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Shopping in China/Hong Kong

V

vacationgirl

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 1, 2006
8
0
I am going to China next week and wanted to know if there were outstanding deals available in Hong Kong or China in general. I want an iPod, need RAM for my Intel iMac, software too, etc. Are there certain places or vendors to avoid and which ones are good.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks---T
 
Basically the rule of thumb in any asian country due to counterfeits, is to basically not shop at street shops.


And remember unlike American or for that matter any Western shops where the price listed is the price, try to bargain. So if you can speak canto, mandrin, it doesnt hurt to ask them to knock it down for a few hundred. I found that having cash and paying in full usually gives you a better chance so that they dont have to pay the credit card companies a certain percentage of the sale.
 
My Shopping In China

I went to China and Hong Kong about a year ago. Although shopping was not my primary goal there, I was hopping to find some bargains. Unfortunately, I found nothing of worth. The only bargains I found were clothing, cheap crap, pearls, and local made goods. Electronics were conspicuously absent. Everyone else got something cool, I came home with nothing.
 
Electronics were conspicuously absent.


Do you know where to go? I havent been to Hong Kong yet, however I know many other places you simply need to know where to go. For example at Taiwan, there was a little area known as the "computer market," that was under a highway overpass (that was demolished just a few months ago) where you can find many great items for relatively cheap prices.
 
Hi vacationgirl,

I usually go to Hong Kong 2-3 times per year. Mac's are shunned more in Hong Kong and China than they are in the US. There are a few authorized Mac resellers, but the prices aren't significantly different. Also, iPods are a lot less common there too.... you rarely see a commuter using one. It's always some other brand of MP3 player.

The easiest place to see iPods are in the touristy areas of Tsim Sha Shui (on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong). These are the electronic vendors that have glass storefronts with a lot of electronics in the windows. There won't be much of a deal, if any, since they are catering to tourists (who have more money).

Here's a list of Mac re-sellers if you're looking for an iPod. Keep in mind that you should ask if you are covered by a warranty when you get home. Also make sure if your adaptor is compatible with your voltage at home (if the iPod comes with one). I've never been to any of the re-sellers on this list except for Broadway. This is a well-known, reputable chain. I don't think you can haggle with them: http://www.appleclub.com.hk/buy/reseller.html

According to another website... "Apple Computer shops have been in decline in Hongkong lately but there are some good vendors on the 12th floor at Windsor House like the briskly run Designer Group Company Apple Centre where staff speak decent English. They have a new outlet in IFC." Both of those places are on the Hong Kong island side of Hong Kong. The IFC is the tallest building in the skyline. To get to the Windsor House, take the MTR subway to Causeway Bay station and then take the E exit at that station and go to floors 10-12 of the Windsor House.

For the ultimate fun, go to the Golden Computer Centre. Avoid going there on weekends. It is literally packed with people. So pick pocketing can easily happen. Most of these shops are 8' x 5' but there are tons of them. Again, not much Mac stuff there. But you might find a good deal on generic RAM there. The ground floor is mainly videogames (a great place for that too!) and the basement level is all computer stuff. This centre is opens late and stays open late. If you want to see all the shops open, go there after 2pm. They typically stay open until 8pm or later. Most places there won't take credit cards. This place would be closed down by the fire department in the US due to the large number of shops and people and small amount of space. If you're planning to spend any significant time there, there's no bathroom, but a nearby McDonald's has one. To get to the Golden Computer Center, take the MTR subway to Sham Shui Po, take Exit D2. It's directly across the street from that exit. Here's some more info and a picture of the place: http://www.12hk.com/GoldenShoppingArcade.html

PM me if you need any other help or tips for toy shopping in Hong Kong.
 
hey i get all my mac gear from a small mac specialist shop on stanley? street in central. they have a branch in winsor house causeway bay. they are great but same price as the us. but they know their stuff and are friendly. since the law has clamped down on selling 'non- conterfeit, untaxed goods' (which was why some things could be dirt cheap, but they were either in wrong language (usually japanese) and no warentee) everything usually costs the same now.

wan chai computer city is quite good. that is a big building near wan chai mtr station.

however, i must warn you they might try to rip you off if you are a tourist, so you should defo shop around see prices and bargin in these small shopping centre.

go to mong kok's small shopping centers for all the fun junk like those cool plastic models and whatever's 'in' in japan.

Remember. NO ONE in the non mall shopping center open before 2pm. don't go shopping between 1-2 and 5-6 because the shops get crowded and the shop people get really shirty if you ask questions. people in chains don't know anything and are just there to sell.

don't get anything in china because there is a real counterfiet problem and if anything sounds too good to be true, then it is defiunitely too good to be true. except for the government sanctioned cheap dvds. yes they are legal at $5 a pop.

have fun. pm me if you want more details. i am really bad with names and since i used to live there, street names mean nothing to me but i can give you detailed directions to places.
 
generik said:
I'd probably be going to Hong Kong later this year, will stuff like MBPs be cheaper there? :D
Click to expand...
Highly unlikely.

All of my relatives from Taiwan go on crazy shopping sprees when they come to the States. It's even cheaper to purchase Apple goods here and deal w/ the shipping costs! :eek:
 
Other things on my mind.

wako said:
Electronics were conspicuously absent.


Do you know where to go? I havent been to Hong Kong yet, however I know many other places you simply need to know where to go. For example at Taiwan, there was a little area known as the "computer market," that was under a highway overpass (that was demolished just a few months ago) where you can find many great items for relatively cheap prices.
Click to expand...

I went to China and HK for the adoption of my daughter. Anyone who has gone through this can tell you it's all about the paperwork. You also get your new baby on the first day, so you're a little busy. Had I been solo, I would have been more adventuresome. But because the adoption area has a constant inflow of foreigners, I was expecting some sort of electronic bargains to be available. Certainly everything I buy in the US is made in China.
 
You won't get any bargains on real Apple goods, anywhere. Because -- you are buying from Apple. Theres no such thing as "buying at the factory gate " or "saving on shipping and markup by buying direct" Not on Apple gear. Any bargains that you see will be stolen or counterfeit or not new.
 
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