First order from my-wardrobe.com

The Duke's birthday is this weekend and once again I left my gift purchase to the last minute. Thank goodness for the internet! I went to Mr Porter but didn't find anything I liked. I started searching for brands that I'm interested in and one of the searches led me to my-wardrobe.com. It is a UK-based website selling men's and women's designer brands.

After the website loaded a message popped up, offering Australian shoppers $A60 off purchases over $A180. That was a good way to get my attention ;-)


After a bit of browsing I took the plunge and purchased these.


Burberry Brit silver cufflinks ($A119)

Polo Ralph Lauren navy blue chunky knit ($A144)

Postage is not cheap (£26/$A39) and delivery by DHL takes between 3-7 working days, which is a bit average given the cost.

The website offers charging in local currencies. On international websites I usually choose to pay in their native currency because the exchange rates they offer are not as good as what I can get from my credit card provider. However in this case the Australian dollar charge was actually better than the British pound charge. I think they hard-coded the exchange rate to $A1 = £0.66 (which was the going rate about a month ago) when current exchange rate is around £0.625. No complaints from me!

The purchasing process is fairly straight forward, but soon after I placed the order I received an e-mail asking me to change the shipping address to the billing address, or if the shipping address is my workplace I am required to send an e-mail to them from my work e-mail address to verify the transaction. It was a strange request and I'd prefer if it was disclosed before I complete the purchase. Luckily I was able to access my work e-mail address at home and it was all sorted. I was hoping that they'd dispatch the parcel by the end of their working day but it wasn't dispatched until the day after, so the chances of the parcel arriving in time for The Duke's birthday is slim but at least I have made the purchase.

I'm glad to discover a new etailer, especially one that stocks men's designer labels.

If you want to check them out and take advantage of the discount, the code is AUJUBILEE60 and it's valid till 7 June.

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Japan snapshots part 1

It has taken me more than two weeks to mourn the end of my Japan trip. I'm finally ready to write about it! Here are some of the gorgeous scenery and only-in-Japan sights.

We left for Japan in late April and according to the internet the sakura/cherry blossom season was already over, so it was a pleasant surprise when we saw a few cherry blossom trees still in bloom at the Imperial gardens in Tokyo.

Truck advertising is quite popular in Japan, equipped with loudspeakers blasting music or speeches. I was amused by one promoting Marilyn Manson's latest album. I wouldn't have predicted Japan as a big market for his music...

Osaka Castle was quite a sight. Like most major buildings in Japan it had been burnt down many times since it was built in 1597. The latest restoration was completed in 1997 (it is now a museum) - there is now a lift inside the building!

My brother and TLP played dress-up inside the castle.

There was a young woman wearing a gorgeous kimono outside the castle.

The Duke is very fond of zen gardens. The pebble and rock arrangements are created to aid meditation and contemplation. This is from Ryōan-ji in Kyoto - it was built in the 15th century so it has been around for over 500 years.

These screen door paintings were also from the 15th century.

Bus stops in Kyoto let you know when the next bus is close by. Sydney Buses take note!

We went to the massive Aquarium in Osaka - the key attraction is a whale shark.

A fugu lantern on the streets of Osaka. The Duke wasn't keen to sample puffer fish (well it is poisonous). I wonder what they taste like?

A classic Japanese garden on a sunny day.

Todai-ji in Nara - the world's largest wooden building. It was a magnificent sight!

Mummy deer and little deer sharing a tender moment.

Gorgeous view of the Ashi lake in Hakone.

The Duke and TLP walking through the cedar avenue in Hakone.

TLP in front of an incredible model train display at the Railway Museum in Tokyo.

"Innovative" transportation for kids!

Last but not least, an amusing sign in an elevator in Roppongi.

The next post will be about my #1 priority in Japan - FOOD!

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Myer is (not) my store

The Duke and I looking to buy a new mattress with a pillowtop layer. If we buy one we'll need some extra-deep sheets as the mattress is very thick. So I went up to Myer at lunchtime yesterday to see what is available.

The first two sales assistants on the floor did not know about the extra-deep sheets. The second one directed me to the Sheridan specialist. I went up to her and politely explained what I was looking for. The answer I received? "You go and get the measurement of the mattress then come back to me".

I couldn't believe my ears.

It wasn't just what she said but the way she said it. She was talking down to me, like I was wasting he time.

I left Myer quickly and proceeded to David Jones where the sale assistant was actually assisting. Guess which store will get my custom?

With online stores threatening department stores' livelihood you'd have think that they'll work harder on differentiating themselves on things like customer service, but it looks like Myer didn't get the memo.

I'd happily do my own research and buy online when it's convenient to me without the attitude. I'll  probably have more choice, and save a bundle in the process. Myer, if you don't up your game you're going to lose sales from people just like me. In fact, judging from your declining revenue, it has probably started already.

Does bad customer service drive you to shop online?

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Greetings from Tokyo

Blogging in Japan didn't work out as planned. I was going to write a post when I was in Osaka but internet wasn't free there so I read a few books instead. The Royal Household returned to Tokyo on Monday night, and at this point I think I will save the blogging until I'm back in Australia.

Yesterday we went to Hakone, a town 85km away from Tokyo. It's known for its beautiful scenery and view of Mount Fuji. The weather was a bit hazy so for most of the day Mount Fuji was hidden from our view, but at the last minute it made an appearance!

The Duke had fun playing with the settings on the camera and took this photo of yours truly and TLP looking out the gondola.

It has been a great trip - and you'll hear all about it sometime next week :-D

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