Expect more thrills with BPI Express Credit

Reprinting the email that I received from BPI.

Expect more free Treats at S&R!

Get a free Gourmet Pizza slice for a minimum single-receipt of P3,000 at S&R using your BPI Express Credit card.  Choose from: Cheese, Combo, Pepperoni or Shrimp and Garlic. Just present your card and original chargeslip to redeem.

S&R branches: Alabang, Aseana, Congressional and Fort Bonifacio
Promo period is from June 15 to September 15, 2009.
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 2712. Series of 2009.

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Expect more free Lunch at Italianni’s!

Exclusive to BPI Gold Mastercard: Shop anywhere and spend at least P3,000 single receipt using your BPI Gold MasterCard and get a free Italianni’s Big Lunch. Choose from Beef Stufato or Grilled Fish with Fettuccine Gorgonzola. Just present your card and original chargeslip to redeem*.

*Redemption is from Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm.
Promo period is from July 1 to September 30, 2009.
Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 3107. Series of 2009.

Shop for Mother’s Day gifts and enjoy rebates

Get 5% cash rebate at any Metro Gaisano Department Store and 3% cash rebate at any Metro Gaisano Supermarket when you use your BPI Express Credit card.

Rebates may be applied on purchases at the Home, Watches and Jewelry departments. Available at Metro Market! Market!, Metro Gaisano Ayala, Metro Gaisano Colon, Metro Gaisano Legaspi, Metro Gaisano Lucena, and Super Metro Mandaue.

Promo period is from April 1 to June 30, 2009.

I love shopping online but…

I love shopping online. Whether it’s on Amazon or eBay Philippines, I like the no-hassle, no-frills opportunity to buy things that I love.

Recently, I’ve been looking for Ken Follett’s “World Without End.” This is the sequel to his earlier novel “Pillars of the Earth,” which I absolutely loooved! I’ve been to several bookstores like National Bookstore in Megamall, Fairview and Shangri-La, and PowerBooks in Megamall, Trinoma and Shangri-La, but I always ended up disappointed. In those four branches, “World Without End” was out of stock.

After several setbacks, I decided to try shopping online, first, at PowerBooks. On Feb. 6, I logged on to the Powerbooks website and ordered the book. Checking out, it indicated that I will be billed PhP599 for the book and PhP100 for the shipping fee.

After a few days, I was disappointed to receive an email from My Ayala (the facility that processes orders of PowerBooks) that the book is out of stock.

On Feb. 20, I tried ordering again, this time, from Fully Booked. I went through the same process of ordering online and this time, I was glad to see that Fully Booked’s price of “World Without End” is cheaper than
PowerBooks at PhP378 for a copy and PhP100 for shipping fee. I was also glad that Fully Booked accepts Gcash payment (PowerBooks only allows credit card).

A few days after I placed my order, I received a confirmation text from GCash, asking me to validate the amount that will be deducted from my GCash. I also received an email, stating that my order has been approved. By this time, I was happy to realize that indeed, I would finally have a copy of “World Without End.”

Four days passed with no delivery in sight. And then an email came:

There is a concern regarding your order. We have just been informed by our merchant, Fullybooked that there has been a problem with the allotment of stocks. They have advised us that the WORLD WITHOUT END book is currently unavailable. The last stock that was to come from another branch was severely damaged that is why they can no longer release it. We deeply apologize for this inconvenience and hope that you understand our merchant’s predicament.

Kindly inform us if you have received this message so that we can refund to your Gcash the amount of the unavailable book.

Again, our sincerest apologies.

Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon!

From your friends @ myAyala.com
Customer Service Hotline +632 8132383
Customer Service Fax +632 7525279
Toll Free Number  1-866-9929252

Imagine my disgust and disappointment when I received this. The book wasn’t only out of stock, My Ayala already deducted PhP478 from my GCash! So I replied and asked them to just refund my GCash. Just seconds after I sent my email, My Ayala returned my money.

I’m just severely disappointed that both orders didn’t come through. The convenience that online shopping should bring was replaced with disappointment.

I’m giving it one more try as I just ordered from National Bookstore (via My Ayala, as well). I’m hoping third time’s the charm.

Pinay & Money’s Pick: Myra E Daily Sun Protect

I just bought the newly launched Myra E Daily Sun Protect Facial Moisturizer. This is the newest offering of the Myra E line, manufactured by Unilab.

I’m not into moisturizing (I’m the worst nightmare of beauty experts) but I have to say that I like this product. It doesn’t leave my face, feeling dry, itchy or heavy. In fact, I feel a lot refreshed after applying it.

It’s also nice to note that Myra E Daily Sun Protect contains SPF 15 to protect users from the harmful effects of the sun. It’s perfect for everyday use and, for someone like me who always goes out of the office for lunch, it’s nice to know that my face is protected from the harmful UVA and UVB rays.

And consistent with the entire Myra E line (Facial Moisturizer, Myra E 300 and 400, and Hand & Body Lotion), the new Myra E Daily Sun Protect is enriched with vitamin E.

Myra E Daily Sun Protect comes in 50mL bottles at P90 each. You can buy them from any Watson’s, Mercury and grocery outlets nationwide.

13 Red Flags of a Fraudulent eBay Transaction

I have been a member of eBay—both as seller and buyer—for more than three years. I have been very fortunate that I have never been scammed. Truth be told, I have spent several thousands of pesos buying Archie comics outside of eBay but this is an exception because the seller inu_mktg turned out to be a very trustworthy person.

But others are not as lucky. In the discussion board of eBay Philippines, I always see threads warning others of scammers or desperately looking for a way to retrieve their hard-earned money. It’s always the same. Seller has low feedback scores, offers gadgets at dirt-cheap prices, and provides limited payment options.

I do my part in helping the eBay community be rid of scammers (and joybidders). Whether you’re an experienced eBayer, it’s still best to refresh yourself with the 13 red flags to warn a bidder of a fraudulent transaction. Credit is due to eBayers jenny_lake and silverstrad, who compiled and edited these materials. For a detailed explanation, please check this link.

Most people who are defrauded are victims of their own greed. When a transaction appears to be too good to be true, it likely is. Application of common sense can preserve your money.

1. A popular item is offered for a price which seems too good to be true
2. An ‘off-eBay’ transaction is conducted through email
3. Payment options provide little or no security for the buyer
4. Misleading claims of transaction security or buyer protection
5. Item is no longer listed on eBay
6. Item is listed on Craiglist or similar
7. Item is listed on a hijacked account
8. Escrow other than escrow.com is used
9. A fraudulent Second Chance Offer is sent
10. The seller’s location may be a clue to a fraudulent transaction (China, India, Nigeria, etc)
11. Free shipping from a distant country
12. No photo or stock photos are used
13. The bidder needs to be pre-approved or the item is listed in a private auction

To report a suspected fraudulent auction, go to the ‘Contact Us’ web form here:

Final word: Don’t be a victim of your own greed and be blinded by cheap prices. Practice common sense always. If it’s too good to be true, it must be. Let’s help keep eBay clean and safe.

BPI’s tips for hassle-free holidays

I received an e-newsletter from BPI, where several tips were given for hassle-free holidays.

Tip #1: Avoid queuing at the ATM to withdraw.
Use your BPI Express credit cards for shopping and dining this holiday season. You not only enjoy the convenience, you also get more perks and privileges at partner merchants.

My advice: make sure that you pay your credit card debt in full every month to avoid incurring penalty and finance charges.

Tip #2: Manage your budget by purchasing on installment at easy-on-the-pocket terms of 3, 6 , 9, 12, 18 and 24 months.
Real 0% and Special Installment deals are available in all major appliance, computer and gadget stores, as well as your favorite shopping establishments like Greenhills Shopping Center, Marks & Spencer, Robinsons Department Store, SM Department Store, Store Specialists, Inc. (SSI) brands, Toys R Us and Zara.

My advice: Buy only what you need. Just because you have a credit card doesn’t mean you can afford to buy big-ticket items. Make sure you have save for it or you’re just using your credit card to earn points. And again, always pay in full every month!

Tip #3: Use your Frequent User Rewards points to redeem items you can use or give away as Christmas gifts.

Tip #4: Save time with BPI’s convenient 24/7 channels.
Use Express Phone, Express Onlune, Express Mobile for your various banking needs like baying for your credit card and utility bills, inquiring your card and account balances, transfering funds and reloading your prepaid phones.

My advice: Online banking is highly recommended. I just hope that BPI Express Online stays online during the long holiday break.

Christmas Gift Idea #4: Myra E Christmas Pack

For a very reasonable price of PhP99, you can get a very nice Christmas gift for your girl friends!

This special Christmas pack from Myra E comes with one 50mL Myra E Facial Moisturizer and one 50mL Myra E Hand and Body Lotion. It also comes with a nice kikay kit pouch, which you can bring anytime and anywhere. And if you intend to give these as gifts for your female friends, the pouch already has a gift tag so you don’t need to wrap these up.

You actually save money with this Christmas promo because the regular retail price of Myra E Facial Moisturizer (50mL) is PhP66 while the Hand and Body Lotion (50mL) is PhP53. You save about PhP20 if you buy the Christmas pack.

The Myra E Christmas Pack is available in Mercury, Watsons, and leading supermarkets.