 | Seoul Shopping & Money Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 11 |  |
 | |  |  | Shopping & Money: Fleeced in Namdaemun. | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
Beware of eating in a make-shift stall in those night markets. These fly-by-night vendors have no priced menus and they'll do all they can to fleece you. I learnt it the really hard way when my hubby and I were charged 75, 000W for 2 prawns, a stick of gingko nuts, 2 plates of noodles, some pig intestines, a small plate of unagi and grilled chicken. After our jaws hit the ground with a dull thud, I flipped thru my phrase book angrily, determined to get a fair bargain. All I could say was " Pee-San! Pee-San!" (expensive ). Well, to no avail, I could be saying pee in English for all she cared. She exploded into a burst of loud words and it sounded hotter than Kim-Chee. Cowed by the 4m tall lady ,the waving ladle and hot wok, my hubby and I puffed up our chests, paid and vowed never to return.....I was only glad I took her picture before I left. Here it is, for all the world to see and be warned. Leave a Comment
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Getting money can be a big problem sometimes. Many ATM's don't accept foreign cards, even a VISA card logo does not guarantee your VISA will be accepted. Many banks don't offer the service. Usually the airport and Central Station have 1 or mor ATM's who can provide you with money but it's no guarantee. My best advise, find out where you can get money and take a sufficient amount of cash with you, and get some more cash once you're halfway through. This way you don't get stuck without money. My best bets have been the ATM's of the convenience stores, the C-Space markets accepted my Dutch bankcard without any hastle.
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| | | | Shopping & Money: Dongdaemun shopping tips | | | | | |
Shopping is one of Seoul`s main attractions but it can also be a hassle. At the markets, like Dongdaemun, you should haggle. Make no mistake about it, if you pay the first asking price the vendors will be laughing all the way to the bank as soon as you leave the store. Most shopkeepers keep a calculator handy to help you bargain across the language barrier. However : beware !!! There is a "Korean price" and a "foreigner price", and of course the foreigners price is much, much higher. Go with Korean friends if possible, and if u see something u like, register it without even making direct eye contact, and ask your friends to go back and bargain for it. Im not kidding. If you so much as look at an item, let alone check the fit, the vendors will be on to you and refuse to lower their (inflated, tourist) price. You have been warned. The second thing to remember is that when you buy dirt cheap clothes, dont expect them to last forever. You really do get what you pay for. You can pick up a funky shirt for a few dollars but dont be heartbroken when the stitching comes undone the next week. And lastly, more fashionable virtualtourists might be disappointed with the deisgns on offer - Seoul specialises in cheap clothes and fast alterations, but it is NOT a style capital (as you may have noticed on the crowded streets) .You can find stuff if you look...hard...but if you were expecting the kind of crazy cuts and colors of Tokyo`s Harajuku district, you may be disappointed. Dongdaemun does cheap and cheerful, and occassionally funky, but its not exactly cutting edge. Leave a Comment
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