Bargaining Smarts, Singapore

Yes, “sale” sign always attract your attention and work out your credit card.
Later, I found that things are not always cheap. In this case, shopping rule applies. Shop around and compare those prices!!

When you are walking around Singapore you may be approached by the trishaw man. Most of these trishaw drivers are older Chinese men, who don't know much english. They may grunt at you to get your attention. There are also the young trishaw drivers, who may have snazzier carts-playing loud music. If you are tired, than a trishaw trip may be a good way to see the city. But you need to haggle and decide on a price -before you sit down in the trishaw! We have never used these trishaws-but when we asked what these guys charge it can be a lot. So bargain first.

Somehow tourist like to go to Lucky Plaza...i dunno why.
But if u do, try not to get hassled by the shopkeepers. They will somehow make you into buying that camera.
Make sure u do your homework, before u decide to buy the products esp. electronics and stuff.

The best tip i can give you is to compare the prices at Shopping centres like Harvey Norman, Courts, Best Denki, Safe Superstore as their prices are fixed. Some even give freebies...so check the prices there before u decide to go to Sim Lim or other places to buy that digi cam you've been eyeing for.

Unique Suggestions: Harvey Norman - Millenia Walk
Best Denki - Takashimaya
Courts - Plaza Singapure

Just a bit of common sense goes a long way. It helps to know two things before you go off in search of that "one time only", "just for you" deal of a lifetime. 1) Know how much you would be paying at home. 2) Know the conversion. Simple right? You'd think so, but it doesn't always work out. A person at my hostel decided she had heard so much about Sinagpore being THE place to buy electronics, that she would trust that rumor and just go buy a camera. $500 USD later, she had her camera. It just so happened that it was my camera as well. First, I paid about the same for my camera with a free 256MB memory card thrown in as a special at Best Buy. She did get a bit more than I did, a camera case, two tripods, and a less reputable version of that 256MB card all for about the same price. But, she was CONVINCED that I was lying after she had probe to find out how much I had paid for mine. (I really didn't want to break her spirit). We ended the conversation with her thinking I had lied about the price I paid, thinking that I had paid a couple of hundred more for mine.

As such, just know that Singapore is indeed the electronic mecca. You can find anything here. You can also find it for a very good price, but you have to look around, and you will have to bargain... nicely.

Unique Suggestions: Bargain in the markets, but not chain stores or malls

Fun Alternatives: Buy back at home, if cheaper.

Know how much its worth before buying on a frenzy. I heard before of how electronics was much cheaper in Singapore as well as luxury. But I was surprised how sometimes, there is a 25% mark-up over the "normal" price. Once you bargained and agreed on a great deal, you end up paying what it would have cost you at home.

Unique Suggestions: Start 25 below the "normal" price...then bargain down...you will be surprised how they will often agree and still make profit...

Fun Alternatives: smaller's the shop, better it is...

Beware of signs like that. Even if the sale of Branded Goods (like Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc) are held in a well-known city hotel ballroom/function room. Typically, these are not the genuine article. The sellers will claim these are genuine, but selling for so cheap because there are slight defects.

A S$1000 handbag will be sold for $200, for example. Go in with open eyes. Unless you are willing to pay that kind of price for fake goods.....

Unique Suggestions: Go for the sales knowing how much an imitation should cost. For example, for a Brand X handbag costing S$1000, expect to pay around S$100 for the fake one. Exact replicas of genuine Branded goods should not cost more than 10% of that price, give or take a few dollars, no matter how good and how well the imitation one is done up.

Fun Alternatives: Know your shops! For watches like Omega and Rolex, if you are paying > US$1500 for a watch, you can typically 'bargain' for up to 25% discount, even at big city stores. It is rare though to get 25% off retail unless you know some people, or is a regular patron. Typically, it's 10 - 15%; consider yourself lucky if you get 20%

Apply the same rule for other branded goods, i.e. depending on the place, and the period (e.g. Great Singapore Sale around June/July every year), you should be able to get 10% - 25%