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dandan



Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, I wouldn't too excited about seeing the Mid-levels escalator, son.

It's an escalator. It's quite long.

It's like a short escalator, only, you know.... longer.
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Eunoia



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 4:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

2 things:

prplfairy wrote:
...And for the love of god please don't even think about going to any of those camera/electronic shops in TST to buy ipods.


I'd just like to ask, "why not?" I did some window shopping over there a few months back, and the guy at one shop knocked the price of the digital camera I was looking at down about 25% to a price much cheaper than in Canada or Korea, and I wasn't even trying. (I ended up not buying it, though - and I already have an iPod, anyway.)

So the question is, why should one NOT buy from one of these places that is so eager to sell? If I can get it for, say, 20% less than Fortress, why not buy it?


dandan wrote:
Yeah, I wouldn't too excited about seeing the Mid-levels escalator, son.

It's an escalator. It's quite long.

It's like a short escalator, only, you know.... longer.


I think the point of visiting that area is not about the escalator itself, but just taking in all the area has to offer. Those side streets have some pretty interesting shops and restaurants hiding away...
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dandan



Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I'd just like to ask, "why not?" I did some window shopping over there a few months back, and the guy at one shop knocked the price of the digital camera I was looking at down about 25% to a price much cheaper than in Canada or Korea, and I wasn't even trying. (I ended up not buying it, though - and I already have an iPod, anyway.)


Generally speaking you're right, HK is a pretty safe place to shop and by all means if you can get a good price then go for it. However, specifically in Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui there are some notorious bait and switch and scam shops. For example, thay may quote you a cheaper price but then when you get home you find the cables, charger, lens etc missing and they'll ask you to pay extra for these 'accessories' (which should some with the camera) and you'll end up paying much more in the end. Or even, swapping the camera when you're not looking for a cheaper model with a receipt carbon copy under the one you sign which will show the cheaper one so you have a receipt showing that you signed for the cheaper model. Not all shops in Nathan Road do this but there are several that do, so if you want to shop there then be careful. And as usual if it sounds to good to be true it probably isn't true.

These kind of scams happen everywhere in the world, there are shops that do this in most major cities, London, New York etc etc. but Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is the place for this in Hong Kong.

P.S. If you go anywhere in the world and get quoted a price that isn't significantly cheaper than Canadian prices you know you're definately getting screwed Wink
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once again



Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 815

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you didn't buy it then you have no idea of what would have happened if you had gone through with the process. If they dropped the price 25 %without you even trying that looks like a classic bait and switch tactic. Think yourself lucky for not being truly ripped off.
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Eunoia



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 16

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good tips there. Sounds like one really needs to open the box and checks the contents before walking out the door, or better yet, before laying down the cash... Wonder how the shopkeepers would react...
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dandan



Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If they're kosher they won't mind. In fact, many shops will actually ask you to check the contents before you leave to protect themselves from dodgy customers who'll try and rip them off by coming back and claiming that stuff was missing from the box. Particularly those notoriously troublesome gweilos, everyone knows how sneaky and tricky they can be. Razz
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Ludwig



Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Posts: 1096
Location: 22� 20' N, 114� 11' E

PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Everything all the above have said is all pretty much accurate; - there is certainly no shortage of scamsters in any large city (and no shortage of mugs passing through, either). I would have to say, however, that - in comparison in other international cities - HK enjoys relatively few such enterprises.

Another thing I would add, though, is that scamsters in HK are - if reported (which assumes their 'reportability', i.e., their location is known) - often dealt with quite rapidly and publicly. Obviously, few if any would have sympathy for someone who has been scammed when buying off the street (many are picked up at and led away from reputable and high quality outlets by people who claim to be employed by the outlet and to be able to offer identical products at discounted prices). I do not know if anyone else recalls seeing it on the local news around six (?) months ago, but an Australian (or British) couple felt they had been scammed by an outlet somewhere in the area between TST and TST East as regards the price they had paid for a camera (when compared to other outlets on their back to their hotel), contacted the police and the salesman was arrested and marched out of the shop in handcuffs on TV!
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