Buying IN Hong Kong?

Ideo

Has anybody here any experience actaully buying a camera and lenses in HK, as opposed to ordering over the web? I'm heading there on Monday week and I'm planning on upgrading to the D80. I've been using this website for prcies and info but it would be great if some anybody had a personal experience to share!

Going to get the Sigma 24-70 too! Can't wait!!

snellers

It might be worth checking with the likes of KEA et al if they have shop premises - I could be speaking out of turn here but I would imagine HK is likely to have a fair amount of fake products being sold in shops (many other fake prodcuts you hear about originate from China/HK) - I personally would tend to play safe and go with companies with great reputations.

Not sure of the current legislation but I guess you could potentially be stung duty on your purchases on the way back as well....

Thirdfox

Speaking as a Chinese person I'd doubt they'd be able to fake a Nikon camera (don't expect real Gucci purses/Calvin Klein shirts etc. for 2 euro though...) The general rule applies - if they're offering a D3 for 20 euro well, I'd say it's your fault for buying it really

One problem might be that you can't speak the language (a calculator helps - tap in the price you want to offer). But be prepared to haggle - they may offer Irish prices at the beginning - personally I just stick to whatever price I think is fair to me (meaning that I pay over the odds compared to a hard-core haggler but 6-7 euro to me means relatively little but a lot to these people).

Hmm as regards the duty situation I believe there is an exemption from duty for goods up to a certain limit (around 400 euro I think) when you're actually bringing the product with you in person as opposed to getting it shipped.

Ideo

HK is only the first stop on my trip, mainland china for 5 weeks then malaysia, vietnam, cambodia.... am I making you all jealous? oh, thats sad!

Yeah Ive read up about it, stuff like putting a d40 in a d3's body! wont be buying a d3 however!! Ill probably stick with the mong kok as it seems to be the best palce to shop according to that link. Seems decent enough.

any other advice would be more than welcome!

deevey

I was over there last new years and bought a few electronic bits and bobs ... using ebay hong kong shops as a reference while I was heckling .. generally you'll get a 30-50% discount.. found ebay was still cheaper for alot of stuff even including shipping.

Language wasn't a problem most dealers spoke broken engrish, except in the markets which geneally only had crap anyhow (the Camera bags were alright though).. any of the guys there had their own calculators to hand for you to key in your expected buying price.. $=talk

Dont expect AMAZING deals ... its good but the locals i was out with reckoned shenzhen is better for the bargains, if you have the time for the trip.

Have a great time

Ideo

deevey wrote: »

I was over there last new years and bought a few electronic bits and bobs ... using ebay hong kong shops as a reference while I was heckling .. generally you'll get a 30-50% discount.. found ebay was still cheaper for alot of stuff even including shipping.

for general electronic or cameras? im using the link i have to suss out prices. people email in with the prices that they buy stuff at the list is updated every second day or so. wont get more up to date than that i think?????

deevey wrote: »

Dont expect AMAZING deals ... its good but the locals i was out with reckoned shenzhen is better for the bargains, if you have the time for the trip.

is that for general bargains? coming home through HK in sept so was just going to leave the shopping till then. there might be a bit of dificulty getting back into china with the whole visa situation. getting my first one was bad enough, dont want to have to go through that ordeal again!

deevey

Oh their are Loads of bargains to be had alright, clothes, furniture, chinese decor & toys being prime examples

Electronics I found for the most part about 20 - 50% cheaper than here, and at a push around 10% cheaper than ebay... (shipping inclusive)..there are bargains to be had alright you really need to hunt around and compare ... haggle with them on their prices vs ebay vs the imaginary guy closer to your hotel ... I guess I thought i'd get better deals on electronics than I normally would get on ebay where I normally buy computer type stuff and camera gear...

I was there for two weeks wandering and only scratched the surface of whats on offer.

You can apparently get a daily visa to shenzhen available at the border I dont know if the fact you were already in china and left will be an issue

Fionn

my sister was there two years ago and had a local with her who knew all the right places to go picked up some good bargins ok.

on another note i'm going out of the country on two occasions this year and intend to bring a good deal of gear with me, is there any probs going through customs - like when coming back to ireland with cameras and lens etc. ?
One trip to the US and another to Singapore (whats the shopping like there?)

LoanShark

HI,
I was in Hong Kong at the end of march and I bought a Nikon D60 and saved about €200.
I walked all round Nathan Road (the electronic area) and priced the camera in every shop, Prices varied with all the big stores offering the same package and the smaller 'tacky' stores just selling the camera at a bigger price, some were even selling the body and no lens at silly prices..
I got my Camers, Lens,Sd card,Lens Protector,Stand,Bag and extra Battery as well as other "free" gifts for 5380 HKD which worked out at €446, I saw the same camera in Heathrow for over £500 and in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre for over €600 no too sure if they gave the same package..
I bought my camera in Fortress..
My Girlfriend bought a lens for her sister for her Canon and saved a €100.

Buying in singapore is in and around the same as Hong Kong Prices, But Some of the Shops aren't allowed to Barter the price as it is against the law.. However there is certain Shopping Centres that do allow you to haggle..There is an information channel that gives you the run down on the way things are done over there..
With the way the Dollar is, I would take a chance in buying in the U.S. aswell.

Thirdfox

It is cheaper to buy in the US, then Japan and then China respectively.

Ireland pretty much comes dead last in terms of competitive prices.

I bought my D40 for 480 euro over a year ago in China... I still see retail shops in Ireland selling it for 480 now!

Ideo

Cool! Thanks for the advice guys! I might actually meet with the girl from HK who was in my class so she could be useful for bargaining! The link I posted in the first post seems to be pretty good too!?