Malaysia Starbucks Card Official Launch

Starbucks Malaysia finally launches its the long awaited Starbucks Card. It's basically a loyalty card which offer a range of rewards and conveniences to its customer.

The Grand Launch was held earlier today at 5pm (11 November 2011), Starbucks @ The Curve, Mutiara Damansara.

Besides giving out free Starbucks Card with RM20 preloaded to the first 100 guest, there were also lots of performance by local celebrity line up for the event. Sorry I didn't take much photo as I left my camera at home and only got these 3 photos taken with my iPad2.

The Starbucks Card also works as a prepaid card, allow the user to reload any amount in to the card at any Starbucks Counter, either via cash or credit card. The prepaid amount in the card can then be use to purchase food & beverages, merchandises, or Starbucks coffee bean packs. All new card are sold at RM20 each (comes with RM20 credit), the card can be reloaded at any Starbucks counter in denomination of RM10 and can store up to RM500(maximum)

So what's the benefit of having the card beside storing your hard earn ringgit?

• Upon registration of your card, you'll enjoy 1 complimentary Grande size handcrafted beverage of choice
• 1 complimentary slice of cake with a purchase of any handcrafted beverage during your birthday month
• Buy any 10 beverages of any size (EXCEPT any bottled beverages) and get 1 complimentary Grande size handcrafted beverage of choice.
• Purchase 1 tumbler of any size and receive 1 complimentary Grande size handcrafted beverage of choice.
• Buy any 8 packets of whole bean coffee and get 1 complimentary packet of choice *also applicable for VIA® Ready Brew 12-Pack
• Buy 1 whole cake and get 1 complimentary Grande size beverage of choice

If you would like to get one for yourself, head over to any Starbucks outlet and buy one. Don't just buy one, this card can also be use as gift, especially with the Christmas Season just around the corner.

Got mine for FREE as I was among the first 20 in queue at the launch.

The first 100 people who queue during the launch was given a free Starbucks card with RM20 preloaded credit.

What are the terms and conditions?
* Card will be valid fro 3 years from the last transaction date.
* All complimentary items can be immediately redeemed or during the next visit
* All complimentary items are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance except birthday privilege which is to be
    redeemed within the birthday month
* Registration benefits only apply to the first card registered in an account 
* Complimentary whole bean coffee or VIA® Ready Brew is based on non-promotional item only 
* Only valid for used within Malaysia.


For more information of the card, Click Here

Maybank 2 Card

Finally got my Maybank 2 Card by Malayan Banking Berhad. It's one of a kind service which offers consumer the benefit of 2 card with one sign up, one service tax and once statement. Consumer can choose a combination of American Express and Visa or American Express and Master.

Schedule for an official launch in April 2011, I was one of the lucky applicant who applied for it during its pre-launch. Why did I signed up for it? Here are the 3 main reasons:

• Lifetime Annual Fee Waiver
• 5X treats point for every Ringgit spend on the American Express card (treats points collected will come in handy in the upcoming Maybank Treats Fair)
• 5% cash back during weekend (up to RM50/month, which is more than enough

There are of cause a host of other benefit which I will list down as i go on.

The introduction manual

My new card sealed in 2 separate envelope.

ermm, Maybank should consider using just one instead and help save the environment. After all the cards are being promoted as offering the benefit of 2 cards with one sign up, one service tax and one statement.

and here's my new Visa and American Express Card (I've covered up the card number and name for security purpose).

Will be making a trip to the bank soon to cancel off my existing American Express Card.

Anyway, here's the list of other benefit that comes along with the card which I don't find useful to me at the moment:

• Enjoy Low Finance Charges of 8.88% p.a.
• Travel Insurance Coverage (up to RM1,000,000)
• Retail Protection
• Golf Privilege (Complimentary Golf at selected golf courses around Malaysia)

Before you visit the nearest Maybank to register, here's the requirement:

• You got to be a Malaysian or expatriates and have a minimum income of RM60,000 (RM5,000/month)
• Between the age of 21 to 65
• Bring a copy of IC(both side)
• Latest 2 months salary slip / Latest BE form / Latest 3 months Saving /Current Account activity

So what are you waiting for, sign up one today and start saving like me when you shop on weekend and earn 5x rewards point at the same time.

For more info, visit Maybank 2 Card

New Shopping experience soon @ Empire Gallery, Subang

Have you ever felt tired while walking around the mall and going up and down the escalator? Well if the answer is Yes, you will soon have a solution. Empire Gallery @ Subang a brand new urban and trendy neighbourhood shopping mall is about to change all that.

Very soon, you wont have to take to escalator from the top floor of the mall all the way down to the lowest floor. You may ask why? or maybe thought of the lift.

Soon you will be able to slide your way down 5 story from the top floor to the lower ground on a 50 metres long slide in just 10 seconds. Yes that right, all it takes is 10seconds. It's not just about the fun, brand new experience, but also the amount of time you save taking the escalator to go down 5 story.

This giant slide within Empire Gallery is still under construction and should be ready to deliver a fun and exciting shopping experience by September 2010.

If you are worry about the safeness of this new ride, rest assure that its looks and feels pretty safe. The slide is actually covered by a see through plastic on the top, so you don't have to worry about flying out of the slide.

If you were to look down from this angle, it may look a little scary to some people but I'm pretty sure it will be totally different thing when you are inside the covered slide.

As the slide is still under construction at the moment, not much details were available at the moment. Hopefully the service will be offered for free or maybe a small and affordable token fees. Will definitely look forward to try it out.

Address:
Empire Shopping Gallery, Jln SS16/1, 47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: 03-5638 9888
(It's facing Federal Highway, diagonally opposite Toyota Service Centre.)

Coca Cola Limited Edition Glasses 2009 - Only from Mc Donalds

Was tuning in to Hitz.FM listening to the gotcha programme, and then suddenly a radio advert was played saying that McDonald's will be launching a The Coca Cola Limited Edition Coloured Contour Glasses today 23 September 2009 and there will be 7 colours all together.

Immediately I called my Coke Fanatic Friends and we arrange to storm McDonald's Outlet during lunch to catch the promo.

This time around the Coca Cola Limited Edition Contour Glasses is given out absolutely FREE with no extra charges. The only catch is that you got a purchase any Large Value Meal plus a Sundae. When I arrive at the counter, I immediately enquire about the promo and how much it would cost me. The cashier then told my friends and I that it will cost us RM7 plus for a Large Value Meal and its comes with the Limited Edition Glass and a Sundae. So we thought that it was a great deal, after all, it the same price I pay on my regular visit to McDonald's.

So I ordered a Mc Chicken Large Set and the bill come close to RM12 inclusive of tax, in which I was taken by surprise. Only after awhile I realise that I have to pay for the Large Set as well as the Sundae. My immediate thought was, damn got con by the bloody cashier who most probably didn't even understand my question in the first place. McDonald's in Malaysia will need to adopt much more stringent recruitment policy man.

Anyway, I was in a good mood and didn't wanna wrack havoc, so I played Mr Nice guy and just pay the bill. Anyway after my lunch, I did a check on the website which clearly state that you will need to order a large value meal and a sundae to get the FREE limited edition Glass.

I've got so excited with my latest collection that I forgot to snap picture. Thus I'm using all the picture I can find online.

I grabbed a Light PINK Coca Cola Limited Edition Contour Glass as it was the only option available today. I was told by the Branch Manager In Kota Kemuning that after the PINK is sold off, they will start giving out the next colour which is Cool Blue. They will introduce a new colour after finish selling existing colour on promo. And this will go until until the 7th colour. The colour sequence are Pink, Cool Blue, Fortune Green, Ironic Grey, Royal Purple, Fresh Lime and Sparkly Clear.

This is mine, Coca Cola Limited Edition Pinky Coloured Contour Glass

So what are you waiting for ? Visit your nearest McDonald's Outlet today and grab yours today before they run out of stock. For more info, visit http://www.mcdonalds.com.my/

Why is Prosperity Meal still on Sale?

Was at McDonalds @ Mutiara Damansara just at about 10pm just now to have supper with my cousins. Was surprise that Prosperity Meal promo was still running. However they replace Prosperity Burger with Prosperity Foldover. I decided to give it a try and order Prosperity Chicken Foldover as I've not tried it before. Guess what, both the burger and foldover taste the same, the only difference was the bun and pita bread. Has McDonald lost count that Chinese New Year is only celebrated for 15 days or was the sales so good that they decided to pro-long the promo to cash in extra profit?

Some people believe that having prosperity meal will somewhat make them richer, but to me, its a marketing gimmick that makes McDonald(Golden Arches Restaurant Sdn Bhd) and its owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan prosper. What do you think?

**This is not an advertorial, just a peek into my life, a boring one.

Don't Cha wanna be Happy??

By now, I'm pretty sure many of you would have heard about HAPPY, or even seen the advertisement on the idiot box. Happy, the lastest prepaid package in town is a no frill prepaid plan aim at providing the user cheap local calls. You need not be worry about network coverage even though the Happy is a relatively new product in the market, cause its riding on DIGI's network. Yes, Happy is another product by DIGI, but runs on a low cost structure just like Airasia. So what's so special about this new prepaid plan you may ask.

Happy as I've said is a prepaid plan aimed at providing the user cheap local call rate, for as low as 1 cent per second, you make a simple short call for less than 5 second to say "Hi, I miss you!! Bye" and only be charged RM0.05 for that call. For the same call duration, conventional prepaid plan would cost you 18cent(both DIGI and Maxis). Thats 72.22% saving.

If you feel like talking, Happy charged you only RM0.99 to talk for 45 minutes(regardless of peak and off peak period). This is still cheaper than Hotlink's Extended Super Saver which charges RM3 for 60 minutes talk time(only valid from 12midnight till 9am). SMS will be charged 10 cent per SMS to any network.

The special thing about Happy is that you can reload any amount between RM5(minimum reload required) t0 RM200(maximum reload allowed). This simply means that you could reload RM19.78. And with any amount of reload between RM5 to RM200, you will get 60 days validity. Now thats really great, especially for people who uses a mobile mainly to receive call.

Because Happy runs of a no frill structure, every call to the Happy call center will be charged RM2 per call(its normally free for conventional prepaid). International Direct Dialing(IDD) is also very expensive, at RM5 per minute to any country. Current DIGI IDD call rate is as low as 18cent to countries such as US, Singapore and 28 other countries. I've attached a chart to give you a better understand of Happy's services and its rates.

If you make alot of calls locally, whether to mobile line or landlines, then should seriously consider using Happy. However please bare in mind that its a no-frill prepaid plan, thus you have to pay a premium for its other services, like calling the call center, making IDD call, sending SMS and MMS internationally. Those who makes lots of local call to mobile and fix line, its time to change and let the savings make you HapPy.

To know more about the product, kindly visit http://www.happy.com.my

**Please take note that this is not an advertorial and I am not being paid for this article. Everything mentioned here is merely my opinion and I shall not be held liable for any financial loses which might incur after using Happy.

Prosperity Meal is back

Yes, you wanna be wealthy, you got to eat. And its not just any food available at the any restaurants, F&B outlets, or the pisang goreng store by the roadside. To be wealthy you got to go to the nearest golden arches restaurant outlet to get yourself the Prosperity Meal, which comes with a prosperity burger (comes in either beef or chicken), a cup of prosperity green tea(to make you feel as if you are gonna be rich after drinking it, the green tea is gold in colour instead of green) and a pack of curly fries.

These are printscreen's from McD's website.

This promotion is only available at McDonalds and its for a limited time only(until 31st January 2008). Gee, I don't understand why they cant have the promotion till Chinese New Year which falls on the 7th of February of 2008. Maybe its their marketing strategies to make people rush like to their outlets.

My Prosperity Meal which cost me almost RM12.

Anyway, if you are a superstitious person and believe that consuming anything that is being promoted as prosperous could make you much more prosperous, then you wouldn't wanna miss this once in a year opportunity to do so. If you are not the superstitious type, you can still go ahead and try it, cause the burger taste good compare to the normal menu available all your round. Hope I will become more prosperious this year.