Sim Lim Square, Singapore

this one of the few shop in Sim Lim that have the good price and the good service. They are all so friendly and the things i buy never give me any problem. I recomend this shop Papilion at #02-12 for this especially if you need the electronic and audio product especially the MP4 and the portable dvd players with the lcd tv screen.

As mentioned in other tips, Sim Lim Square provides a unique electronics shopping experience. In its 5 stories, buyers can expect to find everything from large network systems, right down to interesting electronic gadgetry.

Prices are great too - most items can be found with a reduction of about a 10-30% as compared to normal retail prices.

However, it is worth noting that a few shops in Sim Lim Square sells imitation or modified goods. Some also tend to increase the prices and deceive the buyer into over-paying for a product.

In my experience, a camera shop, FOTO POINT (#01-47), which is located in a corner of level 1 in the shopping centre, sells modified/imitated products. Though incredibly cheap (and suspective), several of their items are not original, even if the storeowner says so. I would like to warn all buyers, especially foreigners, of such occurrences in the shopping centre that tarnish its name.

I tried buying a canon camera at the shop last week, and was impressed at its prices. However, after a long talk, the store owner began critisizing canon and attempted to push for his own product, which was more expensive. I later found out that the lenses in the canon display set had been modified to produce significantly poorer images to make the house brand seem better.

Another shop, PIXELS N SHUTTERS, sells products at ridiculously high prices, claiming its products to be exclusive.

Though the impact of these shops create a bad reputation for the Sim Lim Square shopping experience, I would like to let readers know that such occurences are rare, and there are only a small handfull of them. But please, do be wary and aware of such places.

I wish all shoppers a pleasant shopping experience.

Regards,
A Sim Lim Regular

A lot of distributors or wholesales are actually located in shops further within Sim Lim Square, ie. not around the escalator. If you are planning to buy in bulk, it's best to haggle there than at the front part. This is usually the case for ink cartridge, ipod, ipod cases, mobile phone, mobile phone cases distributors.

So, do your homework when you visit Sim Lim Square. Make sure you explore thoroughly.. that is of cos if you have time to spare. If not, don't bother. Just get it from any shop that is convenient.

What to buy: Ink cartridges, toners, phones, mp3 cases, mobile case or pouches

What to pay: Start from $4, if you look hard.

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Sim Lim Square is a must if shopping for electronics in Singapore. Though there are no shortage of places to shop for electronics in Singapore, being that there is a electronic or IT mall on almost every corner. Sim Lim Square easily stands out above the rest when it comes to competitive prices. 6 floors of electronics and IT outlets vying for your attention and your dollar. It is expected of you to bargain!

Remember to shop around at Sim Lim Square. Dont be affraid to ask for a price of an item, and then walk into the next outlet and tell them what the neighbor shop is offering. Also paying with cash instead of credit can effect your price. Last but not least, be aware that certain warranties on electronics may be annulled depending on the outlet. Dont take for granted that just becuase the dealer says it's covered, that it will be.

There is a good variety of computer related stuff and you can bargain with the shop assistants. But do look around as you may be able to find a cheaper one at another shop on another level.

What to buy: Computers, softwares and games.

Steer clear of Hi-Vee Trading on the ground floor of Sim Lim Square. The salesmen are pushy and expect you to buy a wide angle lense with every purchase.Service is bad as I am trying to get a replacement warranty card for the Panasonic FZ-30 camera I bought, which died just one month after purchase. If you have to go there and buy something check everything before you leave as I had an SD card go missing after buying my camera.
The computer shops in the higher levels are staffed by people who do not know anything about what they are selling or just don't understand. My advice is shop at home! Sure it might cost 10-25% more but at least you will have peace of mind if something goes wrong.

Shopping at Sim Lim is very similar as shopping any where else in Singapore. The trick is to:
1. Know what your shopping for.
2. Do your research before leaving home. -Whats the cheapest price you could get it at home? What are you willing to pay? Is the money you save worth the "can't return it" risk?
3. Be prepared to walk away.
4. Shop around, check prices at several shops before purchasing. Most IT shops have printed price lists, grab a few and sit with a cup of coffee and decide whats best. Price comparisons and downloadable pricelists for IT gear are availible from http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/priceguide/.
5. Ensure all the accesories are included.
6. Don't be sucked into buying accesories that you haven't done research on. Go back to an Internet cafe and look it up.
7.Be prepared to walk away.
8. Negotiate the whole package. If your buying several Items, once you have decide and negotiated their individual price, total the price and then negotiate for a lower final price.
9. Be prepared to walk away.
If you're there shopping for cameras, mp3 players, etc, the rules still apply - doubly so.

Sim Lim Square is a shopping complex dedicated to electronic gadgets and computer products. The 3rd, 4th and 5th story of Sim Lim Complex are dedicated exclusively to shops selling DIY computers, computer peripherals and accessories. If you are a techie and a computer buff, you will find that Sim Lim Square is a haven for buying computer accessories and peripherals - DVD writers, hard disks, thumb drives, RAM chips, webcams etc. As you go up the escalators, there will be people trying to shove catalogues and price lists into your hands. Just grab them and compare the prices offered by various shops before you commit to a purchase.

What to buy: Computer parts and peripherals

What to pay: The price is reasonable and displayed prominently on the price list in front of the shop.