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Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:50 am  |
Today I walked by an Asian cosmetic store so I went in out of curiosity. There are many in Vancouver and I noticed this one had SKII, Shiseido (Japanese lines), Kanebo, etc etc. I saw they had Sofina Perfect Lucent UV SPF 50 so I asked them how much it was. It turns out the Sofina is selling for a whopping 68CAD + tax!  But this wasn't the end of it all, I saw they had the National (Panasonic) heated eyelash curler which sells for 14.99USD on drugstore.com as I recall. However this store is selling the Asian version for 89CAD + tax!!! I had to ask - what is the difference? Then the sales guy was telling me there's a difference in the curvature - but come on - that only applies to manual eyelash curlers - how can the "curvature" be diff on heated curlers when there isn't even a CURVE! Then he went on to tell me that the SHU curlers that they sell in the USA are DIFFERENT from the ones sold in Asia - AS IF?! Then he started telling me a lot of his customers tell him that they notice a difference and that it's true for a lot of products - cell phones, etc. This I do understand as Asians tend to have a mentality that "made in Japan" = better but that's just a psychological effect of successful strategic marketing plans. Also the Shu curler is selling for 29.99CAD + tax while I bought mine in HK for 100HKD (approx 15USD) at the Shu store. I also noticed they had a lot of hard to find cosmetics that are raved on MUA like the Lavshuca palettes which retail for about 17USD are selling for 39CAD+tax. Apart from these items the other stuff like Testimo, Kate, Majolica Majorca stuff aren't too special as they're easily accessible in Vancouver. I seriously can't believe how expensive that store is and yet so many people still buy from them. |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:55 am |
| this is way too much! doesnt they know nowadays everyone have access to the internet? we can always check up the price or find out more information on the products at the comfort of our home? i bet if we were to order online, it will still be cheaper then what was sold in the shop. |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:15 am |
I suppose they assume that people are willing to spend whatever amount to get products that they think will deliver results. Either that or they just think we are plain stupid!  I agree with rainbow_listic, as I usually just tend to buy most of my cosmetics/skincare online if I can, it definitely turns out cheaper!  Especially considering how much more expensive everything is in Australia!!   |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:38 am |
yes! and @ times if the shipping is high, i will gather a few friends to order together so that we can share/split the shipping cost.
Safire ~ i hadnt realized that cosmetics and skincare are so costly until my friends, who went to Australia for further studies told me about it. my jaws really dropped! especially when they told me the price of MAC cosmetics, i really cant believe it! |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:53 am |
does not surprize me at all... remembering back to what we used to pay here in Japan for US stuff (better now)
But worst is definately Australia. Jeez, the Shu lash curler - selling in Japan for under US$10 and in US for what? $20?
In Australia at Mecca (I believe sole distributor for Shu stuff) they price was AU$60. Yes, that is not a mis-type. Do the math and then pick youself up off the floor.  |
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SKIN: combination, reactive to climate changes and extremely fair. "Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:05 am |
*faint*...omg... imagine how much they are making!! thank god that the technologies are advance nowadays and that we can turn to online shopping.
that explain why, when my friends comes back for vacation during the summer holiday, her classmates & room-mates always asked her to help them buy perfumes, skincare and cosmetics. |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:01 am |
| You should live in Ireland and see how much the price of everything is thats why we use sites like Essentialdayspa its hard even to get samples here. |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:06 pm |
| Sormuimui, would you mind telling me which store it is, so I can avoid it the next time I go shopping? TIA! |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:25 pm |
| dollbird wrote: |
| Sormuimui, would you mind telling me which store it is, so I can avoid it the next time I go shopping? TIA! |
It was MG in Aberdeen. I think the sales people assume you don't know anything and will believe whatever they say. They also sell SKII, Ettusais, Shiseido White Lucent and various other Jap stuff there. But you can get all those products in the other stores in that mall anyways. I do know a lot of people buy SKII from that store because occasionally it goes on sale. |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:29 pm |
| Thank you. I suppose that store is only good for testing the texture of products and then going online to buy! |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:42 pm |
dollbird ~ i cant agree more with you! i also tends to swatch and test the products @ the local stores or counters and then either try to get a cp or buy online. lol.
eg. Testimo eyeshadow palette cost about SGD54 from my local stores yet it cost ard SGD36 by cp from japan! |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:06 pm |
| rainbow_listic wrote: |
Safire ~ i hadnt realized that cosmetics and skincare are so costly until my friends, who went to Australia for further studies told me about it. my jaws really dropped! especially when they told me the price of MAC cosmetics, i really cant believe it! |
Yes unfortunately the cost of all cosmetics & skincare products are outrageously high in Aus. This reeeeeally drives me insane!! |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:18 pm |
Safire ~ nevermind, i am sure you have found other sources to get your skincare and cosmetics at a relatively cheaper price (EDS)
for the past 1yr+ i have been tapping on a friend in Japan to help cp cosmetics from there. but she will be coming back to SG for good in few months time. i am definitely going to miss all the good and cheap cosmetics in Japan. |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:20 pm |
actually Japanese brands selled in north usa are really more expensive than HK!
Hk is a tax-free harbour! |
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Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:26 pm |
| NARS cosmetics is relatively cheaper in HK. eg. for the blushes it cost around SGD43. was told by my friend that Shiseido MQ is also cheaper there. |
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Mid 20's, combination & sensitive skin |
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Lfoniaty
 
Joined: 11 Aug 2013
Posts: 0
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Sun Aug 11, 2013 5:22 pm |
| Do you know how much additional custom and tax fee that we have to pay for ordering cosmetics online from USA website shipped to Vancouver, BC, Canada? (beside shipping fee) |
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