#CessieShops: Muji Pens

Muji opened its first Vancouver store in Metropolis at Metrotown last August 26, 2017. As expected, hundreds of Asian-British Columbians flocked this minimalist Japanese store on its first day. Pumunta kami after a week and the line to get in was still very very long. Three weeks later, wala ng pila pero napakarami pa ring tao sa loob, as in siksikan. We went out kaagad kasi nakaka-suffocate.

Finally, lumuwag na rin nung bumalik kami last September 29. I was able to buy ballpens na lol.

Yes, ballpens lang naman ang binibili ko sa Muji, even when I was in still in Pinas.

Excited na excited ang mga taga-dito about Muji pens (nababasa ko sa IG). For me, ordinary lang naman ang pens Muji. Mas maraming magandang ballpens sa Pinas noh. Siguro nakakaaliw lang talagang magtesting-testing ng sulat at bumili ng paisa-isa. Iyon din ang nami-miss ko eh. Dito kasi usually naka-pack ang pens, hindi mo pwedeng isulat-sulat muna. Ibang-iba sa experience sa National Bookstore.

Muji pens here cost $1.50 to 2.00 each (plus 12% tax).

I only bought four pens. Nagtimpi talaga ako kasi takaw-mata lang naman ako, di ko naman talaga nagagamit ang ballpens ko. Natutuyuan lang ng tinta.

It felt good though, to be reunited once more with things that are familiar.

In my opinion, Muji items are pricey for the standards of average Canadians. Kaya nga napapansin ko wala naman gaanong namimili ng "big" items dun. Pero sabagay, sobrang daming Asians (most especially Chinese) dito who are familiar with the brand and with so much disposable money. Baka nga sila ang magpa-patronize.

First Uniqlo in (Metro) Vancouver

We were at Metropolis at Metrotown (or simply, Metrotown Mall) last Saturday (October 14) so we finally got to "experience" the hype on the newly opened, first ever Uniqlo in Vancouver.

This store is actually not in Vancouver but in Burnaby. But I read somewhere that they are looking na rin for a Downtown Vancouver location na may malaking space at di gaanong mataas ang rent (haha, meron kaya nun?).

Anyway, I like Uniqlo. I used to buy shirts and a lot of fleece jackets from there before. Gusto ko rin ang tela nila for kids' shirts. Kaya natuwa talaga ako nang malaman ko na magkakaroon na sila ng stores dito sa Vancouver. Ang alam ko may dalawa na silang naunang stores sa Greater Toronto Area eh.

I was so excited to look at their merchandise kaso sobrang dami talagang tao, nakakahilo! Kasama ko pa ang mag-ama ko kaya hindi ako makadiskarte. I want to compare prices din kasi, kung mas mura pa dito o sa Pinas. Ang hula ko ay sa Pinas, cheaper labor and business costs.

No doubt na dadagsain talaga ang Uniqlo kasi napakaraming chekwa and other Asians dito who are familiar with the brand. Parang wala akong gaanong napansin masyado na Caucasian.

Pinaikot ko lang ang mata ko sa prices and my conclusion -- MAHAL! Mahal sa standards ng Canadians/Westerners na sanay sa outlet stores at sale items. Kung taga-Pinas ka at gusto mo ng winter jacket kasi magta-travel ka, bibili ka sa Uniqlo kasi saan pa ba? Pero kung taga-dito ka, andami-daming pwedeng bilhan ng jacket noh. Nandyan pa ang pang-masang GAP at Old Navy.

Oh well, marami nga palang mayayamang chekwa dito. Siguro sa kanila, kebs lang ang presyo haha. pero sigurado ako, mamamahalan ang mga puti sa Uniqlo.

October 6 lang nagbukas ang store (one week pa lang when we visited) so talagang nandun pa rin yung hype. I wonder kung hanggang kailan kaya. Parang nung nag-open ang Muji, ilang weeks na pipila ka sa labas bago makapasok.

I'd probably go back on November na to further 'observe' lol. Maga-antay din muna ako ng sale bago bumili. As far as I know, ok naman ang prices nila kapag nagse-sale.