My pump broke down last 2 weeks ago and the very first thought that came to mind what that my pump broke down again. This would be the 3rd time. I checked with the shop where I bought the pump from and also online for the warranty period and then, found some numbers to call up to the agent directly. WARRANTY PERIOD MIRACULOUSLY EXTENDED TO 2 YEARS! Heard that the change was because of the change in the agent/distributor in Malaysia. What good news!
However, after a quick check, it was my adaptor that was spoilt. The adaptor, the original one was MYR125 each. That was quite a big chunk out of the total price of Ardo Calypso! Searched online and I finally bought the OEM adaptor that was only MYR69.90.
AND now my Ardo Calypso is up and running again. So far the longest lasting and hardiest unit I ever have.
With a 2 years warranty behind me, I am confident now that I want and I can breastfeed my twins till they are TWO. Happy yeah.. :)
Friday, October 4, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Balinese Massage + Face SPA @ Malacca S** (Megan Setapak)
I had to call a few times to get though to someone human to speak to on my appointment. The phone line always ended with the fax dialling tone. Understood that no reminder would be given prior to the appointment date. And, to settle on an appointment date and time was not easy as they were quite fully booked, surprisingly even on weekdays.
The place was in a well developed area. The interior gave me a close to nature feel, with lots of wood around.
Greeted by the lady boss and she asked if I wanted to upgrade my facial to a full facial instead of just a face SPA, which I firmly rejected. Checked also if I would like to upgrade my massage oil to a better quality one, which I also rejected.
The Balinese massage was done by an Indonesian lady. I noticed that there was only her and her lady boss around. So, asked her if there was any other people around. She said that she was the only one as 2 of her colleagues had recently quit. The lady boss had been advertising the massage plus face SPA service at a very low rate and the number of customers they got was too overwhelming. Each masseur had to massage for at least 8 customers in a day and on top of that, perform the face SPA as well. That was why her colleagues quit recently. No wonder weekdays were fully booked. I was the only customer at that time. Even lunch time, the lady had to serve customers.
Face SPA was really quick. Also, the Indonesian lady told me that they usually charge customers for the facial sponge as they only use the facial sponge once due to hygiene reasons. The lady boss did not inform in advance.
Fixed next appointment with the lady boss and I never returned. Felt bad for the poor ladies working there, exploited to the max.
Just recently I saw the advertisement again for similar package. BOYCOTT!
The place was in a well developed area. The interior gave me a close to nature feel, with lots of wood around.
Greeted by the lady boss and she asked if I wanted to upgrade my facial to a full facial instead of just a face SPA, which I firmly rejected. Checked also if I would like to upgrade my massage oil to a better quality one, which I also rejected.
The Balinese massage was done by an Indonesian lady. I noticed that there was only her and her lady boss around. So, asked her if there was any other people around. She said that she was the only one as 2 of her colleagues had recently quit. The lady boss had been advertising the massage plus face SPA service at a very low rate and the number of customers they got was too overwhelming. Each masseur had to massage for at least 8 customers in a day and on top of that, perform the face SPA as well. That was why her colleagues quit recently. No wonder weekdays were fully booked. I was the only customer at that time. Even lunch time, the lady had to serve customers.
Face SPA was really quick. Also, the Indonesian lady told me that they usually charge customers for the facial sponge as they only use the facial sponge once due to hygiene reasons. The lady boss did not inform in advance.
Fixed next appointment with the lady boss and I never returned. Felt bad for the poor ladies working there, exploited to the max.
Just recently I saw the advertisement again for similar package. BOYCOTT!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Ardo Calypso - Satisfaction BUT..
Apologise for the delay in posting up my review on Ardo Calypso. Well, to start with, I am pumping with it now as I blog.
AND my twins are exactly 1 year old today! Finally we have reached the 1 year milestone set in my breastfeeding journey and we are still going strong. My twins are a pair of boy and girl and they are now about 8.8kg and 8.2kg respectively. Happy boy and girl!
Ardo Calypso has been a great pump so far, in terms of the performance versus the price. I bought the pump with some complimentary items, i.e. bag, ice packs, bottles, etc..
I like the design as it is light weight enough for travelling and the colour - cheerful green and beige seems like perfect combination, though some commented that it looks like a toy to them. The pump comes with 2 difference sizes of flanges. I am probably not the best judge on which size to use but I am comfortably using the bigger one.
No problem adjusting the pump to suit my needs, in terms of the suction level and speed. The suction is quite good. It has a total of 8 suction (vacuum) levels and usually I use level 5 or 7. There is also a total of 8 speed levels. To stimulate let down, I usually adjust the speed to about 6 or 7. Once milk is flowing, I reduce the speed level to about 5.
Each session for me usually lasted for about 20 mins minimum to about half an hour maximum. When my twins were less than 11 months old, I was able to consistently get about 10-15oz each session with 5 hours interval in between during working hours. Sometimes, even 18oz - after some durian-booster session the night before.. :) Now that my twins are older, I can only manage to get about 8-12 oz each session, which is sad but still, enough to fill them up in between solid meals. So, still a good balance of supply and demand.
As I travel for business quite regularly, I pump outside alot. At malls, in the car, plane, office, home, even restaurants. It was quiet enough for me to pump discreetly under nursing cover.
BUT, it is a problem when I am at places where no electrical point is readily available. Ardo Calypso has no built in battery. Can be used with electrical supply, battery and car adapter (it fits Ameda's). Best is with electrical supply and on "stable ground". When used in car with car adaptors, the pump will show the error light if I accidentally shake the pump. The low performance alkaline battery is only enough for 1 pumping session, whereas, Energizer can last longer but still, the suction seems lower than normal which is not enough for me since I am used to high suction levels.
The pump unit will also show error light when used at high suction, high speed levels for single side pumping, in other words, when not used for double pumping. Due to this reason, I got my pump unit replaced once, after about 3 months of usage.
The next time I got my pump replaced was because the pump just would not come alive no matter how I tried to revive it. It just went dead.. and it died on me when I was on an outstation business trip. Lucky I did bring my manual kit along.
The manual kit was bought from Singapore. I did not manage to find it in Malaysia. It consist of only 3 parts and you can fit it onto the existing flange. In Malaysia, I found shops that only offered the full manual pump set.
In conclusion, I like Ardo Calypso BUT too many technical problems. This is the upgraded version bought in year 2012 but I think they definitely has to work on the reliability of the pump and at least, extend the warranty up to 2 years from child's date of birth rather than only a year. MY PUMP WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES TODAY!!! Due to the problems, I have to survey for a spare pump to keep me company for another year.
P/S:- I wish to breastfeed my twins till they are 2 years old. Wish me luck!! :)
AND my twins are exactly 1 year old today! Finally we have reached the 1 year milestone set in my breastfeeding journey and we are still going strong. My twins are a pair of boy and girl and they are now about 8.8kg and 8.2kg respectively. Happy boy and girl!
Ardo Calypso has been a great pump so far, in terms of the performance versus the price. I bought the pump with some complimentary items, i.e. bag, ice packs, bottles, etc..
I like the design as it is light weight enough for travelling and the colour - cheerful green and beige seems like perfect combination, though some commented that it looks like a toy to them. The pump comes with 2 difference sizes of flanges. I am probably not the best judge on which size to use but I am comfortably using the bigger one.
No problem adjusting the pump to suit my needs, in terms of the suction level and speed. The suction is quite good. It has a total of 8 suction (vacuum) levels and usually I use level 5 or 7. There is also a total of 8 speed levels. To stimulate let down, I usually adjust the speed to about 6 or 7. Once milk is flowing, I reduce the speed level to about 5.
Each session for me usually lasted for about 20 mins minimum to about half an hour maximum. When my twins were less than 11 months old, I was able to consistently get about 10-15oz each session with 5 hours interval in between during working hours. Sometimes, even 18oz - after some durian-booster session the night before.. :) Now that my twins are older, I can only manage to get about 8-12 oz each session, which is sad but still, enough to fill them up in between solid meals. So, still a good balance of supply and demand.
As I travel for business quite regularly, I pump outside alot. At malls, in the car, plane, office, home, even restaurants. It was quiet enough for me to pump discreetly under nursing cover.
BUT, it is a problem when I am at places where no electrical point is readily available. Ardo Calypso has no built in battery. Can be used with electrical supply, battery and car adapter (it fits Ameda's). Best is with electrical supply and on "stable ground". When used in car with car adaptors, the pump will show the error light if I accidentally shake the pump. The low performance alkaline battery is only enough for 1 pumping session, whereas, Energizer can last longer but still, the suction seems lower than normal which is not enough for me since I am used to high suction levels.
The pump unit will also show error light when used at high suction, high speed levels for single side pumping, in other words, when not used for double pumping. Due to this reason, I got my pump unit replaced once, after about 3 months of usage.
The next time I got my pump replaced was because the pump just would not come alive no matter how I tried to revive it. It just went dead.. and it died on me when I was on an outstation business trip. Lucky I did bring my manual kit along.
The manual kit was bought from Singapore. I did not manage to find it in Malaysia. It consist of only 3 parts and you can fit it onto the existing flange. In Malaysia, I found shops that only offered the full manual pump set.
In conclusion, I like Ardo Calypso BUT too many technical problems. This is the upgraded version bought in year 2012 but I think they definitely has to work on the reliability of the pump and at least, extend the warranty up to 2 years from child's date of birth rather than only a year. MY PUMP WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES TODAY!!! Due to the problems, I have to survey for a spare pump to keep me company for another year.
P/S:- I wish to breastfeed my twins till they are 2 years old. Wish me luck!! :)
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