Shopping in Hong Kong

[jeffham29]

My parents are spending some of their trip to China in Hong Kong. Does anyone have any experiences with prices there? My dad offered to buy me a nice watch if the price was right. Are brands like Movado, TAG Heuer or Montblanc, for example at all cheaper, significantly cheaper or just buy it in St. Martin?
Help is appreciated.

 

[Berlin]

Their first time there and how many days they have in HK ?

 

[viciouscycle]

Think you can save anywhere from 10 to 20% depending on the brand. Of course there's no tax.

 

[jeffham29]

Their first time there and how many days they have in HK ?

1st time and a day or two.

 

[ASYLUM]

its definately worth it to buy name brand stuff over there...you'll save a ton of money

 

[hairyfucker]

If you are going to buy the real stuff make sure you get the real stuff. There is a crackdown but there are lots of pirate and counterfeit goods.

 

[Gyaos]

On Nathan Road, they will be hounded by Indians (from India...duh) to get them watches and suits. These guys don't hound the locals. To get a legit watch, ask the concierge at the hotel where to go. I'm assuming they will be at the Conrad, Pennisula, or the Sheraton.....something like that, rather than the Express at Holiday Inn in Causeway Bay.

Gyaos Baltar

 

[Cinema Face]

Try a place called "lady's market" I believe it's in Kowloon (spelling)

I got some amazing deals there.

Oh, and you don't buy ladies at Lady's market, just in case you were wondering.

You can probably get some deals on some brand name watches but the real deals are in the replicas. There are some really good replica watches really cheap, I mean CHEAP. In fact I would be skeptical of someone trying to sell a real one.

 

[Meister]

You can probably get some deals on some brand name watches but the real deals are in the replicas. There are some really good replica watches really cheap, I mean CHEAP. In fact I would be skeptical of someone trying to sell a real one.

You are absolutely correct. I would only trust a real watch from a store like Cartier, Rolex.... Even a legit looking shopping mall could be selling fakes and they are virtually indistinguishable. That is because in China they actually copy the manufacturing process, not just the design.

 

[Berlin]

1st time and a day or two.

For first timer and only a day, I suggest your folks do the following:

- first thing- head to the most convenient tourist info centre in the area ( e.g. there's one at the Kowloon side Star Ferry , in Tsimshatsui -which is also a major tourists area for hotels and shopping - they won't miss it since it is to the right of the ferry entrance ) simply ask the female staffs there what you folks are planning to buy and ask them what you should be looking for when choosing a shop to go to. You see, there are still " black shops" -as the local calls them - that rip off tourists although nowadays the chunk of tourists are mainland Chinese. the staffs at centre will tell you signs to look for and what you should and can do when the bad dudes at the shop pressure you to buy. They will provide you with free maps as well.

- Movado, TAG Heuer or Montblanc - to get a better price, you must shop around even in HK. I suggest you do this, say you're already in Tsimshatsui's Star Ferry, walk to the Ocean terminal shopping centre which is right next to the Ferry. Once you have walked up the flight of stairs or the escalator, walk into the building and turn left. You should see the Lanvin store on the left side. Along the same side of Lanvin you shall find at least 3 shops that carry the brands you mentioned. Start from there , check out the prices first and move onto other shopping centre such as Ocean Centre, Harbour City which are all interconnected with Ocean terminal.

- Once you have located the store with the best price, go back and hackle down the price, at least try. They should be able to give a better discount on Montblanc. Now of course, your folks can do their shopping in other area as well. But personally I love the Ocean Terminal area because it's got almost everything and name brands I like and it's all under one roof.

IFC is another personal fav. Just a ferry ride from Ocean terminal, or you can also take the subway.

http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/

http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/mall.aspx

- Shops open late at the centre. 10:30 am and quite a few open at 11. There are tons of nice bling bling shops in HK so your folks will be bedazzled.

- I'd say you'd save at least 20% given the high CAD now, I think now it is 1 loon to almost 7.5 HKD.

- Your folks can cheap you out and get a copy at Ladies Market in Mongkok fer $300 to 400 HKD ...though I won't advice them to visit there as they only have a day .. they would be lost in the crowd.

 

[Potang4U]

If you want to get the real watches
...go to legit places with HK Tourist Board logo on shop door...Like some red junk boat/or dragon symbol.
Tsim Sha Tsui on Nathan Road have them and reputable shopping malls.Just be cautious it's the real deal
...Like you hear how these reputable shops with the HKTB red logo haggle customers(Canadians) to buying more than what they can afford or switching warranty or even a guy buying a authentic Rolex over $80kHKD and the number comes off.He later got his watch fixed,all is good.

another thing is be cautious of day light robbery.Where talking guns,and gernades.cops don't show up until it's way pass the time.

for fakes---Mong Kok
anything on earth you can get it here.Ladies Market.it's on Tung Choi Guy(street) Where all these Triads guys with a table and pictures of watches/handbags. You pay a deposit maybe $300HKD like under $50CDN since our dollar is like $8HKD. He comes back 15-30 mins...just wait there...He shows you alot of samples...then you decide if you want it or not...I don't know if you can get the deposit back...never tried.

Another night market like Mong Kok is
Temple street it's on 2 districts...Yaumatei the ugly side of shit life and Jordan next to TST.They too sell watches and all fakies cheapies stuff.plus tons of cheap sex toys...

Shops opened til 9pm and night markets til 1130pm.

I can be a tour guide.
I live there for years.

 

[mmouse]

For cheap (sometimes stolen) hifi & electronic goods, go to Apliu street in Sham Shui Po. While there check out Golden Plaza for pirate software and computer stuff. Someone correct me if this is no longer the case since it's been a few years...

 

[Wilde]

for fakes---Mong Kok
anything on earth you can get it here.Ladies Market.it's on Tung Choi Guy(street) Where all these Triads guys with a table and pictures of watches/handbags. You pay a deposit maybe $300HKD like under $50CDN since our dollar is like $8HKD. He comes back 15-30 mins...just wait there...He shows you alot of samples...then you decide if you want it or not...I don't know if you can get the deposit back...never tried.

...

I can be a tour guide.
I live there for years.

If you have lived there for years, haven't you learned NEVER TO PAY A DEPOSIT? Ask yourself what it is for and do you really think you can get your money back in that sea of people in Mongkok?

The truth is, if you are white and never been to HK, anything you buy, you will end up paying too much. Even legit places in HK are ripping off people. Search for news reports around Feb. this year on jewelry stores in HK ripping off mainland tourist customers during Chinese New Year travel season. And if you think you are getting a good deal by knocking 60% off the asking price, think again. What if the asking price is already at 400% of reasonable price? 60% off that is still 60% too much. And then there is always the risk of getting something fake and paying full price for it. I personally have seen fake Rolex and Omega that are really well made, not only in looks and functionality. So beware. The fact is, they know you are tourists and it is unlikely for you to ever come back and cause trouble for them if they sold you fake goods. There are bargains to be had in clothes, fashion accessories, plenty of them. But I would not buy watches in HK or China.

 

[Potang4U]

shop

If you have lived there for years, haven't you learned NEVER TO PAY A DEPOSIT? Ask yourself what it is for and do you really think you can get your money back in that sea of people in Mongkok?

I said I never tried this stuff to make a deposit for fakies triad run errands.And in Hong Kong everything is all about the money.No one is gonna move/walk to get anything ---(the watches)without something--(the money)
I can't afford name brand watch.
So I plunk some coins to the MTR to
Sham Shui Po Apliu street and Kwelian Street famed for electrics parts/shoes/and watches.That's were I get mine.

The truth is, if you are white and never been to HK, anything you buy, you will end up paying too much. Even legit places in HK are ripping off people. Search for news reports around Feb. this year on jewelry stores in HK ripping off mainland tourist customers during Chinese New Year travel season.

Yep, before it was Whites being ripped off,now if you don't speak the language or understand just abit...your gonna get ripped. Alot of tourist $ comes from mainland China.They get ripped thru the roof,all aboard the money tour busses.

 

[Berlin]

Brilliant.

 

[Berlin]

Search for news reports around Feb. this year on jewelry stores in HK ripping off mainland tourist customers during Chinese New Year travel season. ..


...There are bargains to be had in clothes, fashion accessories, plenty of them. But I would not buy watches in HK or China.

The rip offs on mainland Chinese tourists are in fact quite serious. Not only shops owners but local HK tour guides hooking up with black shops ripping off shopping tours from China, nice eh ? Then again, the consumer goods counterfeit situations in mainland is extremely bad so a lot of mainland folks with new money seem to be willing to take chances for these shopping tours. What other choices they have really, it's simply horrible.

As said, you can still get your brand name watches at a good price, maybe you won't get the discount that the stores give to locals who are in the know, but you'd ending up getting your watch way cheaper than you'd pay here.

Mind you, most chain stores won't offer walk in discounts. Say you stroll along Nathan road and want to get a Rolex , diamond ring or anything from stores like Chow Tai fook , Chow sung sung or even Duty Free Galleria shops, what you see is what they will accept, unless the items are on special.

It can still be a shopping haven and heaven for first timers, simply excercise cautions. If you have any doubt at the shop, just walk away.

 

[goodtime]

Chow Tai Fook offers discount if you buy a lot - ie: money is no object...
To sample their collections, http://www.chowtaifook.com/

With Macau becoming Vegas-like, some mainlanders forgo HK for Casinos.

 

[Berlin]

Chow Tai Fook offers discount if you buy a lot - ie: money is no object...

And have you ever bought " a lot " there, or have your " relatives" ever ?
Alice ?

 

[goodtime]

Jealous, Suzie Wong?

 

[Berlin]

Jealous, Suzie Wong?

Suzie was indeed hot !

Chow Tai Fook offers discount if you buy a lot - ie: money is no object...

Reread your post again ,Alice. If you buy a lot ? Money is no object ?No, really ?

Duh !

Idiot, you can pretty much substitue most retailer's name for Chow Tai Fook in your idiotic rant. Or were you saying only Chow Tai Fook in your Wonderland does that ? Idiot.