buying electronics in SE Asia

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Stimp - 19 Oct 2005 10:10 GMT

I'll be heading to SE Asia soon (Vietnam down as far as Indonesia) and
wouldn't mind picking up a cheapo PSP while I'm there.

Would Singapore be the best bet for getting a cheap PSP, or Bangkok?

Anyone know what the prices are like there at the mo for that item?
cheers

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Pete Loud - 19 Oct 2005 10:38 GMT

The price difference between western and S.E. Asian countries is not as
great as it used to be, and the there are so many scams and disadvantages of
buying out East you might be better not buying there.

I've had so many problems with purchases in Singapore I rarely buy things
there now.

Cheers,

Pete Loud

> I'll be heading to SE Asia soon (Vietnam down as far as Indonesia) and
> wouldn't mind picking up a cheapo PSP while I'm there.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Anyone know what the prices are like there at the mo for that item?
> cheers

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Stimp - 19 Oct 2005 12:41 GMT

> The price difference between western and S.E. Asian countries is not as
> great as it used to be, and the there are so many scams and disadvantages of
> buying out East you might be better not buying there.
>
> I've had so many problems with purchases in Singapore I rarely buy things
> there now.

hmm... I bought a PDA in singapore last time and saved around 100-120
euros off what it would cost at home.

Also got a Toshiba laptop in Bagkok for 1,200 euros when the equivalent
model here was 2,000

I'll check both places out when I head.. might even get a nice ceramic
PSP mmmmm :)

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Markku Grönroos - 19 Oct 2005 19:14 GMT

"Pete Loud" <peteloud@XXXmkmarina.co.uk> kirjoitti
viestissä:newscache$ykploi$3ph$1@news2.power.net.uk...

> The price difference between western and S.E. Asian countries is not as
> great as it used to be, and the there are so many scams and disadvantages
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I've had so many problems with purchases in Singapore I rarely buy things
> there now.

Warranty may be one issue.

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Stimp - 20 Oct 2005 18:03 GMT

just to follow up on my own post, my brother is going to be going to
Malaysia next week.. is there a shopping mall (like Pathip Plaza in
Bangkok, or Computer City in Singapore) that specialises in electronics
in Kuala Lumpur ??

Thanks.

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Miguel Cruz - 20 Oct 2005 19:54 GMT

> just to follow up on my own post, my brother is going to be going to
> Malaysia next week.. is there a shopping mall (like Pathip Plaza in
> Bangkok, or Computer City in Singapore) that specialises in electronics
> in Kuala Lumpur ??

Plaza Low Yat (Bukit Bintang area, near Imbi monorail station), 2nd and 3rd
floors.

Also the more downmarket Plaza Imbi, on the other side of Jalan Bulan from
Low Yat.

miguel

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Leon Travel-Unlimited - 26 Oct 2005 12:02 GMT

Singapore no question about that

Go to Sim Lim square

Look round, ask discout (25%) on average

Tactics is you ask for an item (in 3/4 different shops to make a comparison
between shops, items and prices)

You start discussing, you get shocked by the initial price and look really
ready not to buy.

Then he offers accessories and a global price with a calculing machine
(quite useful: you always need accessories)

You answer with the same machine (you don't talk loud of money)

Again and again.

At that point you will probably buy something... If you don't everybody will
have lost time - not a win-win- so he won't let you go.

After it all depends how tough and nasty you are...

I'll write something on that in that site below...

Warranty are most of the time world wide on costly items.
(just suscribe one once at home)

Leon
***************

http://www.Travel-Unlimited.net
Written by travellers for travellers.

***************

On 19/10/05 16:10, in article slrndlc3c7.n85.ren@carbon.redbrick.dcu.ie,

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Stimp - 26 Oct 2005 14:09 GMT

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 Leon Travel-Unlimited <leonadmin@travel-unli

> Singapore no question about that
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> After it all depends how tough and nasty you are...

*lol*.. I know.. last time I was in Singapore was during the SARS scare.
Very few tourists in town, so I managed to bag quite a few bargains.

One shopkeeper even complimented me on my haggling skills.

I ended up getting a Canon camera, plus 1 GB of memory, plus a padded
carry case for 25% of the initial price he quoted me.

I think he must have made around $5 profit, judging by the going rate ;)

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RAK - 27 Oct 2005 03:50 GMT

> On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 Leon Travel-Unlimited <leonadmin@travel-unli
>> Singapore no question about that
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> I think he must have made around $5 profit, judging by the going rate ;)

But how inflated was his initial price? Did you compare with a fixed price
shop such as the airport duty free?
25% of a hugely inflated price may not be so good.
The last time I did a lengthy haggle there, I later found the same camera
slightly cheaper in the airport. Grrr.

Also these guys often overcharge on accessories while you focus on getting
the base price of the camera down.

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Stimp - 27 Oct 2005 11:06 GMT

>> *lol*.. I know.. last time I was in Singapore was during the SARS scare.
>> Very few tourists in town, so I managed to bag quite a few bargains.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> The last time I did a lengthy haggle there, I later found the same camera
> slightly cheaper in the airport. Grrr.

yeah it was a lot cheaper than the same model in the airport and a HELL
of a lot cheaper than I saw it going for in Oz when I arrived there
after

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Miguel Cruz - 28 Oct 2005 12:55 GMT

> But how inflated was his initial price? Did you compare with a fixed price
> shop such as the airport duty free?
> 25% of a hugely inflated price may not be so good.
> The last time I did a lengthy haggle there, I later found the same camera
> slightly cheaper in the airport. Grrr.

Before buying electronics in Singapore or elsewhere I recommend checking the
prices with US-based web shops (using www.pricegrabber.com or similar); that
will give you a fairly acurate picture of what a fair price is.

And of course if you live in the US you might as well just buy from one of
them because you're not going to save anything in Singapore.

miguel (right now ordering a hard drive from the US because nobody in
Singapore, Malaysia, or Thailand can get me a decent price on it - and it
was made in Singapore!)

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Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / October 2005

buying electronics in SE Asia