Follow this tip before buying anything online

I’ve been trying to order a wet grinder for my home from last month onwards.

As always, I placed an order on Amazon.in initially.

However, for the first time, I was not confident about placing the order because of the reviews and photos shared in the reviews section.

Most of the users commented on the product’s damage in reviews.

Still, after thinking a lot, I proceed with the order.

The product came as per the scheduled time.

This time, instead of blindly accepting the product, I checked the box condition… The box looks pretty old.

It had some damage to the box.

Instead of accepting the product, I decided to reject it.

I did a good job rejecting on the spot instead of raising return requests later.

After gaining a decent amount of experience, I have learned some lessons. These days, returns and replacement rules are quite strict.

We must properly verify the packages before accepting them, or later, we must spend time dealing with customer support.

For cheaper items, replacement happens easily. For costlier items, you may need to spend some time.

After seeing the box’s condition, my brother and I decided to shop in offline shops.

We also went to a few shops to see the product… but only a few models were available.

Again, we came back home to try placing an order online.

This time, we tried Flipkart.

We didn’t blindly order here also… because Flipkart is more dangerous than Amazon regarding replacements and refund processes.

Before placing the order, we checked the Seller’s History and his rating.

Believe me, whenever you are trying to order anything online, one of the important things you need to do is check the seller.

Never order any costly or important items before checking who the seller is.

I will pick the better one if they don’t have enough ratings and history. Even if it costs more.

I never think about paying more for a trusted seller than for a new seller.

I learned that painful lesson by buying one item online, which was required during house construction.

Because of that mistake, I’m still suffering even after 1 year.

I don’t know if it will be fixed or if I will continue to suffer because of the mistake.

When I learned about my mistake, I opened my order history and checked the seller.

The seller is no longer there on the platform. Product listing is also no longer on sale.

That time, I understood the importance of checking the seller before ordering.

I recommend you follow the same rule.

If you want to know what happened and what problem I’m facing… All that information is shared in my Electrical Work Guide in the 5.65 section.

Not just that… many first-time users’ mistakes they commonly make are all those shared inside my guides. These are not technical stuff.

These are simply tips many don’t give attention to during construction and suffer later.

Even professional engineers make those mistakes. I shared a few such incidents with my guides.

If this interests you, I recommend getting an HCG All-Access Pass to access all my current and future guides.

Learn from my mistakes and avoid doing those in your house construction.

By the way, Flipkart delivered our wet grinder in excellent condition. Waiting tomorrow to see the grinder performance by preparing idli batter.

I locked the room, keeping key inside 🙁

A few months back, I went to our relative marriage. For staying, they gave us 3 room Keys.

The management installed a Europa cylindrical lock for the main door.

While in a hurry, I turned the lock knob inside the room and pulled the door without verifying the door key.

For this cylindrical lock, you don’t need a key to Lock.

Before pulling out the door, I checked my pocket. I had one Key with me. I thought the key was this room key itself and locked the door.

After some time, I came back and noticed the door was not opening with my key.

It’s the other room key.

I mistook this key for my room key, and now I locked the door by keeping my room key inside the room.

Now, I need to look for the management guy to ask for the duplicate key to open the door.

Fortunately, after waiting some time, I got the guy in charge.

I informed him I kept the room key inside, and now the door is locked. I need a duplicate key to open the door.

He asked, “What’s the room no?”

I informed my room no…

His face immediately turned dull as soon as he listened to room no.

I asked why? What happens?

He replied, “Someone lost that room key a few days back. Now, we don’t have a duplicate key for that room.”

I also felt a little upset. I thought maybe I needed to call a locksmith to open the lock.

He replied no need. I will open it.

How? I asked.

He said, “With a screwdriver.”

Hmm… come, let’s try then.

He came. Within 3 min, he opened the lock with only a screwdriver without damaging the door or lock.

I was surprised watching this scene.

I informed him to get a duplicate key from Europa. He was also shocked to hear that he could get an original duplicate key from the company.

I explained the application process, and he thanked me for sharing this information.

I also thanked him for opening the room key.

When I came back to Bangalore, I searched YouTube about cylindrical locks. Multiple people showed different ways to unlock them very easily.

So… I want to remind you that if you plan to install a cylindrical lock for the backside door or any outside door, keep in mind that — it is dead easy to open the lock without key.

Avoid installing Locks that don’t require a key to lock. You may accidentally get locked out. Which is not something anyone wishes to be in the situation.

In fact, in the lock box itself, they say don’t install outside door kind of warning.

If you install it, use it only for convenience. Not for security purposes.

One thing I hate about these special sale day

I love special sales days like The Big Billon Days or the Great Indian Festival sale.

But I hate these types of sales because they limit how much users can purchase from any bank card or on any one day.

Yes.

We cannot shop as much as we need with discounts on these sale days.

That’s disappointing for many users who are looking to buy a lot of things.

That’s something that applies to us as well.

We buy lots of items. But to buy all those things, we must ask many friends for debit/credit cards to shop.

This time, my brother collected almost 5 different colleague’s debit/credit cards in order to get the maximum discount.

On top of both our debit and credit cards as well.

Whatever the products we ordered yesterday, its delivery also started. From morning onwards, my job is only to collect those delivery items.

This will continue for me for the next few days.

If you still have not started ordering anything yet… go ahead and open the Flipkart and Amazon apps to grab some deals.

If you are planning or constructing your house, here is a list of house construction-related items that I recommend you shop online instead of offline shops to save more money.

Arun

Product was missing

A guy I follow on Twitter today tweeted that the product was missing from the box he ordered from Amazon.

The product cost 45K. But still, the guy seemed very cool and raised a support ticket with Amazon regarding this issue.

I believe within one week, they usually finish their investigation and inform the result to the buyer of the status of the complaint.

Once, I also had a similar experience.

In my case, the product is missing instead of items inside the box.

Both are different cases.

Mine is easy to solve for them.

I believe I ordered a CCTV system from Amazon during a similar sale event. In that order, one camera was missing.

When I noticed the missing item, I didn’t get much tension like most users do…

I know about Amazon.

I simply made a complaint with the Amazon support team on their website. They promised within 7 days, they would share an update about the complaint.

After the investigation, they updated me, and the case was solved in my favour.

They asked if I needed the product or if I should get a refund for that product.

As I ordered on the product on sale day, I got a discount, so I requested the product.

They sent me the missing product.

I believe the same thing will happen to the above guy.

I order almost all products online. This is the first product which came missing in my case.

In extremely rare cases, mistakes happen. If you are not bothered by such things, then online shopping is something I recommend everyone to try.

You save a lot online instead of offline shopping.

Visit this Great Indian Festival sale page or my recommended products category that you should buy online for your house during or after house construction to save money.

From yesterday onwards, I’ve been tired of attending delivery calls back to back.

Now, the home theatre installation service guy just calling me.

I’m going to watch the product demo now. Which was also bought online during this sale.

Bye for now
Arun

She saved ₹15,000 directly

Yesterday, I shared how one of our relatives planned to buy a 50K laptop in an offline shop.

This email is a continued version of that story…

Both father and daughter went to offline shops to buy laptops because they don’t trust online shops. 

When they enquired about the laptop price they planned to buy, the shop owner told them ₹15,000 more than what they could get on an online shopping site now.

They tried to ask for an online price, but the shop owner was not ready to give it.

Yesterday night, their daughter called my brother to inform the story and wanted to buy online now.

The problem is that they don’t have much courage to buy 50K products online directly, and asked my brother to buy and keep them in our house. 

Once the product is delivered, she will come and pick up the laptop.

Finally… they did a good job shopping online instead of offline shop.

If you had seen my email yesterday, you might have noticed that I predicted 5K to 20K extra that they would have to pay if they bought in offline shops.

Now she revealed that 15K extra is what local shops asked her for.

That’s why I love online shopping. 

We can save even more during special sales like this with bank card discounts.

Got anything to buy now?

Visit Flipkart and Amazon to check the products you plan to buy. 

The sale has already started on both sites if you are a Plus and Prime member. If not, then you need to wait till tomorrow. 

Relatives don’t feel comfortable shopping online

Today, my mom spoke with one of our relatives on the phone call. While they were speaking, I was also drinking coffee in the hall.

Our relative was telling her daughter was planning to buy a laptop.

Mom asked how much it cost… relative replied, “Around ₹50,000”. Both their father and daughter planning to go to the city to bring a laptop.

My mom asked why in the city you can only buy online. Like she asked.

Relatives replied that, they are not comfortable shopping online.

They continued their conservation. After my coffee was over, I came back to write this email.

I understand why they are not feeling comfortable. Usually, they don’t shop much online, so they are quite fearful of buying costly items online.

I have been shopping online for a decade. I have a very few bad experiences. I have never got soap or similar kinds of items yet…that you see and read online.

But I accept online shopping is not for all. It requires some little skills to know the right sellers before buying expensive items.

My guess is, whatever the laptop they buy in offline shops. They will be paying a minimum ₹5000 to ₹15000 extra.

That too… now online sales are starting on 27th sep.

If they shop online, they could easily save a lot of money.

If you also don’t feel comfortable shopping online, try buying little less expensive items and get comfortable and save money and time.

In 99% of cases, nothing goes wrong.

Even if it happens, it’s easier to fix, at least on Amazon.

Wait a few more days till the sales start and order all the required items on sale day to save more.

My brother and I arranged all ATMs and credit cards to save more with bank discounts.

This is the right time to order expensive items for a bigger discount.

Once the sale starts, I will be talking more about the products you could buy.

Oh… if your mobile is slow, it could be the right time to easily exchange your old phone with a new one online.

Arun

don’t shop online till

After having a good tea sitting under a 2-speed Atomberg BLDC fan in my Home office, I’m writing today’s email.

Today, email about saving money on your online shopping.

Who doesn’t want to save money on online shopping? everyone does…

If you also do, then don’t buy anything online now. Wait a few more days.

Amazon India and Flipkart will start the year’s greatest sales next month. You can expect a good discount if you shop on those shopping days.

My younger brother and I waited almost a year to shop on those days to get better deals on some bigger and non-urgent items.

  • Sellers offer discounts
  • Bank offers discounts
  • Shopping sites also offer discounts

Combining all or a few of those allows you to save money by shopping online.

Make a list of items you plan to buy online and keep it somewhere. Once sales start, I will send an email so you can grab all those required items at an amazing deal.

If you are not an online shopper, I still recommend try buying at least small items to experience online shopping.

From small items to big home appliances, we order online and save.

Here are some of the product categories I recommend buying online instead of offline shops to save more if you are constructing a new home:

Arun

How I Saved 5000 rs on Shopping

I was shopping for AC and computer components to build a custom PC for my home office yesterday.

I prefer online shopping to offline shopping for convenience and savings.

I can always find good discounts and offers in an online shop rather than offline shops.

These days, I learned one more lesson that I would like to share with you to save even more. I used to ignore this for a few years, but one day, I decided to change this after seeing my brother getting more savings than me.

Read more

LOL “Smart TV Brands” Online these days

While resting on my bed a few days back, I casually browsed YouTube on my mobile.

While browsing, I saw a YouTube video suggesting one video about “TV Brands”.

This is something new…

No one had ever talked about such a topic before.

It’s original content like what I share in my emails about house construction guides. But it’s related to TV.

Read more