Lanzarote - shopping advice.

Loobz

I have booked a holiday for a group of us to Lanzorote for the beginning of April. Ive been told a few times that all shops over there a dirt cheap, from clothes to electrical goods. How true is this?

I was thinking of getting a camcorder over here on the sales (Mini DV preferably) but was advised to wait till I get over to Lanzarote cos I would pick one up much cheaper. Is this true? I dont want to go over expecting to get a cheap camocorder to find its just the same price over here.

Also, whats the shopping like for clothes etc etc?

All advice welcome. Cant wait to get over there.

trotter_inc

Perfume, fags and alcohol are really cheap.

I was over there about 3 years ago, was going to buy a camcorder - they are much cheaper than over here alright and there is plenty of selection too - they are for sale all over the place! Im sure you'll find one you like.

As far as I can remember clothes shopping wasnt great, mainly just t-shirts for sale.

Oh yeah - if you're prone to cold sores get a few tubes of zovirax over there coz its much cheaper too - my relations always bring it back

sanncoo

Lanzarote is one of my favourite destinations.....I use it for my winter pick me up.

Shopping for clothes has gotten better as the new shopping centre in the old town has opened. You can shop in Zara, Pull and Bear plus jewellry shops and shoe shops. 3 people I know had to buy another suitcase coming home.....

You will get a good deal on the camcorder/cigarettes/booze/perfume. SHop around and re the camcorder do not be afraid to haggle it is expected.

Enjoy the break! You will eat and drink well!

S

Padraig Mor

Loobz wrote:

I have booked a holiday for a group of us to Lanzorote for the beginning of April. Ive been told a few times that all shops over there a dirt cheap, from clothes to electrical goods. How true is this?

I was thinking of getting a camcorder over here on the sales (Mini DV preferably) but was advised to wait till I get over to Lanzarote cos I would pick one up much cheaper. Is this true? I dont want to go over expecting to get a cheap camocorder to find its just the same price over here.

Also, whats the shopping like for clothes etc etc?

All advice welcome. Cant wait to get over there.

Was there a couple of years ago, and in neighbouring Fuerteventura the year after. Yeah, pretty much everything there is well cheaper than here, particularly booze, fags etc. One note - the prices in the duty free at the airport are higher than those in most of the shops on the island!

As someone noted, the Biosfera complex near the old town is good for clothes etc. As for a camcorder.....we got one the following year in Fuerteventura, which is pretty similar to Lanzarote. Prices are excellent, but beware, they are seriously high pressure guys! My advice - agree how much you want to spend, bring that in cash, and (literally) leave the credit card at home - they WILL make you spend more than you had planned otherwise. Also, DO NOT tell them how much money you have (tell them less), or show it to them (they will ask) or you will end up spending every penny. Beware particularly of peripherals - bags, tapes etc. We got fleeced on blank DV tapes coz we didn't know the price back home. From what I have seen on other websites, it's also a good idea to get the actual camera you will be buying demonstrated to you and keep your eye on it while paying etc (watch that card if paying by CC too!), or it could be swapped for a dud! I have heard many of these stories so watch out! If you keep your wits about you though, you should be fine.

In fact, the best idea is to probably go to 2/3 of the places (there are many) WITHOUT any money/card first to agree a price - don't mind the spiel they'll give you about not getting the price later - if you came back with cash, they'll take it. We got a JVC mini DV cam for 2-300 euro less than home. Never use it though...

Hope this helps!

PS The 'international' guarantee they'll rave about is, AFAIK, worthless when you get back home, so don't let it sway you.

ToxicPaddy

A guy I know was over there about 2 months ago and picked up a digital
camcorder. It looked the biz, had all the attachements etc and was a fairly
decent model and well known brand..

He brought it home and within a week it had stopped working. So he rang about
the warranty etc and found out that the store who claimed to be an "official" outlet for this brand were in fact actually selling fake units claiming them to be
from that brand.. as such the manufacturers are actually taking legal action against the store..

So beware of what you buy.

Tox

Loobz

Thanks for all the info people. I didnt realise you could haggle if it is a shop! I thought that kind of thing was for street markets or am I missing something.

We got a JVC mini DV cam for 2-300 euro less than home. Never use it though...

Shame on you.

SteM

Loobz wrote:

Thanks for all the info people. I didnt realise you could haggle if it is a shop! I thought that kind of thing was for street markets or am I missing something.

There's loads of electronics shops along the promanade in puerto del carmen. They expect you to haggle, if you pay the first price they quote you'd be crazy. I'd agree with ToxicPaddy, be very carefuly with what you buy. If you're going to get something expensive like a camera get it in the first week and use it in the second, test the sh1te out of it and if it breaks go straight back to the shop.

sanncoo

SteM wrote:

There's loads of electronics shops along the promanade in puerto del carmen. They expect you to haggle, if you pay the first price they quote you'd be crazy. I'd agree with ToxicPaddy, be very carefuly with what you buy. If you're going to get something expensive like a camera get it in the first week and use it in the second, test the sh1te out of it and if it breaks go straight back to the shop.

I have never bought any electrical stuff there but that is a great idea, Stem! At least you have some come back.

signostic

be very careful when using your cc - I remember this being featured on Live Line on radio 1 sometime ago about the abuse of credit cards in the Canaries..if at all opossible as some other contributers have said ..use cash. And always make sure that the camera that is being shown and demonstarted to you is the actual one that you will be bring home with..I have heard that when some people open the box that they had in fact been given a different camera with less features than they had paid for.

trotter_inc

They also have loads of binoculars for sale EVERYWHERE over there, pretty cheap as well if you're prepared to haggle!

Loobz

Thanks people. I may practice my haggling skillz! Any other advice?

chump

I wouldn't buy electronics over there... in general the prices seem to be cheap as the gear is usually always older gen models...
that's just me though and the story from the lad above seems to be the kind of thing one expects... and of course the warranty issue!

You can buy almost every conceivable electronic good on the web for good prices, that's what I'd recommend...

But then again if you were to make a list of quality reviewed items and bring it over, and then spotted the same model, tested it & all that - you should be fine

marco murphy

Haggle haggle haggle.They laugh at you if they rip you off,you gotta look stubborn and haggle.Start at like 2 euro for binoculars!

vibe666

NEVER buy on your first visit.

tell them you're going for a coffee, and you'll think about it. they'll be at their lowest price before you make it to the door.

then you leave anyway, amke a note of the exact item, have a coffee and shop around. then the next time you see it ask for a price, and get them as close as you can to the other price, then drop the 'this other guy is selling it for xx' line, and see what you get. if he won't go that low then walk.

also make sure that you're getting all the accessories included. a lot of those places sell bit's and pieces extra on top, especially with playstations and camcorders etc.

make sure you have and international guarantee too, you you'll be fooked if it goes wrong.

I lived in tenerife for 3 and a alf years, so I have quite a bit of experience with that sort of thing.

best advise is not to rush it. they'll bend over to lower the price just to guarantee the sale if they think you're going to walk. then walk anyway. there's no shortage of shops to get stuff in, and they'll be getting quiet now after the xmas rush, so they'll be fighting for your buisiness.

Loobz

Everyones been really helpful. thanks people. Lets hope I can pick up a nice camcorder at a nicer price I really want to get one the day I arrive, simply cos I want to record the holiday from day one. Then again, I better not rush it.

marco murphy

Good good,would anyone recommend a camcorder,aim off somewhere similar,and i want a digi camera

Loobz

Poblachtach wrote:

Good good,would anyone recommend a camcorder,aim off somewhere similar,and i want a digi camera

Sorry but Im not following

trotter_inc

Loobz wrote:

Sorry but Im not following

You're not the only one