Order from Dangdang

[dimsum]

twotwobravo:

is it really cheap, thinking of ordering from there too, but dun have time to chk out which books are suitable.... looking for chinese books for pre sch kids, maybe 2 to 5 yrs old type....

tamarind has shared with us generously the books she recommended on her blog (listed by age group). I think that should be helpful to you :lol:
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-raise-bilingual-child.html

[verykiasu2010]

hquek:

hi arielle08,


what do you mean by fail? I had ordered before using my Amex card to pay. Message from the website where I submit my details say successful. But then I was diverted back to dangdang to see a final message say fail. The transaction actually went through.

Note that after your order goes through and payment made, you should closely monitor your email. They may ask you to send your name, first 4 and last 4 numbers to verify the payment.

It's very irritating and very frustrating; but I tend to forget once the books arrive - and the books are just so darn cheap.

IF you have someone in china to take receipt of your goods, choose the 'pay when goods arrive' - it's much much more hassle-free and way faster to complete the transaction.

that is how i did it with taobao

and the books hitch a ride back to SG with whoever the next friend/contact coming back to SG

[verykiasu2010]

lizuan76:

Hi arielle08


From my past experience, if you are using citibank card and the transaction sated failed,it means your transaction did not go through. No $ will be deducted.

However if you are using Amex credit card please be careful. Like what hquek wrote it actually went through although the message wrote failed.

When i was using amex, i did not know and keep submmitting my orders end up have to cancel some of my orders.

Dangdang will refund me but it takes abt 1 month and i lose a few dollars on the exchange rate.

exchange rate is a normal risk with overseas purchases

at least these are bona fide online merchants not out to cheat your money - that is something I am glad to take note of

[arielle08]

Dear mummies,

Thank you so much for all your advices.
Greatly appreciated it.

[twotwobravo]

tamarind has shared with us generously the books she recommended on her blog (listed by age group). I think that should be helpful to you :lol:

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-raise-bilingual-child.html[/quote]

Thks.
i saw her blog too. will chk it out again.
office IT block blog site... :roll:

[hquek]

arielle08:

Hi hquek,


I got this message
您的支付遇到问题！请查看您的银行交易记录。\t\t\t
如果您确认已完成支付，请在一个工作日后查询订单状态或联系当当网客服，谢谢！

Yes, the books is v affordable!
That y after i read about it in KSP forum, i attempt to order myself.
Are you using their shipping service?
Its 50% of the value of the shipment rite?

Yes I see the same msg although I used Amex. I would suggest also to wait a couple of days. Amex takes forever to update also - I use dbs amex and usually only see the amounts posted (in my internet statement) like 3-5 days after I click Pay.

No. I went to Beijing for a holiday and had a long nightmare trying to order books. Finally gave up and use the pay on arrival (had to ask a colleague to pay on my behalf).

I heard from a friend that it's 50% the RETAIL price (NOT dangdang price). So it could be pricier than you think. But, remember in SG, you probably pay 3x the recommended RMB retail price - so there is still savings. You probably have to consider the risks of going via spree (after all those sad news where pp betray others trust) and the costs of DIY.

FYI, if you have multiple orders, please do NOT ever combine your orders and submit one payment. Submit separate payments for each individual order. I tried the combined method and payment took a few weeks and still dangdang did not recognise that payment was made - can die of heart attack trying to call/email dangdang to explain. The service staff is good, but very textbook.

That said, I agree, refund takes a while, but it will come ultimately.

[hquek]

One of the stuff I ordered is a series akin to chinese readers. These are mainly translated from some foreign language books (cos the illustration all very caucasoid (I don't think there is such a word)). My kids enjoy me reading to them from this series becos stories are short and quite action packed. I feel it's good value.


There are 3 colours in all, yellow, blue and red - 20 readers in each series. Somehow the numbers intermingle. Books are quite small in size - so are the fonts (in case anyone doesn't like font size) but the paper quality is pretty good (compared with others I have seen).

Yellow (I think this is for younger readers)
http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=20686500&ref=order-2-A

Blue (mid range I think)
http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=20686499&ref=product-0-E

Red (I think this is for older readers - more wordy)
http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=20686501&ref=product-0-E

[hquek]

And for younger readers, this series is quite fun.


http://product.dangdang.com/product.aspx?product_id=20817211&ref=order-2-A

It's about a family of 14 mice/rats and the stuff that happens to them. There's only 1 row of words at the bottom of the pages, but there is a lot going on in the illustration that fills the pages. Paper and illustrations are of good quality.

Would recommend to those who are starting out. Not for those who are good readers.

My kids are quite against chinese generally despite the race they are born into, but with books from dangdang, they are very happy when it comes to bedtime stories. It's such a breeze and joy to read chinese books with them.

I'm looking forward to the day when they will pick these up automatically to read (a person can dream right?).

[MoonFlower]

My friend has been organising dang dang spree pretty often and many times. I’m not sure is it ok to share this however if you have problem or interested maybe i can check with her. Interested, Pm me. *I like to highlight i’m not earning anything just to share. And it’s between you and her to make whatever order and transaction. Only order when you are comfortable.

[dimsum]

yup, shipping cost is 50% of the original price listed, not dangdang price (which is always lower than original price).