I recently discovered the wonderful world of eBay and it has added a totally new dimension to my miniatures collecting. Since I started my Sylvanian Families collection, I have learned a lot about market prices and commercial values of miniatures.

I won this lot of dollhouse furniture in an eBay Philippines auction and paid a relatively small amount for it. I fell in love with the details of the furniture; they reminded me so much of SF furnitures. I inquired on the scale and while they were a little bigger than currently released SF furniture, for the price tag of  a little more than US$20 for the lot, they were serviceable for the larger SF characters.

I did a little more research after purchase and was pleasantly surprised that these were Tomy Products. The design of the furniture still calls to mind current SF designs, perhaps in part because Tomy also had a license to produce SF items in the late eighties till 1993.  Aside from being Tomy products, the furniture was around 30 years old, having been released as part of Tomy’s Smaller Homes and Garden Series in 1979 and 1980. Further research showed that individual pieces go for as little as US$5 and as high as US$10, the furniture set can fetch as much as US$120 on eBay, and the dollhouse and furniture for as much as US$300.

The furniture I got were not complete but were in perfect condition. There were no scratches or color changes in the vintage pieces. Moreover, the kitchen set came with a complete set of plates, saucers, and cups, not to mention, a pitcher and sugar and cream bowls. The wardrobe also revealed a few surprises- vintage clothing, some in hangers and others folded in drawers. I had a great time setting them up and pretending the Evergreens were shopping at their favorite furniture store.

Papa Forrest checks out the sound system on display.

 The living room set comes with a five-piece sectional sofa with cushions, coffee table, side table, lamp, plant, record player and speakers, record player stand, and a Bentwood rocker.

Mama Honeysuckle wonders how she will bring all these home. Do they deliver?

 The kitchen comes with an oven and sink & combo, a stove and hood piece, cups and saucers drawers, table and four chairs, and a variety of kitchen accessories.

Brother Preston loves the bed and thinks it's perfect for jumping!

 The bedroom set consists of a standing mirror, a vanity and stool set, wardrobe and a four-poster bed with linens.

Sister Ashley has always wanted a desk like this. Will her dad buy it for her?

 The study comes with a bookshelf, a potted plant, and a study table and chair set. At the back, you can see the bathtub, a toilet, and a bath counter with sink.

It pays to have a working knowledge of the market; that way, you don’t pay over the set market value. Of course, certain items may carry premiums, but it would be wise to do some research before bidding on anything.  The key to buying online is to realize that while good bargains abound in the Net, you need more than just money to make the experience worth your while.

 Here’s wishing everyone a safe and blessed weekend! Hope you have as much fun as these crazy, wacky babies!

A and I love toy stores, and on weekends, after the chores have been done and the kids are off doing their own thing, we love to go on dates — at the toy store. When we have time, we explore and check out new ones —A on the lookout for Transformers (he requires that they must always be on sale though, and with huge price slashes) and me, for my new love, the Sylvanian Families.

Over the last year, Eastwood Mall has been one of our favorite weekend destinations. Not only do their cinemas rock (I love Ultra 7 with its reclining seats and unlimited popcorn and drinks), they also have two of my most frequented places — the DIY shop (who knew it was so big? And with a Japan Home Store inside it too!) and Toy Town.

One afternoon, after an exhausting trip round the city for our Sylvanian Hunt, A and I took in Eastwood Mall to buy more storage boxes for my Sylvanians at the DIY shop. On the way out, through the corridor where the elevator was, I noticed a big banner inside Toy Town proudly displaying Chocolate Rabbit. Yay! A Sylvanian Families Party! Later on, A also received an email from Kidz Station with this invite:

I was all hyped for the party. Not only was it a chance to purchase Sylvanian Families items (I’ve been praying for new ones from Ban Kee), it was also a chance to hobnob and meet with fellow collectors like myself. I was lucky; a few days before, I have been able to ride the car without the need of a brace, and lately, my neck pain has been sort of negligible, a two or a three in the pain scale of 10. So, after much begging, A finally allowed me to go.

We got to Kidz Station Greenbelt 5 just a little after one. A and I registered, paid for our “passports,” (a ticket with stubs for food and drinks, face painting, a free picture) and did some major Sylvanian shopping. I was in complete heaven. Ban Kee pulled out all the stops —they released new items that day and for that specific day only, all SF items were to be sold at a discount to passport holders. Double Yay!

See the items for sale and on display. That’s me on the upper right hand corner with Freya Chocolate.

The party had lots of food and drinks, and I certainly enjoyed the face painting session. I was second in line, next to an adorable little girl. Since I wanted to make the paint last longer, I had Nats, the face painter, paint it on my arm. It took three days before this gorgeous thing came off, and only after I forgot to cover it while bathing. Boohoo! Good think I took lots of pictures of it too.

Then there were the freebies which were quite generous, especially to early attendees like myself. Coloring pages for kids and adults, a badge, a keychain, magnets, and free SF characters! I loved them all! Thank you, Ban Kee — you made my Sylvanian dreams come true.

Cute little critters- baby rabbit, baby penguin and brother and sister otter

I met a few collectors too. Most were parents with little girls who love SF. (ANC Journalist David Celdran was there, with his little girl; they were so cute!)  Others were like me, adults who haven’t quite grown up (we look young for our age too). I think I was one of the older ones, if not the oldest, but I didn’t mind. I gamely posed with the mascot Freya (see picture above) and were it not for the fact that we were off to see a show that night, A and I would have stayed longer than the almost four hours we were there.

I came home with lots of new items to add to my collections. It felt like a very early Christmas indeed!

I got doubles of some items to put in different houses. I chose two of these beds over an extra four-poster one just because the four-poster bed was simply too big.

I love the Persian cats; they look so fluffy! And the baby was available too!

Dr. Spencer Clearwater, the Sylvanian Family Dentist, will soon be joined by his wife Sybil and daughter Stephanie. I love reuniting families!

This four poster bed is destined for the Grand Hotel (soon to come, keeping my fingers crossed).

I asked Ban Kee’s representatives if there were plans of forming a local Sylvanian Families Club, like they have in the UK or in Japan. (Ban Kee’s SF distributorship is new, barely a few months old.) While they were supportive of the idea, they felt that a SF club would be better served if formed by local collectors themselves. They would be there to support with merchandise or activities, if possible, but they said that perhaps, the initiative should start with us. How about it, SF Friends? Anyone interested? Can we make this happen? Leave a message if you’re interested and I’ll get back to you via email.  

I do have some suggestions for the next party, like more activities or games or just a little sharing on why SF make us happy. If there were a next one, and I certainly hope there is, I’d be first in line again. Thanks again, Ban Kee. Good luck and more power to you guys!

Years ago, I would never have thought that being without an Internet connection could be so crippling. Back then, we didn’t even have broadband subscription at home; what we had was one of those connections that required a prepaid card to access. I think I’ve really grown spoiled and soft around the edges. Waking up one morning not connected to the Net feels much like a nightmare, especially for one who has grown so dependent on it. From morning news over a cup of hot coffee, to correspondence sent at a touch of a button, to social interactions via networking sites, to research for an article, to blogging, to getting maps for a trip,  my whole life seems to revolve around the Net.

And so here I am, hanging out the local Internet cafe in my dinky neighborhood. It’s a veritable hole in the wall, with absolutely  no frills, not even airconditioning. Being without Internet access at home has reduced me to a snivelling Net junkie trying to get her daily fix of this addictive technology. 

While Globe Broadband tries to sort its connection and server problems, I must wait patiently and sever the umbilical cord temporarily. I will return as soon as my connection is up but until then, my Sylvanians are waiting for me.

Hope to see you again and soon!

♥Kittymama

I woke up this morning to the rustling of the sheets. It was still dark out; there was no hint of light in the sky. I felt a movement in the room, and as I tried to focus my eyes, I saw Alphonse, sitting in the darkness, making happy, little noises. He didn’t even notice me wake up.

I was expecting him to run to the light switches and open all of them in one go, or even attempt to open the bedroom door which we lock at night to keep him from wandering, but no, this time, he stayed put at the foot of our bed. And then just as suddenly, he clambered over the bed, sidled up to me, and started giving me wet, sloppy kisses, all the while still making his happy, little noises.

As his lips brushed my cheeks, he suddenly whispered, “Ayayu (I love you).” He has not spoken these words in a while so I was surprised. “I love you too, baby,” I whispered back, as tears fell down my cheeks. He gave me one last kiss and then moved to the other side of the bed, where he did the same to his dad.

Later, snuggled between his dad and me, he smiled and went back to sleep.

This is what we call Thanksgiving.  

It’s Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, and while we do not observe this occasion in my country, I feel that any opportunity to be grateful, thankful, and appreciative of the blessings in our lives is always worth celebrating wherever you may be in the globe. 

I’d like to share this wonderful message sent via email by my friend Melyn. I think it’s very appropriate as we reflect this weekend on the meaning of gratitude.  It’s easy to focus on the negatives, especially when there is so much of it in the world today. The world seems just about ready to turn upside down with acts of unspeakable cruelties and unimaginable horrors that it is so easy to simply give up. But to be truly grateful is to constantly view life as a gift from our Creator. To be grateful is to choose to live each day as a celebration of faith, love, and grace.  And to be truly grateful is to always stand for what is right.   

Decide to have a good day.
‘This is the day the Lord hath made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.’The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance,but the Lord looks at the heart.’

Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.

. . . for what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
‘Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…’

. . . to the Lord.
‘I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me’.

. . . for something higher.
‘ Trust in the Lord with all your heart ,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.’

. . . your Prayers.
‘Do not worry about anything; instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.’

 Since I put up the Wonder Toys post last week, I have received a few inquiries about the information contained therein. The most common question asked was: “Is there really a Wonder Toys store in SM North Edsa?”

The answer is NO. I did not specifically name the SMNE outlet as Wonder Toys. What I said was, and I quote,

A few weeks ago, in one of A’s solo trips to the mall since I got injured, he discovered a small toy warehouse outlet tucked in one of the corners of the new Annex of SM North EDSA. Always on the lookout for toy sales, A took a step inside and discovered a goldmine — old Sylvanian Families (SF) toy sets for sale at below market prices…. …The salesperson then volunteered a nugget of information — they might have some more SF in their stores in Tutuban and in Festival Mall.”

Just to make things clear, these are the facts.

1. The name of the SMNE outlet store I was referring to in my post is Ultimate Toy Drive.

2. Ultimate Toy Drive was set up by TK (Toy Kingdom) Express last August and the first time my husband went there, he was told that it will run through the Christmas season.

3. That particular TK Express outlet is unique because all the merchandise being sold is supplied solely by Speedtech, which used to be Smarty Toys.

4. Speedtech owns Wonder Toys (Festival Mall) and Happy Toys (Tutuban), which is why all the products that could be found at the Ultimate Toy Drive (UTD) are also available at Wonder Toys. Only in many cases, they were actually cheaper at UTD.

5. This is also the reason why many of the items at Wonder Toys sport TK or TK Express bar codes.

Below are pictures of the Sylvanian Families Oakwood Manor purchased at the Ultimate Toy Drive at SMNE. At PhP3000, it is PhP500 cheaper than the ones currently in Wonder Toys (WT restocked with these beauties last week). UTD is now all out of Sylvanian Families items but if you ask their sales people, they will say that they did have them, and that they are still available in the company’s other outlets (Wonder Toys and Happy Toys). Also, notice the Toy Express tag, seen clearly in the second picture.

I will try to take pictures of UTD when I do my grocery-shopping this weekend at SM North Edsa and try to post them asap. Hope this post answers your questions, folks.

*I am NOT a seller so I am making this guide from a buyer’s perspective.

Kittymama’s Guide to Good Manners and Online Businesses for Sellers*

1. Post clear pictures and describe your products honestly. Describe even the condition of boxes. Don’t say an item is brand new when it is not. Show tags as much as possible to provide buyers with date of manufacture.

2. Provide measurements or comparisons as much as possible. An item seen through macro lenses may appear gigantic, when in fact, it is only a few inches tall.

3. Indicate clearly which items are included if the buyer is interested in a set.

4. Please post your prices. It’s difficult to have to keep asking “how much?” (or in my friend Cynthia’s case the very unique “how muchie?- cute!) especially when multiple items are involved. Unless you are open to haggling, indicate if your prices are fixed and non-negotiable.

5. Don’t change your prices midway through a transaction. A short example: I was looking at some cellphone cases a while back. I took a screenshot of the item to show my husband but didn’t bother to peruse the posting closely (my fault, see number two of previous post; I learned from this mistake). I then left a message for the seller, asking her  for the price.  The seller quoted a number and in turn, I passed on the price quotation to my husband. He quickly pointed out that the picture I sent him had indicated a much lower price. I chose not to pursue the transaction anymore.

6. Once an item is posted for sale, it is fair game for anyone. Unless you mark it as reserved or taken, the first person who reserves an unmarked item should have the right of first sale. Better yet, if you have promised it to someone else, remove it from the album.

7. Don’t say it is on sale when it is not. Some sellers use the word “SALE” loosely to entice buyers. For most of us, the definition of a sale is the opportunity to purchase at reduced prices.  

8. Money isn’t everything. We all know that sellers sell to make money, but for patrons of a seller, it does not feel good to be duped or misled. The most common reason for buying online is to cut on costs by shaving off big retailers’ mark-ups. So to find the same items you are selling in the malls at a much lower price than the sellers’ is a big, big letdown. Of course, if you are selling unique or handmade items, a significant premium based on these qualities is understandable, but even then, know how much profit your market can  take.

9. Reply to inquiries promptly. Don’t put off your correspondence. Buyers hate waiting and by not acting promptly, you may lose their business. One seller I met promised to text back with details and didn’t; I did not pursue the transaction as I felt ignored and my business unimportant.

10. Provide clear instructions on payment modes. Give your buyers all your options, be it bank payments, money transfers, COD, or electronic money (for example, Gcash). If the last  is one of your chosen options, indicate if you are passing on the 1% charge (cash-out fee) to your clients, and only then, charge only the amount which is being transferred via this mode.

11. When products have been paid for, acknowledge payment with your thanks. An acknowledgement of payment assures the buyer that their business is real, solid, and based on mutual trust.

12. Package your items carefully, especially breakables and fragile items. Also, special touches mean much. Just this morning, I received a package in the mail from someone who I did business with just two days ago. I didn’t spend much, just PhP270, but the seller’s packaging made me feel like a VIP. It really made my day.

13. Send your buyers’ tracking numbers or air bill numbers right away. This should be a seller’s responsibility. Tracking numbers also assure buyers that the contract has been consummated. Trust me, unless you are a good friend, buyers hate running after waybill numbers.

14. If you opt for a meet-up, indicate upfront if the buyer must shell out part of your gas expense.  Meet-ups are usually done at the seller’s convenience, not the other way around. The rationale behind  this is to save on shipping costs. As such, meet-ups do not usually require charges. Don’t say you can meet her somewhere then later ask for extra money for a service you volunteered because this action shows bad faith. 

15. Freebies are very nice and heartwarming, but they not absolutely necessary. Good service, honesty, and a real concern for your buyers count more than whatever it is you can throw in for free.

16. Lastly, keep an accurate database of your buyers’ contact details. Remember their names and match it with their online handles. It’s frustrating to have to keep giving your contact details to someone you’ve done business with repeatedly. Besides, when you start treating your customers as your real friends, they are less likely to defraud you.

~0~

What can I say about my experience as an online buyer in Multiply? I have been immensely blessed by the people I have met in the forum that the successes still far outweigh the occasional disappointments. I have tried my best to be an honest, reputable buyer and this is a reputation that I would like to maintain and keep. 

In the end, we–buyers and sellers alike–must remember that an online business, like any other business, relies on good faith and a reciprocity of service, goods and trust. That we are able to develop friendships beyond the confines of the material world is a blessing that makes this world a much smaller, less colder place to live in.

We join social networking sites for various reasons. Some want to meet new people, others want to look for old friends. Still, some want to join interest groups; others,  discussion fora. Whatever the reasons may be, social networking sites provide a new venue where people may interact regardless  of geographical distance and limitations.

My first foray into social networking sites was in Friendster. Joining was actually a no-choice as I did it simply to monitor my then thirteen-year-old son’s activities on the Internet. Later on, as I got more net savvy, I joined Facebook whose appeal lies on its interactivity and its games. At around the same time, I also opened a Multiply account, and on this, I have to be honest and say I joined to be able to buy Hello Kitty stuff online.

With Multiply finally legitimizing businesses in their new terms of use, online entrepreneurship is expected to hit an all-time high. With this development, however, we expect that the rules and etiquette of business will undergo continuous modifications to accommodate the changing needs of a new virtual frontier.

I have, in the last two years, been a frequent Multiply buyer. In the course of doing business with others, I have been witness in my circles to breaches in social rules that result in joy reservers, bogus buyers, and bogus sellers. How, then, do we attempt to avoid all these headaches?

Here are some suggestions for buyers (part one) and sellers (part two) alike. If I miss anything, please feel free to add them in the comments section and I will update the list and give you credit for the suggestion.

 Kittymama’s Guide to Good Manners and Online Businesses for Buyers

1. Read. Read seller’s descriptions very well and repeatedly to avoid misunderstanding or false expectations.

2. Check first if the item price has been posted before asking “how much?” This saves the seller from unnecessary inquiries and saves her time and effort.

3. If you have questions on the item, do not hesitate to ask via text or email but always introduce yourself and indicate your purpose clearly.

4. Be polite. Send polite and clear inquiries whether it be via email or text.  

5. When using private messages, do not use text language. Do not assume that your seller is well-versed in text language. Phrase your questions clearly and in complete words to avoid having to repeat the same inquiries.

6. Once you make a reservation, make sure that you are serious in buying and have the money on hand to pay for it. Don’t reserve today if you are looking to pay for it with next week’s salary. By locking out an item you cannot pay for, you are depriving the seller the chance to make an honest profit from a sure buyer.

7. Provide up-to-date and clear contact details. Indicate your handle and provide your real name, address, cellphone and landline, and even your zip code. If your home address will likely cause confusion for the courier, elaborate by giving landmarks.

8. Know your seller. Don’t be afraid to ask for a name and contact number; after all, you have given them yours.

9. If an invoice is due any day, set time to check your inbox for messages and updates. You cannot excuse late payment by saying that you were offline. If you can go online to reserve an item, you can go online to finalize the transaction. 

10. For preorders requiring down payment, pay your deposit promptly. Two years ago, deposits were virtually unheard of and trust was the rule of the day but because of bogus buyers, sellers have been forced to ask for deposits to ensure future payment. We do not want to wait for the day when sellers will require full payment upfront even for preorders.

11. Mark the estimated time of arrival on your calendar for preorders so you will know when to contact your seller for updates. With their growing list of clients, sometimes, they are hard pressed to provide each and every one with update. In an ideal world, such a responsibility would hardly merit a second thought- it would be a given. But since you have paid your deposit, you must share the burden of following-up on your orders.

12. Pay promptly, preferably on same day as the invoice. Sellers generally give their clients a short leeway and time allowance for payment (usually three days). Don’t abuse their kindness and don’t give the seller cause to have to run after you.

13. Don’t use your seller’s pictures to show off your purchases. Unless you are granted permission to repost them with credit, take your own pictures.

14. Be gracious and say thank you for a business transaction done smoothly. If you can, leave recommendations on their feedback page.

15. For complaints, go straight to the seller if you wish for action to be taken. If you are ignored and your complaints are dismissed, then you may wish to take further action by reporting it to the network. You are free to express your disappointment in your blog, but remember to do so with discretion and with respect for a person’s reputation.

Coming right up: Part Two of Kittymama’s Guide to Good Manners and Online Businesses for Sellers

A few weeks ago, in one of A’s solo trips to the mall since I got injured, he discovered a small toy warehouse outlet tucked in one of the corners of the new Annex of SM North EDSA. Always on the lookout for toy sales, A took a step inside and discovered a goldmine — old Sylvanian Families (SF) toy sets for sale at below market prices. A snatched up every single one he could buy and came home with four huge bags of an assortment of SF, from Japan-released single boxed characters, to Flair theme playsets, even a boat (The Rose of Sylvania) and a house (Oakwood Manor).

Because he had bought so much in one go, the salesperson inquired on his interest on SF. A replied that he was bringing them home as gifts for his poor. sick, SF-addicted wife (okay, okay, enough with the drama, heehee). The salesperson then volunteered a nugget of information — they might have some more SF in their stores in Tutuban and in Festival Mall. A thanked the kind salesperson profusely and filed the information for future use.

Fast forward to the weekend of our church wedding anniversary (November 14). A had promised me a weekend getaway in the city as a gift. I was totally excited at the prospect of some alone time with him. My sister graciously acquiesced to babysit Alphonse for the weekend; Alex volunteered to help his aunt and the remaining nannies with his brother. We felt Alphonse would be in safe hands, so we put a green light to the plan.

A had booked us a room at The Bellevue Manila, a five-star luxury hotel in Alabang. Muntinlupa City. As part of our weekend itinerary, he had planned surprise gifts, movie dates, dinners and lunches, and the special bombshell- a hunt for Sylvanian Families (with the option of buying, of course). I thought that it was auspicious that The Bellevue would be so near Festival Mall, until I discovered that A had it planned all along as part of the surprise for me.

And so there we were, after an hour and a half of city driving, billeted at a very comfortable room (I would have loved to take a snooze, the bed and pillows were enticingly soft and  fluffy) but we had a schedule to stick to and time was ticking. We unpacked our gear, locked the laptop in the room safety deposit box, did the restroom stops, quickly tucked Mama Bronte Keats and Sister Shelley Keats in my pocket, and boarded the car again. I was tired from the ride and my neck ached like h**l, but I swallowed a couple of painkillers, slathered an analgesic rub all over my neck and upper back, and hoped adrenaline would be enough to sustain me. The first stop: Festival Mall!

We looked for the store the salesperson told us about and found it in the 3rd floor of a rather convoluted building. This being my first time in Festival Mall, I could not get a good grasp of the lay-out right away; fortunately, A has a keen sense of direction and found the place without any problems.

Wonder Toys is a small store but it comes packed with lots of great items, both at sale and regular prices. I found a wide array of Sanrio merchandise, many of them with negligible defects that cut down the costs measurably.

Sanrio ceramic decorations on sale

Sanrio toys at regular prices

My SF hunt was a bust this time, though, as they had few items left (we were able to buy most of them at their North Edsa branch anyway; good that prices at their SMNE outlet were also lower) but I did find a Fox father I had been looking for and an extra double pram for my Sylvanian babies.

One salesperson was very friendly to me after finding out that I love SF. We kept making small talk about SF until he happened to mention that he was sorry they ran out of the ‘big house” (referring to Oakwood Manor) which they sold only at half the price. Before I could reply, he also said that the house was so cheap that he had heard of a seller who made a huge profit on the house by selling it online at a shockingly hefty markup to a SF addict. *gulp* I almost choked on his words but managed to maintain my composure. What he did not know was that SF addict he was talking about, alas, was probably me. Sigh. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. I think I lost big time on that one. 

single boxed characters from SF Japan (Epoch)

boxed play sets from Flair, the Rose of Sylvania boat, and SF families

Still, if only for Fox father, the trip wasn’t such a bust after all. I did score great Sanrio merchandise, some for Christmas giveaways and some for my collection. One of these days, when A has more time on his hands, he and I are seeking out Wonder Toys Tutuban next. 

The Wonder Toys stop was simply the first of a series of SF hunts. In the span of a weekend, we managed to make the rounds of most major stores carrying SF, including Eastwood’s Toy Town, SM Mall of Asia’s Toy Kingdom, and Greenbelt 5’s Kidz Station. Add to that the SF gifts A had purchased beforehand at the SM North Edsa’s Toy Kingdom and I think I made a pretty good haul of Sylvanian items in one weekend.

Best of all, A and I simply enjoyed spending time together. Our weekend jaunt to The Bellevue was truly a relaxing and pleasurable experience. I particularly love breakfasts at Café d’Asie, with their succulent pork sausages and luscious buttered rolls. I think Shelley Keats loved them too.

Shelley apparently eyeing something else…

she makes a dash for it while Mama tries to run after her…

SUCCESS!