Electronic Products, Hong Kong

Read enough for sad stories of innocent tourists got ripped off when shopping for electrnice goods in Tsim Sha Tsui. I feel compelled, as a local person, to reveal our local wisdom on this one. We simply shop for these things in Mongkok, period! When in Mongkok, you will surely be visiting Sai Yueng Choi street area, where it's blocked off from traffic as a walking street every night. A few big chain stores, such as Broadway, Fortress, Chung Yuen and Citicall are very easily found. These are places where we shop, prices are clearly marked, same for everyone, they are honest, give good service and do care about their reputation. Absolutely no dirty tricks there. It's you can shop with confidence like we locals do.

Fun Alternatives: For the camera fanatics, you cannot go past Man Shing in Mongkok, this camera megastore has been in the camera and accesories business for more than 40 years. It's where you get the bargain of a life time, something to brag about when taking it home.

And for the computer enthusists, Sim City in Shang Dong street, and Mong Kong computer center at Nelson street are their dreamlands. Locals go there to buy the latest gadgets, and everything to do with computers and laptops.

Please take heed of these warnings about the shop called WELLTIME AV CENTRE. I wish I had known before I bought from them. I was guaranteed the Nintendo Wii I bought (at an inflated price) was compatible with Uk, it would play copy games and never have to buy a game again as they could be downloaded. It is a USA model and does not play copies. The receipt states "No Returns" so you have been stung. The salesmen are aware you are a tourist and will not be able to return and complain so they are nothing more than con men. Don't be one of their mugs - shop elsewhere and preferably not in Nathan Street.

Dear VT member, you can read the other members' unpleasant experiences that suggest what you are up to face when you consider buying an electronic product in a small shop. When shopping in Hong Kong, it is very tempting to stop and look at these stores which are all over the place, like dog ***, especially on and around Nathan Rd. But think of them as big traps that use unscrupulus business practices. Just STAY AWAY from them, because you are likely to be taken if you buy anything. The question is not whether you will be ripped off, but rather how badly.

Unique Suggestions: 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 from the salesperson, so it is important that you spend time at the shop reading the manuals and examining the product's functions 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).

Fun Alternatives: If you happen to find a product at a lower price anywhere, ask yourself if the lower price (vs. the one at home for the same product) 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 or old, and (e) your inability to purchase extended service warranty. I have had my camcorder that I purchased in HK repaired in Bangkok several times, where they can get parts and repair costs are lower..

Avoid this electronics shop on Nathan Rd. BE CAREFUL. Avoid buying electronic products in small street stores, where you are very likely to be "ripped-off". If you decide to shop at any of them, be aware of selling tricks salespeople use at these shops, like Welltime EV Centre, on Nathan Rd., where I recently had a very unpleasant experience. After buying acamcorder and signed the "no excange, no return" forms, the salesman asked me to wait a few minutes to charge the battery. While waiting, I was approched by a different salesman, who started telling me all kinds of negative things about he camcorder that I had purchased. The second salesman suggested that I buy a more expensive model because of all the model's "wonderful" features that he told me and my friend who as with me at the store. After haggling and getting him to lower the price by about 30%, I decided to pay the difference to buy the "better" model. Needless to say that this model not only did not have or could do what the salesman had indicated, but I also saw the same model upon my return in the USA priced at 30% less than I had paid! Make sure you know you examine the product and its price in your country before shopping in HK, especially in small shops.

Unique Suggestions: DO NOT BELEIVE anything the salesman tells you about the product. Ask to read the manual for the same product you are examining, and make sure that you get the exact model that you read in the manual with all the parts/accessories as stated in the manual. DO NOT sign "no exchange, no return" forms where they ask you to agree that you have examined the product before you actually get the product in a sealed box and check it thoroughly, making sure that all features are in working order. Remember that once you sign walk out of the store, it is too late to do anything about any problem you might have with the product.

Read the "tips" of other TV members to educate yourself about the sellling tricks salesmen might try to use on you.you.

Fun Alternatives: Shop your country's stores first, decide which models you like, and learn about their prices. In Hong Kong, compare the prices for the same models (the prices also vary depending on where they are made). Shop ONLY large stores that have fixed prices.

Electronic store owners tell you that "that's their best price", which is never the case. They're like car salesmen and say "look at all these options". You have to say "I don't want them", and just get the bare bones minimum. Don't leave a deposit, or the guy you spoke with may suddenly not work there anymore.

Unique Suggestions: You can always walk out, but say that if that's the best price, then you'll be back, but only on that condition.

Fun Alternatives: Know your prices. Be prepared to walk out, but have cash in hand to negotiate. Know the price you're willing to pay.

There are quite a few electronic retailers out on Nathan Road , Tsim Sha Tsui with big neon signs that say "Tax Free" or "Duty Free". First of all, there is no tax on any electronic goods (actually almost any goods) being imposed by the HK government. Those stores usually have huge signs reading SONY or Canon but you can never find the name of the store. These are the kind of stores that especially targeting tourists. Another warning sign is none of their items has any clear price tag on them. And on the receipt the name of the store is missing as well so you have nothing to prove the item actually purchased from them. One common way for these store to scam tourists is they'll always say the item that you wanted is out of stock and they'll try to persuade you to buy another older model, but they'd lie to you it's a higher grade product. Or they'll ask you to put down a deposit first and return in 20 minutes so they can get it from their warehouse. By the time you get back they'll suddenly inflate the price or you're not getting your money back. Sometimes they withhold the battery or hide the accessories and lie to you saying those are the "add-on" items. Most of these stores are located in Tsim Sha Tsui only so you're pretty much safe from these traps as long as you buy your electronic goods from any other area.

Always heard of poor tourists buying overpriced electronic products. Well, as a smart consumer, one should at least check out the price at your home country if he plans for buying a DC or DigitalCam. But what if the shopping spirit suddendly glows? Don't worry. Remember, chain stores don't lie. Fortress, Boardway, Thai Lin, Chung Yuen and Gome are all reliable chain stores, where prices are listed clearly but there are often complimentary cartoon towel or memory cards. And more importantly, they are absolutely honest. Honest on stock availability, actual quality and prices. Moreover, staff speak good English.

And if you are buying cell phones, there is one more reason to go shop in chain stores. Second-hand cell phone trading is very active in Hong Kong and cell phones come in variants in the market--not only imported with or without license, but some might be "recombined"--with parts from different cell phones of the same model. You may expect mysterious accident that can draw from such cell phones...

Unique Suggestions: If you can read Chinese, buy an electronics goods magazine in any convienience stores to check the market prices of the latest products; Avoid any electronics store with no name of the shop; Follow the locals; Never give your credit card to the shopkeeper unless you see the actual operational product to be sold to you.

Fun Alternatives: Chain store and chain store. Smaller stores in major computer malls in Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai are often honest and cheaper than chain stores, though you might need more local knowledge to visit them.

Don't challenge the trap. And the language barrier.

Personally... We always go home and buy all of or Camera, video gear etc. So many people come thinking that they are getting great deals in Hong Kong, but to be honest we have priced cameras, and they are cheaper back home in Australia than Hong Kong, duty free or not!

Visitors always ask us what to buy in Hong Kong, we always say, nothing! Sorry but there are just better deals back home these days, I am not sure about in comparison to other countries, but I think the DEALS are over!

Also another thing to consider is service on the item that you buy should something go wrong. I'd rather tackle that out of Hong Kong!

Unique Suggestions: Spend your time looking rather than buying in Hong Kong!