I have been secretly compiling my iHerb shopping cart for the past three months and it has been left as it is because a few things that I want it out of stock and when it’s back on, I changed my mind and the whole process repeated again and again until a few days ago. I wanted to get non-beauty products this time around but I have no idea what to get. I googled a bit on what other people normally buy from iHerb to get some idea and this is what I ended up with. This is not a major haul first of all as I wanted to keep the haul small so that I don’t get charge with tax all of a sudden. These are just something that I’ve been wanting to try for months.
So why am I blogging about a not-so-major-haul that doesn’t have anything interesting at all? That is because I want to share with you a slightly different experience with DHL Express Worldwide shipping. I personally feel that the most important thing about making an online purchase is not the items you purchase but it’s the dreadful shipping experience. Agree?
If you recall my first iHerb haul and my second iHerb haul, I had a pleasant experience dealing with DHL on both occasion. I always opt for DHL Express Worldwide shipping method that cost me USD10 (RM32.46) as it only take a few days to arrive my place and it’s not cheap at all if you make the purchase alone. It is much feasible to get a friend or two and combine purchase to split the shipping cost. What I notice about DHL Express Worldwide shipping is that it gets faster and faster nowadays. The tracking is even shorter minus all the unnecessary country stopping. I placed my order on Tuesday afternoon (30th September) and I received my parcel on Friday morning (3rd October)! Holy cow that’s fast. Here’s what’s different. Usually DHL will courier out my parcel using Poslaju as Kajang is out of DHL delivery area so I would receive my parcel a day or two later than DHL expected date. Yesterday morning I saw that DHL had sent out my parcel so I was expecting the Poslaju guy to send the parcel today. To my surprise, I received a call from DHL delivery guy saying he’s already nearby and he was a bit lost. I chatted with the delivery guy for a bit when he arrived. He said that they’ve always been delivering to Kajang all these while. It’s just that when DHL center have a lot of parcel for Poslaju, they will just send out every other parcel as well. What?! So all these while I was tricked into thinking Kajang is an area that wasn’t covered? Well, anyway I was delighted to get my parcel on the dot and earlier than I predicted. Another pleasant DHL shipping experience. Let’s hope to keep it this way 😀
Now back to my mini iHerb haul.
I notice that most people bought the Nestlé Mini Marshmallows Rich Milk Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix ($2). I was attracted to the mini marshmallows so I decided to haul some a few months ago. But it was out of stock. When it’s back on stock, I had the item in my shopping cart waiting for other items to be back in stock. So yes, this hot cocoa mix is the trigger of the haul. I’ve decided to not be greedy and just get a box to try first, just in case I don’t like the taste lol.
I love the “Trials” section where customer get to purchase sample size products to try. Sometimes iHerb throw in full size as well. The downside is you can only buy once. Previously I hauled some under eye mask for $0.50. This time I only bought two items, one is the St. Dalfour Organic Tea Sampler Pack ($0.25) which contain three different type of tea bags.
I happen to stumbled upon the new ELF Eyebrow Treat & Tame ($3) and again, all shades are out of stock. I was eyeing on the shade Dark, put myself on notification alert when the item is back in stock and within a few days, iHerb sent an email notifying me that the item is back on.
I also wanted to get a cheaper backup stippling brush and the ELF Studio Stipple Brush ($3) is highly recommended. Some even said it’s better than Real Techniques one. It was out of stock [duh!] at that time. The brush was then restocked on the same day as ELF. While I’m at that, I added ELF Studio Powder Brush ($3) to my shopping cart, also as a backup powder buffing brush, just in case my Real Techniques Buffing Brush is at the wash or my CCM Flat Top Foundation Brush is dirty. Some even say this brush is better than my beloved Real Techniques Buffing Brush so we’ll see about that. For $3 per brush, I can’t complain much right? 🙂
Last but not least, also something from the Trial section. California Gold Nutrition, Garcinia Cambogia ($1). Errr no comment on this 😛 . Oh and last time I got a mini iHerb pen. This time I got a cute iHerb eraser! I can start a iHerb stationery kit already 🙂
That’s all from me today. A very small, not so interesting iHerb haul. I have been staying away from iHerb for quite a while now as I don’t have anything else to buy. And if I do, I will compile it all in the shopping cart (just like what I did earlier) and keep until I think it’s time to check out. I usually keep my haul below $40 if possible and I try not to buy the same item in a large quantity so that I don’t trigger the custom officer into suspicion. I have heard numerous stories on how customers are being tax for a small purchase without any valid reason and the charges is even higher than the overall haul amount. So my advise is, haul small or break your purchases. I’m not sure how to break the purchases into a few small one as I’ve never done it before. To be safe, just keep the amount small 🙂
Have a great weekend girls!
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Comments (22)
Hi, great haul from iHerb… again..
IMO stippling brush is just so-so…have tried it with foundation, blusher,highlighter..not so interested in keep using it. I did use it sometimes(if my other brushes are dirty)
For the Powder Brush, I do love it,I’m using it for my powder only every day.
Have tried using the liquid foundation too, not bad.
The bristles are too soft and absorb the foundation.
Actually I bought the stippling brush for the use of cream blush only 🙂 . I have a mini stippling from Zoeva, and their normal stippling brush is too flare. I thought ELF one looks a little bit like Zoeva mini stippling, only in bigger size lol. Just in case Zoeva one is dirty so I can use this as backup instead.
I think the powder brush is not too bad. I just wash it yesterday. Hoping I can use today but it’s still wet 🙁 . ELF Studio brush is really not that bad considering the price is just $3 😀
The Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix, Mini Marshmallows and the St. Dalfour, Organic Tea Sampler Pack caught my eye most! I hope the Nestle Hot Cocoa is yummy 😀
And all these while i thought iHerb only sold cosmetics.
LOL… im so jakun XD
You’re normal. I used to think iHerb only sell herbs and supplements LOL!! The name is so misleading. Actually iHerb is widely known for supplements and other stuff 😀
It’s quite yummy. Takes some time to get used to the whole 3-in-1 taste lol. I had a hearty hot cocoa drink yesterday night catching up with TVB drama “Line Walker” last episode hahahaha
I’m surprised with the speed of delivery. The DHL man just arrived 10 mins ago with my parcel.
I’m gonna try the Hot Choc drink later 😀
ooo… im so excited! hehehehehe…. I bought mainly those trial items because the price seems so attractive even after converting! The hand and foot masks are such good deals 😀
Thanks for sharing about iHerb, Fiona!
I thought of sweeping all the trial items soon. There are a lot more I didn’t buy yet. Tell you something. I had insomnia a week ago for quite some time. I couldn’t sleep through the night. After I started drinking this Hot Choc at night (while watching TVB drama lol), I find myself sleeping better and allllll the way to morning. Like magic eh?
Hehe let’s combine shipping soon.
The trial items are very attractive. Too bad they only allow 1 unit / each item.
Yes, that’d be great to combine and make the most out of the shipping.
Thanks for the kind offer, girl 😀
Hehe cause it’s meant for you to trial only 🙂 . Keep an eye on the “Specials” on every Thursday 10am. They put a few brands on 20% discount every week.
It’s true about making smaller purchases when your order is coming through DHL or similar!
I prefer USPS from the States but yes, it is less secure. So far no issue but for more expensive purchases I would prefer a courier. I’m assuming the customer can choose different shipping options based on how much they want to pay, right?
What an interesting online shop this iHerb is…haven’t had a chance to explore it yet. Maybe I’m too scared too, you know me lol
I heard even Express Worldwide option does have tax issue once in a blue moon, depending on your luck. You know I have bad luck all the time with international purchase so I keep the amount small. USPS never reach me. Probably I have a Kajang address? Things tend to ‘lost in mail’. Whoever who stole my parcels probably thought Kajang is so outdated and these parcel can just disappear. Yes for iHerb, customer can choose different shipping option based on your preference. Here’s the standard rate for iHerb.
– DHL Express- International – $8 (estimated 2 – 4 days with tracking)
– International Airmail – $4 (estimated 1 – 4 weeks, 10 days to Europe and Pacific 2 – 12 weeks to Russia and Brazil with no tracking)
– UPS – International – $24 (estimated 2 – 5 days with tracking)
I havent make my own purchase from iHerb yet, pernah tumpang kawan punya purchase je. However I am keen to buy from them, it’s just that I havent found the right time to click pay because I yet to get my ideal purchase list from them, hopefully soon 😉 talking about that tax thingy, dad also told me about it when he went to the custom’s office to take his parcel (antique bicycle item from Indonesia, and he nearly had to pay tax too) and he said a teenage boy had to pay a few hundred bucks for buying a life-size Star Wars figurine. when dad arrived the boy’s father was quarreling with a custom’s officer. I own that ELF Stippling brush, it was my first ELF purchase but I cant seem to like it. I dont know why but it does not give me the satisfaction. I feel like I’m using a half-bald brush. Maybe I need to see more tutorials on how people use and love this brush, hehe
Tumpang pun jadi la because you save on shipping 🙂 . Furthermore your friend will be the one worrying and you can just relax hehe 🙂 . Don’t rush into making a purchase. Think throughly on the purchase list. Mine changes all the time. That’s why I keep the shopping cart for months haha. Sometimes the tax can be even more higher than the actual price you paid for the item itself. I can already figure out the tax for that life-size Star Wars figurine. It’s gonna be insane.
The ELF Stippling Brush is quite flare out. It’s normal. Most stippling / skunk brush is like this. You use this when you want a lighter / diffused coverage. I cannot imagine using it for foundation. I’m going to use it for cream blush 🙂
It is too bad that DHL fee has been increased to S10. It used to be S8 before right? By the way, my last iherb haul cost me S74 and I don’t have to pay any tax. But still, precaution is needed. Some say only purchase above RM500 will be tax but you can’t be sure nowadays.
And a week after, I did my 4th iherb haul due to the S40 above discount. Haha.
Yeah, usually my rate wold be around $9 according to the weight. When I haul these it was still written $8 on the side and I thought my parcel was too heavy until I’m being charged $10. Now that I check back again, it’s already changed to $10. I guess international demand is getting more and more for them to cope. You’re lucky that you don’t have to pay tax for $74 purchase. My friend bought Real Techniques brushes amounting slightly more than RM100 and her tax was RM170! Technically purchase over RM500 will be tax but it’s really just luck like my friend’s case.
Wowee! Good for efficient and reliable shipping 🙂 Love the hot cocoa and organic tea haul! Wow, you mean customs impose tax on your friend’s purchase? So far, I have decent luck with StrawberryNet. I am looking to buy some organic chia seeds and shampoo from iHerb.
And boo for the shipping rate hike. Yes, custom impose tax on the parcel, DHL paid and she have to pay for it because it’s already paid. DHL said they need to pay in advance for the custom to release the parcel. I’m still on the fence with StrawberryNet.
Hello, i just placed my order with iHerb yesterday morning and they are still under ‘ready to pick’ status. I keep bugging them in their Live Chat today hahaha i cannot sabar like that. But damn, it is addicting.
Alamak. You bug them on that? lol. Is it your first purchase? iHerb is the most reliable and hassle free online store. Thank god I never need to bug them on anything 🙂
Yeapp, this is my first time and my order has been shipped! Can’t wait!
Enjoy your haul Nadiah 😀