Megaplex Newsletter 2023 December: Shopping in Sandton - Presents for you, shop openings and closings, exposing Uber, health tip, good news, humour...

Shopping in Sandton – December 2023

Welcome to Megaplex's monthly newsletter! We alert the up-market shopper to the new and interesting in Sandton and Bryanston. We have shop  openings and closings, exposing crooks, a health tip, good news you may have missed, attempts at humour and, of course, festive Presents.  Feel free to support our advertisers!  To subscribe, see our subscription page.

If you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, ChriFSMas, Yule, Holidays, International Mountain Day, the Solstice, the Festive Season, Kwanzaa, Hogmanay, the New Year, or Tweede Nuwejaar: Celebrate carefully and stay safe!

Contents:
Welcome
New Shops
Civic Tip
Shops Closed
Inspiration ~ The Checkout

Need a Plumber?
Call Doctor Pipes!

Also waterproofing and
small building alterations.

Under personal supervision of Mark Michalow
SMS, WhatsApp or phone
082 412 5152
 
email Doctor Pipes

Links to Other Pages:
Megaplex Home – Overview of Shops, Facilities, and Accommodation in Northern Sandton.

Accommodation in Rivonia

Shopping Centres in Sunninghill:
The Square
Sunninghill Village
Sunhill Shopping Centre
Chilli Lane Shopping Centre
Chilli on Top Centre
The Core

Turn Your Glossophobia into Glossophilia!

Learn public speaking in a relaxed, fun environment at Mariswe Toastmasters:
Meet Tues 9 & 23 Jan 2024
at 17:50 for 18:00 on Zoom
or in person in Bryanston. WhatsApp Rick on 082 389 3482 or email

Shopping Centres in and near Bryanston::
Cramerview Village
Nicolway Shopping Centre
Coachman's Crossing
Grosvenor Crossing
Hobart Grove Centre
Bryanston Shopping Centre
Riverside Shopping Centre
Hurlingham Pick 'n Pay Centre
Bryanpark Shopping Centre
Epsom Downs
Sloane Square

Shopping Centres in the Woodmead area:
Wendywood Centre
Woodmead Value Mart
Woodmead Super Value Centre
Woodmead Commercial Park
Woodmead Retail Park
Woodmead Square
Dunwoody Centre
Kelvin Village
The Bridge, Buccleuch
Other Shops and Shopping in Woodmead

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Shopping Centres in Central Sandton:
Grayston Shopping Centre
Atholl Square Shopping Centre
Sandhurst Centre, Rivonia Rd

Shopping in and around Rivonia:
Rivonia Central
Rivonia Village Centre
Rivonia Junction
Mutual Mews
Early Dawn Mall
Shops in Central Rivonia
Shops in Northern Rivonia
Cambridge Crossing
Petervale Shopping Centre

Shopping Centres in
Greater Morningside:

Morningside Shopping Centre
The Wedge, Morningside
Morning Glen Mall
90 Degrees on Rivonia
Morning View
Sandton Court
Benmore Gardens
Shops in the Morningside Area

Almost all of us will one day need a blood transfusion

– Yet only 1% of people donate blood!

Make a difference to society! Donate at The Woods,  cor Jan Smuts & Rothesay Avenues, Craighall.  Phone:
011 447-6665
011 880-4994

Accommodation & Restaurants:
Accommodation in Rivonia,
Restaurants in Rivonia,
Rivonia Restaurant reviews,
Sandton Restaurant reviews,
Morningside Restaurant reviews.

Other Places of Interest:
Sandspruit Hiking Trail,
Ernest Ullmann Park Recreation Centre,
Montrose Nursery Garden Centre and Gia's Coffee Shop

Are Uber –Crooks?

It certainly looks like it.

I ride with Uber from time to time, so I didn't pick it up immediately. But after some months of no Uber, I questioned their R50 debit that had started appearing each month.

Getting help from Uber is not easy: They deliberately have no support phone number. Eventually, I got them to respond by email. It turned out that I was subscribed to Uber One. This is said to give some benefits to regular users.

I asked them to provide proof that I had subscribed. They couldn't.

I told them to cancel the subscription and give me a refund. When it came, the refund was only R50.

They notified me, “Please be advised that we've already refunded your Uber One subscription for the current month. However, your Uber One subscription for the previous months are not in active state [sic]. So we are unable to refund you for those months.

I replied “If Uber owes me money, which it does, then failing to pay is a criminal offence (theft). Give me the names and ID numbers of your Directors so that I can lay criminal charges.”

They promptly said that they had closed the ticket and could not accept responses.

The R150 that Uber scammed from me is not much. But, considering how many thousands –possibly tens of thousands– they can be doing this to, it can add up to a considerable crime. I would hardly mind if it went to their underpaid drivers, which of course it doesn’t.

Moral: Check your bank account for unauthorised debits from Uber. But, preferably, don't use them. Why support crooks?

Odd Jobs:  Back to top

Santa overworks and underpays his elves: He is a sleigh-driver!

Do You Use Excel?  Making Mistakes is Easy!

Finding errors is hard! But they can kill your company! In 2012, a London Olympics employee accidentally typed in “20,000” instead of “10,000". The Olympic Committee then sold 10,000 tickets for non-existent seats at minor events. They had to upgrade them to major events —at a loss. Get this FREE report on preventing Excel mistakes..

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

  • The Collective, outside Sorbet in Benmore Gardens Shopping Centre – Bin to donate old clothes and create jobs. PBO#93005229. They collect, sort and redistribute second-hand clothing to disadvantaged women, who on-sell it - creating sustainable businesses.
  • WinWin International, Ground in Riverclub Shopping Centre – Learning And Development: creating impactful blended learning and strategic communication solutions for over 20 years.
  • Travel Connections, Shop 04A, Lower Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Travel agents. Lloyds agents. Member of the Bidvest Group of Companies, hence able to provide the best fares and rates through the group’s enviable buying power.
  • Standard bank ATM, Upper Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Open 24 hours.
  • Secret Flowers, Lower Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Extensive florist and plant shop in the atrium under the south stairs outside Checkers Liquor. They deliver. Flowers, Plants, Balloons, Wedding, Birthday, Valentine, Gift Hampers, Occasions, Corporate Events.
  • Mugg & Bean On The Move near Riverclub Shopping Centre – At TotalEnergies Riverclub. Fast food and convenience Store serving the Total Garage forecourt.
  • Telkom Bryanston Express, Shop 33, Upper Level in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Cell phones, upgrade, buy airtime, buy data, fibre, home internet.
  • Canine & Co, Shop L11, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Pet food and supplies. Treats, Toys, Pest Control, Grooming, Medicine & Supplements, Collars & Tags, Harnesses, Leads, Beds, Bowls, Pet Doors, Jackets, Leads, Carriers, Containment.
  • Sprino Tea, Shop 12, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Taiwan Bubble Tea in different flavours and yummy Treats: Dessert Tea, Fresh Squeezed Fruit Tea, Tea Latte, Milk, Black Tea, Green tea, special blends, toppings.
  • Rain Telecom, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – Unlimited, 5G home wifi + mobile for 2 phones & the101 router free-to-use. Only on rain one.
  • Statement Beauty, Ground in Cambridge Crossing – hair and beauty by Pash. Lashes, facials, Undos, weaves, cornrows, extensions, braids, Treatments, make-up, washes, relaxers, nails, permanent make-up..

Get Your Own Web Page for only R570/month!

A web page on the longstanding and trusted Megaplex website will give your business extra weight with Google! Quickly increase your web presence! Minimum commitment only 3 months. e-mail us, or click here.

Little Life Hack #5: Better, Shorter, Time on the Loo!

The Western toilet is a recent invention. For hundreds of thousands of years, our ancestors used to poo in a squatting position. You still find squatting toilets in the East.

Humans defecate best in a squat, due to a muscle in our lower body called the Puborectalis.

With Western toilets, our squat turned into a sit. This only partly loosens the muscle, making it harder to ‘go’.

Publicised in this hilarious video, the Squatty Potty puts your body into a squat on the toilet. This fully loosens the muscle to give you a more natural bowel movement.

This ingenious device is a small footstool. Don't want to buy or make one?  You can get the same effect by bending forward and putting your chest on your thighs. And/or a using pair of bricks under your feet.

Do you have a Life Hack to share?  Please e-mail us.

You Know You're in Africa when...

People give you limp handshakes (as a friend in Polokwane says, "like they are putting a dead rat into your hand").

You see, firm handshakes are an attempt to dominate, hence impolite.

Advertise in this Monthly e-Newsletter from only R192/month*!

4,380 subscribers, many of them dedicated Sandton Shoppers! e-mail us, or click here.
(*Non-top banner for one year paid in advance, includes 15% VAT, less discount)

In a Better Place?  Back to top

  • Hey Gorgeous in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Beauty products and skin care. Was Upper Level.
  • Harvey World Travel - Lloyds Travel, Shop 03A in Bryanston Shopping Centre – Travel agents. Lloyds agents. Was Lower Level.
  • Riverclub Sports Massage Therapy in Riverclub Shopping Centre – Moved to Craighall.
  • Amaris Nail Boutique in Riverclub Shopping Centre – Nails, waxing, massage. Pensioner Tuesdays 15% off. Wednesday mums & daughters R50 off. Champagne Fridays.
  • Casalotti's Pizza Rapido at Total Riverclub in Riverclub Shopping Centre – Pizza (mini, regular, large), pasta, salads, beverages. Delivery. Was on the left of the Total garage, 99 Ballyclare Drive, off Coleraine Drive.
  • WorkNViro in Thatchers Corner, Bryanston.
  • Sammy Sweet Bakery, Shop 14 in Cambridge Crossing – Milk creamy shakes, deluxe tea, House flavour deluxe coffee, hot and cold beverages, cold drinks.

Thought for the Week:

The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat healthily, and lie about your age.

Genologix Supplements are South Africa’s solution to a longer, stronger, smarter life

We believe in the awesome power of prevention. Supplementing with the substances your body needs to thrive, means you can avoid many illnesses that need expensive and prolonged treatments. Correct supplements can keep you mentally and physically fit, well into your later years.

Choose Genologix to help you live Longer, Smarter and Stronger!

Festive Presents for you: Automated Excel Spreadsheets:

Software Africa's website has free spreadsheets for you:

  • Bank Account Reconciliation,
  • Vehicle Fuel Consumption,
  • Rainfall, Water and Electricity Meter Readings,
  • Quotation System (with Bill of Materials), and
  • Toastmasters Speech Contest Certificates
  • John Demartini Fast Savings Calculator.

There is Also Good News

What if someone told you that 2023 was the best year ever for global health, conservation and clean energy? And added that many places made incredible progress in economic and social justice?

You wouldn't believe it. Read any annual review and you'll see it's been a year of grief and disaster.

Imagine if you came home with your school report: an assortment of marks, ranging from good to bad. And then imagine if your parents ignored everything except the worst scores. No celebrations of success, no encouragement, just endless finger-pointing about the Fs. That would be abusive, not to mention the worst possible way to motivate you. And yet that's what the global media has been doing to us for the last 12 months.

Future Crunch is trying to set the record straight. This year, they found over 2,000 good-news stories, shared them in a weekly email, and squeezed in a TED talk. This is genuine, world-changing stuff. Millions of lives are improving. There are human rights victories, diseases eliminated, and falling emissions. Vast swathes of our planet are being protected and entire species saved.  Read the summary, "66 Good News Stories You Didn't Hear About in 2023", here.

Overheard at the Checkout

"I see in the news that the Border Management Authority is concerned about its image."

"If they just did their job, wouldn't that clear up any image problems?"

Your name in print!  Would you like to contribute a tip, a less obscure joke, or something else for this Newsletter?  Please e-mail us.  You will get full credit (unless you want anonymity).  Reach 4,380 shoppers and shop-owners: Advertise in this newsletter!  Editor: Rick Raubenheimer.


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Newsletter Issued 21 December 2023 – Page Last Updated: 21 December 2023. – Contact us.