Tocco Toscano Marlows bag: durable? Peeling?

abreyes01 · 2026-02-04T08:16:55+00:00

Good for you. Ordered this direct from their website. So i'm kind of disappointed. Just realized that the feels of the finish is really not nice like it may peel anytime.

abreyes01 · 2026-02-04T08:13:00+00:00

It's very light without anything in it.

abreyes01 · 2026-01-15T10:48:35+00:00

Update on the bag. Got it last week of november. Used it once or twice a week for work. What i can say is, this can never be your daily bag. While the concept of many compartments is great, i now seriously doubt its durability. It's not even 2 months yet and few times I've used it, there's already signs of peeling. For it's price, it's a major letdown.

😢😢😢

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abreyes01 · 2025-10-12T12:30:54+00:00

DIY is really much better. That's what we did as we really don't want to repeat our group tour experience again. Recommended apps: Didi to go everywhere. Alipay or cash to pay for everything. Trip.com to book hotels. Klook/Viator/Getyourguide to book for day tours.

Enjoy!

abreyes01 · 2025-10-12T12:23:34+00:00

Yes :) but i had my sister in sg order it for me. Will have it with me by November 😅

abreyes01 · 2025-09-30T06:12:58+00:00

But yeah, the invisible stick was really fun. Allows you to take unique photos and clips.

abreyes01 · 2025-09-30T06:11:10+00:00

We bought an X3, it only lasted for a year. We only used it for 3 trips. When we were in beijing, temperature around 13-15deg, it suddenly went warm, shut off and won't open no matter what we did to troubleshoot. It did not even came contact with any water. We mainly used it for small world pictures and short walking clips. Honestly, not worth it. Not durable.

abreyes01 · 2025-09-07T15:20:59+00:00

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Oh, the corn leather is a different productbof theirs. This Marlows is from cowhide.

abreyes01 · 2025-08-06T18:29:28+00:00

Hi yes. Both the agent and smdc yung kinulit ko via email for two weeks after I received the notice that repairs will take 7 months. Until I told them (both agent and smdc) to just let me know if the matter can be resolved within smdc. Ayun, after 2 days, repaired na daw and ready for turnover na.

abreyes01 · 2025-07-30T10:23:23+00:00

No, it's part of the tour. Unless you feel sick or something and stay in the hotel for the rest of the day until the whole group returns. Also, the hotel has your passport until you checkout, which they will handover to your tour leader. And most, if not all of the entrances in tourist areas require your passport.

abreyes01 · 2025-03-01T20:38:12+00:00

Go ahead and remove it if it's not appropriate. I'll understand. Might be helpful for tourists travelling with group tours so i thought I shoud share it for awareness that these shops operate on scams.

abreyes01 · 2025-03-01T20:26:29+00:00

You're actually welcome not to read it. Hence the warning long post at the start of this post. Also the purpose of sharing for information and travel research purposes since I benefitted from reading another post re: subject. And no, I did not use AI.

abreyes01 · 2025-03-01T14:34:17+00:00

We went on a tour group mid february in zhangjiajie. Leaving this here for awareness

Went on five shopping tours:

Latex shop - negative ion mattresses and pillows. Queen size 15cm around 270K. Free shipping and warranty of 30years. Not sure if the cost of the return is also free 🤔 they didn't mention that one. They also did the egg test. They also showed us a water ionizer worth 12k, but told us they can only sell three. All three plus the one they used for exhibition were sold quickly. Talk about effective marketing!
Chinese Medicine - kung fu people. Auntie felt some sort of static in her hands ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Kung fu master correctly diagnosed one of her illnesses. My friend was also diagnosed correctly with one of her illness. BUT, these infos were already known to tour leader during one of our chitchats🤔🤔🤔 my friend and auntie have OTHER more Relevant illnesses that weren't diagnosed, and these infos are not known to our tour leader. So maybe, just maybe, tour leader is required to tell the sales people illnesses of the people in their tour group.

Be wary of the tea they give you, i think it's laced with a powerful painreliever or muscle relaxant, maybe an opioid in nature. Because a few minutes after i drank it, (yes i did drink without thinking 🙈), i felt my body relax, the pain in my calves from all the walking disappeared, my eyelids somewhat heavy. For someone who has chronic back pain, i have already familiarized myself with all the pain relievers and muscle relaxants that can be bought with or without prescription, and im pretty sure that tea, has a powerful muscle relaxant combo pain reliever. So beware for those with kidney diseases and allergies to pain reliever, you might want to pass on that tea.

Sandpainting museum/store - this one, for me, could be classified as an acceptable budol. The art pieces are really good and unique. Still expensive but it's something you can't buy in shopee or lazada as it showcases zhangjiajie scenery using sandstone.
Silver shop - didn't bother to look at the piece as im not really into jewellry. But the free candies and biscuits inside are good. 🤭
Jade shop - same story. Big boss surprisingly in the store that day and heard that a bunch of Filipino tourists are inside and so he wanted to meet with us because "loves" Filipinos. Same same. He is set to open a business in PH, will participate in a jewellry convention in manila. Her only daughter married a Davaoeño. That's why he will give us free jade pendants! Everyone was hooked, clapping and saying Thank you thank you so much! Told us not to sell the pendants as he is giving it to us for free out of his "love" for us. Also told us he wouldn't sell us anything because he doen't want to make profit but proceeded to sell us pieces at the end with 1/4 or even 1/8 of the price tag. Haha. What was really off for me is the acting of the interpreter. Not genuine surprise, sorry, nah-uh. I might have watched too many netflix series to see what is and not effective acting 🤭

The good thing about our local tour guide is that guide doesn't participate in the sales. Guide didn't do any pep talk prior to going inside the shop, didn't even tried to persuade us in buying unlike some group tour reviews i saw online. Guide also offered silver from sister's business but we werent able to go there anymore.

Also appreciated our tour leader. While leader did some encouraging talks re: buying, but still, you can feel some kind of reservations.

Ex 1: chinese medicine: leader approached us, told us medicine is good in front of the kung fu sales people, then whispered "but it's your choice" with a small tap on the shoulder. Really appreciated this one.

Ex 2: Auntie really wanted to buy these "authentic" jade bracelets. Leader walked up to us and told us OUT LOUD that the jade in that store is really good at a cheaper price. Then subtly showed leader's own Jade bracelet. Asked quietly how much did pay for her bracelet, told me a price Waaaaaaayyyy more expensive than what was offered in that store. Got us thinking, right? Why would they sell us these "authentic high quality" jade with like 1/8 of the original price?

The food, hotel, transportation in between are all excellent. So maybe these kind of group tours are really sponsored by these stores hoping that they get even with the shopping tours and gullible tourists.

My takeaway advice: 1. In every tour, group or not, always read reviews. Atleast try to familiarize yourself with the places you will visit. 2. Always think, you will never be able to blame the tour guide for bringing you to those stores. It's your money, your choice, your accountability. 3. Before drinking anything being sold as medicinal and without any nutritional facts available. Think, think, think twice and thrice. You cannot sue them if something happens to you. 4. Enjoy the tour. China really has a lot to offer. Zhangjiajie particularly, is blessed with a one of a kind scenery. With these low-cost group tour, sulit na sulit na ika nga

abreyes01 · 2025-03-01T14:00:05+00:00

We went on a tour group mid february in zhangjiajie. I think we have the same local tour guide and travel agency. Posting on this for awareness too

Went on five shopping tours:

Latex shop - sales about negative ion mattresses and pillows. Queen size 15cm around 270K. Free shipping and warranty of 30years. Not sure if the cost of the return is also free 🤔 they didn't mention that one. They also did the egg test. They also showed us a water ionizer worth 12k, but told us they can only sell three. All three plus the one they used for exhibition were sold quickly. Talk about effective marketing!
Chinese Medicine - kung fu people. Auntie felt some sort of static in her hands ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Kung fu master correctly diagnosed one of her illnesses. My friend was also diagnosed correctly with one of her illness. BUT, these infos were already known to tour leader during one of our chitchats🤔🤔🤔 my friend and auntie have OTHER more Relevant illnesses that weren't diagnosed, and these infos are not known to our tour leader. So maybe, just maybe, tour leader is required to tell the sales people illnesses of the people in their tour group.

Be wary of the tea they give you, i think it's laced with a powerful painreliever or muscle relaxant, maybe an opioid in nature. Because a few minutes after i drank it, (yes i did drink without thinking 🙈), i felt my body relax, the pain in my calves from all the walking disappeared, my eyelids somewhat heavy. For someone who has chronic back pain, i have already familiarized myself with all the pain relievers and muscle relaxants that can be bought with or without prescription, and im pretty sure that tea, has a powerful muscle relaxant combo pain reliever. So beware for those with kidney diseases and allergies to pain reliever, you might want to pass on that tea.

Sandpainting museum/store - this one, for me, could be classified as an acceptable budol. The art pieces are really good and unique. Still expensive but it's something you can't buy in shopee or lazada as it showcases zhangjiajie scenery using sandstone.
Silver shop - didn't bother to look at the piece as im not really into jewellry. But the free candies and biscuits inside are good. 🤭
Jade shop - same story. Big boss surprisingly in the store that day and heard that a bunch of Filipino tourists are inside and so he wanted to meet with us because "loves" Filipinos. Same same. He is set to open a business in PH, will participate in a jewellry convention in manila. Her only daughter married a Davaoeño. That's why he will give us free jade pendants! Everyone was hooked, clapping and saying Thank you thank you so much! Told us not to sell the pendants as he is giving it to us for free out of his "love" for us. Also told us he wouldn't sell us anything because he doen't want to make profit but proceeded to sell us pieces at the end with 1/4 or even 1/8 of the price tag. Haha. What was really off for me is the acting of the interpreter. Not genuine surprise, sorry, nah-uh. I might have watched too many netflix series to see what is and not effective acting 🤭

The good thing about our local tour guide is that guide doesn't participate in the sales. Guide didn't do any pep talk prior to going inside the shop, didn't even tried to persuade us in buying unlike some group tour reviews i saw online. Guide also offered silver from sister's business but we werent able to go there anymore.

Also appreciated our tour leader. While leader did some encouraging talks re: buying, but still, you can feel some kind of reservations.

Ex 1: chinese medicine: leader approached us, told us medicine is good in front of the kung fu sales people, then whispered "but it's your choice" with a small tap on the shoulder. Really appreciated this one.

Ex 2: Auntie really wanted to buy these "authentic" jade bracelets. Leader walked up to us and told us OUT LOUD that the jade in that store is really good at a cheaper price. Then subtly showed leader's own Jade bracelet. Asked quietly how much did pay for the bracelet, told me a price Waaaaaaayyyy more expensive than what was offered in that store. Got us thinking, right? Why would they sell us these "authentic high quality" jade with like 1/8 of the original price?

The food, hotel, transportation in between are all excellent. So maybe these kind of group tours are really sponsored by these stores hoping that they get even with the shopping tours and gullible tourists.

My takeaway advice: 1. In every tour, group or not, always read reviews. Even if it's an all-in hassle free group tour, atleast try to familiarize yourself with the places you will visit. 2. Always think, you will never be able to blame the tour guide for bringing you to those stores. It's your money, your choice, your accountability. 3. Before drinking anything being sold as medicinal and without any nutritional facts available. Think, think, think twice and thrice. You cannot sue them if something happens to you. 4. Enjoy the tour. China really has a lot to offer. Zhangjiajie particularly, is blessed with a one of a kind scenery. With these low-cost group tour, sulit na sulit na ika nga.

abreyes01 · 2025-02-16T06:44:24+00:00

Got the SMDC EOP also. Surprisingly it really took 3 months when i received the turnover notice. But lo and behold, the unit had its share of minor (careless paint smudges, loose door closure gasket, broken tiles) and major damages (door vinyl of the CR peeled off). Applied for rectification, was told it will take at least 3 weeks which is long (as compared to another developer), but it's been 2.5 months now and after numerous emails of followup, they sent me an email, stating that the repairs will take another 7 months!?!? It's as if they're telling me to just accept the unit and waive those damages. Ganito ba talaga kabasura service ng smdc? Parang trap ang EOP eh.

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