overview of the clothes:

5) Prices of clothes and accessories

From what I think, the prices of the clothes, accessories, footwear are quite reasonable to afford.

There are also sales going on, which some stuff are cheaper to buy. Below is the first page of the items that are on sale.

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6) Account for Forever 21

You can set up at account here at Forever 21.

This is to help people to track what have they bought so far.

Here is how you can sign up for an account!

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7) Mode of Payment

Payment can be made through credit cards such as Master Card, American Express, Visa and Discover.

Most websites also accept payment through credit cards.

However, they do not accept payment through debit card, so i feel this is one of the disadvantage.

More modes of payment will allow more consumers to shop and buy online easily.

After you have submmited your order, a confirmation email willl be sent to you within 1 - 5 business days.

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8) Delivery/Shipping

Forever 21 provides shipping to various destinations. Singapore is one of them.

However, there is a shipping charge added.

The table below shows the shipping rates to international countries. It takes about 5 - 10 business days.

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9) Redress

This is based on Forever 21 Return Policy

Returns are accepted within 30 days from the shipped date.

If any item, other than FINAL SALE merchandise, purchased at www.forever21.com fails to meet your expectations:
1. It may be returned to any Forever 21, XXI Forever, Heritage 1981, Reference or Gadzooks store located in the United States for an exchange or store credit towards your next purchase; or
2. It may be returned by mail to the address below for a refund.

For Refund of Online Purchases:

1. Your package will include an order invoice, a return form and/or customs documents. Complete the "Return Form" by listing the return reason code and return quantity. Please indicate the items you are returning by placing a check mark in the Return box. Retain your original order invoice for your records.
2. Pack and seal your return merchandise securely (in the original package if possible) and include the completed "Return Form" and "Customs Documents" (if applicable). Affix enclosed pre-printed Merchandise Return Label to the outside of your return package. Please note that the Return Label is not pre-paid, therefore, you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. Shipping and handling charges are not refundable.
3. Mail the package to: Forever 21 Attn.: Online Returns 1932 Staunton Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90058
4. Please allow 2-3 weeks from the return shipped date for your account to be credited, and 1-2 billing cycles for the credit to appear on your statement. For returns from International and APO/FPO addresses, please allow 4-6 weeks from the return shipped date for your account to be credited, and 2-3 billing cycles for the credit to appear on your statement.

I personally like the design and layout of this website.

It attracted me to go in and see what does the website has.

It is easy to find what I wanted with the different categories.

I really enjoyed the shopping experience!

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Happy Shopping people=)

Lydia=) Signing out....

Cya soon!

All the pictures and information can be found at www.forever21.com

PICTURE OBTAINED FROM GOOGLE IMAGE

- Almonds are a member of the peach family.

- Americans eat approximately 10kg of tomatoes yearly, over half of which is in the form of catsup and tomato sauce.

- Apple is made of 25% air, that is why they float.

- Apples, onions, and potatoes all have the same taste?
Try the test: Pinch your nose and take a bite out of each.

- Avocado has the highest protein and oil content of all fruits,
but most of this is the healthier unsaturated type.

- Barbecue comes from barbacoa, a Caribbean "rude framework for sleeping or drying meat over a fire".

- Beer drunk with dinner works better than drinking red wine, gin or sparkling mineral water
in controlling homocysteine, a blood factor that promotes heart disease by boosting blood levels of vitamin B6.

- Beer is a popular ingredient in batter for deep fried foods
since the protein in beer provides browning and produces a light, crisp, dry batter when cooked.

- Biscuit is a word derived from Latin via Middle French and means "twice cooked".

- Black-eyed peas are really beans.

- Blenders were invented by Stephen Poplawski when in 1922
he became the first person to put a spinning blade at the bottom of a small electric appliance
to make Horlick's malted milk shakes.

- Brown sugar is either an unrefined or partially refined soft sugar with some
residual molasses or produced by the addition of molasses to refined white sugar.

- Butter and margarine are similar in calories, the difference is that butter is higher in saturated fats,while margarine generally has more unsaturated fats.

- Canola is derived from "Canadian oil, low acid".

- Cabbage is 91% water.

- Capers are the unopened green flower buds of a wild and cultivated bush
which is related to the cabbage family.

- Capsaicin, which makes hot peppers "hot" to the human mouth,
is best neutralized by casein, the main protein found in milk.

- Celery requires more calories to eat and digest than it contains.

- Cereal as a word is derived from the name of the Roman goddess
Ceres, protector of crops.

- Champagne contains 49 million bubbles in a bottle and has a
pressure 3 times that of a car tyre.

- Cherries are a member of the rose family.

- Chewing gum may keep you slim by boosting the metabolic rate by about 20%.
Chewing gum stimulates signals in the learning center of the brain and
thus help save memory as you age.

- Chocolate bloom occurs when the cocoa butter has separated causing it to
rise to the surface of the chocolate and is a result of the
chocolate being stored in too humid or too warm a temperature.

- Chocolate is a particularly good source of magnesium, potassium and calcium.
It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
On the down side it contains caffeine and has a high fat level.

- Chocolate may have its romantic effect due to the effects on the brain of a naturally occurring substance called phenylethylamine which enhances endorphin levels, increase libido and act a natural antidepressant.

- Corn always has an even number of ears.
corn makes up about 8% of the weight in a box of corn flakes.

-Cranberries are sorted for ripeness by bouncing them;
fully ripened cranberry can be dribbled like a basketball.

- Doughnuts were orginally made of raised dough with a nut in the centre.

-Eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C.

- Egg spills can be fixed by sprinkling a generous amount of salt on the egg and let it dry.
Then sweep the egg up with a broom.

- Eggplants are actually fruits, and classified botanically as berries.

- Fish consumption may be more than brain food but also help protect your eyes
from age-related macular degeneration, a potential cause of blindness.

- Fortune cookies are not Chinese, they were invented in Los Angeles around 1920.

- Gelato comes from the Italian word gelare which means to freeze;
it is made from cow milk and its rich taste comes from being denser (30% air whereas ice cream is around 50%).

- Guinness beer, after pouring, produces bubbles that sink to the bottom.
The bubbles go up more easily in the centre of the beer glass than on the sides because of drag from the walls.
As the bubbles go up, they raise the beer, and the beer has to spill back,
and it does. It runs down the sides of the glass carrying the bubbles - particularly little bubbles with it,downward to the bottom of the glass

- Hamburgers were invented in 1900 by Louis Lassen. He ground beef, broiled it, and served it between two pieces of toast.

- Himalayan gogi berry contains, weight for weight, more iron than steak,
more beta carotene than carrots, more vitamin C than oranges.

- Honey is the only edible food for humans that will never go bad.

- Horseradish was the first product sold by Heinz in 1869.

- Humble pie comes from the food "umble pie",
a pie consisting of the innards of deer, which very poor people in Medieval England ate.

- Kopi Luwa from Indonesia is the world's costliest coffee, at US$350 a kilgram,
thanks to a unique taste and aroma enhanced by the digestive system of droppings of palm civets,
nocturnal tree-climbing creatures about the size of a large house cat, which eats ripe robusta coffee cherries for treats.

- The coffee beans, which are found inside of the cherries,
remain intact after passing through the animal.
Plantation workers track them and scoop their precious poop.

- Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries.

- Lettuce is the only vegetable or fruit which is never sold frozen, canned,
processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh.

- Lobster was so common in Maine in the 18th Century that it was used as fertiliser.

- Margarine was first called Butterine in England when it was introduced.

- Mayonnaise will kill lice and also condition your hair.

- Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.

- Milk from reindeer has more fat than cow milk.

- Milk is the new diet drink since low-fat, high-calcium dairy foods
may burn off fat since extra calcium increases metabolism.

- Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.

- Olive oil has lots of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory activity to fight rheumatoid arthritis.Olive oil is an oil extracted from the fruit of the olive tree.
Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be created simply by pressing the raw material.

- Orange does not rhyme with any other word.

- Organ meats were known as garbage in the 16^th Century, the term then used for the innards of an animal.

- Parmigiano is a natural source of and has a high concentration of Monosodium glutamate (MSG),
giving it the unami taste, found as small white crystals formed during maturation.

- Peanuts are legumes and not a tree nut.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients in dynamite.

- Pear is a fruit that ripens from the inside out.

- Pepsi-Cola was invented by Caleb Bradham in 1898. Originally called "Brad's Drink,
" the beverage was first marketed as a digestive aid and energy booster.
It was renamed Pepsi-Cola because of its pepsin and kola nut content.

- Percentage alcohol in a bottle of liquor is estimated by dividing the proof by two.

- Pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality.

- Pizza originated in the early 1700's in Naples, Italy.

- Pizza toppings of squid are the most popular variety in Japan.

- Popsicle were invented by an 11 year old,
Frank Epperson when he left his soda water drink with a stirring stick overnight on his porch.

- Pound cake was so named because of its original proportions of 1 lb (500g) each of butter, sugar, and flour.

- Puffed grain were invented by Alexander Anderson in 1902.
Unlike popcorn, a type of corn that naturally pops or puffs up with heat,
puffed cereal or snacks are formed by exploding whole grain kernels under high pressure and steam.

- Raisin in a glass of champagne will keep floating to the top and sinking to the bottom.

- Refried beans aren't really what they seem.
Although their name seems like a reasonable translation of Spanish frijoles refritos,
the fact is that these beans aren't fried twice. In Spanish, refritos literally means "well-fried," not "re-fried."

- Rice paper does not contain one grain of rice - its made from either Rice straw, Bamboo, Hemp, Mulberry leaves, Wingceltis or Gampi.

- Sandwiches are named after John Montagu, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-92), for whom beef was placed between
2 sliced pieces of bread so that he could stay at the gambling table without interruptions for meals.

- Shredded wheat was the first breakfast cereal to ever be produced.

- Sliced bread was introduced by Otto Frederick Rohwedder who invented the
bread slicer,which he started working on in 1912. At first, Rohwedder
came up with the idea of a device that held the slices together
with hat pins (not a success). In 1928, he designed a machine 1.52m long
by 0.90m high that sliced and wrapped the bread in waxed paper
to prevent the sliced bread from going stale. In July 7, 1928, the first loaves
of sliced bread were made by the near bankrupt baker Frank Bench.

- Soup has its origin as a word from 'sop' or 'sup', meaning the slice of bread on which the broth was poured.

- Soy flour and soya flour are richer in calcium and iron than wheat flour,
gluten-free and high in protein. Soy flour is ground from raw soybeans;
soya flour from lightly toasted soybeans.

- Spilling salt is considered good luck in Japan.

- Strawberries are the only fruit which has its seeds on its outer skin.

- Swiss cheese ferments with bacteria generating gas which bubbles through the cheese leaving holes; cheese-makers call them "eyes."

- Tea strengthens bones because isoflavonoid chemicals in tea may have a weak estrogenic effect, reducing bone deterioration and osteoporosis risk.

- Ten gallon hats only hold about 6 pints or 2.8 Litres.

- Toasters for bread using electricity were invented by Crompton and Company,
Leeds, England in 1893; the first automatic pop-up electric toaster
was designed in 1919 by Charles Strite.

- Tomato used to be considered poisonous.

- Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

- Traditional italian food is an anagram of radiation, toil, fat and oil.

- TV dinners were introduced in 1954 by Omaha-based C.A. Swanson
and Sons featuring roast turkey with stuffing and gravy,
sweet potatoes and peas, selling for 98 cents.

- Vegemite is an Australian icon which was developed in 1922 by Dr. Cyril Callister.
He took used brewer's yeast and blended the yeast extract with ingredients like celery,
onion, salt, and a few secret ingredients to make this paste rich in B vitamins;
it was developed for the Fred Walker Company which is now Kraft Foods.

- White chocolate is not a true chocolate because it contains no chocolate liquor,
instead its made of sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids, lecithin and vanilla.

- White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and earlobes
while brown eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and earlobes;
the colour has no relationship to the nutritional quality or taste of the eggs.

- Wrigley's gum was the first product to have a bar code.

- Yelling for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days produces enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.

---Janet's Food for thought ---

Disclaimer: I do not know whether the above facts are of how true....
Just share it with everybody, hope you all enjoy it! =)

Labels: http://www.arrowscientific.com.au/amazing-food-facts/interesting-facts-about-food.html