Sim Lim Square, Singapore

This store is a total rip off!

I was looking for a Cannon 18-200mm lens and the salesman outside the store said a very, very low price for it. Once I entered the store the salesman started discouraging me from buying that lens and said that Tamron 18-200mm lens was better. He was a sweet talker, giving me advice on photography and saying that he is a professional and that I should trust "uncle." He even showed me a receipt that he sold the same lens to an Australian for S$678 and he will give it to me at S$500 since I'm on a budget. He was very convincing and he really knows how to get your trust. So I ended up buying the Tamron lens. When I searched the internet after buying it I realized that the price I paid for the lens was almost double!

Don't buy from CAMERA TALK!!!

Ask any local Singaporean and they will tell you that Sim Lim Square will be a haven for electronic goods. Of course, with a few levels bursting with electronic stores, you'll be spoilt for choice. Now, it will seem that since there are so many shops, there will competitive prices right? Not really.

As any place in the world, there will be touts and vendors looking to target foreigners. However, these salesmen in Sim Lim are one of the most "streetwise" people you'll ever find around. They are known to trick, coax etc you into buying their goods. E.g. a Canon DSLR camera that should be sold around the range of $1,000 could easily go up to $1,500-$1,700.

Common tricks employed by these vendors include:
-Smiling at you sweetly, telling you that the price for the item is already very cheap and you cannot find the same price anywhere else.
-Telling you in a menacing manner that if you do not want to buy it, you will regret it.
-Agreeing a certain price but jacking up the price when paying. Probably will force you to pay for it even if you do not want to buy it.
-Gathering a few assistants around you pressuring you to buy the item.
-Offering freebies (it is normally already included in most deals)
-They love foreigners (colour/race don't matter as long as they look willing to spend)

If you do feel something is amissed, be polite and walk away. If they persist, tell them firmly no and walk away. Creating a scene probably will not help as most Singaporeans will not care and just gawk. Furthermore, most of these vendors are united as one and might even gang up on you. Some of the vendors are extremely brash and may curse at you. Simply walk away! Nobody deserves to get that kind of treatment, especially the buyer. Even though you might suffer a few taunts, at least you walk out safe. They will not touch you. That said, common sense must be practiced of course.

Remember! Do research before buying an item. Also, do not ever walk into a shop giving a vibe/signalling your intention to buy something. Just ask politely how much does the item costs and some random facts (though you already know). Test the vendor's knowledge and guage for yourself.

You should note that once you agreed the price and paid up, there will be no refund/reimbursement. Calling the Police or the Tourism Board will be almost pointless. Though they approach the shop involved, there are many errant vendors who cannot be bothered with the repeated warnings and possible consequences.

If you really really really want to buy IT Goods in Singapore, it will be best to go to FUNAN: IT MALL. It is a short walk from City Hall MRT. FUNAN is definitely a more upmarket place than Sim Lim but at least consistency can be guaranteed. Some shops allow you to negotiate whereas some do not. Like mentioned before, do your research before buying. Do not be tempted to buy something that seems cheap if you have no prior knowledge of the specs and prices.
fyip: I am not promoting FUNAN, just that I never ever had a bad experience there. And that I also research & plan. =)

Besides, FUNAN, there are also IT Fairs held in Singapore about 2-3 times every year. Locals know this are the times where everything is much cheaper and a good deal is definitely possible. It is normally held around March & end year. Do check on the internet on when the fairs start. They are normally called COMEX, SITEX & some other event that I forgot.

Now that you have read this page, you should be enlightened! Hope you enjoy Singapore and remember to check other out other places too!! In general, all Singaporeans are extremely receptive to foreigners and helpful. =)

What to buy: IT Goods are cheaper here than overseas (during IT Fairs)
You cannot go wrong with items like thumbdrives, harddisks etc as they are amazingly cheap. Try to get items that shouldn't go wrong. In case you return back home and realize it is a fake or faulty. E.g. Computer/Console, Games, Laptops.

What to pay: Very expensive lessons if you do not heed my advice about research. =)

Sim Lim Square is both a tourist trap and one of the best places to buy electronics in the region. You just need to be a bit savvy.

Firstly try and bring someone who knows the square with you - it really helps.

Secondly, bring a 3G phone with you and use it to look up the real prices - at least it gives you some idea as retailers price by how much they think you're prepared to pay.

Next, NEVER look as if you want to buy something, just that you're walking around getting prices.

Finally, use the lift... Go to the top floor and work down. Some of the more honest retailers are on the higher floors. I virtually never shop on the bottom two floors.

I'm well known enough in the store that people wave to me when I'm there, I've helped friends but there's not much I can do once someone has spent their money.

What to buy: Can usually get a good deal on laptops, always argue the price and then ask what accessories they can add. Then say you'll think about it and walk away - you MIGHT be called back with a better offer. It might feel ruthless but try and play shops against each other.

What to pay: Check prices before you walk into a shop. Don't accept substitute products unless you've also researched what you get and the correct price. Tourists can pay above the RRP because they don't check.

Do not go to this store "Hi-V Trading" located at level 1 Sim Lim Square No. Business Regn No. 52911149K, GST Regn No. 52-911149K. This store just scammed us for buying his over priced product. We asked them on the same day that we will return the item and ask for a refund that we just bought, but instead they just ignored us and acted like nothing happened. They are very good at talking and convincing buyers to buy their products. My tip is you should check other store's prices first before you buy the item.

What to buy: Don't buy anything to this store.

What to pay: Don't pay anything

Electronics:

I have been to both Funan mall and Sim Lim Square. Funan mall is big but definitely not as busy as Sim Lim Square. I will take it as an indication of pricing being high in Funan. I have extensively looked into pricing in Sim Lim Square and it does not seem to be cheaper than what we can get here in New Zealand. Offcourse there are more variety however for standard electronics goods, and with weak NZ Dollar (end of 2008), Singapore does not seem to be a cheap destination for buying Electronics goods.

Tourists beware! If you are looking for electronics items, it's advisable to go to the mainstream shopping malls (eg. Harvey Norman, Courts, Best Denki, etc ) found near most MRT stations. For those not in the know, it could turn out to be an expensive buy unless you are buying PC products (Level 4 - 5).

1 - Salesmen will give you a good price but that does not include GST taxes.
2 - If you pay by credit card, there's an additional surcharge.
3 - After you have made payment, they'll inform you, you have to buy additional accessories in order for your electronic goods to work. (So if you really have to get your hands on that item - don't hand over your $$$ till you could turn ON the item and it works to your satisfaction. Also, get them to put down the serial no. of the item you have purchased in the receipt. Otherwise, it's hard to find a recourse to your purchases should you need to file a complaint.)
4 - Adding salt to "your wound", you might have gotten a 2nd hand set which is refurbished to look new.
5 - Never believe much about the government accreditation for shops in Sim Lim Square as it's just a tourism board marketing gimmick.

So it's much better for you to go to Vivocity, Ngee Ann City, Tampines Mall, Jurong Point, Bishan Junction 8, malls which are near to MRT stations where you will find the big electronics departmental stores and prices are fixed . Well, you are still able to claim your tax rebates for your purchases.

Enjoy Singapore and your shopping and trust a Singaporean to tell you the truth.

CameraTalk 1 #02-91

What to buy: Be very careful of this shop. It quotes you double the price of the retail!

In fact, don't even go to Sim Lim Square when you want to buy electronics. I enter this shop and the seller quoted me the canon flash 430 at $320 which is $100 cheaper than the other. So I thought I will get all my camera needs from him since his flash is the cheapest and I thought his other camera stuff will be cheaper. To save the hassle I decided to get a lense from him.

I decided to get a sigma lense which he said would have cost $1000+ else where. I admit I haven't done much research but before I told him I would like to check other stores first, he already convinced me to buy it at $900 17-70mm sigma lense. Which other stores were only sell for $575 or less. An extremely ridiculous price! Which I only checked after I bought the lense! He was a really crafty sales man! It's almost impossible to walk out of his shop without buying anything. I bought the sigma lense at $900 when it should only cost $575... a nissin flash $300 which should only cost $100+!

BECAREFUL OF THIS SHOP!!!!!

I found someone else who got scammed by this shop.

http://kissthestorm.blogspot.com/2009/04/scam.html

All the electrical and electronical items you need is available in Sim Lim Square. Prepare to explore the whole mall to get the best price. All shops offer a slightly difference in price and so you will have to do a bit of asking around.