Electronics, Hong Kong

Electronic shops in Kowloon on Nathan Rd. and other near-by streets offer a variety of products. I have been buying electronic products in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, and I suggest the following:

1. Before going to HK, check the various products/models in your country's stores, examine their manuals (even use them and return them, if posiible) and decide on at least a couple of models you like.. Also, check their prices on the Internet for these products/models that you like, and keep in mind that prices for the SAME model/product vary depending on the country in which the product was manufactured.

2. In HK, before shopping at small street shops, first check the prices of models you examined in your country at much larger stores; they are generally fixed and lower than the prices of small street shops. Never buy products if you do not know their prices in your country, unless you are willing to risk paying more.

3. If you consider buying a product/model you had not shopped for back home, keep in mind that the best source of information about a product is the product's manual (make sure it is the correct manual), not what you hear, so it is important that you spend time at the shop reading the manuals before buying and signing off any papers (agreement).

4. Make sure you buy the EXACT product you have examined or shopped with ALL its parts/accessories described in the manual, and it is compatible with your country's system (PAL, NTSC). (Friends have bought products such as cell phones that did not work in their country).

What to buy: If you happen to find a product at a lower price, ask yourself if the lower price is worth the following : (a) not being able to return or exchange it, (b) the possibility that the product will not operate properly in your country, (c) warranty might not be valid in your country, (d) repair facilities or parts might not be available, if model is not popular, (e) inability to purchase extended service warranty. I have had my camcorder that I purchased in HK repaired in Bangkok several times, where the can get parts and repair costs are cheaper.

Sai Yeung Choi St (Mong Kok MTR exit D3)

Apliu St (Sham Shui Po MTR exit C2)

Times Square (Causeway Bay MTR exit A)

Note:
Ensure that DVD, camcorders, VCR and mobile phones are compatible with the operating systems in your home country.
Check voltage and plug compatibility with your home country.
Verify that correct product, all parts, accessories, and warranty card are included.

Sun Tek has proven to be a trustworthy source of cameras, cellphones, and other electronic stuff over the years. Their salespeople speak english well and are very accommodating especially to clueless buyers like me :-0. Look for Tony Mak.

What to buy: Film, digital, movie cameras are all cheaper in Hong Kong if you know where to buy.

What to pay: anywhere from 100-2000USD depending on what kind of camera you're buying

Unlike other commercial stores, this one gives big discounts on electrical goods and lots and lots of freebies (mini carpet, key rings, spare battery&earphones for mobiles etc)

I bought my Sharp phone there and I've saved around 20-30%!

Friendly and helpful staff. If you be extra nice and charming, they may give u huge discounts!

What to buy: Top range of mobile phones, PDA, MP3, Plasma, LCD, D.camara etc

What to pay: Best to shop around first ;)

Broadway is an electronic shop chain which also sells digital camera.
I am told by friends that this shop is pretty reliable.
If I am not mistaken, there are two Broadway shops in the Time Square located at different floors. I bought my digital camera at the Broadway store in ShaTin.

What to buy: electronics, digital camera

What to pay: good price

Wanchai Computer City (Wan Chai MTR exit A4)

Mong Kok Computer Centre (Mong Kok MTR exit E2)

Golden Computer Arcade and Golden Shopping Centre (Sham Shui Po MTR exit D2)

Windsor House Computer Plaza (Causeway Bay MTR exit E)

Note:
Check voltage and plug compatibility with your home country.
Ensure the software is legal in your native language.
Verify that the correct product, all parts, accessories and warranty card are included.

The Electronics shooper's paradise is undoubtedly Nathan Road but Warning !! this as well as a shopping tip could be a tourist trap.

Don't you ever think that because it is HK is going to be a lot cheaper than Uk or USA or any other country.

HK is a tax free zone so you should aim to save the tax + a bit more within reasonable limits.

Normally when you come to a shop asking for, let's say, a digital camera they will try to sell you whatever they have got in stock. Whether or not it adjusts to your needs is none of their business. They just want to sell what they have got in the shop.

They DO NOT stock all models displayed in the windows. That is a catch.
Meaning: if you come with an idea of a make and model and they do not show it to you straight away, do not fall for their promises. They might ask you to come back later, to come back tomorrow. To wait ther 15 minutes for one of the guys to come to the storage, etc...

The idea is to try to sell you whatever they have got in store in the meantime. You could wait there 15 min, 30 min or 1 day and they will not come up with the promised item because what they do is to try to buy it supercheap somewhere else in order to bring it to you and most of times this is not possible because all shopkeepers are in the same dynamics....

So, piece of advice:
-Come with a very good idea of what you want to buy. Make and Model.
-Know how much is the item in your country and mark yourself a top thresold. Bargain up to that limit and do not try to get it either cheaper or accept from they to charge you more. Bargain to death!
-Do not wait for the item or come back the following day thinking they are going to have it there for you. You will get nothing in this way.
Just walk away and try somewhere else. There are hundreds of shops and one of them is bound to have what you want right in the spot at the right price.

Good luck !!

What to buy: All sort of computers and electronics and digital cameras etc...

What to pay: The price in your country - TAX - whatever you can get by bargaining !!

Like your electronics and gadgets? Then this is the place to come. The Electronics Market is really a street called Sai Yeung Choy Street in Mongkok which runs parallel to the Ladies Market street on Tung Choy Street but instead of being a series of market stalls, it's full of conventional shops. These shops sell everything such as cameras, mobile phones, mp3 players, PC's, lap-tops, TV's...you name it, they sell it. Yes, there are a whole load of other shops dotted around the city but this is really the place to come is you're into this sort of thing.