An Updated Definitive List of the Bodega Boy's Aliases — Part 4!
Shout out to u/Misanthropia for the original post — the hive needed more updated art! This list is current as of episode 234 (2/10/21) Desus goes by numerous aliases on the Bodega Boys Podcast. These aliases are based on references to pop culture, sports, and hip-hop. The long and ever-changing list of aliases or "AKAs" are one of the many running gags on the show. During an interview with Method Man on Desus and Mero, Desus explained that the idea for aliases was based on the alter-egos of the rappers in the song "Wu-Gambinos" on the album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... by Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. (info via Wikipedia) Desus & Mero no longer record from Milk Studios (moved indefinitely) and have been recording the podcast remotely from home due to the pandemic. Most of the AKA’s now mention social distancing, hot takes on covid and store closures.
Desus
Desus is extremely consistent with his aliases, almost always presenting them in the exact same order and without any exclusions: Desus Nice — In a Hot 97 interview on April 13th 2017, Desus explains that people started calling him Desus as a play on his government name, "Daniel", and "Jesus", because he worked miracles with people's computers Young Chipotle — Desus’ original alias, he explains in one podcast that it originates from when he was broke and buying Chipotle was a genuine treat Pockets stay fat like Terio (Pockets stay fat like 'here we go') — A reference to viral star Terio, a young, obese African American boy whose videos of him dancing launched him to very brief viral fame. Recently, Desus added the more politically correct and kid friendly “here we go” Eli Litby — A play on Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin Boutros Boutros Gully — A play on Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former Secretary-General of the UN, “Gully” being Jamaican Patois for an impoverished area Slobodan Might-know-ya-bitch — A play on Slobodan Milosevic, former President of Serbia and important player in the Bosnian War Young Day Party — I believe this was adopted in the summer of 2016 after Desus recounted the story of a day party in D.C., which seemed to invigorate his love for partying during the day Young Hot Take — He has hot takes, pretty obvious here Desus H. Fuego — Another moniker to describe his hot (“fuego”) takes on topics Mr. Nandos with a rando — Nandos is a portuguese chicken restaurant chain which originated in South Africa and is big in the UK and Australia. Rando is slang for random person. Having Nandos with a rando is eating chicken with a random person (credit to u/deweez) Mr. Mil Novecientos Noventa Y Cuatro en Nueva York — In later episodes Desus rarely adds the “en Nueva York” bit, but it translates to “Mr. 1994 in New York”. "The Knicks team in 1994 made the finals and is a legendary team amongst all Knicks fans who were around at the time. That team got to game 7 of the finals against the Rockets. NYC rallied around that team hard body because that team absolutely embodied NYC to a T with guys like Ewing, Charles Oakley, Mason, Starks, and Derek Harper." (credit to u/Okieant33) Mikhail Goin-off — derived from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (credit to u/GhettoFob) converged with an allusion to losing ones temper in an act of random violence. The Jouvert Boss — “Jouvert” is a carnival held in Caribbean/West Indian culture, involving a lot of partying MC Likkle Gungo Pea — Gungo pea is a type of peas (also known as pigeon peas) often used in Jamaican dishes. Reference to his Jamaican heritage (credit to u/hopelessromcom) "Pullin' up from 40 with your shorty" — Desus will “pull up”, or make a pass at, your girl even when the odds are slim or unlikely, much like a 40 foot shot in basketball "Don’t talk to me in the Uber Pool, I don’t know you" — Uber introduced a service where you can share rides with other Uber users for a discounted rate. Desus has expressed his reluctance to engage with strangers when he is using it The original “my plus one got a plus one so don’t make a fuss son” — When Desus shows up to an event with a girl, he brings two, and he's intimating that the host shouldn’t have a problem with that Desus Rothstein, the Jamaican Jew — Originated around when Mero began his house search in Bergen County, NJ where a number of wealthy people of Jewish descent live. Desus envisions a version of himself who would fit in there Jermaine Avocado Toast — Desus has gotten more cultured as a result of their success, and as such he has been able to indulge in things usually enjoyed by privileged white people, a stereotypical example of that being avocado toast. This is Desus’ gentrified, hipster persona Young PA — Possible reference to the sound of small amount of air being expelled from a loose butthole, which is an impression Mero occasionally does (credit to u/jimsternub). This is also a reference to Brooklyn rapper Young MA. The Ghost of Mufasa — A reference to Lion King, but beyond that I have no idea why he adopted it. Still hilarious though, and the nickname that most often makes Mero laugh Young Charcuterie without the coonery — Charcuterie is considered very hip and trendy right now, and Desus is again saying he has a taste for the finer things, but is no longer interested in “coonery”, a derogatory term used to describe stereotypical African American behavior Chile Limon, the left handed reliever for the Yankee’s (Que lo que?) — A fictional persona that seems to be a Latino version of Dock Ellis, who famously threw a no hitter while high on Acid. Chile Limon is also a popular seasoning/flavor with the Latino community 3 Phone Jones — Desus originally adopted "2 Phone Jones" after he reluctantly bought an iPhone to go with his Samsung Galaxy. He then received a Google Pixel, making it 3 Phone Jones (credit to u/ArtSorr0w) Desus Ex Machina — A play on the common plot device “deus ex machina”, or “god from the machine” in which an unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by some unexpected intervention. Desus also used to have a tumblr entitled "Desus Ex Machina" (credit to u/hardcore9) Jay Chuckles — Revealed in episode 55 to be a reference to a now-defunct shoe store in NYC. Did Desus read this thread? Stanley Cups — Desus' former rap alias, as revealed in episode 53. The Human Dr. Bronner’s Label (Dilute! Dilute! Dilute!) — A reference to the concentrated soap Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap, which needs to be diluted. I didn’t quite understand how Desus applied this to himself, but it came from a joke in Episode 51 or 52 about Sean Spicer trying to defray controversy surrounding President Trump's decisions Dionardo DiTrappio — A play on “Leonardo DiCaprio”, the actor, but referencing “trapping”, a slang for selling drugs. Mr. 240p because I like my Pino blurry — Desus longs for the days of very low resolution pornography. 240p refers to the resolution, which is extremely low by modern standards DJ Woolite AKA You're listening to Washed FM up next we got 24 hours of — The host of the fictional station “Washed FM”, a fictional radio station that is sometimes referenced along with “WSMK, Smack City Radio”. Woolite is a brand of fabric softener. Desus said multiple times on the podcast that now that he's single and living alone, he washes his clothes with extra fabric softener. As a kid, his clothes would get washed and be hard as nails. Again, he's got a taste for the finer things in life. (credit to u/Okieant33) The Curried G.O.A.T. — A double reference to Desus’s Jamaican heritage, where Curried Goat is a popular culinary item, as well as referencing the phrase “G.O.A.T”, short for “greatest of all time” Desus Spicer — A play on the former White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, who is often referenced on Desus & Mero as “spicing up” or “adding spice” to his takes Jamal Hashburn — A play on Jamal Mashburn, a former NBA player, about Hash The Bronx Celine Dion — Refers to the fact that Celine Dion is very popular in the Jamaican community, and so Desus is like Celine, but from the Bronx. (credit to u/chefboyardu) This is especially present with foreign and immigrant culture which means he is of mogul or iconic status for the Bronx (credit to u/courtofdacrimsonking) Wray and Nephew's Nephew — A play on J. Wray and Nephew rum, which has its origins in Jamaica like Desus. Also, Desus drinks a lot, which you probably should have figured out by now. Introduced in episode 58 The Moreno you can't contain-o — A play on "moreno", a Spanish term for someone with dark skin The Human Meme, Word to Ja — A play on Ja Rule's infamous mistake of believing that the word "meme" is pronounced "may-may" Young Erewhon — A reference to a bourgeois health food store in LA, which makes this nickname in the vein of "Jermaine Avocado Toast", demonstrating Desus' taste for finer things now. (credit to u/a-1-since-day-1) The Racist Provocateur — Desus flipped an angry tweet from April 28th 2017, in which someone called him a "racist provocateur" into a new alias Henrik Bud-qvist — A play on NHL goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who currently plays for the New York Rangers Nelson Bang-dela — An old alias resurrected in episode 65, a play on South African civil right's icon Nelson Mandela Sergio Can't-see-me — A play on Sergio Tacchini, an Italian fashion designer and former Tennis player Vladimir Boofin' — A play on Russian president Vladimir Putin, "boofin" being a reference to smuggling something by sticking it inside one's rectum The Human Werther's, melting in your mouth — A reference to Werther's Originals, a brand of caramel hard candies favored by old people. Not really sure what this one means otherwise. Mr. Becks on Deckington — The first time Desus introduced this one, he accidentally said "Mr. Becky's on Deckington" which was an incredible Freudian slip since Desus has been accused of not being into black women, and "Becky" is the stereotypical white woman name in pop culture. This is a reference to Desus always drinking Beck's, a cheap beer he favors along with Heineken. Adding "-ington" to words is New York slang, as Mero explains at some point. Rikki-Tikki-Squad-bi — A play on Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a character from the Jungle Book Greg "Paaa"-povitch — A very meta play on San Antonio Spur's head coach Greg Popovich and the onomatopoeia of spreading butt cheeks apart (according to Mero) Morris "Say it with your chest"-nut — A play on actor Morris Chestnut Mahatma Gone-B — A play on famed pacifist Mahatma Gandi Not Macka B but I got the cucumber — A reference to a viral video in which Reggae artist Macka B raps about healthy food in his "medical monday" series, Desus is unsurprisingly referencing his penis The juices are pressed but your boy never is — Being "pressed" means someone is applying pressure to you, and no one would do that to Desus. The juices he is talking about are probably the morning drink he has with lemongrass and cayenne pepper that he makes reference to many times in recent episodes of the podcast. I am the Art, dammit! — Not sure if this is a reference to anything specific or just a Kanye-esque line a crazed creative might yell out at some point The Don Dada Ganoush — I believe this is a reference to the Meditteranean dish Baba Ganoush, "Don Dada" is Jamaican Patois slang (I believe) for “top pimp” or “big player” and a sort-of homophone for "baba" No more Cup of Noodles — I don't know if this is a reference beyond the fact that Cup of Noodles is a struggle meal and Desus is no longer struggling The Prince of Peckham — A reference to Peckham, a diverse neighborhood in London The Fashion Nova Casanova — Fashion Nova is an online clothing retailer that specifically targets curvy women that Desus and Mero reference pejoratively (saying it's for bottle waitresses), Desus is saying here that he excels at seducing these kind of women ("Casanova" is a term of a man who excels at seducing women derived from the name of Italian Giacomo Casanova) "William H. 5 Cent, 10 Cent, Dolla... Forget the small change, give me the the big money wine" — A reference to Soca Boys song "Dollar Wine (one cent, five cent, ten cent, dollar)" which apparently was super popular in the West Indies. "William H Holla is something Jay-Z used to call himself back in his hey day. It comes from the fact that Bill Gates' full name is William Henry Gates. Jay-Z used to give himself nicknames back in the day. J-Hova caught on but he used the term William H Holla because Jay-Z also coined the phrase "Holla At Me" and "Holla Back" and just shortened it to "Holla". So put the two together and you have William H Holla. He first said it on the song "Stick to the Script" off the Dynasty album. So Desus took it and made it his own." (credit to u/Okieant33) The only anthem I salute is Dipset — A reference to the ongoing national anthem protests in the NFL, Desus is saying the only anthem he salutes is "Dipset Anthem" by Harlem rap legends The Diplomats Mister Sauga, Catch me at Square One Top Left. Mans is marved. (Dont cheese me bro) — Finally a Canadian-centric reference, which makes sense given that the Bodega Boys have performed there multiple times. This is a reference to the Square One Shopping Center in Mississauga, Canada (where Desus alleges his mysterious wife and kids live), and "top left" is Greater Toronto Area slang for "truthful" or "seriously". "Mans is marved", means "I'm hungry" in Toronto slang (credit to u/Fortehlulz33) Trill Rizzuto, holy cow! — A reference to former Yankees player Phil Rizzuto who would later go on to be a commentator, where his trademark expression was "holy cow!" Mister Soft Palms because all I do is count checks and jerk off — I don't know if this is a reference to anything except Desus bragging about his lifestyle "We got OJ, uh purple stuff, soda, and it's me! Sunny D!" — A reference to an old Sunny D commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQE3jWYuGiw), and a play on the fact that people likely used to called Desus by the nickname "D", so "it's me! Sunny D" would be like saying "it's me, Desus!". Also kind of ironic since Desus is not a particularly sunny person (cue Dark Desus). David Yerp-man — A play on David Yurman, an expensive jewelry company, and NYC slang exclamation "yerp" Desus-expensive, Desus-Red Bottoms, Desus-bloody shoes — A play on a lyric from fellow Bronx native Cardi B taken from her song "Bodak Yellow" Smo-a-kim Noah — A play on NBA player Joaquim Noah who played for the Knicks Andrew Coooooool-nanan — A reference to serial killer (most notable for killing Gianni Versace) Andrew Cunanan The Junior Energy God, come sit down 'pon me charger — Originally just the "Energy God" until Desus realized that that was fellow Jamaican Elephant Man's aliases. I thiiiink this is referring to the phrase "bring the same energy", the idea that if one is saying something behind someone's back, when confronted by the individual they should stick to their original statements. This alias started after the infamous Desus & Mero visit to the Breakfast Club, in which DJ Envy accosted the boys about a joke they made about his wife. Desus & Mero didn't punk out and therefore "brought the same energy". Someone tell me if I'm reaching here. Call me PetCo cause I got your bitch-on-freeze — A play on words for the dog breed Bichon Frise The Topic of Gossip in Syosset (Shout out to 11791 ah ah ah) — Syosset (zip code 11791) is a town in Long Island, NY. it's real bougie and suburban so Desus is saying basically he's got reach and is known not just in the hood but in the wealthy burbs too (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Grandpa Joe, When you see Charlie you see me don't touch that golden ticket — A direct reference to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Grandpa Joe) and Desus's cats name (Charlie) Dead Eye Desus (Mornin’ Sherrif) — Dead Eye Desus refers to the 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2. The game features a gameplay mechanic called "Dead Eye" that allows the player to slow time to achieve easy head shots and kills. The game is also set in the late 1800's, early 1900's in the old West, which is why Desus typically references a Sheriff after saying Dead Eye Desus. (credit to u/biggak) Mr. Shopping at StreetEasy with a bad breezy like I'm Yeezy, please believe me — Another one of Desus' tongue twisters, this one is in reference to shopping at StreetEasy, a NYC real estate website with an attractive woman like Kanye West might do The Black Asiatic who will crack your back like an automatic craftmatic — Added in episode 54 after Desus' continuing gag about "big Black Asiatic men" (often referencing their penises). Here Desus is implying that sex with him (a Black Asiatic man) is very vigorous by saying he will change your posture like a Craftmatic mattress, which is a brand of mattress whose shape and orientation can be controlled electronically Mr. La Marina in a mesh Merina with a fresh misdemeanor and a cold demeanor — This one is a doozy, but was adopted after Desus mentioned his frequent trips to La Marina (a bar on the water in Manhattan) in episodes released in the summer of 2016. A mesh Merina is a a mesh tank top (I think). The other two parts are self explanatory. Not sure how he always gets this one right without mixing up the words. The Sheet-Mask Killer (No one could be iller) — A reference to Sheet Masks, a skin care routine some might find to be bougie. "No one could be iller" is a reference to how ODB introduces Ghostface Killah on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin" by Wu Tang Clan (credit to u/atorMMM) The Black Zack Morris of Port Morris — A take on Zack Morris for his problematic schemes on Saved by the Bell. (credit to u/justic3bon3r) Port Morris is a neighborhood in the Bronx (credit to u/m9rockstar) home of The Bronx Brewery and Bodega Boys Beer Young KPI — More than likely a reference to the various random office jobs Desus had (KPI = key performance indicator) (credit to u/atorMMM) Your Personal Desus — Desus sometimes will recite lyrics by Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) More than likely this is a play off his main alias (credit to u/justic3bon3r) The Pelé of Peleton — Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) was a former Brazilian soccer player and considered one of the greats. Desus is an avid Peleton user so much he deems himself the greatest of all time Your problematic bae — Desus occasionally says problematic things, but you still love him, hence him being your “bae”. He always ends with this one, followed by an exaggerated kissing sound. *After Desus's last aka he gives some sort of problematic advice sometimes followed by explosions*
Mero
Mero (u/THE_KID_MERO) is far less consistent with his aliases. Depending upon how smacked he is, he will often exclude or repeat some of his aliases. He also adds them far less frequently than Desus. The Kid Mero — In a Hot 97 interview on April 13th 2017, Mero explained that this alias comes from the fact that his father and uncle wanted to name him "Ramiro", but his mother vetoed it and named him "Joel". His father and uncle continued to call him "Ramiro", which was shortened to "Miro" as a nickname. When Mero started tagging, he changed Miro to Mero because he found E to be a nicer letter to write (credit to u/atorMMM) as well as he just didn't like how the "i" looked. Also tagging the name "Ramiro" that long would get you arrested The Human Durag Flap — Mero’s original nickname, and a reference to how hood he is and his uncircumcised status, something that gets referenced very often (credit u/ZeddyG2 and u/chandlersokay) Curve Gotti — A play on “Irv Gotti”, former boss of Murder, Inc. records Donovan Mcdabb — A play on former NFL player Donovan Mcnabb, in reference to dabbing, which could have two meanings (smoking THC oil or the dance move created by the Migos) Trizz Khalifa — A play on “Wiz Khalifa”, but substituting the first part of the name with the slang “Trizz”. Usually said in a fake patois, imitating Popcaan's cry of "Fuck Wiz Khalifa!" at a Mixpak event SKKRRRT Loder — A play on “Kurt Loder” former host on MTV News and editor at Rolling Stone James St. Fatdick, I'll Ghost on you shorty — Originated right around the premiere of season 4 of Starz hit show "Power", here referencing the main character James St. Patrick, whose street alias is "Ghost" Tiger Backwoods — A reference to pro golfer Tiger Woods and Mero’s love for smoking backwoods “I no fucking baby, I fucking man!” — A reference to the viral video that sent friend of the brand Pioladitingancia to fame “Check the guest list again because my name is definitely on it, and no I’m not stepping to the side while you check! ” — Not so much a nickname but something Mero might have said back in the day when he was broke and had to lie about being on guest lists to get into clubs CC Dab-bathia — A play on Yankees Starting Pitchers name, CC Sabathia (and close friend of the brand) Goldman Shm-achs — A variation of the phrase made popular by Bobby Shmurda and a reference to Goldman Sachs. Mensch Montana — An alias borrowed from French Montana (who is from South Bronx) and popular artist with the Bodega Boys. They have mentioned his classic Mac and Cheese mixtapes numerous times on the podcast. Also this is a nod to his Jewish family connection; Mensch is Yiddish for "good guy." (credit to u/chefboyardu) TheDa-da-da Dad of the year — A play on a lyric from ScHoolboy Qs song "Man of The Year" (credit u/ZeddyG2). Mero already has three Mero Jr’s and the bodega princess, and as far as we can tell is an awesome dad, thus earning such a title. Confirmed to be a ScHoolboy Q reference in episode 56 Been-Smacked Biyombo — A play on “Bismack Biyombo”, a professional basketball player on the Charlotte Hornets Di-Yayo Maradona — Reference to Argentinean soccer legend Diego Maradona and slang for coke (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Dick-in-ya-bae Mutombo — A play on Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA player. Mero now respects the woman’s agency and asks for permission first before entering Barlos Santana — A play on famed guitarist Carlos Santana and Xanax bars The Dominican Don Dada — Jamaican Patois slang (I believe) for “top pimp” or “big player”, and as we know Mero is of Dominican descent, hence “Dominican Don Dada”. The phrase "Jamaican Don Dada" is used by the character Lennox in the movie "Belly", which is a classic in hip hop culture (credit to u/a-1-since-day-1) He follows this up with "catch me at Locksmith throwing up on myself". Locksmith is a bar on 192nd & Broadway in Inwood, which is a REALLY Dominican NYC neighborhood (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Some variation of "swipe my card again, put the bag over it, there's definitely money on it!" — A reference to a familiar experience for anyone who has been broke, in which you lie and act like it's the store's fault when your card gets declined Romeo Xantos — A reference to famed Bachata artist and Xanax, Bachata being a dance and music style originating in the Dominican Republic. Also the added "Sooo xanny, lemme black out" is a play on Romeo's adlib "sooo nasty, lemme find out" (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Light-an-L Dutchie "Hello? Is it weed you're looking for?" — Another weed double entendre referencing Lionel Richie and his famous song "Hello" Papa Sushi, The Dyckman Don — A reference to often-referenced MamaSushi, a fusion sushi restaurant on Dyckman Street in Manhattan Tom Brazy, your girl got my balls deflated — A boastful play on the Deflategate controversy surrounding Tom Brady and the New England Patriots after the 2014-2015 AFL Championship game Feel-da-ass Tyson (CONSENSUALLY WITH YOUR PERMISSION) — A play on “Neil DeGrasse Tyson”, a well known physicist Lil’ Snoozie Vert— A play on the name Lil Uzi Vert. This is also in reference for when Mero actually ‘tapped out’ on Instagram Live Fry-an-L Messi — A play on Lionel Messi, a famous Argentinian soccer player of Italian descent, and smoking an "L", slang for blunt Joe Hookah "I dare you! To smoke with me! At MamaSushi!" — A reference to rapper Black Rob's song "I Dare You" that features Joe Hooker on the hook. MamaSushi is a high-end restaurant chain located in New York Ben Barson my hands are gifted — During the 2016 election cycle, famed neurosurgeon Ben Carson engaged in a brief campaign for the Republican nomination. Mero took to doing impressions of him, exaggerating Carson’s urban upbringing by saying he was “Ben Barson”, in which the “C” was replaced with a “B”, as a Blood gang member would. Unlike Desus, who almost never fumbles his nicknames, Mero has maybe said this one correctly one time Xaniel Bedingfield — A play on Daniel Bedingfield followed by Mero playing "I Gotta Get Through This" a popular song by the artist Daniel Bedingfield with lyrics that are about Xanax (credit to u/KTTeal) Some variation of “I’ll open your medicine cabinet and take all of your Benzos” — This is self-referential in two ways: 1. The earlier reference here is to when Mero admitted to Desus that he will unashamedly go through people’s medicine cabinets in order to snoop on their lives and 2. After the boat party story in which Mero got drunk and took some Xanax’s, he added “I’ll take all of your benzos” bit to express how much he enjoys the feeling Benzodiazepines create The Xandman — This is a play on the musical artist “Scatman John” who was most known for his song “Scatman’s World”, the chorus of which Mero imitates with this name and the accompanying vocalization Rico Sabroso — Spanish for “Rich Tasty”, but I’m not sure what the reference here is beyond that Baby Newport — I assume a reference to Newport brand cigarettes, stereotypically popular in urban areas Niño Brown — A reference to the main character of the film “New Jack City”, in which Wesley Snipes plays a crack dealer named Nino Brown, but pronounced like the Spanish word for "kid", giving it some Latino flavor (credit to u/Okieant33) The East Tremont Stevie B — East Tremont is a predominately Hispanic area of the Bronx, while Stevie B was a recording artist from the 80’s with some incredible Jheri Curls. Sometimes sings "I want to be the one your Titi is fucking" after I met Mike Francesca im never gon’ fail — A direct reference from when the Bodega Boys actually met Mike on the last episode on Desus & Mero on Viceland. In translation, this means after finally meeting with the iconic Sports Pope this makes him unstoppable. This is also a reference to Kanye West's song 'Ultralight Beam' where Chance the Rapper says "I met Kanye West, I'm never gonna fail" (credit to u/RemyDWD) The Plantain Supernova in the Sky — A reference to the Oasis hit “Champagne Supernova”, but changed to reflect Mero’s Dominican heritage, which often uses plantains in its cuisine. Occasionally he will sing an extended version, which goes “One day you will find me, smoking weed on Tremont/in the Plantain Supernova in the sky”. How does he hit these melodies so perfectly every time? Tom Petty and the Ball Breakers — A play on the rock band name ‘Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’. Mero sings the chorus from Tom Petty’s solo project “Free Fallin’” as “Free Ballin’” suggesting that he feels free doing his Zoom calls without pants Barmelo Xanthony — An incredible play on the Bodega Boy’s favorite NBA player, Carmelo Xanthony, and Mero’s beloved Xanax’s. (credit to u/terminal-chillness) Most recently, Mero has changed his references to him making sound financial decisions and balancing his portfolio since the interview with Carmelo himself on Desus & Mero on Showtime Some variation of “If you see me in Target approach me like a bear” — Originates from Mero’s love of getting really high and hanging out in Target. Being high sometimes makes him paranoid, so he doesn’t like people just running up on him. Desus suggested people “approach him diagonally, like you would a bear”. Mero interchanges “bear”, “Ursine Mammal”, and “Oso” (Spanish for “bear”) at random Benzo the Clown — A problematic clown for kids that ruins birthday parties and not refunding your $50 deposit. Originated on Episode 96, Desus starts talking about rolling up to Mero Jr’s bar mitzvah smacked. (credit to u/outtaspite) Benzo’s antics are normally cut short by Mr. Fun Fun (voiced by Desus) normally ending with the problematic light I sold fake Lean to your favorite SoundCloud rapper — Not sure this is a specific reference other than the fact that Lean is pretty much a guaranteed accessory for any SoundCloud rapper and Actavis discontinued their codeine/promethazine cough syrup in 2014 due to abuse, so a lot of people are drinking fake Lean. "Llego el hijo de Tito y Fifa papi"/"The son of Tito and Fifa has arrived, papi — In later episodes, Mero began to include some Spanish phrases at the end of his list of aliases, usually beginning with this phrase and building off of it. When Mero does this he also says "Hassan tira me lo pita" which is slang for "Hassan drop me a beat". Mero is making pretend that he's a DJ on NY's Spanish Radio Station 97.9 La Mega. Mero from here goes on to talk all kinds of shit about how hard and gangster he is. (credit to u/bobbuddha and u/Okieant33) Please correct me if you have ideas or see mistakes! Discontinued aliases: Desus
The Definitive Price and Quality Ranking of 25 British GYW shoe brands (obviously it's not definitive, it's completely subjective, but let's go with it)
Edits since publishing - Added more specific price info per range. Bumped Edward Green & John Lobb Main Range up a tier. Split Loake 1880 into separate entry. Added George Cleverley RTW. Shuffled Oliver Sweeney and Jeffery West down a tier. Bumped JL Main Range back down a tier - sorry JL. Added a D Tier to differentiate at the low end. Removed Oliver Sweeney - they are made in Italy. Added Tim Little. Added Wildsmiths. Added some comments to Church's. Most of my shoes come from British makers and thanks to the dubious political direction my country is going and ever increasing import fees, this trend looks likely to continue in future. This is intended as an overview of the major British makers who are primarily RTW focused, and will also pull out RTW collections from bespoke makers where viable. It won't talk about bespoke shoes, even if the maker in question does produce them. This post is not an attempt to diminish or demean shoes from any of the "lower tier" brands, just to provide a bit of guidance to a selection of makers that can sometimes be impenetrable and a bit confusing. This post is visible on my (very much non-monetised) blog. "Methodology" (such as it is) In instances where a RTW maker has ranges of significantly different quality I’ll attempt to highlight it, although ultimately many makers will have a smaller, high-end range made to a higher specification that may belong in a higher tier (such as Cheaney Imperial or Loake Export Grade), and the list might get a bit overwhelming with too much detail. Obviously quality and value are tricky, subjective concepts so I’ve resorted to the time-honoured tradition:
S Tier - Highest
A Tier - High
B Tier - Mid
C Tier - Low
After feedback I'm also adding "D Tier - Lowest" to differentiate some of the brands at that end. For quality I’ll be considering the consistency, choice and quality of leather used; fineness and consistency of finishing; how appealing the styling is (very subjective obviously) and the overall quality of the construction. “C / Low” quality in this context doesn’t mean terrible by any means - it’s just relative to the quality of the other makers. Clearly, Clarks make a lower quality shoe than Gaziano & Girling - that doesn’t mean they are “bad” for the money, because you can buy 15 pairs of Clarks for the price of one pair of Gaziano & Girling. For price the breakdown is as follows:
££££ for shoes £1,000+
£££ for shoes £500 - £1,000
££ for shoes £200 - £500
£ for shoes less than £200
Edit: I've added in more precise price information per entry following feedback that some bands were too broad. All prices include VAT (20%). Lastly the most difficult to assess notion, which is value. For this you need to balance the price against the quality and ultimately decide how much you’re willing to spend - to my mind, Crockett & Jones Main Range is the best value readily available RTW shoe. I’m pretty confident in the below - I’ve owned at least one pair of shoes from all of these makers and sub-brands, and many more in the case of some of them - although obviously your mileage may vary somewhat. But hopefully it’s a good introduction at the least. Gaziano & Girling Main Range -££££ (£1,300) / S Tier G&G are the current darling of the English shoe industry. A relatively young, forward looking and energetic brand who make strikingly styled shoes and boots. Undeniably expensive, but the drama and theatre of their designs makes them my favourite maker. Their leather quality is impeccable and their finishing is generally pretty unimpeachable. Foster & Son New RTW -££££ (£1,600) / S Tier As one of the most venerable bespoke makers, Foster & Son traditionally outsourced a lot of their RTW offerings to brands like Crockett & Jones. They now produce RTW in their own factory, and some of the new designs are of a strikingly high quality (and with prices moving into the £1,600 region you’d hope so!). I spent some time handling them in their shop (back when going to shops and handling things used to be a thing) and would put them above G&G in terms of finishing, if a bit more conservative in styling. John Lobb Prestige Range -££££ (£1,500) / S Tier Similar in quality to Edward Green’s Top Drawer, the designs in JL’s Prestige Line have finer finishing and smaller, limited edition design compared to their main range. I’ve compared the finishing quite closely between the two as I was considering some as wedding shoes, and would say the extra cash is worth it if you can afford it, if only because the main range designs can be a tad monotonous compared to more flamboyant makers like G&G. Anthony Cleverley -££££ (£1,300) / S Tier George Cleverley is a legendary bespoke maker, and their Anthony Cleverley line is made to very high standards with a surprisingly broad range of designs. Quite aggressively styled to reflect the aesthetics of the bespoke models from GC proper, with a very slim fit and profile, these are really top tier. Not to be confused with the more readily available George Cleverley RTW options, which are I think made by Crockett & Jones for GC. Edit - as pointed out in comments, prevailing opinion is that AC models are made by Edward Green for GC. It's possible that the AC range in general is being wound down, as they are increasingly difficult to actually order Edward Green Main Range -££££ (£1,000 - £1,300) / S Tier Not a maker that needs a lot of introduction, with iconic models like the Galway boot or the Dover split-toe derby. I personally find their pricing just a bit uncomfortably high for what you get, but can’t fault the quality of their output. While I love the drama of Gaziano & Girling, many would probably find EG to be a more practical day-to-day maker. They also have a number of models in the sub-£1000 price range, though the aforementioned iconic designs lean towards £1,300-ish pricing. EG also have a Top Drawer MTO range, with finer waist treatment, finishing, materials and customisation options, although it's not readily available online. John Lobb Main Range-££££ (£1,000) / A Tier Another very well established maker - the RTW options are from the Hermes owned brand, distinct from the bespoke makers at John Lobb St. James. You can expect a supremely well-made pair of shoes, although JL’s designs and choices of leather are a bit sterile and boring sometimes. Scrolling through their current collection lacks oomph compared to Edward Green or even the much cheaper Crockett & Jones. Edit - from the comments, Main Range finishing can be ropey. I'd second this from quite a lot of time spent going over them in store, so moving to A Tier Alfred Sargent Handgrade / Exclusive -££ £ (£400 - £600) / A Tier Alfred Sargent are an underrated maker - it’s unsurprising as they keep a pretty low profile online. They’re actually quite hard to buy at this point, particularly the higher end ranges here which I think now can only be ordered straight from the brand. Tiers are a bit tricky for this one - Handgrade probably belongs in A tier, and the Exclusive collection is potentially B tier, but both punch well above their weight in terms of quality and styling, and should be picked up quickly if you see them for a good price on eBay. Crockett & Jones Handgrade -£££ (£600) / A Tier The Handgrade collection sports better finishing, sharper and more asymmetric last shapes, and a higher grade of leathers. The price increase from the main range is noticeable, and many would find the increase in quality marginal, so I'm torn on recommending them over the main range. Gaziano & Girling Classic Range -£££ (£600) / A Tier A newer range from Gaziano & Girling - pricing is about equivalent to Crockett & Jones Handgrade. The styling is noticeably less sharp than G&G's main collection designs and the construction is relatively cruder (though still really impressive), but they have a solid collection of models that would fit in an everyday dress shoe rotation. Is it worth losing the quality from the main range just to get the G&G name and lose half the price? I’m on the fence. George Cleverley RTW -£££ (£525) / A Tier A distinct collection from Anthony Cleverley, George Cleverley RTW is priced just into this tier at about £525. Prevailing opinion is that they are made by Crockett & Jones for GC. Tricker’s -££ (£465) / B Tier Tricker’s are best known for their boots but they have a respectable selection of dressy shoes too. Robust and long-lasting - provided the chunkiness of the aesthetic works for you - a pair of Tricker's, properly cared for, really will last a lifetime. Readily available at reduced prices in regular sales and from Tricker’s own outlet website. Crockett & Jones Main Range -££ (£450) / B Tier If money was no object I’d have only Gaziano & Girling shoes, but as it is I think Crockett & Jones offer the best value of any British maker. They have an extremely wide range of styles and continue to innovate seasonally, and their Shell Cordovan is second to none in the British market. They are my go-to recommendation for anybody looking to buy their first decent pair of shoes (though I think I've probably owned about 30 pairs by this point). They also have, by a wide margin, the friendliest and most helpful store experience of any of the big Jermyn Street stores. Compare and contrast with some of the higher end stores which sometimes give the impression they'd rather not have you cluttering the shop up. Alfred Sargent Main Range -££ (£300) / B Tier Solid but not spectacular, Alfred Sargent’s main range options are a good choice. Like the higher grade ranges, they appear to have been withdrawing from a number of more prominent online retailers - maybe they are looking to consolidate sales through their own site in the future? Cheaney - ££ (£300-£400) / B Tier A robust and strong maker that continues to fly under the radar compared to brands like Crockett & Jones or Tricker’s. Unfortunately a lot of their designs can stray into quite gimmicky territory - as a brand they seem to lack a core identity or sense of direction. Church’s-££ (£500) / B Tier Church’s long and storied history is largely, and I think fairly, overshadowed by the perceived decline in quality since their purchase by Prada and shift towards designs defined by sequins, spikes and horrible bookbinder leather. They still make an excellent and classic shoe in models like the Consul, but brand name aside they don’t really hold a candle to Crockett & Jones these days. They do have a strong international presence, and continue to sell very well on eBay though. Wildsmith -££ (£500) / B Tier Not a widely known name, but one with a lot of interesting history. The brand was formed in 1847, though the company in its current form is owned by Herring Shoes, with shoes made by Sargent, Cheaney and Barker. They don't have a wide collection - I remember they had a relatively large relaunch a few years ago, but the range seems to have shrunk since. Only a handful of models are now available to order through Herring directly, so in spite of some slick looking models I fear the brand isn't that long for this world. Tim Little -££ (£410) / B Tier I forgot to include these in the initial list, which is surprising as I have a pair of Tim Little shoes hidden at the back of my wardrobe. They are a small brand with only one shop, but the owner is also the owner and Creative Director of Grenson, so they clearly have some manufacturing weight behind them. The Goodyear welted options are made in the UK. The pair I have are well made, although the last is a bit banana-shaped and elongated in the toe for my tastes. May be worth picking up on eBay or at a discount. Grenson-££ (£300 - £400) / B Tier Grenson aren’t without their charms - the Triple Welt boots have a real chunky appeal. Like Cheaney, I think they tend to cast their net a bit wide in terms of wild new designs without maintaining a core stylistic focus like a brand like Crockett & Jones manage to. In a rapidly more crowded pricepoint, makers like Grenson, Cheaney, Barker and Loake are facing real challenges in staking a claim. Loake 1880 Export Grade / 1880 Legacy / 1880 -££ (£250 - £400) / B Tier As suggested from comments, I've split Loake's higher grade collections out. The 1880 Export Grade have some particularly impressive models, though a pretty limited range of designs. Sanders -££ (£200 - £350) / B Tier Very similar models and aesthetic to Tricker’s, but somewhat cheaper - at a glance you’d be forgiven for confusing their Acorn calf Aintree boots with Tricker’s Stow boots. No real standout designs, but as a pair of reliable boots you could do a lot worse. Herring Shoes Premier -££ (£350 - £400) / B Tier As well as being one of the best UK sites for buying a number of brands on this list, Herring have their own label with unique designs. Some of the Premier models are a tad overdesigned with a lot of mixed materials and bold colours, but Herring's regular sales offer a good chance to get some of the classier models for a good price. Edit - I may have been thinking of past collections more with this - the current collection is pretty understated. Also pointed out in comments that Herring's own brand are made by Alfred Sargent, Barkers, Cheaney and Loake. I'm going to leave them as their own entry as the range of designs is quite large, and the designs are quite distinctive to Herring Jeffery West -££ (£250 - £400) / C Tier Largely defined by gaudy colours, pointy (or square toes) and an overall eye-sore, wrong-side-of-dandy look. To say I am not a fan would be a delicate understatement - I would say Jeffery West have the distinction of making the ugliest shoes on this list, but appreciate this is my own preference talking. Good insight from the comments: "Whilst Jeffrey West are a bit out there and some of their designs miss the mark a tad, I do think it's nice to see something a bit different to the usual kinda dull offerings I think English shoemakers put out." Fair point and I agree to an extent, so do take my own views with a pinch of salt! Barker -££ (£250) / C Tier Barker are not in an enviable position - they are a relatively well-known brand but lean more into eye-catching, gaudy models each season without much connection to a central aesthetic. Some of their higher end models are okay, but they really dive deep into the low-end too which mars things a bit, and are competing with a lot of other makers for their slice of the pie. Herring Shoes Classic -£ (£120 - £250) / C Tier Herring has some really cheap and cheerful models at the lower end. Even so, a lot of the designs are pretty classic and versatile, and alongside Herring’s excellent service these are actually a really solid bet in the sub-£200 price range. Edit: pointed out in comments that Herring's own brand are made by Alfred Sargent, Barkers, Cheaney and Loake. I'm going to leave them as their own entry as the range of designs is quite large, and the designs are quite distinctive to Herring Loake Shoemakers / L1 -£ (£150) / C Tier Loake offer a pretty bewildering array of ranges and quality levels - at best the 1880 Export Grade could comfortably slip into tier B, and at worst their L1 or Loake Lifestyle ranges (which I believe are made in India, although Loake's site very much fails to make this clear) would fall to the bottom of Tier C. Most of their output these days falls into this lower standard of quality, although they are probably the most readily available maker on this list in terms of third-party sellers. A good option for those who need a sensible pair of shoes but don't want to splash out C&J money. NPS / Solovair -£ (£170) / C Tier NPS have the “British work-boot” aesthetic nailed down - not astounding quality, but a far better alternative if you’re thinking of buying a pair of Doc Marten’s. NPS did produce Doc Marten's under license in the 50s, but by the 80s the company was nearly dead in the water until it was saved in the mid-2000's. Speaking of DMs... Doc Marten’s -£ (£180) / D Tier It's remarkable that this brand is so far down the list, as it probably had more cultural impact than any other maker here. In the 60s and 70s Doc Marten's became a bona-fide cultural icon - a uniform of the anti-establishment. The company fell to near bankruptcy in the 2000s, but appear to have bounced back since. Although they do still have a selection of boots made in England in the original factory, much of their output are cemented models that will fall to bits pretty rapidly. Clark’s -£ (£100) / D Tier I know, I know - Thou Shalt Not Disparage the Desert Boot, but Clarks sticks in my head as the place my mum took me to buy shoes for school. They seem to have given up the push from a few years ago into competing with higher quality GYW boots, and what we are left with is, in terms of material and construction, the lowest position on this list. Anyhow, that's pretty much it. Please comment with any I've forgotten, and feel free to chastise me if you think I've viciously misrepresented your favourite maker.
Hello There! My name is u/houseofcards32 and welcome to airsoft! This thread was created to help beginners and newer players out there. I hope you will get something out of this post, as it contains almost every bit of information you need to get started. This thread gets updated every year with new information and sections, so assume the 2019/2020 guides are out of date. This thread will be automatically updated on January 1st, 2022. At the bottom of this thread will include all of the guides I have created so far, if you are looking for something that is not in here, I would look there first. This thread also has a video for each section created by me. Don't want to read the massive wall of text that follows? No worries! Sit back and watch the short 1-3 minute videos on the topic. Consider liking and subscribing to my youtube channel,cards32 , as I don't make money off of these, but I do make it for beginners/newcomers benefit. Under each section will be a video for that specific section. How to start airsoft in 2020 Battery Guide (LiPo vs nImh) Stick with an M4/AK if you are an airsoft beginner Lancer Tactical is bad 2021 Beginner Thread video playlist (in order) Are you looking to start airsoft? Do you need information about the basics? Well look no further! This guide will have 15 sections:
Basic Information
How much does airsoft cost?
The best beginner rifles (AK/M4 variants) for $100-250
Things to generally avoid when playing
What should you bring to your first airsoft game
What weight bb should I be using?
Can I start airsoft as a sniper?
What eyepro/lower face projection should I invest in?
What is a "MED"?
What is a GBBR?
The Search bar
Orange tips and their legality
Airsoft youtubers
MSW (MilSim West)
What are some cheap gear brands to get as a beginner?
Lancer Tactical
What airsoft shops should I buy from?
Don't go out and spend $1000 before playing
Comparing paintball and airsoft is like comparing apples to oranges
What are the most common gearboxes?
Other guides that may be useful
Section 1: Basic Information Video link Your first airsoft guns is one of the most important purchases you will make while playing airsoft. As your first gun, it should be reliable, affordable, versatile, easy to work on (V2/V3), high performance, and compatible with as many upgrades and accessories as possible. This means buying and AEG, or Automatic electric gun or Sub-Machine gun (also known as an SMG). Forget about buying sniper rifles, pistols, gas guns, and other exotic airsoft guns until you have more experience, money, and at least one backup weapon. To play airsoft it is HIGHLY recommended that you have the following items:
An AEG (NOT A LPAEG)
Magazines (high capacity magazines are recommended, which holds around 300+ bb's)
Some batteries
A charger
All airsoft AEG's come with a magazine out of the box (sometimes a mid cap), but is highly recommended that you have 2-3 of these while you are playing. Eye protection is the most important thing in airsoft. All airsoft fields/sites require you to wear goggles/masks while playing. For more information check section 8. Section 2: How much does airsoft cost? Video link Although airsoft is markedly cheaper than other shooting sports, it's still an expensive hobby. Site fees vary greatly but will typically exceed $25 for a day's play. It is reasonably common to spend in excess of $400 buying, upgrading and accessorizing a single airsoft gun. Gear and clothing can be similarly expensive. It is possible to play airsoft very successfully with just basic equipment, but even the cheapest possible equipment required to play airsoft safely will still cost you a minimum of $100. If you want a competitive advantage, or to play more advanced simulation games, you should expect significant additional expenditure. It is common for users to approach airsoft with unrealistically low budgets. If you have less than $100-150 to spend, you are not realistically in a position to play airsoft. We will not compromise your safety by recommending you skimp on personal protective equipment. We refuse to recommend Low Power Electric Guns ('LPAEGs'), spring pistols and other ultra-low-budget airsoft guns because their performance is so poor, and their life expectancy so short, that they represent a false economy. You may still be able to afford to rent gear at an organized airsoft site, but not for more than a handful of games at most. FAQs: 1. I think I can afford to play. What's the next step? If you haven't already,read the rest of this guide. 2. Why are you lying to me? I can easily find airsoft guns that cost less than $100. In airsoft, as in most aspects of life, there is a minimum price below which a product cannot be made fit for purpose. It is possible to buy something approximately gun-shaped for less than $100. Do not confuse this with the ability to buy a gun that will be sufficiently powerful, reliable and long-lived enough to play airsoft with. LPEGs, spring pistols and ultra-low-budget airsoft guns are utterly inadequate for airsoft play and will break rapidly, at which point you will be back to having no gun and will also have lost whatever you spent. In addition, you still need to buy suitable Personal Protective Equipment ('PPE'), which is an absolute prerequisite of play and not free. THE ONLY EXCEPTION to this rule is spring shotguns. The tri-Shot ones. They shoot anywhere from 3-6 bb’s at a time and most shells hold about 30 rounds. These shotguns are only optimal for CQB arenas and highly urban fields. They have extremely limited range so keep that in mind. 3. The best beginner rifles (AK/M4 variants) for $100-250 Video link To get into the hobby of airsoft, you will need to have a decent budget. Most beginneintermediate guns cost anywhere from $100-250, but that cost does not include bb's, magazines, batteries, and a charger. Some guns come with a wall charger and a battery, but most users (including myself) recommend throwing the wall chargers away. This is simply because the wall chargers are normally very low quality. Most players recommend starting airsoft with an M4 or AK style variant AEG. Please note that Lancer Tactical rifles are NOT included in this guide, please check section 16 for more information on this topic. Note that the current Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing, so things might read out of stock on the websites listed. I would check other websites if the items listed are not shown. Commonly recommended choices are:
CYMA AK Series -$130 - CM028, CMO40, CM045, CM048, and CMO28S) are clones of the original TM AK-47’s and AKS-47’s , and they include a high cap magazine (500-600 rounds). These are the cheapest AEG we recommend, and are generally considered reliable, upgradeable, and reasonably versatile. However, their all-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ('ABS') plastic construction makes them relatively fragile. For improved robustness we strongly recommend spending slightly more to purchase a Glass-Filled Nylon Polymer ('GFP') AR-15 or a steel AK.
CYMA Platinum M4 Series -$250 - CYMA's newest addition to the intermediate M4 world, with these being one of the most recommended beginner guns of 2020. With updated internals, great trigger response, and a strong gearbox shell being the highlights of this rifle. Note that these go on sale quite often and the price drops around $240-250.
CYMA Sport M4 Series -$185 - CYMA's solution to "budget" airsoft guns that have good internals and can be had for a decent price. Not as many features as the plat's, but have completely over hauled internals, as shown in Negative Airsoft's video.
ICS Sportline -$180-200 - ICS' Sportline AR-15s are effectively a re-shell of their excellent regular guns in a GFP receiver. They retain the convenient split gearbox system of the regular guns. Note that most of ICS's rifles are slightly proprietary in their gearboxes, so keep this in mind.
Maple Armories Marauder -$180 - Made from high density polymer but has an excellent set of internals which has been proven to be better than the Guay Guay lineup. This weapon series is on the more expensive side but has comparible internals to the VFC Avalon series.
E and C MK18 Series -$162 - These are not really common in the US, but are popular in places like Canada and the EU. The internals on these have been quite good and QC has been almost top notch for something that is under 200. There are other models available in the US, but are way more expensive.
Arcturus M4 Series -$161 -Arcturus is a relatively new brand in the airsoft market, but has come out the gate strong with their M4 series. This series has a microswtich installed, which is uncommon for other models in this price range excluding Classic Army. It also comes with 2 magazines which is great for beginners.
APEX Skirmish Series -$95-100 - OEM'd by Classic Army, Apex's Fast Attack AR-15s are a relatively new entry to the market, and are equivalent to Guay Guay's CM16s. Versions with GFP and metal receivers are available. An intermediate equivalent of these would be a GP or ICS AR-15.
Guay Guay G2 Combat Machines -$207 - Guay Guay has recently come out with a more updated version of their "Golden standard" AEGS. These are still relatively new and have had reports of poor quality mosfets. But other than that, the Gen2's are a superior upgrade to their Gen1 counterparts. Gen1's have been removed from this guide simply due to more updated rifles being out. Upgraded internals, and a better exterior allow for a better quality AEG. An intermediate/high end equivalent of these would be a VFC or a Krytac. These are not as outdated as the gen 1’s, but they still are classified as outdated when it comes to performance.
Classic Army Skirmish Series -$180-200 - Classic Army's AR-15s are a relatively new entry to the market, and are equivalent to a slightly upmarket version of Guay Guay's CM16s. An intermediate equivalent of these would be a G P or ICS AR-15. These feature a mosfet that allows you to switch to 3 round burst or 5 rebound burst.
Specna Arms Core Series -$120 -Specna Arms's CORE series of AEG's were removed from last year's guide due to QC issues, but with the issues mostly being fixed in the later end of 2020, they are being readded for their great price, and overall decent internals. Note that all the CORE series of AEG's have the same internals, just different externals, which are polymer to keep cost down.
Specna Arms EDGE Series -$220 -Another Specna model, with this being similar to the CORE series, but having a GATE X-ASR mosfet, the newer orion gearbox, and an aluminum receiver instead of polymer. Also features a quick change spring system for easier fps changes.
EMG Helios CORE/EDGE Series -$220-280 -Features the same specna internals, with the EDGE having the mosfet, and an aluminum body, whilst the core has a polymer.
4. Things to generally avoid when playing Video link Airsoft is an honor sport, when you get hit, raise your hand high and display your dead rag. Also yell “HIT” as loud as you can so the other player who is shooting you knows that you are dead. Not displaying your dead rag can lead to being shot more than you want to. Calling someone else’s hits are normally frowned upon as you’re going to cause problems on the field and airsoft drama is not worth it. If someone is suspected of cheating, call a ref/marshal over to observe the player. When you are in the field/game area, DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR EYEPRO!! EYEPRO is the #1 important thing in airsoft. If a bb hits your eye, you more than likely will be blind. Keep your EYEPRO on at all times while in the field. If you are fogging up, walk off the field. Avoid overshooting other players, once you see a dead rag or a red rag come up, or hear “HIT” stop shooting them. Dead men tell no tales! If you are dead, and a teammate asks where you got shot from, simply say: “dead men don’t talk” and walk back to your respawn. 5. What should you bring to your first airsoft game Video link So you’ve finally bought your gun and gear and you’re heading out to your first game. As mentioned previously, you want to make sure you come prepared. As well as your AEG, you want to make sure your batteries are charged and you brought an extra magazine or two. You also want to bring WATER! Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you need to do in airsoft. Being dehydrated will ruin your day and cause problems for you. Also make sure to have a good amount of bb’s for the day. it is highly advised that you wear boots while playing, running shoes can get dirty easily and there will be mud somewhere on the field that you will end up stepping on and getting wet. An extra pair of socks is also a good idea!
What weight bb should I be using?
Video link This question is very common with a lot of newer players. LPAEG’s (Löw powered Airsoft guns) and Walmart airsoft guns use .12 gram bb’s. DO NOT RUN THESE IN AN AEG! This bb’s are cheap and will break the internals of your rifle. You don’t want to throw your money away do you? I didn’t think so. The lowest weight you can use in your replica is .20 gram bb’s. There are a lot of brands out there for bb’s: Elite Force, BLS,, HPA, KWA and so on. All of them are good brands to buy from. If you are planning on playing indoor, most users will recommend .2-.28 bb’s for the best range and efficiency. If you are planning on playing outdoor, using .28’s and higher is optimal for the best range. Just keep this in mind: the heavier weight, the slower the bb travels.
Can I start airsoft as a sniper?
Video link It's not recommended no. You can do whatever you want, but sniping is not beginner friendly. Sniping is an expensive virtue and will take a lot of money and time for you to get a rifle that shoots far. Buying a stock sniper will mean you have to put money and parts into it, as the only “good” stock sniper rifle is the SSG24, and the Silverback SRS. The popular airsoft youtuber, Novritsch, has made sniping extremely popular with noobs as he shows a lot of action and gameplay with his guns. Keep in mind that being a sniper is not all action and takes patience and time. His videos are short for a reason. You do the math.
What eyepro/lower face projection should I invest in?
Video link Eyepro is the most important thing in airsoft. Airsoft is a sport that requires you to have eye protection on at all times while on the field. Lower face protection is required for most players under the age of 18 in most American fields. Anyone over the age of 18 can normally just get away with goggles, but you don't want to have to go to the dentist do you? Didn't think so. There are different types of eye protection for airsoft, ranging from basic shooting goggles, to face masks that protect your face. There are a lot of different goggles and masks out there, but here are some of the most populamost recommended items. Any eye protection you use MUST BE ANSI 787.1+, otherwise you cannot use them! DO NOT USE MESK EYE PROTECTION UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! They are not anzi rated, and their have been hundreds of cases where someone will shoot someone with mesk eye pro, and the bb will explore on the outside of the google, allowing the bb fragments to get inside an eye.
Pyramex I-Forces (Slim) -20$ - These goggles are one of the most common eye protection recommended because they are really hard to fog. They are also the cheapest eye protection that this list will have, but these are really amazing goggles. These are full seal but these are not as big and bulky as some others.
Revison Desert Locusts -$30 - These are another amazing choice when it comes to eye protection. A little more pricer than the I Forces, but provides more protection around the face. Has fine lens curvature and the lenses adjust automatically to shifting or variable light conditions. Please note you can buy these new on their website/evike, but they cost 50-60$ new.
ESS Land Ops -$85 - Issued by the U.S Army, these goggles are another excellent choice. Features exceptional fog resistance, particle filtration, and comfort. These can also be found on eBay and military surplus stores for cheaper, but keep in mind of scratching.
Smith Optics OTW -$180 -These no doubt are the most expensive goggle on this list, but these goggles feature a fan inside of the goggle, which allows for no fog at all. The low profile housing of the fan does not interfere with the brim of a helmet. If you want something really good, \*buy once, cry once.\*
Dye i4/i5 -$100-250 - These are the best option when it comes to full face protection. This was originally designed for paintball, but has been adopted by airsofters as well. The special venting and google coating allows for zero fog. I have had one for 8 months and I have yet to deal with any problems. The prices vary depending on color, but you can find one used for roughly 60-70$. There is an updated mask, the Dye i5, which has an updated back strap and different colors.
Oakley M-Frames -$120-130 - These are often used by milsimmers as these offer great eye protection in a minimalist setup. Often used by the US military, these offer great non-fogging and are super lightweight.
ESS Crossbows -$40-80 - The ESS Crossbow Suppressor is the first spectacle frame designed for use with ear cup hearing protection and communications devices. Featuring Z-Bend Geometry, the frame's ultra-thin temple arms help keep noise out by minimizing the effect on the padded seal of ear cups. The slim temples eliminate the hot spots and pressure points that commonly occur when normal eyewear is worn under ear cups.
OneTigris Mesh Mask -$15-20 - The most common mesh mask in the market, and the most affordable one also. Made out of steel and nylon, this mask allows for maximum comfort as it is has nylon fabric cheek sides.
9. What is a "MED"? Video link If you’ve played airsoft before or are just hearing about this for the first time, a “MED” or minimum engagement distance is utilized in airsoft. Most airsoft guns have semi, and fully automatic. Most fields in the US, do NOT allow full auto within 40-50 feet. Imagine coming around a corner and getting shot with 10 bb’s because the person around the corner didn’t switch to semi. This isn’t Call of Duty, spraying your bb’s all over the place will achieve very little, if not anything. When you get closer than 40-50 feet, switch your AEG to semi. Airsoft, for the most part doesn’t hurt, but getting shot 10-20 times in a row certainly will. Don’t be that guy who full autos people from 10 feet away! It’s being an asshat, and will probably get you kicked out!
What is a GBBR?
Video link GBBR(Gas Blow-Back Rifles) are the hyper-realistic guns. If you have a larger budget and would like a more realistic experience these are the guns for you. Not usually recommended as starter guns because of the cost of gas and accessories, but not to be entirely ruled out for a select group of people. These guns require maintenance, but most would consider the work to be put to the background in the face of the utter satisfaction of using one of these guns. Check out GasBlowBack for more information on this topic. 11. The Search Bar Video link The search bar is a tool that is at the top of this sub that is used to search for a post or topic. This feature is not used by any beginners as they will probably ignore this guide and ask the question anyways. Most questions have been asked before and you will find your answer. To use the search bar: A. Open reddit B. Click on airsoft C. Using your eyeballs, look at the top of your screen D. Using your fingers, type in whatever you are looking for (I.E BEST BEGINNER SETUP) E. Using your eyeballs, look at the results F. Realize that most people will just ignore this guide and continue asking the same questions every single day. G. Profit!
Orange tips and their legality
Video link Orange tips are required for retailers, but you are more than welcome to take them off after you receive your airsoft gun. Just note by doing so you will void your warranty. Also please do not take your airsoft gun out in public and follow basic gun safety. Please check your local state/county rules before doing this though. Note that random strangers on the internet will NOT know your local rules, so I cannot empathize this enough.
Airsoft youtubers
Video link A lot of users will watch certain youtubers and get a impression of the hobby that does not exist. Remember: Their job is to get views and entertain you, they cut out the parts that are boring. Clickbait content is what most beginners watch and please note that cheaters in airsoft are not as common at they make them to be. If you are interesting in learning more about clickbait, I made a video breaking down airsoft clickbait on youtube. There is of course great content creators out there that don't just make clickbait and I implore you to go look for them. 14.MSW (MilSim West) Video link MSW is considered the only "true" Milsim in the US. Interesting in going? Read the Tacsop.
What are some cheap gear brands to get as a beginner?
Video link It is also pretty common for airsofters to think they need to spend a bunch of money on super expensive gear to get started. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Good gear does not equal skill (BY ITSELF), and while having good gear CAN help you play, it won't make you a special operator by itself. Most users are on a budget anyways, and investing in cheap chest rigs is a great option to stay within your budget. Note that most of these recommendations will be chest rigs, simply because of the price and functionally of them. Condor is one of the most budget friendly airsoft gear brands out there, as they will be on this list a bunch. NOTE: THE CHEAP CROSS DRAW VESTS ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THIS LIST SIMPLY BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART, THEY SUCK. Some good budget options ($0-100) would be:
Video link It is also very common for users to approach airsoft with spending a bunch of money. Please don't do this. It is always recommended to rent before playing. After renting, don't go out and buy a shit ton of geaguns. Stay cheap, and don't go all out. Regardless of what you have seen on youtube, having the best gear does not make you the best player. How stupid would you look if you went out and bought a brand new Umbrella Armory and full Crye's if you don't like the hobby? Simply put, don't go out and buy expensive gear, like said above, stay cheap and go out to have fun.
Comparing paintball and airsoft is like comparing apples to oranges
Video link Comparing paintball to airsoft would be like comparing apples to oranges. They are two completely different hobbies that are very different. Paintball uses balls of paint that cannot go farther than normally 50-60 feet, whilst airsoft uses more realistic looking markers that can go much farther. If you are a paintballer, no problem, just don't come in here and try to compare the two :)
Changelog: 5/30/19-Fixed Formatting and added suggested eyepro section 6/1/19-small typos fixed and section about MED’s added 12/7/19- reposted for Christmas influx of new gun posts 12/7/19- added section on GBBGBB’s. 12/9/19- added section on searchbar and typos 12/27/19- added how the older guay guay are outdated 1/1/2020- post was unpinned so new thread is made. 1/1/2020- updated part about specna 1/19/2020 - orange tip section added 5/16/2020- removed specna cores from the Recommended list of guns due to bad QC 7/22/2020- reposting thread with more updated links as well as adding E and C to the recommended section 7/22/2020- added sections 13 and 14 7/22/2020- Videos added for each section 7/22/2020 - Added more options for eyepro 7/22/2020 -Fixed AMP AMP AMP issue 12/25/2020 - Added 5 new sections 12/28/2020 - Removed G1 CM"s from the recommended M4's. 12/29/2020 - Added new beginner guns to recommended section 12/30/2020 -Fixed spelling errors and guide overhaul 1/1/2020 - Guide re-published
[Review] Gucci, Celine, Jimmy Choo x Timberland, Moncler hat from Taobao
After a short time lurking and a super long time lockdown, I am finally here! I am really bad at QC and it is my first time posting so CCW are very welcomed! I used wegobuy as the consolidating agent instead of an agent that help me to buy. Disclosure - No discount or benefit received. - Shipping cost: ￥442 for 4010g (the cheapest option I can pick) - Order timeline:
8 Jan - order placed
12-13 Jan - items arrived at warehouse one by one and received photos from wegobuy
13 Jan 23:57:56 - parcel submitted
14 Jan 02:00 - submitted parcel verified yeah
14 Jan 14:46:11 - picked up by the carrier
3 Feb - arrived my hand
*************************
Gucci Jackie 1961 small hobo bag, black￥298
Auth / W2C / My photos #### **Quality - Rating 9.29/10** It smells and feels like real leather to me. Stitches look fine. No fufu smell. The inside feels soft. However, there is a small scratch on the leather of the strap of the lock (-0.2). The hardware, mainly the lock, doesn't feel smooth, and there is tape residue on the strap buckle and a very tiny little scratch on the front of the lock (-0.5). And the dust bag is soft and sweet but the logo is totally weird lol Even my boyfriend can tell those stitches suck (-0.01). But it is still a great deal for £34. #### **Accuracy - Rating 9.05/10** Once again, I am bad at QC and I have never seen the auth so I will try my best to sound like a pro lol. Overall looks fine. The shape is fine to me, seems close to the auth. The interior, which is the leather, the material and the pockets looks the same as the auth I seen online. However, there should be no stitches in between the strap of the lock at the back (-0.4 since it is the first thing that comes to me and it is quite obvious). The leather is a bit dull when compared to the auth which looks shiny, but I'm sure that leather lotion will fix it (-0.1). And there are only 23 stitches of the strap that holds the lock, the auth has 32 stitches if my counting is right (-0.1 coz no one can count my bag stitches, no one!). -0.25 as the lock is not as smooth as the auth, don't know how to describe it but it just feels off. The Gucci imprint on the lock is too thick when compared (-0.1 it is hard to notice with the reflection). The Gucci imprint inside, on the small leather, is close to auth to me. Lastly, the strap ends look quite good and it is very close to the auth which I was not expected. Sadly I only use the mark deduction system here. #### **Satisfaction - Rating 9.89/10** There are some scratches and tape residue. But for a £34 bag, can't complain. ******************************
Celine Teen Triomphe Bag, calfskin, camel￥380
Auth (I cannot find this colour of teen size on the official website) / W2C / My photos #### **Quality - Rating 9.44/10** Smells and feels like real leather to me. No fufu smell. Very soft. Hardwear looks fine. But it is heavier than I expected, my shoulders are crying (-0.05 sorry shoulders and back and I'm not sure is the auth heavy as well). The right side of the lock is stiffed (-0.5), video in my photos. Glad it can be locked and unlocked with one side of the lock. The dust bag got a few scratches (-0.01). #### **Accuracy - Rating 9.78/10** Never seen an auth. Overall looks fine to me. The shape, flat shape, the colour and the interior is the same as auth. Same amounts of inside pockets. For the branding, the font of the CELINE PARIS imprint inside looks off (-0.2 noticeable when I open the bag). And the imprint on the strap should be thinner(-0.1). The bottom inside should be two pieces of leather instead of one (-0.01). The strap-ends look perfect to me. And surprisingly, the hardware is also 100/100 to me. The imprints of the buckle and the placement of screws on the interior hardware look very close to the auth. No one can tell it is a rep from the outside. #### **Satisfaction - Rating 9.9/10** I'm totally shocked by this one. It is cheap but it looks so perfect. Although it is heavier than I expect and with a stiff lock, it is still a good cross-body bag for many occasions. I actually ordered the nude colour at first, but the seller said it is sold out and tried to replace the canvas one. But the canvas is quite off from the auth so I picked this colour. Though I still prefer the nude colour one, no regret with the one I got. ******************************
Jimmy Choo x Timberland Swarovski crystal and leather ankle boots, black ￥419.86
Auth / W2C / My photos #### **Quality - Rating 9.55/10** I have never seen the auth so I just compared with the Timberland boots that my boyfriend owns. The leather isn't as smooth as the original one (-0.2). I just tried on once so can't tell is it comfortable to walk with. But the bottom is soft. Surprised those glitters didn't fall off cause I really hate it. Glitters are sealed well. The only thing off is the size (-0.25 sorry, I'm really disappointed). I asked the seller and he said it is a regular size so I bought 38 happily. However, I can put all my 5 fingers in it even with thick socks and my 38 feet. I really like this boot but I can't wear it out with the risk of it fallen off anytime. #### **Accuracy - Rating 9.09/10** All compared to photos online since I have never seen the auth one. The accuracy of the boots' overall shape (side profile, welt, shaft, toe box), is 100/100 to me. The tongue, laces, sole are fine. But for the branding, the imprints on the insole are not the same as the auth (-0.15 it's all dark inside and hard to notice unless u light it up). Imprints on the insole, Timberland should be on top of Jimmy Choo, the letters should be slimmer too. And for the words on the side, numbers should be on top (-0.01 don't think people will even look at it). There should be more glitters way up but it is not noticeable (-0.1). All hardware (inc. side holes of shoelaces, badge, and the JC logo) should be darker, now is more like a shining grey (-0.5). The glitters should not be on the platform of the shoes but I think no one will notice it (-0.15), coz I can't tell is there any glitters from the photos I saw online. I have to compare to many photos to confirm. #### **Satisfaction - Rating 9.5/10** Mostly because of the size problem. I have never owned a pair of Timberland and I really like this one. So I decided to sell it and fund me to buy a smaller one. ****************************** Finally the last item. My shoulder is killing me since I have already spent the whole day in front of the computer typing and comparing.
Moncler hat, dark blue ￥72.94 inc. shipping
Auth / W2C / My photos #### **Quality - Rating 10/10** Soft, thick, warm, elastable. Fits both my big head and my boyfriend's small head. No joke, I really got a larger head. No complaint at all. Love it. #### **Accuracy - Rating 9.79/10** The logo badge in the middle is off from the auth (-0.4) lol it is 1. not balanced and 2. too yellow as well. The 3. white stitches shouldn't be that obvious. And the 4. logo is not as neat as the auth. You can definitely tell it is rep from a close look, but not from a glance. I think the quality is different from the auth, but cannot compare them without touching the auth one. But no one will notice it (-0.01). The tag inside is not bad at all, it is very similar to the auth. #### **Satisfaction - Rating 10/10** It keeps my head warm, costs only £8.3. Perfect for winter. The QR code inside really link me to the Moncler.com lol ****************************** #### **wegobuy overall service - Rating 10/10** Note: I use wegobuy to consolidate my parcels. Not as anagent to buy from taobao. I can only rate their ship works. I like their inspection photos service. And I contacted the CS to ask for the warehouse address and they responded quickly. I was expected a slower shipment coz I picked the cheapest way and the parcel arrived in less than a month. I am satisfied with this speed. I picked the re-pack service which they will re-pack my stuff and get rid of those unnecessary fillings. My parcels are well-packed. No complaint. But I still wanna try out the other taobao agents or consolidate shipment service, any recommendation?
[Initial Impressions] Meermin Wholecut Chelsea - Dark Brown Calf
Album first Edit: Added some additional pics in the album. Intro This is my third pair of goodyear welted boots. My current go-to boots are Wolverine 1000 Mile Evans; these being a very casual look, I wanted a dressier boot, one that I could dress up with a suit or dress down with jeans. The chelsea boot seemed to fit the bill. Purchasing I bought these from Meermin’s website for $330 CAD, including shipping. As a Canadian who has been shopping around for quality footwear for a while, this is CHEAP. I’m more than happy with the price. Got dinged for $16 in taxes when it cleared customs, and UPS charged a $10 brokerage fee for collecting this. Something to keep in mind for fellow Canadians - if you need to do any returns, there’ll be some costs that you won’t get back. Still quite happy with the $356 CAD all-in; I don’t think I could have gotten anything close to this quality at local retail for that price. Meermin also shipped the boots UPS Expedited from New Jersey, which was nice, as shipping was quite fast. They shipped about 1 business day after ordering, and arrived 3 days later. Sizing, Fit, and Comfort Buying footwear online without the opportunity to try on is always a bit of a gamble, and I put a lot of effort into trying to get the sizing right, since return and re-purchase costs could add up pretty quickly, on top of just being annoying. Meermin customer service emailed me some very helpful information on measuring my feet, as well as a link to their sizing tool (https://digamelon.typeform.com/to/yqolYj), which was super helpful as it gives full measurements for all the Meermin lasts in each size. I did a lot of measuring of my feet before settling on size 10UK. Again, the sizing tool was invaluable for choosing the right size - I had seen a lot of advice to go a full size down from your US size to Meermin’s UK sizing. I wear a US 10.5D in most shoes, but I think the 9.5 UK would have been too narrow in the toe - this is a common issue for me, as my forefoot is around a D width, but my hindfoot and ankle are rather narrow. In many of the chelsea boots I’ve tried (including Red Wing Willistons), the ones long enough to accommodate my foot length are either too narrow in the toe, or too wide in the heel and around the ankle. For further sizing reference for anyone out there, I wear a US 9.5D Wolverine 1000 Mile, I own a pair of US 9.5D Thursday Presidents that are just a bit too narrow at the point of the toe for me to be truly comfortable, and when I tried on a pair of Iron Rangers at the Red Wing store, the US 9D fit me best. Overall the fit is comfortable, but not perfect. The collar is a bit loose around my ankle at the front and back, and there's a bit of extra room around my heel, though heel slip is minimal. The fit around my forefoot and toes is just right. Snug, but not tight. Thicker socks improve the fit somewhat. I ended up buying Superfeet’s ¾ insert off Amazon, which fills in some volume in the heel and under the vamp, and makes the fit almost perfect. Pretty satisfied with the fit overall. Finding chelsea boots of this style that were even remotely comfortable for my foot shape was a challenge, much less a goodyear welted pair. At some point I’d like to see if a cobbler could make me a thicker ¾ leather insole so that I’d no longer need the Superfeet inserts. If anyone’s ever done something like that, I’d be interested to hear about it. Look and Style I was debating a black chelsea vs. a dark brown and ended up going with dark brown, as I feel like it would be more versatile with my wardrobe. The look and style is exactly what I wanted - the toes are somewhat pointed, giving the boots a dressier and sleeker profile than the rounded toe on chelsea boots like Blundstones, while still providing enough room for my wide, squarish toes. The colour is pretty true to what was shown on Meermin’s website, a nice shiny uniform dark brown that can be dressed up or down. The day my boots arrived, my kids wanted to have a “fancy dinner” at home, so I wore them with my suit (which doesn’t get any wear these days due to COVID) - the boots looked sharp! Leather and Craftsmanship The calf leather (from Les Tanneries Du Puy in France, per Meermin) is quite soft and supple. I haven’t worn these for an extended period yet, but so far the break-in seems pretty gentle, contrary to what I’d heard about Meermin boots in general. A few mild tight spots, but overall pretty comfortable right off the bat. The overall fit and finish is pretty good. I’ve read mixed reviews about Meermin in this area, but mine seem pretty solid. There were a few loose threads left around the edge of the elastic areas, but they weren’t attached to anything and I was able to just pick them off. Looked like stuff that just didn’t get cleaned up before they left the factory. There is what appears to be a slight crease line running down the front center of both boots, from the top of the collar down to the toe. Just a slightly lighter thin line in the leather - looks like where the leather was folded to shape the boot. It’s very hard to see; I can only see it up close in certain light, but this might bother some people. This is my first pair of chelsea boots, so I don’t know if this is common. Conclusion Pretty happy with these. I’ve been looking for a good chelsea boot for a while, and this is exactly the style that I wanted. My options in Canada at this price point that aren’t cemented crap are next to non-existent, so this was a nice introduction to Meermin. If anyone knows if Meermin has a last with the same width toe as the Hiro with a narrower heel, please let me know!
Trials and tribulations of setting up my LV desk agenda, 3 month review, and additional stationary and Hermes bag charm finds
Here are some pictures of my completed planner. Introduction/my life story I like to think of myself as an organised and efficient person, however my subpar bullet journal has, for the least year and 8 months, been a source of anger and aggravation and general misery. To be honest, I find bullet journals overrated. Yes, they're a good concept but who has the time to draw out elaborate spreads, because I sure don't. I hate crafts and I don't have a creative bone in my body. For months I forced myself to try and draw new spreads, and weekly I was met with annoyance that my lines were messy (yes I used a ruler) , frustration at smudging the ink and irritation that it just looked sloppy. I began to hate my bullet journal so much I didn't want to look at it, let alone use it, which would cause me to be unorganized, which irritated even further. Fuelled by loathing, I began to search for an escape from the toxic relationship with my bullet journal. I came across this video and fell in love with the aesthetics. Despite being a replady for over a year, I had never really thought of getting a designer planner, or anything that wasn’t bags, shoes or clothing. I began to do some research to find the planner that would solve all my problems™. (no pressure!) My requirements
Must be A5. I have fat, ugly writing and I need the space.
Must have a ring binder so I can reorganise my pages/sections as necessary. This is a commitment free zone, people.
Despite my requirements being very basic, I immediately faced obstacles. I decided that the LV GM agenda was the one for me pretty quickly, however after speaking to OC and Redden, trawling the sub, every other rep sub possible, and exhaustively searching dhgate, Ali and TB, I discovered only the MM and PM sizes were repped. Not good. After deciding to buy the authentic LV GM for around £550, I promptly received a sign that I could not afford it, in the form of an infected filling. After shelling out my planner budget and then some on dental fees, I decided that the LV desk organiser would have to suffice. Challenge (reluctantly) accepted. I sadly watched a few more planner videos on youtube, desperately searching for some #inspo that would be the shining guiding light out of my emotional black pit of gloom. Here are some of the videos I watched and found helpful
Filled with cautious hope, I began to plan (in a separate notebook). Since I couldn’t find the LV GM agenda repped anywhere, I decided to go for the LV Desk Planner. After trawling DhGate, I found this one, which I deemed to be the most accurate in terms of size, monogram print and details. It also had an inner secretarial pocket which others seemed not to have. Redden also has one for sale at 180 cny which is an absolute steal. Notebook I would need a front and back page to create the notebook to slip into the desk cover. My first idea was a clear file like this, but i didn't like the silver ring mechanism (yes, really), and the snap button closure would perhaps stretch the planner, or I'd have to cut it which may make it look sloppy. The clear plastic also looks cheap to me. Engineering my own would have to suffice, and would probably be more customisable. I found these on ali, and bought two which will serve as my front and back cover. The back cover is necessary to slip into the desk cover, although you don’t have to do the same to the front. I considered black frosted pages, but they were difficult to find, and using frosted white would let me see my dashboard/opening page underneath, which is more visually pleasing. I then went back and bought three more - I liked having the frosted pages to protect my pictures and I also used two pages in the back sleeve for some extra support. Ring binder I would need a ring binder system as the desk agenda is simply a notebook cover. I looked at these and considered sticking or drilling them into the agenda with a ring binder repair kit (video here), but quickly abandoned fbat, because, effort. The planner is also one piece of canvas, and does not have the same double layer that the filofax or agenda does.I settled on this style of ring binders, and went for a gold colour to complement the planner colour. Making sure they fit a5 and the six hole punch system for the refill pages is important too. I am really happy I bought these. They are a tiny bit of a faff too open and close to move pages about but as I’ve said before, I’m lazy, but they are great for being able to move the contents of your notebook around as you wish. "Dashboards". These are cute picture pages which…..I honestly don't know. From my research, they typically seem to be made from vellum which is a stiffer paper, and have pictures, inspiring quotes or patterns on them. As they are typically decorative, I knew I would dislike most of the ones I would find (am I really this pessimistic or is this just my exhaustion with 2020?). Did I want to print my own? No thanks. A lot of the ones on Etsy are very ‘motivational quotes’. I despise motivational quotes. I found these which were more tolerable, but I didn’t love them. What’s the point of having stuff you don’t love? I was heavily influenced by this picture of Miss Trenchcoats planner, and also found the medusa picture which she had on the front of her planner. The next problem was pictures. What pictures and vibe did I want? This was actually one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. I scoured Pinterest and found some cool images I liked. I like clean, black and white, slightly edgy (yes, I’m rolling my eyes at all these damn buzzwords too) cool aesthetic (I'm cringing typing that). I like animals liek cats, kinda lame and kinda artsy designer pictures, churches and sculptures. I found some pictures I liked and created a board. Here arose my next problem. How could I print something off nicely, on good paper, with putting very little effort into doing so myself? I pondered this for a while, looking up postcard printing companies and trying to contact people on Etsy. I then realised that I could print them online with a photo printing company. This posed the next issue. A5 size is slightly awkward. I could do A4 prints but I don't have a guillotine and even if I did that's too much work and room for error if I cut them incorrectly. I managed to get pictures printed on Snapfish at 8 x 6 size. These cost about 50p per photo. Once I found all my images I used an online photo editor to whack a black and white filter on the picture (if it wasn't already black and white) and saved them. Uploading these to Snapfish, I faced my next hurdle. A lot of the pictures were small and did not have the image resolution to be blown up to A5. After some frustrating hours fiddling around with various picture editors, I found this website. I uploaded all the images and enlarged them as much as possible,resaved them to my computer and reuploaded them to Snapfish. Sometimes I did this twice to make sure they would be able to be blown up to a decent quality on Snapfish. This was tedious but worked out well in the end. I printed 30 pictures which cost 15. (I don't need 30 but I admit I got carried away). I also bought a six hole punch and it was surprisingly easy to use, unlike the two hole ones which can sometimes be finicky. Once all my pictures arrived I was pretty happy with the quality, a few were a little blurry but it was nothing major. Having 30 pictures meant I had plenty of choice of which ones to use when I got bored. My pinterest boards
Dividers. I looked at these examples on Etsy. Whilst they're really cool I didn't love them. You can find ones which are specially personalised to you and your divider needs, like these but I didn't like the pressure of having to commit to these sections (even when I could choose them myself hahaha). I decided to buy these Chanel bookmarks I found off TB to use as markers or just decoration. These are soooo cute but quite fragile, and as I bring my planner to work with my every day they have bent and come off. I keep them on a piece of paper in the front sleeve, but if your planner is just chilling on your desk or draw and you don’t move it around a lot, these would probably be fine. I also ordered these leather tab dividers off Ali. They have a few colours, although predictably I went for the black ones with gold writing. I’m not sure if I’ll use all of the numbered ones, but I like the ‘notes’ and ‘to do’ tab. These were *fine* upon arrival but they’re not great and the adhesive sucks. I think with some superglue and being placed under a book to dry will help them stay on better, but just be careful how you position them as mine ended up not being uniform when I stuck them down. I then realised I had nothing to actually stick the leather tab dividers too (and did not want to ruin my photo pages), so I went on Ali and bought a few more frosted pages, which I used above to create the front and back of my notebook. Accessories Charms “What is the point of a planner charm?” I hear you ask. Honestly, god knows. I really really don’t. They look bulky and could snag or break in your bag as you take your planner in and out. But they are fun and honestly, what is the point of anything? I already have a hermes bag charm (a palm tree) which I hung off my planner. It looks fun and it is a splash of colour in my otherwise (intentionally) drab life. I like how the orange matches the colour scheme of the monogram canvas. I would like to find a rose sakura charm but that admittedly might be a bit too colourful for me. Here are some more links to bag charms
Horse heads - i particularly like the ‘noble blue’ horse head colourway/
Whilst the planner charm is a fun and zesty addition, again it gets in the way when i chuck my planner in my bag every day, so I typically keep it tucked into the front sleeve. I suppose it could also be used as a bookmark? But it might be quite bulky. I enjoy it but it could get annoying if it creased the pages. Clips Clips are another thing I see people using, and I suppose they could serve a similar purpose to divider tabs. They are less commitment and you can find a variety of nice ones on ali or etsy. As mentioned above, I found some Chanel bookmarks. I also like these black skeleton binder clips Organisational pages Despite being the entire point of this planner, it’s also the most irrelevant to this post (lol). I like the bullet journal system of having a yearly overview, with monthly overviews at the beginning of my planner. I then do a two page monthly spread, for a more detailed look at each individual month (also fat handwriting), and then a week on two page spread to keep track of each week and write down anything that happens. (See this video on bullet journalling if this all sounds alien to you). I couldn’t find any pages which would work for the yearly overview, so I planned to buy this calendar washi tape to stick on a blank page and then fill in appointments as they come. I prefer to do this for my yearly overview as plans can change and be crossed out, whereas there is less space on the ‘month on two pages spread’ and I prefer to keep that spread looking neater. There are also these calendar stickers but I didn’t like the brown colour. Neither of these are perfect, in the way that you can’t accurately see if the 4th May 2020 is a Monday or a Friday, but for the purpose of keeping a list of events happening in the future they will suffice. I never got round to buying the calendar stickers, as I realised I can just use all my month on two pages spread for the whole year. I also use post it notes if I don’t want to commit to something in pen. I bought this cheap 2020 overview from Ali. I bought these refill pages from Ali Month on two pages spread Week on two pages spread - (currently sold out but from the same shop as above, and comes back in and out of stock)
Ali budget tracker (I bought this, but then after buying a symode and some 18k I’ve left them to fester in a draw somewhere because I’m too fragile to deal with the bad vibes)
It’s worth noting that you can buy ‘downloadable’ inserts, where you receive the PDF to print yourself. If you have an iota of patience this could be worth doing, and may be cheaper than rebuying preprinted inserts. My concluding thoughts I am SO glad I switched my diary over to this system. The preprinted pages are a dream to use, and everything is formatted easily. I love being able to swap the dashboard pages to whatever I fancy at any current time. This planner is flexible, easy to use and feels so streamlined to my own individual wants and needs. I really love the outer shell, however my one gripe is that the covers can open in my bag (I use a Goyard Artois and lay the diary on its spine, so if my bag isn’t full it can flop open) and I have split things into it and creased pages. If this would bother you, I think you could easily find an elastic closure to keep it shut. It is bulkier than my previous leuchtturm1917, and it is wider and higher. I personally don’t mind this, however if you have a small work bag then this might be an issue, so maybe a smaller cover would suit you better. Overall, I am delighted with my little project and whilst it hasn’t fixed my life problems, it is easy to use, looks good and makes planning (or rather writing my angsty lockdown dear diary entries) a dream. Finds Honourable mentions
Black Acetate ruler in A5 and A^ size - i bought it and it’s pretty practical to be able to instantaneously flip to the right page, it is also not too obtrusive and pretty hard wearing.
This dragon charm could be used as a planner charm - easily threadable onto a cheap gold bracelet and attached to the planner ring binder. I was going to do this but then remembered I had my palm tree.
Non rep stationary finds Inspired by a post I saw on here before, where a Replady found barenia leather being used and made into artisan bags, I did a little digging on etsy for some nice leather goods.
This leather pen holder seller on etsy - absolutely to die for! I love the ‘cocoa brown’ colour which I’m hoping will patina to look similar to barenia ebene. Subtle flex with some rep Mont Blanc pens. The original leather and Spanish leather colours are also lovely. I am hopefully getting it for Christmas.
Hello visitors and subscribers of scams! Here you will find a master list of common (and uncommon) scams that you may encounter online or in real life. Thank you to the many contributors who helped create this thread!
If you know of a scam that is not covered here, write a comment and it will be added to the next edition.
Caller ID spoofing It is very easy for anyone to make a phone call while having any number show up on the caller ID of the person receiving the phone call. Receiving a phone call from a certain number does not mean that the person/company who owns that number has actually called you. Email spoofing The "from" field of an email can be set by the sender, meaning that you can receive scam emails that look like they are from legitimate addresses. It's important to never click links in emails unless absolutely necessary, for example a password reset link you requested or an account activation link for an account you created. SMS spoofing SMS messages can be spoofed, so be wary of messages that seem to be from your friends or other trusted people.
The most common scams
The fake check scam (Credit to nimble2 for this part) The fake check scam arises from many different situations (for instance, you applied for a job, or you are selling something on a place like Craigslist, or someone wants to purchase goods or services from your business, or you were offered a job as a mystery shopper, you were asked to wrap your car with an advertisement, or you received a check in the mail for no reason), but the bottom line is always something like this:
The scammer sends you a very real looking, but fake, check. Sometimes they'll call it a "cashier's check", a "certified check", or a "verified check".
You deposit the check into your bank account, and within a couple of days your bank makes some or all of the funds available to you. This makes you think that the check is real and the funds have cleared. However, the money appearing in your account is not the same as the check actually clearing. The bank must make the funds available to you before they have cleared the check because that is the law.
For various and often complicated reasons, depending on the specific story line of the scam, the scammer will ask you to send someone some of the money, using services like MoneyGram, Western Union, and Walmart-2-Walmart. Sometimes the scammer will ask for you to purchase gift cards (iTunes, Amazon, Steam, etc) and give them the codes to redeem the gift cards. Some scammers may also give you instructions on how to buy and send them bitcoins.
Within a couple of weeks, though it can take as long as a month, your bank will realize that the check you deposited was fake, and your bank will remove the funds that you deposited into your account and charge you a bounced check fee. If you withdrew any of the money from the fake check, that money will be gone and you will owe that money to the bank. Some posters have even had their bank accounts closed and have been blocked from having another account for 5 years using ChexSystems.
General fraudulent funds scams If somebody is asking you to accept and send out money as a favour or as part of a job, it is a fraudulent funds scam. It does not matter how they pay you, any payment on any service can be fraudulent and will be reversed when it is discovered to be fraudulent. Phone verification code scams Someone will ask you to receive a verification text and then tell you to give them the code. Usually the code will come from Google Voice, or from Craigslist. In the Google version of the scam, your phone number will be used to verify a Google Voice account that the scammer will use to scam people with. In the Craigslist version of the scam, your phone number will be used to verify a Craigslist posting that the scammer will use to scam people. There is also an account takeover version of this scam that will involve the scammer sending a password reset token to your phone number and asking you for it. Bitcoin job scams Bitcoin job scams involve some sort of fraudulent funds transfer, usually a fake check although a fraudulent bank transfer can be used as well. The scammer will send you the fraudulent money and ask you to purchase bitcoins. This is a scam, and you will have zero recourse after you send the scammer bitcoins. Email flooding If you suddenly receive hundreds or thousands of spam emails, usually subscription confirmations, it's very likely that one of your online accounts has been taken over and is being used fraudulently. You should check any of your accounts that has a credit card linked to it, preferably from a computer other than the one you normally use. You should change all of your passwords to unique passwords and you should start using two factor authentication everywhere. Cartel scam You will be threatened by scammers who claim to be affiliated with a cartel. They may send you gory pictures and threaten your life and the lives of your family. Usually the victim will have attempted to contact an escort prior to the scam, but sometimes the scammers target people randomly. If you are targeted by a cartel scam all you need to do is ignore the scammers as their threats are clearly empty. Boss/CEO scam A scammer will impersonate your boss or someone who works at your company and will ask you to run an errand for them, which will usually be purchasing gift cards and sending them the code. Once the scammer has the code, you have no recourse. Employment certification scams You will receive a job offer that is dependent on you completing a course or receiving a certification from a company the scammer tells you about. The scammer operates both websites and the job does not exist. Craigslist fake payment scams Scammers will ask you about your item that you have listed for sale on a site like Craigslist, and will ask to pay you via Paypal. They are scamming you, and the payment in most cases does not actually exist, the email you received was sent by the scammers. In cases where you have received a payment, the scammer can dispute the payment or the payment may be entirely fraudulent. The scammer will then either try to get you to send money to them using the fake funds that they did not send to you, or will ask you to ship the item, usually to a re-shipping facility or a parcel mule. Craigslist Carfax/vehicle history scam You'll encounter a scammer on Craigslist who wants to buy the vehicle you have listed, but they will ask for a VIN report from a random site that they have created and they will expect you to pay for it. Double dip/recovery scammers This is a scam aimed at people who have already fallen for a scam previously. Scammers will reach out to the victim and claim to be able to help the victim recover funds they lost in the scam. General fraudulent funds scams The fake check scam is not the only scam that involves accepting fraudulent/fake funds and purchasing items for scammers. If your job or opportunity involves accepting money and then using that money, it is almost certainly a frauduent funds scam. Even if the payment is through a bank transfer, Paypal, Venmo, Zelle, Interac e-Transfer, etc, it does not matter. Credit card debt scam Fraudsters will offer to pay off your bills, and will do so with fraudulent funds. Sometimes it will be your credit card bill, but it can be any bill that can be paid online. Once they pay it off, they will ask you to send them money or purchase items for them. The fraudulent transaction will be reversed in the future and you will never be able to keep the money. This scam happens on sites like Craigslist, Twitter, Instagram, and also some dating sites, including SeekingArrangement. The parcel mule scam A scammer will contact you with a job opportunity that involves accepting and reshipping packages. The packages are either stolen or fraudulently obtained items, and you will not be paid by the scammer. Here is a news article about a scam victim who fell for this scam and reshipped over 20 packages containing fraudulently acquired goods. The Skype sex scam You're on Facebook and you get a friend request from a cute girl you've never met. She wants to start sexting and trading nudes. She'll ask you to send pictures or videos or get on webcam where she can see you naked with your face in the picture. The scam: There's no girl. You've sent nudes to a guy pretending to be a girl. As soon as he has the pictures he'll demand money and threaten to send the pictures to your friends and family. Sometimes the scammer will upload the video to a porn site or Youtube to show that they are serious. What to do if you are a victim of this scam: You cannot buy silence, you can only rent it. Paying the blackmailer will show them that the information they have is valuable and they will come after you for more money. Let your friends and family know that you were scammed and tell them to ignore friend requests or messages from people they don't know. Also, make sure your privacy settings are locked down and consider deactivating your account. The underage girl scam You're on a dating site or app and you get contacted by a cute girl. She wants to start sexting and trading nudes. Eventually she stops communicating and you get a call from a pissed off guy claiming to be the girl's father, or a police officer, or a private investigator, or something else along those lines. Turns out the girl you were sexting is underage, and her parents want some money for various reasons, such as to pay for a new phone, to pay for therapy, etc. There is, of course, no girl. You were communicating with a scammer. What to do if you are a victim of this scam: Stop picking up the phone when the scammers call. Do not pay them, or they will be after you for more money. Phishing Phishing is when a scammer tries to trick you into giving information to them, such as your password or private financial information. Phishing messages will usually look very similar to official messages, and sometimes they are identical. If you are ever required to login to a different account in order to use a service, you should be incredibly cautious. The blackmail email scam part 5: https://old.reddit.com/Scams/comments/g8jqnthe_blackmail_email_scam_part_5/ PSA: you did not win a giftcard: https://old.reddit.com/Scams/comments/fffmle/psa_you_did_not_win_a_gift_card/ Sugar scams Sugar scammers operate all over the internet and usually come in two varieties: advance-fee scams where the scammer will ask for a payment from you before sending you lots of money, and fake check style scams where the scammer will either pull a classic fake check scam, or will do a "bill pay" style scam that involves them paying your bills, or them giving you banking information to pay your bills. If you encounter these scammers, report their accounts and move on. Google Hangouts Google Hangouts is a messaging platform used extensively by all kinds of scammers. If you are talking with someone online and they want you to switch to Hangouts, they are likely a scammer and you should proceed with caution. Publishers Clearing House scams PCH scams are often advance-fee scams, where you will be promised lots of money after you make an initial payment. You will never need to pay if you win money from the real PCH. Pet scams You are looking for a specific breed of puppy, bird, or other pet. You come across a nice-looking website that claims to be breeding them and has some available right now - they may even be on sale! The breeders are not local to your area (and may not even list a physical location) but they assure you they can safely ship the pet to you after a deposit or full payment. If you go through with the payment, you will likely be contacted by the "shipper" who will inform you about an unexpected shipping/customs/processing fee required to deliver your new pet. But there was never any pet, both the "breeder" and the "shipper" are scammers, typically operating out of Africa. These sites are rampant and account for a large percentage of online pet seller websites - they typically have a similar layout/template (screenshot - example) If you are considering buying a pet online, some easy things to check are: (1) The registration date of the domain (if it was created recently it is likely a scam website) (2) Reverse image search the pictures of available pets - you will usually find other scam websites using the same photos. (3) Copy a sentence/section of the text from the "about us" page and put it into google (in quotes) - these scammers often copy large parts of their website's text from other places. (4) Search for the domain name and look for entries on petscams.com or other scam-tracking sites. (5) Strongly consider buying/adopting your pet from a local shelter or breeder where you can see the animal in person before putting any money down. Thanks to djscsi for this entry. Fake shipping company scams These scams usually start when you try to buy something illegal online, though not always. You will be scammed for the initial payment, and then you will receive an email from the fake shipping company telling you that you need to pay them some sort of fee or bribe. If you pay this, they will keep trying to scam you with increasingly absurd stories until you stop paying, at which point they will blackmail you. If you are involved in this scam, all you can do is ignore the scammers and move on, and try to dispute your payments if possible. Chinese Upwork scam Someone will ask you to create an Upwork or other freelancer site account for them and will offer money in return. You will not be paid, and they want to use the accounts to scam people. Quickbooks invoice scam This is a fake check style scam that takes advantage of Quickbooks. The blackmail email scam The exact wording of the emails varies, but there are generally four main parts. They claim to have placed software/malware on a porn/adult video site, they claim to have a video of you masturbating or watching porn, they threaten to release the video to your friends/family/loved ones/boss/dog, and they demand that you pay them in order for them to delete the video. Rest assured that this is a very common spam campaign and there is no truth behind the email or the threats. Here are some news articles about this scam. The blackmail mail scam This is very similar to the blackmail email scam, but you will receive a letter in the mail. Rental scams Usually on local sites like Craigslist, scammers will steal photos from legitimate real estate listings and will list them for rent at or below market rate. They will generally be hesitant to tell you the address of the property for "safety reasons" and you will not be able to see the unit. They will then ask you to pay them a deposit and they claim they will ship you the keys. In reality, your money is gone and you will have no recourse. Craigslist vehicle scams A scammer will list a vehicle on Craigslist and will offer to ship you the car. In many cases they will also falsely claim to sell you the car through eBay or Amazon. If you are looking for a car on Craigslist and the seller says anything about shipping the car, having an agent, gives you a long story about why they are selling the car, or the listing price is far too low, you are talking to a scammer and you should ignore and move on. Advance-fee scam, also known as the 419 scam, or the Nigerian prince scam. You will receive a communication from someone who claims that you are entitled to a large sum of money, or you can help them obtain a large sum of money. However, they will need money from you before you receive the large sum. Man in the middle scams Man in the middle scams are very common and very hard to detect. The scammer will impersonate a company or person you are legitimately doing business with, and they will ask you to send the money to one of their own bank accounts or one controlled by a money mule. They have gained access to the legitimate persons email address, so there will be nothing suspicious about the email. To prevent this, make contact in a different way that lets you verify that the person you are talking to is the person you think you are talking to. Digit wallet scam A variation of the fake check scam, the scammer sends you money through a digital wallet (i.e. Venmo, Apple Pay, Zelle, Cash App) along with a message claiming they've sent the money to the wrong person and a request to send the money back. Customer service for these digital wallets may even suggest that you send the money back. However, the money sent is from a stolen credit card and will be removed from your account after a few days. Your transfer is not reversed since it came from your own funds. Cam girl voting/viewer scam You will encounter a "cam girl" on a dating/messaging/social media/whatever site/app, and the scammer will ask you to go to their site and sign up with your credit card. They may offer a free show, or ask you to vote for them, or any number of other fake stories. Amateur porn recruitment scam You will encounter a "pornstar" on a dating/messaging/social media/whatever site/app, and the scammer will ask you to create an adult film with hehim, but first you need to do something. The story here is usually something to do with verifying your age, or you needing to take an STD test that involves sending money to a site operated by the scammer. Hot girl SMS spam You receive a text from a random number with a message along the lines of "Hey babe I'm here in town again if you wanted to meet up this time, are you around?" accompanied by a NSFW picture of a hot girl. It's spam, and they'll direct you to their scam website that requires a credit card. Identity verification scam You will encounter someone on a dating/messaging/social media/whatever site/app, and the scammer will ask that you verify your identity as they are worried about catfishing. The scammer operates the site, and you are not talking to whoever you think you are talking to. This type of scam teases you with something, then tries to make you sign up for something else that costs money. The company involved is often innocent, but they turn a blind eye to the practice as it helps their bottom line, even if they have to occasionally issue refunds. A common variation takes place on dating sites/dating apps, where you will match with someone who claims to be a camgirl who wants you to sign up for a site and vote for her. Another variation takes place on local sites like Craigslist, where the scammers setup fake rental scams and demand that you go through a specific service for a credit check. Once you go through with it, the scammer will stop talking to you. Another variation also takes place on local sites like Craigslist, where scammers will contact you while you are selling a car and will ask you to purchase a Carfax-like report from a specific website. Multi Level Marketing or Affiliate Marketing You apply for a vague job listing for 'sales' on craigslist. Or maybe an old friend from high school adds you on Facebook and says they have an amazing business opportunity for you. Or maybe the well dressed guy who's always interviewing people in the Starbucks that you work at asks if you really want to be slinging coffee the rest of your life. The scam: MLMs are little more than pyramid schemes. They involve buying some sort of product (usually snake oil health products like body wraps or supplements) and shilling them to your friends and family. They claim that the really money is recruiting people underneath you who give you a slice of whatever they sell. And if those people underneath you recruit more people, you get a piece of their sales. Ideally if you big enough pyramid underneath you the money will roll in without any work on your part. Failure to see any profit will be your fault for not "wanting it enough." The companies will claim that you need to buy their extra training modules or webinars to really start selling. But in reality, the vast majority of people who buy into a MLM won't see a cent. At the end of the day all you'll be doing is annoying your friends and family with your constant recruitment efforts. What to look out for: Recruiters love to be vague. They won't tell you the name of the company or what exactly the job will entail. They'll pump you up with promises of "self-generating income", "being your own boss", and "owning your own company." They might ask you to read books about success and entrepreneurs. They're hoping you buy into the dream first. If you get approached via social media, check their timelines. MLMs will often instruct their victims to pretend that they've already made it. They'll constantly post about how they're hustling and making the big bucks and linking to youtube videos about success. Again, all very vague about what their job actually entails. If you think you're being recruited: Ask them what exactly the job is. If they can't answer its probably a MLM. Just walk away.
Phone scams
You should generally avoid answering or engaging with random phone calls. Picking up and engaging with a scam call tells the scammers that your phone number is active, and will usually lead to more calls. Tax Call You get a call from somebody claiming to be from your countries tax agency. They say you have unpaid taxes that need to be paid immediately, and you may be arrested or have other legal action taken against you if it is not paid. This scam has caused the American IRS, Canadian CRA, British HMRC, and Australian Tax Office to issue warnings. This scam happens in a wide variety of countries all over the world. Warrant Call Very similar to the tax call. You'll get a phone call from an "agent", "officer", "sheriff", or other law enforcement officer claiming that there is a warrant out for your arrest and you will be arrested very soon. They will then offer to settle everything for a fee, usually paid in giftcards. [Legal Documents/Process Server Calls] Very similar to the warrant call. You'll get a phone call from a scammer claiming that they are going to serve you legal documents, and they will threaten you with legal consequences if you refuse to comply. They may call themselves "investigators", and will sometimes give you a fake case number. Student Loan Forgiveness Scam Scammers will call you and tell you about a student loan forgiveness program, but they are interested in obtaining private information about you or demanding money in order to join the fake program. Tech Support Call You receive a call from someone with a heavy accent claiming to be a technician Microsoft or your ISP. They inform you that your PC has a virus and your online banking and other accounts may be compromised if the virus is not removed. They'll have you type in commands and view diagnostics on your PC which shows proof of the virus. Then they'll have you install remote support software so the technician can work on your PC, remove the virus, and install security software. The cost of the labor and software can be hundreds of dollars. The scam: There's no virus. The technician isn't a technician and does not work for Microsoft or your ISP. Scammers (primarily out of India) use autodialers to cold-call everyone in the US. Any file they point out to you or command they have you run is completely benign. The software they sell you is either freeware or ineffective. What to do you if you're involved with this scam: If the scammers are remotely on your computer as you read this, turn off your PC or laptop via the power button immediately, and then if possible unplug your internet connection. Some of the more vindictive tech scammers have been known to create boot passwords on your computer if they think you've become wise to them and aren't going to pay up. Hang up on the scammers, block the number, and ignore any threats about payment. Performing a system restore on your PC is usually all that is required to remove the scammer's common remote access software. Reports of identity theft from fake tech calls are uncommon, but it would still be a good idea to change your passwords for online banking and monitor your accounts for any possible fraud. How to avoid: Ignore any calls claiming that your PC has a virus. Microsoft will never contact you. If you're unsure if a call claiming to be from your ISP is legit, hang up, and then dial the customer support number listed on a recent bill. If you have elderly relatives or family that isn't tech savvy, take the time to fill them in on this scam. Chinese government scam This scam is aimed at Chinese people living in Europe and North America, and involves a voicemail from someone claiming to be associated with the Chinese government, usually through the Chinese consulate/embassy, who is threatening legal action or making general threats. Chinese shipping scam This scam is similar to the Chinese government scam, but involves a seized/suspicious package, and the scammers will connect the victim to other scammers posing as Chinese government investigators. Social security suspension scam You will receive a call from someone claiming to work for the government regarding suspicious activity, fraud, or serious crimes connected to your social security number. You'll be asked to speak to an operator and the operator will explain the steps you need to follow in order to fix the problems. It's all a scam, and will lead to you losing money and could lead to identity theft if you give them private financial information. Utilities cutoff You get a call from someone who claims that they are from your utility company, and they claim that your utilities will be shut off unless you immediately pay. The scammer will usually ask for payment via gift cards, although they may ask for payment in other ways, such as Western Union or bitcoin. Relative in custody Scammer claims to be the police, and they have your son/daughtenephew/estranged twin in custody. You need to post bail (for some reason in iTunes gift cards or MoneyGram) immediately or the consequences will never be the same. Mexican family scam This scam comes in many different flavours, but always involves someone in your family and Mexico. Sometimes the scammer will claim that your family member has been detained, sometimes the scammer will claim that your family member has been kidnapped, and sometimes the scammer will claim that your family member is injured and needs help. General family scams Scammers will gather a large amount of information about you and target your family members using different stories with the goal of gettimg them to send money. One ring scam Scammers will call you from an international number with the goal of getting you to return their call, causing you to incur expensive calling fees.
Online shopping scams
THE GOLDEN RULE OF ONLINE SHOPPING: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Dropshipping An ad on reddit or social media sites like Facebook and Instagram offers items at huge discounts or even free (sometimes requiring you to reblog or like their page). They just ask you to pay shipping. The scam: The item will turn out to be very low quality and will take weeks or even months to arrive. Sometimes the item never arrives, and the store disappears or stops responding. The seller drop-ships the item from China. The item may only cost a few dollars, and the Chinese government actually pays for the shipping. You end up paying $10-$15 dollars for a $4 item, with the scammer keeping the profit. If you find one of these scams but really have your heart set on the item, you can find it on AliExpress or another Chinese retailer. Influencer scams A user will reach out to you on a social media platform, usually Instagram, and offer you the chance to partner with them and receive a free/discounted product, as long as you pay shipping. This is a different version of the dropshipping scam, and is just a marketing technique to get you to buy their products. Triangulation fraud Triangulation fraud occurs when you make a purchase on a site like Amazon or eBay for an item at a lower than market price, and receive an item that was clearly purchased new at full price. The scammer uses a stolen credit card to order your item, while the money from the listing is almost all profit for the scammer. Instagram influencer scams Someone will message you on Instagram asking you to promote their products, and offering you a discount code. The items are Chinese junk, and the offer is made to many people at a time. Cheap Items Many websites pop up and offer expensive products, including electronics, clothes, watches, sunglasses, and shoes at very low prices. The scam: Some sites are selling cheap knock-offs. Some will just take your money and run. What to do if you think you're involved with this scam: Contact your bank or credit card and dispute the charge. How to avoid: The sites often have every brand-name shoe or fashion item (Air Jordan, Yeezy, Gucci, etc) in stock and often at a discounted price. The site will claim to be an outlet for a major brand or even a specific line or item. The site will have images at the bottom claiming to be Secured by Norton or various official payment processors but not actual links. The site will have poor grammar and a mish-mash of categories. Recently, established websites will get hacked or their domain name jacked and turned into scam stores, meaning the domain name of the store will be completely unrelated to the items they're selling. If the deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. Nobody is offering brand new iPhones or Beats or Nintendo Switches for 75% off. Cheap Amazon 3rd Party Items You're on Amazon or maybe just Googling for an item and you see it for an unbelievable price from a third-party seller. You know Amazon has your back so you order it. The scam: One of three things usually happen: 1) The seller marks the items as shipped and sends a fake tracking number. Amazon releases the funds to the seller, and the seller disappears. Amazon ultimately refunds your money. 2) The seller immediately cancels the order and instructs you to re-order the item directly from their website, usually with the guarantee that the order is still protected by Amazon. The seller takes your money and runs. Amazon informs you that they do not offer protection on items sold outside of Amazon and cannot help you. 2) The seller immediately cancels the order and instructs you to instead send payment via an unused Amazon gift card by sending the code on the back via email. Once the seller uses the code, the money on the card is gone and cannot be refunded. How to avoid: These scammers can be identified by looking at their Amazon storefronts. They'll be brand new sellers offering a wide range of items at unbelievable prices. Usually their Amazon names will be gibberish, or a variation on FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME. Occasionally however, established storefronts will be hacked. If the deal is too good to be true its most likely a scam. Scams on eBay There are scams on eBay targeting both buyers and sellers. As a seller, you should look out for people who privately message you regarding the order, especially if they ask you to ship to a different address or ask to negotiate via text/email/a messaging service. As a buyer you should look out for new accounts selling in-demand items, established accounts selling in-demand items that they have no previous connection to (you can check their feedback history for a general idea of what they bought/sold in the past), and lookout for people who ask you to go off eBay and use another service to complete the transaction. In many cases you will receive a fake tracking number and your money will be help up for up to a month. Scams on Amazon There are scams on Amazon targeting both buyers and sellers. As a seller, you should look out for people who message you about a listing. As a buyer you should look out for listings that have an email address for you to contact the person to complete the transaction, and you should look out for cheap listings of in-demand items. Scams on Reddit Reddit accounts are frequently purchased and sold by fraudsters who wish to use the high karma count + the age of the account to scam people on buy/sell subreddits. You need to take precautions and be safe whenever you are making a transaction online. Computer scams Virus scam A popup or other ad will say that you have a virus and you need to follow their advice in order to remove it. They are lying, and either want you to install malware or pay for their software.
Assorted scams
Chinese Brushing / direct shipping If you have ever received an unsolicited small package from China, your address was used to brush. Vendors place fake orders for their own products and send out the orders so that they can increase their ratings. Money flipping Scammer claims to be a banking insider who can double/triple/bazoople any amount of money you send them, with no consequences of any kind. Obviously, the money disappears into their wallet the moment you send it.
Fashionable footwear at an incredible cheap price Finding the right pair of shoes is essential to any outfit because they can completely transform your look. Our online collection of cheap footwear has got a terrific assortment of women's shoes to complete your style, from feminine and sexy high heels to comfortable yet fashionable flats, trendy wedges, sporty trainers and more. Shop a wide selection of shoes at OFFICE featuring all the latest high street fashion footwear trends from stylish sandals, heels & boots to trainers & more A wide range of men's and women's footwear, all at least 30% off RRP. We offer free delivery to any of our Stores and on orders over £50 and easy returns via our Collect+ service. Rest assured that UK orders come with fast delivery, free exchanges and easy returns! While we also pride ourselves on quality footwear, excellent customer service and brilliant prices across our entire range. Our website store is one of the best online shoe shops in the UK stocking an expanded collection of family footwear. Whether you're a shoe aficionado or a footwear passive, we all need shoes.From four inch stilettos and peep toe sandals, to men's brogues and children's first trainers, never underestimate the power of a good pair of shoes.. Statement shoes. Step into the season at the forefront of fashion with some statement shoes.All eyes were on fancy footwear at fashion week, so there is no better time to Best 50 online shopping sites in the UK Our guide to the UK's top 50 online shopping sites by category. AliExpress is one of the world’s most popular online stores. Find a whole range of tech at AliExpress. If you’re after cheap fashion online then boohoo, Our cheap shoes look good, feel comfortable and are in all the styles that you love. When shopping for wholesale shoes online, it is important that you select your proper size. Our vast selection of cheap shoes features shoe sizes up to size 8.5. We sell cheap shoes online for active women, and that are made for walking, running and dancing.
Top 10 INEXPENSIVE Places to Shop Online pt. 2 - YouTube
#TONIC BROTHERS #YASH #SAHEJ SHOP NO. ONE (EGO) : Address. BA-149A, Janak Puri, Jail Road, First Red Light, Opposite Sandboz Restaurant. Near by Tilak Nagar Metro Station. Exit Gate no 4. shop no ... Code: LIZ30 for 30% off!https://sbird.co/2CZcxOq ⇓OPEN ME⇓Hey love, Welcome to my channel! Today I am doing a ....! I hope you guys enjoy! Subscribe if you h... shop Address G-48 basement kalkaji new delhi 110019 contact detail retail 01140190555, 01149404862, 01140349380 for wholesale 01147579991 shoes, branded shoes, reebok, puma, nikey, romanfox ... AmorAntasia.com Instagram.com/AmorAntasia Twitter.cm/AmorAntasia STORES MENTIONED Makemechic.com Cicihot.com Shiekshoes.com Gojane.com Urbanog.com Ivrose.com... Hey boos! I know that some of you beauties love online shopping as much as I do. These are some of my FAVORITE places to shop online! All places are linked d... 7a quality shoes,first copy shoes,first copy shoes in delhi,cheapest shoes,1st copy shoes,first copy shoes online,7a quality shoes in delhi,1st copy shoes in delhi,cheap shoes,shoes 7a quality ... Tremoge Online Shop 10,546 views. ... Flipkart Selling Sports Shoes under 500 Cheap and Best - Duration: 2:51. Tech Aariz 3,341 views. 2:51. Club Factory Shoes Unboxing - Duration: 2:30. Part 3 of my wholesale vendor series for online boutiques is all about SHOES! This video is for those who want to open a shoetique, want to add shoes to thei...
