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ktkates87
Joined: 13 Apr 2010
Location: Busan
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 Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:48 am Post subject: yongsan electronics |
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Hi there,
So today my husband and I visited the yonsan electronics market. Oh boy would I love to live at that place, but anyways....
I am in the market for a d90. The prices we were being quoted were pretty good (close to being on par with what I could get at photoprice.ca if I were still living in Canada). They were offering 810,000 (with warranty- 2 years in Korea, 1 year internationally). Correct me if this is a bad price in Korea.
In any case I'm wondering, (very much a newb question) is this place legitimate? Am I being ripped off if I buy something from here? Would you advise someone to go somewhere else to buy a camera? Will the warranty be legitimate? Are they doing any shady things to the cameras in order to sell them? I appreciate any help with this! |
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JGus
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:54 am Post subject: |
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I recently bought a Canon 500D in Yongsan. The price was significantly better there than it was at the Canon store and at lots of other retailers, so I felt like I got a good deal.
I was hesitant to buy there for the same reason you are, but I figured out that ultimately I was thinking that because of the layout of the store--the store looks and feels exactly like some of the massive flea market-type places in China and in other places which sell knockoffs and products whose authenticity/quality can't be trusted. You have to think, though, about the prominence of that location and how modern the Korean commerce system is--that place could never get away with selling illegitimate goods.
To reassure myself as I was making the purchase, I asked the sales rep a ton of questions (quizzing him, essentially) and discovered that he really knew cameras and knew the model in which I was interested. I also took the time to look up a number of things on the computer he had available, right in front of him, in part because he was explaining the difference between the same model made in Korea vs. it being made in Japan or China--a production/distribution dynamic with which I was unfamiliar--but also just to check the legitimacy of everything he was saying. Everything checked out. I've had my camera for two weeks, and it has been working excellently. It is definitely a legitimate and quality product.
Although my experience most certainly lends credence to Yongsan, it is still a single experience, and you may want to take steps to reassure yourself (as I did) while purchasing your camera. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:04 am Post subject: Re: yongsan electronics |
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| ktkates87 wrote: |
Hi there,
So today my husband and I visited the yonsan electronics market. Oh boy would I love to live at that place, but anyways....
I am in the market for a d90. The prices we were being quoted were pretty good (close to being on par with what I could get at photoprice.ca if I were still living in Canada). They were offering 810,000 (with warranty- 2 years in Korea, 1 year internationally). Correct me if this is a bad price in Korea.
In any case I'm wondering, (very much a newb question) is this place legitimate? Am I being ripped off if I buy something from here? Would you advise someone to go somewhere else to buy a camera? Will the warranty be legitimate? Are they doing any shady things to the cameras in order to sell them? I appreciate any help with this! |
Where in the electronics market?
Yongsan electronics market covers about 15 buildings and about 2-3 square km.
IF you were referring to the place upstairs from Yongsan station, they are usually the most expensive place to shop over at the electronics market.
You can usually get better prices for the same product on the other side of the tracks (location depends on produce sought). This holds true for cameras, electronics of all sorts, computers, hardware, appliances and small appliances.
Most of them are reputable and no different than any other camera shop anywhere else on the planet.
There is GREAT information on DSLR shopping to be found in the TECH forum of this same board.
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NM14456
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:09 am Post subject: |
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Maybe it's just what I've happened to look at in the market there but the prices have always been high there in comparison to the States (I realize this may be irrelevant as you're here!). When I've guesstimated the customs costs it would have been cheaper still to pay the taxes and just have Amazon (or equivalent) mail the item.
I only bought a minor accessory at Yonsan and had no problems but I've heard it can be a rip off in general. |
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stuff_4_sale
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:09 am Post subject: |
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| I think ktkates87 was referring to the Ipark. |
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NM14456
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the tip on the other part of the park (over the tracks). I'd heard about it once but didn't have any idea about the prices or how legit stuff was there. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: yongsan electronics |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| ktkates87 wrote: |
Hi there,
So today my husband and I visited the yonsan electronics market. Oh boy would I love to live at that place, but anyways....
I am in the market for a d90. The prices we were being quoted were pretty good (close to being on par with what I could get at photoprice.ca if I were still living in Canada). They were offering 810,000 (with warranty- 2 years in Korea, 1 year internationally). Correct me if this is a bad price in Korea.
In any case I'm wondering, (very much a newb question) is this place legitimate? Am I being ripped off if I buy something from here? Would you advise someone to go somewhere else to buy a camera? Will the warranty be legitimate? Are they doing any shady things to the cameras in order to sell them? I appreciate any help with this! |
Where in the electronics market?
Yongsan electronics market covers about 15 buildings and about 2-3 square km.
IF you were referring to the place upstairs from Yongsan station, they are usually the most expensive place to shop over at the electronics market.
You can usually get better prices for the same product on the other side of the tracks (location depends on produce sought). This holds true for cameras, electronics of all sorts, computers, hardware, appliances and small appliances.
Most of them are reputable and no different than any other camera shop anywhere else on the planet.
There is GREAT information on DSLR shopping to be found in the TECH forum of this same board.
. |
I would never EVER buy a camera at Yongsan behind the tracks. Those guys are the shadiest, priciest people I've ever met. Computer parts, video games, everything else over there, sure, no problem, but cameras, no way.
810 for a D90 seems decent. I paid 880,000 or so this last January on a D90, got it on GMarket.
If you're looking for a camera, I'd go to Namdaemun, that's where the camera shops are located. As far as prices go, 810 is probably the lowest you'll find it. There is some speculation that a D90 replacement will be coming out soon and that they will drop in price again, so be aware of that. Like I said though, the best price I found was on GMarket, and the usual people I deal with in Namdaemun were quoting my about 100k higher, so you might want to check that out instead. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: yongsan electronics |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
I would never EVER buy a camera at Yongsan behind the tracks. Those guys are the shadiest, priciest people I've ever met. Computer parts, video games, everything else over there, sure, no problem, but cameras, no way.
810 for a D90 seems decent. I paid 880,000 or so this last January on a D90, got it on GMarket.
If you're looking for a camera, I'd go to Namdaemun, that's where the camera shops are located. As far as prices go, 810 is probably the lowest you'll find it. There is some speculation that a D90 replacement will be coming out soon and that they will drop in price again, so be aware of that. Like I said though, the best price I found was on GMarket, and the usual people I deal with in Namdaemun were quoting my about 100k higher, so you might want to check that out instead. |
It depends on "where" across the tracks you are talking about.
I personally like a couple of the dealers on the top floor of the Nanjin Arcade for camera stuff.
In the terminal building (the blue one) you have to be careful (as always when dealing in a market in Korea).
Some of them know their stuff. Some are just sales hacks working for commission. IF you know your stuff you will be fine. If not, well... (let the sentence finish itself).
The same can be said for buying any higher end stuff anywhere on the planet.
Knowledge is your best defense as well as your best offense.
Know what you want, what it is worth and what you are willing to pay for it.
There is no need to not have the basic knowledge now-a-days with all that is available on-line or in forums (like the tech forum here).
Part of the price differentials are gray market cameras vs local market cameras and warranty as well as just the dealers themselves.
http://www.davidsmeaton.com/index.php/super-daves-korean-camera-buying-guide/
is a good place to start - Dave is (or was) an active member here and an SLR/DSLR photographer.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=8
is another place you may want to check through if you are looking at DSLR cameras.
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz - The Terminal building, that's the one that is attached to the station via the walkway, correct? I haven't done much there, but the authorized Nikon dealer/repair place is there. Had a decent price on a hard drive there. The nanjing arcade is the building attached to the Terminal building then, right? That's the building I am thinking of where I have never had good luck. Looking for a speedlight, they quoted me 300k for an old SB-24. I literally laughed out loud at the guy and walked off. If you know of some decent dealers there, good for you, but the few times I've been there, I've always been quoted outrageous prices. Just my experiences. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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I'd say about 75% of the electronic shop in yong-san sells refurbished or used products as new. They're experts at replacing the new parts with refurbished or used parts and touching up scrapes and scratches off the used products to make them look new.
I know this for fact because a students of mine works there.  |
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Xaiko
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Location: Jamsil
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| Does ne1 have any idea where in yongsan I would go to repair the wiring for the speakers on my scooter? Thanks in advance^^ |
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