Shopping, Hong Kong

As most travellers to Asian destinations are aware, the touting on the streets is a very common thing. I think we just need to accept that that is their way of life and how they make a living. I know it can get very annoying to not walk 5 metres without being asked if you want a copy watch, handbag, suit or dvd's, but that is something that does not bother me any more.

What I found in Hong Kong that they are nowhere near as full-on and annoying as shop owners are in other countries. Not even in the main markets, like the Ladies Market and Temple Street night market, most stall owners there were very pleasant and not annoying at all.

HOWEVER .... the one place that became very overwhelming for annoying touters was in and around Nathan Road, and the main offenders were Indians. They were just so "in your face" that you really wanted to tell them where to go .... and not in a nice way!! They were more evident at the harbour end of Nathan Road, which is where we stayed for the first 10 days of our trip, so we encountered them many many times on a daily basis.

Fun Alternatives: Just try to ignore them, I know that may sound somewhat rude, but they will eventually get the hint. It seemed that saying no or shaking our head was not enough to deter them from continually asking us for fake this and copy that!

I had been told that most market/stalls do not hang actual change rooms for you to try on clothes. Even though this was the case, we did come across a few with change rooms.

BUT .... most market stalls also DO NOT allow you to actually try clothes on in the store over the top of the clothes you were wearing! I found this very frustrating and I do not see what the problem with that is. Surely if I was to try something on in the store and maybe damage it, then I would understand that I would be buying it, whether I liked it or not! In light of this, I bought a few items of clothing that when I tried them on back at the hotel room .... DID NOT FIT!!!

People, please do not make purchases at ladies Market and the likes without at least bargaining... unless you do not care about getting a fair deal, or you just do not care.

We travel to HK every 2 years or so and have seen enough stall owners trying to rip off tourists. Example: we were looking at one item a couple weeks ago at Ladies market, the owner offered 120HKD which we knew it was way too much, so we walked. The moment we turned away she dropped the price to 80HKD, still we walked because we haven't checked out the whole street yet. Now, the least expensive price for that item on the same street was 48 HKD. We ended up buying the exact same item a few days later at a street stall in Central, where the price was listed at 39 HKD. We bought 4 for 35HKD each after brief bargaining.

Unique Suggestions: You see something you like at the market ?

*PLEASE*
- do not show real emotions ...i.e. OMG Hun I love this whatever, honey I gotta have this !
- do not buy it the first time you see it. Don't. There will be others carrying that. Trust us.
- check out the whole market first, and go back and do the bargaining.
- be polite and bargain, and do not feel bad about doing that. It's a market, we all bargain.
- bargain more.
- if they do not give you a better price IYO, just say thanks and walk away. Move on to next.

Fun Alternatives: Try Temple street night market or Central ( they have 2 street market there, smaller , but we find the prices are more down to earth.. always )

Happy Shopping.

*** update *** 19/12/2010

At Ladies Market, the hawker/store owner said 50 HKD, I walked. last price she offered was 20 HKD.

Keep bargaining people ;)

I am a local and if I were you, I would think twice before I buy electronics in HK. First of all and all, do not attempt to look into windows of those neon-lit shops along Nathan Road and other main streets. They are there to trap you only.

1. HK's retail prices are usually more expensive than the US and Japan for cameras and some other electronics.

Demands from China and local market effectively keep stock low despite higher prices. The gap of prices have widen as we appear to bounce faster than most parts of the world, though I don't feel that much of recovery personally. I only know I am suffering from the inflated pricing after all.

2. Even chain shop's listed price can be tricky.

I always recommend shopping from well-known retailers like Fortress, Broadway, Citicall, Wing Shing or Tin Cheong. But amazing, you can get a further discount out of the price tag for less popular items upon asking like "can it be cheaper". Tags like "further reduction" also provide the room for the shop to fluctuate prices a bit. That is utterly inconvenient for fair price comparison.

3. Avoid shopping in small scale computer malls.

It is interesting to walk through, but you never know which shop is honest to you. Overpricing and dishonest descriptions are not common but mostly unobservable. Do not shop unless the price is revealed without asking.

4. Consumer protection is very weak in Hong Kong

If no refund, no return, lack of control over dishonest practices and lengthy negotiation with Consumer Council are not putting you off, make sure you know very well about something before you buy in Hong Kong. A little relaxation can end up in regrettable losses.

Unique Suggestions: Make sure you know well about your product, like a reference price from your home country and reviews. Make sure you know what you want.

Only check prices if they are clearly stated on tags at display. Check prices from different retailers, though they tend to be the same if they locate in the same area.

Only visit chain shops or well established retailers like: Broadway, Fortress, Citicall, Tin Cheung Photo Supply, Wing Shing/Man Shing Photo Supply, DCFever.com, DC Career, DSC or department stores.

Try not to be convinced for alternatives, unless there is clear advantage over your decided option. Know well what else you would need to complement your camera. Do not pay unless you know what is it.

Always ask for the lowest available price and free gifts, like camera bag and tripod.

Fun Alternatives: I would recommend you to buy from your home country if there is a competitive market for electronic retailers.

It is not money that matters, but integrity. I hate to spread this sad message around the global forums, but as a working journalist, I also figure there is nothing more important than getting informed.

My last advice is that you should act before our government, on our expenses. Enjoy incredibly bargain apparels and the world's greatest selection of cuisine here, as well as the enchanting cityscape, but don't fall for the shoppers' traps. We are not perfect at all.

There are lots of Jade Factory Tours and Gold factory Tours and Pearl Factory Tours . Just beware they are setting you up for some high pressured sales and they are often accompanied by higher prices too.

Unique Suggestions: If its part of a tour package you are on , just relax and watch the demonstration and keep in mind that you will be a traget for a sales pitch at some point.

Fun Alternatives: I learned , if it wasn't something I planned on buying , I didn't . There is always lots of whatever was being sold around the corner anyway , if I changed my mind!

It's very crowded, the only locals there are the sellers, lots of very aggressive stalls.
I found it a nightmare, lots of schlock and the few things I purchased were less expensive and better quality elsewhere. It was so overwhelming, to me, that I saw only one full lane, and a few short jaunts. It's intense.

I got confused and thought I was buying some things for less than a dollar - so I bought about a dozen, only to find out it was really $5-10 USD each! She wouldn't give me my money back so I had to buy some things I didn't really want, but weren't so out of line.

Unique Suggestions: Tell what price you're willing to pay - or your ideal price. Amazingly, they often go for it; but I hate it.

Know exactly what you're spending, I find it very difficult. I wish I was better at Exchange rates, but next time I'm coming with a calculator.

Fun Alternatives: I suppose Tsim Sha tsui is better, but my favorite was Hudson Centre. We bought a very good suit there and 2 excellent tea shops.

There are some shops in Tsim Sha Tsui, Mongkok and Causeway Bay. They are operated for the purpose of cheating tourists ! Usually, they sell cameras, electrical appliances and jewellery. Some of them sell goods with an extremely high price. They may not allow you to leave if you do not buy goods from them. Or they sell goods at an extremely low price in order to attract you to buy. But the goods are used, are broken or of not good quality. Some of them are even fake goods.
Don't just evaluate the shops by whether it is big in size or not, whether it is clean, well-operated. Most of them are like the most trustworthy shops in Hong Kong !

Unique Suggestions: If you are not allowed to leave from the shop (although it is rare in Hong Kong now), call the police by dialing 999. Most of them will be afraid and give you a way. But please report to the police for their reference.
If you buy goods that are not of a good quality, take the slip(don't throw it away until you are satisfied with your goods), go back to the shop and ask for an exchange of goods. Customers have the right to get the goods that are of good quality. Don't hasitate to argue with them if they refuse to exchange it with you. Some of the shops refuse to exchange the goods by saying that the goods are out of stock. You may simply ask for refund. Remember, you have the right to do so, unless it is specified in the slip that exchange and refund are not allowed.

Fun Alternatives: There is a logo for good shops in tourist sites. The logo should be shown outside the shop and near the cashier. It is gold in colour, issued by the tourism board of Hong Kong. It is suggested to shop in those shops. Please pay more attention when the price of the goods are extermely low, like HKD$99 to get a PS3.
Be a smart shopper in Hong Kong !

Stanely shopping... Unless you have time to kill, the shopping at Stanley is a rip off. You can get all of the same stuff at the Night Market for 1/4 of the price.. WITHOUT bargining!
But it is a scenic drive though the mountains and its nice to look at the water.

Unique Suggestions: The bathrooms were an experience. It was a plastered hole in the concrete with a lever on the wall.

Fun Alternatives: Go to the Ladies Market in Mong Kok... or wait until the day cools off and head off to the NIght Market on Temple Street. You will find the same things.. MUCH cheaper.. and thats BEFORE you start bargining.