If you want to Marie Kondo your house, you’d better start sourcing for good organisers and level-up your house’s aesthetics. For most Malaysians, the preferred product source would undeniably be IKEA. But if you’re someone like me who is always looking for something that meets a tight budget well, then there’s always Daiso, Mr. DIY, ECO and many others.
Personally, I was a HUGE fan of Daiso because that’s home to everything Japanese, cute, affordable – and it’s equipped with almost everything! So why am I second-guessing it this time around? That’s because other giants have emerged with much lower price points, and fancier and up-to-date items – like Mr. DIY.
In my opinion, Mr. DIY has become a huge superstore over the years, taking over international brands like Daiso, Miniso, AEON and other stores mainly because they are able to understand their target market better, offer the latest products, and are smart in opening stores at strategic locations. Even an almost dead shopping mall can be revived with a single Mr. DIY store!
So here’s why I would rather spend my hard-earned money at Mr. DIY and not so much at Daiso. Again, this is purely a personal opinion.
1. Price Point
We all know Mr. DIY is not the cheapest store in town, if that’s what you’re looking for. If I’m looking to get stuff to declutter and reorganise my home better, this is the place to be, compared to Daiso. Don’t get me wrong, Daiso has amazing storage items, but why do I need to pay RM5.90 per item when I can get the same item for under RM5? Let’s be real, not everything you find at Daiso is actually ‘worth’ RM5.90. A tiny Tupperware being sold at RM5.90 with no special quality or distinctiveness is pretty expensive, I’d say. It was a big deal when everything was RM5 – and of course, before Mr. DIY came onto the scene. Now, I feel I may be paying much more for ONE item when I can get similar ones for a fraction of the price. Mr. DIY, on the other hand, offers you a variety of the same products in different price ranges and qualities. So you pay for what you get.
2. Product Range
Daiso stores are massive. However, if you have stepped into a Daiso store recently, you’d be instantly struck by still chill air, loads of items and a handful of customers. The items you find in Daiso are no longer unique to the store anymore and honestly, who goes to Daiso to get a hairbrush or stickers now? Their products have become somewhat ‘stale’ and ‘unappealing’ to the growing market, which is constantly in search of unique, cool and attractive items without having to break the bank. Now, to give a fair comparison, step into any Mr. DIY store and see how the air instantly changes. It’s bustling with customers and workers. They have products that you’d see in your TikTok videos of ‘must-have’ household items and gadgets that make your life easier. You get the sense of current, modern and innovative products on display that makes your shopping experience wholesome.
3. Accessibility
You can find a Mr. DIY store in every nook and cranny of KL, but for Daiso, you’ll need to Google it. This shows that stores like Mr. DIY have great demand, not only for a certain group of people, but everyone living in Malaysia. Once you’re in the store, things are easy to find, without having to go through rows of uncertainty.
4. Quality
Daiso products are of good quality, functional and innovative, to a certain extent. If you’re looking for something to ease your household cleaning, the Japanese know best. If you’re looking for a simple floor cleaner, you’ll end up buying several different cleaning products, all serving their own purpose. But I beg to differ when it comes to quality. I recently purchased a slim floor cleaning tool which gets into hard-to-reach places using a wet wipe. I have been using the product for over a year now, but it never lasts more than 3 uses. The rotation part which extends the height always gets messed up and stops serving its purpose. Instead, I have to use tape and secure the desired height. So, functionality is there, but quality, not so much. Mr. DIY, on the other hand, offers a variety of items, but if I’m buying something for RM5.90, same as Daiso, its shelf life is sure to withstand more than 3 uses at least!
So, Daiso is great if you have something authentically Japanese to purchase, but otherwise, based on the points above, I feel items and products at Mr. DIY would be a better buy. They’re innovative products, have better price points and are pretty cool décor items as well! Let’s not forget the overgenerous toy section that makes every kid go bananas! And guess what – their toys are of pretty decent quality too! Daiso, no hard feelings! I’ll still shop at your store for stuff I feel are worth it – perhaps some really awesome décor or kitchen utensils!
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