If you like beauty, design and creativity you must see this site.

If you appreciate a fine user experience on the web (usability) you must see this site.

If you appreciate good customer service, or want to study it, you must see this site.

If you are involved with Internet Marketing you must see this site.

Frankly, this is one of the best websites I have ever come across. Kudos.

You just want the chocolate?

Not just any chocolate.

Chocolates handmade by a world champion chocolatier…….

I quote:

…with zealous adherence to French tradition: all natural ingredients, no preservatives, very little sugar, high cocoa content, no alcohol and 100% cocoa butter. More intense, with stronger flavors and a longer finish, they redefine the chocolate tasting experience.

You can get the experience  here: Chocolate

What Does Chocolate Have To Do With Webdesign, Creative Excellence And Superb User Experience? (Don’t miss this) is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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1. Enjoyable, refreshing experience ordering laser toner for my printer. (Australia)
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So far, I have been pleased with the performance, features and ease of use of my choice of printer.

A while ago I ordered a black cartridge from a supplier I had bought other things from in the past, but was not totally happy with the price, nor the speed of delivery/order processing.

On Monday I had a scout around for a new Australian printer toner supplier and came across DOSO ‘the store that never sleeps’.

Besides being impressed with the prices, which are competitive; I liked the look of the DOSO website, the psychology behind it and the clear focus on functionality, ease of use and customer service. Simply speaking….good value, without any apparent compromise on quality of product or service.

An email I sent to DOSO querying a couple of issues on Monday evening was responded to by early Tuesday morning. Impressive.

I ordered a color toner cartridge after lunch yesterday. It arrived this morning from interstate.

The product was as described and expected.

The whole ordering process was very good – refreshingly so in fact, including easy printing of my invoice and monitoring delivery via the courier tracking facility (the product was delivered to my staff at another premises).

Frankly, the way DOSO runs things is how Internet Marketing should be done. All too often however, many businesses fall down on customer service and customer buying experience. For example; at times I have to chase invoices, ask for a courier tracking number or otherwise waste valuable time. Not so with DOSO. Top marks to them.

I like to help people who deserve recognition for a job well done; hence this blog post.

In future I will order all my color laser printer supplies from DOSO. Readers may also be interested to note that besides laser toners, DOSO supply copier toners, ink cartridges, fax items, ribbons, paper, storage media and (in due course) printers.

Enjoyable, refreshing experience ordering laser toner for my printer. (Australia) is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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CameraPro

Not only did I receive excellent service, I saved between $250 and $350 on what I would have paid at a well known local camera store. The video camera is Australian stock therefore I would have no warranty issues, should I need to claim (i.e. it is not grey market).

Prior to purchase I checked out the price via a third party website: StaticIce. This website is good for checking prices on computer/IT equipment too.

I do not always go for the lowest price option on StaticIce, for a number of reasons. One of these is that I like to check out the store first – I look closely at the website for key factors (being a Private Detective helps) and usually speak with a person from the site over the phone.

Speaking with people over the phone is in my case key. This is because I have a well developed ability to sense things about people. For example, long ago I owned a wholesale and retail lighting business in the UK. I used to authorize credit over the phone just on a sense. In all my years of trading (five), I only ever had one bad debt; which was 2 pounds (yes, you read it right – just 2 pounds) by a Christian organisation. I never followed it up – why would you? When I received phone calls from people who I sensed were a bad credit risk I would politely suggest that they contacted my competitors, explaining that I was unable to help.

Having spoken with Steve from CameraPro I could tell that he is a very genuine, decent kind of chap. Their website says:

When you buy from CameraPro, you will be supporting an Australian owned and run business, which attempts to operate on an ethical basis in all aspects of our dealings.

This is not just lip service. I sensed strong ethics on the part of Steve. For those who understand Owl medicine; Owl says you can trust Steve and CameraPro.

Personally, I also prefer to deal with smaller businesses and avoid the large chains. Large chains tend to be staffed by people who say “Thank God it’s Friday” and see you, the customer, as some kind of statistic, sucker or interruption to their day.

So, if you want camera or photographic equipment this Christmas, and want to save money, get in touch with CameraPro. Get your order delivered to your door and avoid the mad Christmas rush/crush. Save your valuable time.

In case you are wondering, I purchased a Canon Legria HFS11.

I quote from the Canon website:

With stunning design lines, the LEGRIA HFS11 can shoot to internal flash memory as well as to removable memory cards. Combining an 8.0 megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, a genuine Canon HD Video Lens with a 10x optical zoom, and the new DiG!C DV III processor, image capture size is almost three times greater than Full HD resolution – providing the ultimate in image quality. With extensive professional-level controls and features, the LEGRIA HF S11 is suited to high-end consumers or professional movie sets.

Excellent service and pricing from Australian online camera – photographic store is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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…..And then going to collect them.

It can take ages sometimes before the frames are ready!

These days I buy my frames online at one website.

I get good prices, great choice, excellent service and quality.

I never have to wait long.

Because I can take my time deciding on a frame to make sure it is right, I never get that rushed feeling one can experience in a bricks and mortar store.

I have always enjoyed the experience of ordering from FrameShop – their website is well thought out and easy to use.

So, where do I get my frames?

http://www.frameshop.com.au

Have a read of the reviews section and you find that my good experience is not isolated.

The business appears to have a policy of shipping only within Australia, or its Territories. They do invite international customers to contact them prior to ordering however.

Shop online and have more time to do other things.

Great Online Framing Service For Australians. is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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When running a business, money spent on office supplies can eat into profits unnecessarily. Many private households can do with spending a lot less on their groceries too.

Some office supplies and bulk products for the home can involve large amounts of time spent acquiring them.

Over the years I have uncovered many areas where clients are spending money they do not need to. Savings I have recommended have often been significant. In fact, at times it has been shocking to discover how much money has been wasted over long time periods.

Here are some of my key guidelines:

• Generally, quality of the alternative product or service should be as good as, or better than, the original. This is not always the case however, because some people’s needs are better served by a lower quality product or lower level of service.
• Time involved in acquisition of the product or service must be considered. It is important that this aspect is not overlooked for time often has very significant value in one way or another. Value your time correctly.
• The benefits of change must be the key focus – there is no point in spending half an hour to save five dollars for example. Time invested in changing the status quo must produce a significant and worthwhile return on investment (ROI). Reducing the stress involved with a transaction is an important and often overlooked benefit.
• Situations should be subject to regular review on a sensible basis. Services and products are subject to change and this trend is increasing due to the nature of technological advances in this era.
• Change can at times involve new ways of doing things and in fact, I often discover some of the best savings by using a little lateral thinking. If we are resistant to change then the financial and time costs of that ‘luxury’ can be significant.
• In the case of businesses, particular care is required in case of back-handers or other incentives to staff to continue their relationship with an existing supplier. Some of these incentives are perfectly legitimate and legal, such as free goods with a particular order size. The problem is that if these goods are attractive to the staff member, then there is a higher chance that not only will more product than necessary be ordered, but that a more business beneficial supplier will be ignored. Private consumers also need to guard against this type of thing and being subtly influenced to make a purchase based on the little ‘bells and whistles’ or bonuses. Credit card reward points can be a classic example because cards without rewards often carry a lower rate of interest – in such cases, consumers are paying for their rewards themselves and as such, rewards are not really a reward to all!
• Be observant of the world around you. Look for opportunities.
• Be open to new ideas.

Case Study – (Generally relevant worldwide and locally specific to Australia in general and Sydney.)

Purchase of paper towels, facial tissues, toilet roll and kitchen towels.

These bulky items are purchased regularly by householders and often by business. Consumers usually purchase them from supermarkets, malls and grocery stores.

Quality can be an issue with some of these products and due to their bulky nature, they are awkward to collect and transport. Remember the last time you were the grocery store and filled most of your trolley with just a few items? These products can also be subject to a very significant mark up.

Significant supplier mark ups can represent opportunities for good savings.

Let’s take the example of facial tissues.

Many years ago now I noticed that the brand of facial tissues used in my favorite sushi bar was very good. It is a brand however that I had never seen available in a grocery store. Having had long experience in a wide range of businesses, including wholesale, I realized that the sushi bar would not be paying large sums of these tissues. Because I was on good terms with the owner of the sushi bar I was able to find out where he was getting the tissues from, and how much he was paying. I also noted the manufacturer’s name and address from the box of tissues. (Brand = Durasoft Tissue Products Pty Ltd, an Australian company).

After conducting some basic research I discovered that the tissue manufacturer also produced other products at attractive prices and that I could obtain the items I needed via online shopping (another great time saver).

After careful evaluation, the supplier I chose was: WF Plastic – Packaging and Cleaning Supplies

I have never regretted my decision because I have received excellent service from WF Plastic, and their sales representative Dean Caddaye, on several occasions.

WF Plastic are based in Sydney and ship Australia wide. Personally, I found the shipping costs a little higher than expected, however I am based on the Gold Coast around 1000 km from Sydney. (Shipping is charged at cost – WF Plastic do not add a mark up). Overall I am still making significant savings due to the low cost of a quality product and that I have to spend hardly any time arranging my purchases. I only need to order a few times each year and product is delivered direct to my door overnight.

WF Plastic are open to the public and at the time of writing, orders over $300 attract free shipping in the Sydney Metro area.

Back to the facial tissues…

I have been buying Durasoft Facial Tissue 2 Ply 180s (Carton of 36) for $22 plus GST.

When I placed my last order I chose the new Durasoft Convenience Pack Facial Tissue 2 Ply 180s (Carton of 36) at $18 plus GST. These latter are in a soft pack and are slightly smaller than the tissues I had been buying. Personally, I think the quality is slightly higher (than the ones in a box) and I don’t notice the smaller size. Due to the special packaging, they are not only cheaper to ship but greener too, resulting in less waste (no cardboard tissue boxes).

A box of 36 packs costs $19.80 including GST, which equates to 55 cents per pack of 180 facial tissues and includes GST. Personally, I could not find the equivalent quality facial tissues in a supermarket for under around two dollars for the same quantity. On top, I had to spend time collecting the product myself and bring it back from the grocery store to my premises.

Simply speaking then, even with shipping on top, I am making significant savings. The same is true for the other three products I’m ordering, which are: toilet rolls, paper towels and kitchen towels. Interestingly, because I buy the 700 sheet Durasoft toilet roll (2 ply), I waste less time changing toilet paper rolls. Do you have time to waste changing toilet rolls more frequently? Grin. 700 sheet toilet rolls are more cost-efficient to ship as well.

More savings can be made if you amalgamate orders with a group of friends or other businesses. WF Plastic will ship you pallet quantities if required.

PS: I never run out of toilet roll!

How to save money & time when purchasing home & office supplies. is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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Amazon order fillers, discounted items & top sellers – SlickFillers is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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I quote:

Because Life’s Too Serious….

We are not just another toy-shop, or indeed just another mail-order company. We work hard to source out-of-the-ordinary products and to offer something different, a range of toys and gifts that will appeal to many ages and tastes.

They have a ‘sister’ website: Tobar – Things you thought had gone forever – Things you never even knew existed.

These websites are great for all kinds of people with something for everyone. Lots for children too. In fact, I find the products on the sites a mixture of fascinating, nostalgic, innovative, funny, clever and interesting. Much better than the same old same old that one tends to see in shopping malls. Enjoy!

Out of the ordinary gifts and toys is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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I am a big fan of Amazon and get most of my books from there, even though they are in the USA and I am in Queensland, Australia.

Some of the reasons I order from Amazon, besides the good value even when international shipping is taken into account, include that Amazon have a very broad range with good product information, many books have comprehensive reviews and the Amazon website suggests related books. Amazon are clearly a market leader and I have a tendency to order stuff from such organisations – simply speaking; they are very customer centered and make my shopping experience simple and efficient.

Recently I was disappointed to learn that not only had Amazon run out of a key book I was recommending on my website, (Journeying on this page here) but that they had also removed the reviews which used to appear. The book details contain the comment that Amazon do not know when or if the book will be back in stock . The book is currently only available on Amazon in Spanish.

Today I came across a Google Adwords Advert (I like Google ads – see: Why I like postal letterbox junk mail and Google ads!)

Australia’s Book Shop

Better than Amazon. Guaranteed. Free 24 Hour Shipping!

This ad intrigued me partly because I knew that Amazon is a key benchmark to beat. “Better than Amazon” is a strong, but clever, statement to make. When I clicked on the link and visited the site I read: All our book prices are better than Amazon. Guaranteed. Another big claim.

I decided to search for the Journeying – Where Shamanism and Psychology Meet book and typed the author’s name into the search box (Gagan – Jeannette M Gagan. PhD). I was surprised to find the book listed (it is an unusual and somewhat ‘advanced’ book). I can’t recall the Amazon price, however the price quoted did seem reasonable.

The bookstore claims to be “Australia’s Biggest Online Bookstore“.

I will put a link to this alternative bookstore up on my website, which I mentioned earlier, in view of the Amazon stock situation.

Here is a search box/link to the store I found. (Try typing Gagan into the search box).

All Products Books Music Movies

Note: This is a classic case of ads being very helpful. In my view, too many people have a narrow minded view of ads – they can be very useful indeed.

Key Australian bookstore and interesting/useful use of Google Adwords. is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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In fact EBay has such a presence now that it may seem hard to even think of an alternative, let alone one which might be better.

I suggest you check out Bonanzle.

But before you do have a good read of this review where Bonanzle was voted best EBay alternative.

I like the sound of the way they do things at Bonanzle.

Some key points of difference:

• A marketplace where people matter.
• Social atmosphere – easy to meet & talk with people who share your interests in items.
• Real time chatting.
• Users can create lists of their favorite items that others can browse and comment on.
• See where people are from, so it is easy to meet and talk with people who live nearby.
• Open and positive atmosphere.

Enjoy. And happy shopping or selling!

Want an alternative to EBay? is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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I have been shopping online since the mid-90s and these days my wife and I use online shops for many products and services – we even buy groceries online.

We live on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia and the shops around here are fairly comprehensive. We are not far from the state capital Brisbane. Despite this, there is a lot that we cannot get here. We are also disappointed in the poor service we receive from a lot of bricks and mortar stores these days – and this is despite us having a good attitude as customers ( in other words we do not attract problems by treating sales staff badly).

Another reason we shop online is to save time. Even just nipping out to the shops, or ducking in somewhere the way home, can use up valuable time and therefore add significantly to the cost of the item. Many people fail to consider the value of their time while they’re busy trying to save a few dollars here and there. If they did not have this focus they might have more time to increase their income, or for some other worthy purpose such as quality time with their family.

An online store is only a click of a mouse away and as such is very convenient. We are careful about which websites we place orders with and over the years have never actually been dudded, though we have had one or two close shaves.

As time passes I will be writing various articles on this blog about particular goods or services and why I think they’re worthwhile. There are also links on my websites, sometimes with reviews and comment.

I tend to be an early adopter of technology and new ways of doing things. I have a very critical eye, in a healthy way, and am astute in the way that I assess things. I have no time per second rate service, but do bear in mind that at times people can make mistakes. Simply speaking, anything or anyone I recommend is definitely not “crap”. That said, I am not of course responsible for your own personal experience. I like to help people – the readers of my blog who will benefit from my experience, and the business people who are providing a great service or product and who are deserving of support. Helping a small or medium sized business is much more satisfying than spending money at some huge store chain in the local mall where customers are just numbers on a shareholders report.

In recent years I have noticed a subtle change in the way I go about shopping. Very often now, whenever I need something, I immediately start looking online and usually attempt to order something if I can. Obviously, not everything is appropriate for online ordering. My first reaction, or habit, nowadays is to reach for my mouse – not the car keys.

My wife and I order a huge range of goods and services online, and some of these are ordered from overseas. In due course, on this blog, I will be giving you some key information about ordering from overseas too.

Articles in this blog will also contain key advice about specialist areas, such as buying clothes online – men’s clothing, women’s clothing and so on. I refer to this as a specialist area because of the sizing and look issue. Buying online clothing it’s not quite as straightforward as some other products.

If you are a business person, or otherwise time poor, then delegating your shopping needs to the online world is an extremely smart move.

I have just recently ordered two new belts online, from a store in America. When they arrive I will tell you about the site and write a review. I have no doubt that I’m going to be very pleased from what I discovered when reviewing their website. The article will contain key tips about how to assess online shopping websites for suitability.

Online shopping is a post from: Black Shaman Blog

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