Nathan Road, Hong Kong

All employees who work in electronic products shops, work on commission, therefore, they do not have your best interest at heart. Rather, they are more concerned with making a sale.

Though electronics are cheap in HK, it is best to know exactly what you want, or at least be sure of all the features that you want, even if you do not have a specific brand in mind. Otherwise, you may be fooled into buying a poor quality product for a ridiculously large price!!

This happened to me. We went with the intention of buying a Sony digital camera and came back with a 'Vivitar'...which is apparently a good brand...it is nothing in comparison to the Sony. Also, make sure the camera is in stock, otherwise you could end up waiting for a long time while it is being delivered from another store. AND MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GIVE ANY MONEY TILL YOU HAVE THE CAMERA, WITH ALL THE ACCESSORIES IN HAND! Especially as we were 'told' there was a chip in the box, and there wasnt! :D

Unique Suggestions: Apart from knowing what you want, do not hand over any money till you have everything in your hand.

Language may be a barrier at times, so learn as much vocabulary as you can!! ;)

Fun Alternatives: There is no alternative, the electronics are such an amazing price that you can't really pass them up!! Just be wary!

Along Nathan Road, there are many many shops, especially of the electronic type (cameras etc) where you go in and have to ask the price. They make one up as there is never a mark on the box. You never see the locals in these shops.

One trick they use is to try and sell you the bear item very cheaply, nut ONLY if you buy a whole bunch of extras which they rip you off on (e.g. memory card, case, battery, charger etc etc). Certainly in the UK, many of the extras will already come in the box. See my tip for buying cameras in HK. The shop comes highly recommended on the internet, it has prices marked on items (no haggling at all), they are cheap, and full of locals too.

Unique Suggestions: Shop around in many places, and add up the cost of the total package. Also check the goods you are about to walk out of the shop with are the exact items you expect them to be. Sneaky swaps when you aren't looking are not unheard of!

Fun Alternatives: Wing Shing Photo Supplies Co. (see seperate shopping tip)

Please don't visit these brightly lit electronic shops that have many digital cameras, mp3 players and so forth in the windows. They are situated on the Tsim Sha Tsui end of Nathan Road and are known as mostly rip off merchants. Many say "tax free" but adjust their prices anyway. The salesmen are very pushy and will try and strike a good deal "just for you". Don't be fooled as what you see is not always what you get.

Unique Suggestions: Make sure if you do buy any electrical goods you don't let it out of your site once you have paid for it, many places in this area will use the bait and switch technique where after you've paid for the goods the salesman will take your camera/mp3 player/camcorder into the back of the shop to get the accessories. They will then swap your goods for an inferior or reconditioned one worth a lot less than the one you thought you were getting.

Fun Alternatives: Try and go to the "Fortress" chain of shops which are all over Hong Kong, the salesmen are not pushy and are very knowledgable and you "WILL NOT" get cheated at this shop. The prices are a little higher than in the places I mentioned above but you "WILL" get what you pay for and can take it back and get a refund/exchange if you have any problems. You will also get a gaurantee which is not always the case in the shops I mentioned above. There are also some other reputable eltronic store chains throughout Hong Kong but I'm not sure about names.

One trick of some of the Photography shops in Nathan Road are to sell you a camera/camcorder etc at half the usual price, they take your money and then tell you they haven't got one in stock. You then have to wait for one to be delivered - and it just so happens that it's the day after you've left. BEWARE !!

Also, they tell you that the goods are better than they actually are. - The moral of the story is, Know what you want to buy before you go, Know what price you want to pay and stick to it !!

Nathan Road (Golden Mile) is awarmed with a..holes, who're trying to sell you copy this and copy that. Even suites, gold, designer whatever, etc.
All the stuff is FAKE. And way to expensive for these items. Hey, if you still want to buy it. Go ahead, but be warned.
Just ignore them, or offer them to buy your REAL watch.

Nathan Road... perhaps one of the biggest tourist destinations in HK. It's a great place for shopping, but bargaining is a must. Merchants will charge you triple if they can get away with it. This is especially true with electronic equipment. And don't let the 'copy watch' guys get you down. You'll certainly encounter them on almost any corner trying to sell you a fake Rolex. If you're not interested, the best thing to do is simply ignore them.

BEWARE! Please do your homework and compare prices. Do not succumb to their friendly but deceiving tactics. I was a victim. The guy cheated me into buying a digital camera double its price. Cant express my anger enough. As a consolation, I have the photo of the guy who cheated me. The shop is at Nathan Road directly opposite the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station near the Kowloon Mosque. The face of a cheat

Just watch out for your money and getting swindled in the markets and perhaps the electronics/jewelry stores along Nathan Road. You could get a deal and get a legitimate item, but on the other hand you could lose a considerable amount of money on junk. Just use common sense.

Along Nathan Road in Kowloon, there are many non descript touts hanging around the foot paths just waiting to suck you in to buy a fake Rolex, Omega or Cartier watch etcetc. Just ignore them and give them the cold shoulder they will soon latch on to someone else. The picture on the left is a stall selling watches but note necesarily fakes.