Stationery Review 9: Karkos Bordeaux Fountain Pen Ink (USD 1.97) 30ml Bottle

Hi Friends,

After my first order with the Ali Express App, I was glued to the platform mainly because of the two games that give you gold coins that you can pay for your products with. I found some of the fountain pen inks that I wanted to try. Whatever Inks I was getting here in South Africa were very expensive and I thought of not investing that much amount of money into the same.

I bought this Karkos Bordeaux Fountain Pen Ink in a 30ml bottle for USD 1.97 (ZAR 38) each.  Express Pencils Store is available on the Ali Express App from where I ordered this ink. Check it out and if you like it, you can also order it.

 

Also, the South African Post Office charged me only ZAR 36 to release the packet so based on the items inside the package that got equally distributed to all the 6 ink bottles and 1 glass pen. The overall cost of the ink then came to ZAR 45 approximately based on the exchange rate for a 30ml ink bottle. 

The ink comes in a plastic bottle with a simple sticker saying the name of the ink. The opening of the bottle is protected by a plastic seal that can be taken in and out to not spill during transport etc. The plastic quality of the bottle is fine. The cap is in the same colour as the ink but it doesn't truly match the same. It takes a little while to take the plastic seal out but on its way from China to South Africa, it's kept in a ziplock bag and there was not even a single drop of ink spill. All the inks came fine and perfect. 

This is one of the most loved inks from my perspective. It really shines on the paper not in terms of sheen or shimmer but in terms of the beauty it brings to the blank paper. The place where the ink is wetter, I really love those words. This ink is water-based so it's really wet. The ink looks like writing with the red wine. Even the name Bordeaux represents the world capital of wine in France. If you only want to buy one ink from Karkos then this should be the ink you should look for. 

Link to video - https://youtu.be/EwFGNs5QCiM - Your Views Are My Only Blessings!

Currently, the situation of SAPS (South Africa Post Office) is not good and the Benmore Post Office has closed so I am not sure if I can order more stuff from the Ali Express app or not. But maybe I will try to once I finish some of the inks and I get good views on my video then I can order more inks from Ali Express to test and review with all of you. 

#Karokos #Bordeaux #FountainPenInk #KarkosBordeaux #AliExpress #TheLifesWay #TechBlogger #Youtuber #Johannesburg #SouthAfrica

If any ink brand wants to send us their inks, please contact me at editor@thelifesway.com. Even if they cannot ship to South Africa, I can provide them with the Aramex Global Shopper Address where they can send the same to their local country address as well and I pay the courier charges to get them to South Africa.

Aum Namah Shivay!

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What To Do If Your Identity Has Been Stolen? @TransUnionSA #IdentityTheft #Fraud

Hi Friends, 

Finding purchases or transactions on your bank statements that you can’t explain? Receiving credit cards or statements for accounts that you never applied for? Denied credit for a purchase, even though your credit record is clear? Chances are that you’ve become one of a growing number of South Africans who have become victims of identity theft – and you need to act quickly to limit the damage, warns TransUnion senior director of the consumer business Garnet Jensen. 

Jensen says identity theft is rife in South Africa, with nearly half of South African consumers have either fallen victim to identity theft or knowing someone who has, according to TransUnion research. 

The problem with identity theft is that victims typically only find out about the theft months later – by which time, someone can easily have obtained false lines of credit and racked up significant debt in their name. 

“Generally, thieves will use the victim’s identity to purchase products and services on credit, particularly for high-end goods like electronics and luxury items,” said Jensen. “In the worst-case scenario, thieves can use your ID to apply for large value credit purchases such as vehicle finance or even commit a crime using your identity.” 

Popular targets for fraudsters include retail accounts, mobile phone contracts, and bank accounts, but ID thieves have also been known to intercept employment application or credit applications and use those documents to steal identities. 

If you suspect that someone has stolen your identity, there are several things you need to do. 

• Report the theft. Immediately report the identity theft to the SAPS, and the company, bank or financial institution where the fraud occurred. For insurance fraud, contact your insurance company, and let them know that your identity has been stolen. Also, make contact with the South African Fraud Prevention Services (SAFPS) to register as a victim of identity theft. 
• Freeze your accounts. Make sure you close your existing bank accounts and the bank accounts opened by the thief. Get new accounts and PINs. 
• Protect your identity. Change your login and passwords for all of your online accounts – not just the affected ones. In fact, one of the best identity protection habits you can have is to change your email and online passwords on a regular basis. Be wary of emails and offers from unknown senders: “You don’t suddenly have a billionaire uncle overseas who has been searching for you for years and has finally found your email address,” says Jensen. 
• Monitor Your Identity. Check your credit report regularly for any signs that someone might have stolen your identity. You can review your report for signs of suspicious activity, such as accounts that you don’t recognize or credit checks from companies with which you’ve never done business. 

“Reclaiming your identity and cleaning up your record is a long and arduous process,” says Jensen. “It’s important for you to maintain the security of your information and manage the recovery process if your information is compromised. Early detection, using tracking products by credit bureaus, can limit the damage to your finances and credit record, giving you a better chance of reclaiming your identity.” 

You have access to a free credit report once every 12 months. To find out if you have been a victim of identity theft, visit https://www.transunion.co.za/assistance/free-credit-report for a free copy of your credit report.

Cheers!!!
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