Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MattAwesome]

If you are looking for anything new just buy it online. yongsan never has anything when it is released. If you want something old and used, it's fine. but dont waste your time going there looking for the latest and greatest.

video games? play-asia.
anything else, g-market. however most gmarket sellers are third party, but you can cheap stuff!

[Lazio]

Bought a TV/monitor off of gmarket and I figured the seller was in Yongsan. I didn't want to wait for the delivery, instead I went there to pick it up myself. The same thing was being sold for 25% more at their store.

[naturegirl321]

If you iknow where to go, there's cheap stuff. You have to find the distributors.

[matthews_world]

[djloekee27]

[jackdaniels]

Online
Good-better prices
Bad-Have to go by pictures and description.

Store
Good-Can actually see and check out the product before purchase.
Bad- Higher prices most of the time. Keep in mind rent in Yongsan is very high.

[Koreadays]

yongsan and dongdaemun use to be cheap places.
but now they have both become department stores in drity quarters!
online is always cheaper and comes delivered to your house.

[Artris]

There are deals to be had in Yongsan. You just have to be willing to haggle. If you find a stand that is not agreeable, be friendly but walk away. You can always come back later, and prices are not fixed, even in the ETLand at the station (at least for camera equipment). In Thailand I visited this one stand three times, each time with a new purchase evident, before getting the price I wanted.

Also, as fun as it can be, you *really* have to know what you want. It is a game and, most likely, you will lose if you don't have all the details: I've been quoted outrageous prices on many occasions. Depending on how outrageous, skipping the smile and walking away may be best. This one camera shop in Chungmuro quoted me 200,000 won for a Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 manual focus lens. I could barely hold back a laugh as I walked out of the store. I picked up the same lens for 40,000 won in Namdaemun, and it was in better condition!

When I first came to South Korea I learned an important lesson: don't commit yourself to traveling halfway across the country before negotiating the price (actually didn't pay too much for the item, and got most of it back in resale later, but it was a silly mistake regardless). If you show too much interest you will pay for it. Show too little and they won't take you seriously.

[hanguker]

...or just comparison shop online and save yourself a ton of drama.

danawa and naver are great places to start.

[thurst]

the electronics mart in nambu is pretty good as well.

[teacherT]

i have heard both cons and pros about yongsan

[teacherT]

I will probably check it out one of these days