Sim Lim Square, Singapore

Try these if in doubt or confused:

1) Stick to the purpose of coming to this building (be it to buy something specific or just to browse).

2) Words from neither the shoppers nor the salesperson should influence you to change your decision. Sometimes the shopper(s) IS the salesperson's friend.

3) Always ask if the item is in stock. If the salesperson says the item is out-of-stock, go to the next shop that sells the exact item which you want to buy. It will seldom happen that many shops are out-of-stock for this particular item, then you may want to reconsider an alternative.

4) Do not ask for copied or pirated software, there is none. Even if you can find any, it is still a better price getting from some other countries.

5) Take some price lists and do price comparison for the item which you intend to purchase. This is a habit of the typical singaporean. If you do not compare like the locals, the shop will gladly pocket the extra $ paid.

6) Ask whether there is a discount if payment is by cash (SGD). The typical VISA/mastercard service charge is 3% on top of the listed price.

7) If you end up in doubt or confused by the choices or prices of electronics/parts that you see, simply walk away, you may retreat to the basement B1 food court to sort things out.
Give yourself time to reconsider your purchase. You DO NOT get "closing down sale" or "once in a lifetime" prices here, this IS Sim Lim Square, try hunting some more years in this place and you will get the point.

8) Tourists get tax rebates at the information counter (on the ground floor), bring your receipt (prove of purchase) and show it to the information counter, tell them you want to get a GST-rebate.

9) Do not buy any mobile phones from level 4,5 and 6. Notice there are not many shops around selling mobile phones? This IS NOT a place to get a good deal for mobile phones, go somewhere else.

10) If someone else asks you to go somewhere else to buy your computer parts, claiming that it is cheaper, dont bother, you are already here. The widest range of NOTEBOOK,COMPUTER PARTS/ACCESSORIES IS in this place; check the price lists and see for yourself. However, mobile phones, general electronics may be cheaper in other places.

My work in the computer industry as well as working with the people there had given me new insights when making purchases in this building.

If you visit the 4th, 5th and 6th floors of sim lim square, you will find a whole bunch of shops filled with computer parts, accessories & electronics. The first 3 levels of this building are usually not meant for competitive shops selling computer parts (software & hardware) & accessories. Thus, these shops will either not have a price list or have no competitor shops anywhere in sight. These shops generally offer uncompetitive prices or services as they do not need to compete.

Locals will frequent the 4th, 5th and 6th levels, most of these shops will have black&white price lists printed on A4 or A3 size paper. They are for you to take for comparing prices. That IS WHY the price lists are there in the first place. Otherwise you can download digital versions of the scanned price lists when you google for hardwarezone, look under price guides->price lists download. The prices listed in the hardwarezone website is generally not updated, always refer to the scanned price list and the date it was scanned.

Every 9 out of 10 locals WILL compare prices from 3 to 10 shops before buying even the cheapest gadgets. That is the typical singaporean habit. If you prefer not to do it, you may end up bitter after experiencing a bad purchase, it IS common for tourist or even locals who do not compare the prices before buying. Well, some european tourists do not even check the prices back in europe for the same item which they want to buy, in many cases, the price is similar here and in europe. Well, my friend from europe bothered to check the price back in europe and decided not to buy since warranty will not be valid when brought back to europe.

If you have checked the prices on the price list of at least 3 shops for the item which you want to purchase, price range of this item should not be USD$5 higher or USD$5 lower than the average price found on the price lists. If you have done the comparison correctly, you will only select a few shops to buy from. These experienced shops have priced their items very competitively, so bargaining will not be effective, the most you may get is a 2% cash discount if paid in full SGD cash. You may get a further discount if your total purchase is above USD$2000.

I will like to hear your experience and comments while shopping here, please post them ! Happy shopping!

What to buy: computer parts (software & hardware)
IT accessories
electronics
game consoles & games

What to pay: Modes of payments:
CASH (SGD, ask if there is any discount if paid in cash)
VISA/MASTERCARD (ask how much is the service charge)
NETS (FOR LOCALS, no discount)

Sim lim is the best place to pick up electronic gadgets like laptops,computers etc..They have a wide range of Cameras,camcorders etc. also.
The price range in Singapore is competitive.

What to buy: Electronics and other gadgets

I read VT shopping before coming to Sim Lim Square, when I should have been reading "Tourist Trap".

I wanted to buy a mobile phone from a reputable shop outside Sim Lim Square, but it was out of stock. So by the time I was walking around in Sim Lim, I already knew what to buy and how much I was willing to spend for it. So this guy quoted a good price lower than my other contact. It turned out it was without the GST!

Anyways, my old phone had been stolen, so needed a replacement. I asked if it was a demo phone, since it was the only unit there. He said it's new. (I later saw photos in the phone taken from inside the shop - showing it was a demo unit). To cut the story short, he not only overcharged on the 2GB memory card I purchased (which my Singaporean friend said I could have gotten a 4GB card), but he conned me. One month later, the phone dies.

Nokia Malaysia won't repair it because it was bought in Singapore. I call the guy up, and he offered to take it to Nokia Singapore, but when he started calling Nokia Malaysia technicians "morons", I decided to bypass him and go straight to Nokia Singapore.

Guess what? Nokia Singapore checked the phone out and said it's not under warranty, implying that I've been conned! For the cost to repair the phone, I might as well buy a new original phone with warranty in Malaysia. So beware! Don't buy from Pixels N Pixels Pte Ltd. It's not worth the savings. It turned out to be a loss. Robbed twice within 2 months! (old phone got stolen, now this!!!)

I sent a complaint to Sim Lim Square to warn them of the retailer but what can they do? I wouldn't be surprised if some other tourist gets ripped off/conned!

And if you don't live in Singapore, buy your Nokia from your home country because Nokia doesn't have international warranty. If it breaks down, whether it's a real phone or not, you have to send it back to Singapore for repairs.

What to buy: Don't buy anything unless you want to be conned BIG time!

What to pay: Save your money and shop elsewhere, far, far away from Sim Lim Square.

Dear All,

Be careful. This is a posting from another forum and I'm posting here to warn the ppl here.

I went to Sim Lim Square on Sunday, 17/06/07 with the intention to purchase a PSP. After scouting for sometimes, my friend and I came to this shop known as Mobile House Electronics Pte Ltd to check on the pricing of the PSP. After much haggling, the sale person offered a standard PSP pack with a 4GB memory stick to us at the price of $420 inclusive of GST, which we eventually bought it.

To our dismay, we realized that there was a missing battery from the pack when we reached home. Hence, I went down to the shop on the following day afternoon, 18/06/07 , Monday to ask for my missing item. However, when I ask the sale person for my battery, he told me angrily that the standard pack does not come with a battery and only the value pack does.

Then after I requested to upgrade to the value pack by topping on money where later he say that it was out of stock and further said we are not allowed to change and insisted on me in purchasing the battery instead. Leaving me with no choice, I have to just buy the battery in order for my PSP to work. He first quoted me a price of $75 for the normal battery but further persuaded me to buy a higher capacity battery with longer battery life and comes with a warranty which we agreed at the price of $105 with GST. In total, I paid $525 for my PSP.

I went back to the shop to look for the sale person. His colleague, a medium built Chinese man in his mid thirties, claimed that he was not around. I recited the incident to him, asked him politely for his help. Instead of being helpful or even clarify the matter further, he pointed his finger at me and said that it was my fault that we assume and did not ask properly before purchasing. He started to raise his voice and smirk at me, asking me to go ahead and call the police or report it to CASE if I want to, saying that he is not afraid. I am seriously feel threaten and been bullied by the 2 sale persons.

What to buy: One day if they are black listed, they can simply change the shop name. Most importantly, the sales person will get pay 40% of the gross margin. The more they cheat you , the more they earn. It's advisable to go to big megastores like Audio House, Best Denki, Court & etc. I know Audio House are case-trust certified and provide 7 days money back guarantee if you are not happy with their price, product or service with no question ask. Star retailers are selected by SLS management and Case-trust certified stores are audited by the authority on their operating systems and services. As comparsion, case-trust is more trustworthy.

A small camera and electronic gadget shop on the second floor near the escalator. This shop Bally Photo Trading #02-91/71 with Tel # (65)6333 9160. The Sales person tricked me into buying a camera at a price much higher than its standard retail price making me believe that my first choice was a bad choice. He got my 300 USD and sold me a much cheaper model. For future buyers DO NOT BUY without doing research first. Beware of this store. One day I will get even! Bad Feng Shui for you!

Warning to all travellers!
When buying cameras in Singapore DO NOT go to this shop.

THE CAMERA SHOP
# 01-43A SIM LIM SQUARE SHOPPING COMPLEX

I was railroaded into buying a camera, overcharged and then when I went back to complain, the member of staff (Dencil) shouted at me, generally spoke to me very rudely and even descended into making racist remarks! Highly unacceptable manner of conducting business. I lodged a complaint and through my persistence I finally managed to get a free battery and memory card but I would have rather have got my money back.

Note for all buyers, always make sure you know what you want 1st and what the rrp is and never let anyone force you into buying. Easier said than done!

I recently bought a camera from this shop. The salesman was really nice and funny when doing the sales. He showed me wat liked, and i bought a camera. But unfortunately when i got home and opened the pack it was totally a different model what i chose. I went back the other day, and complained. They said will give u model but have to trade in this camera at 35% and get another one i wanted at a very high price. To top it all they were extremely rude, used abusive language, and even threaten to shove me off the shop. I had to approach the security and they informed the police, which ofcourse came, investigated , but didnt do anything other than to ask me to go to tourist board and register a case.

What to buy: Dont buy ANYTHING from this shop

There are many shops in Sim Lim Square. The price for a product is very compatitive. You must walk round level 3 to level 6 for computer harware or accessories and level 1 to 2 for AVA products. The prices should not be very far apart, if it is, beware for fake product.

What to buy: Computer accessories and hardware.

What to pay: From <$10 to >$100