Shopping in China/Hong Kong

[Arsenal14]

I'm going to be doing a tour of China soon and I'm trying to get a feel for what types of deals can be had. I'll be in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as a few smaller cities (Xi'an, Guilin, Chengdu, Yichang). Knowing that there are some posters from China here and others that travel there regularly I'm looking for some advice:

- are electronics (such as a Blu-Ray player) still a bargain compared to Calgary prices?
- are most goods similar in price between Hong Kong and the mainland? I finish the trip in Hong Kong so if the prices are similar I'll hold off on my shopping until then.
- how much should I expect to pay for a knock-off Rolex watch or Mont Blanc pen?
- can I get a custom tailored suit/shirts made in Hong Kong if I only have about 2 and a half days there? How much should I be paying for a decent suit (nothing high end)? Any recommendations for tailors?
- where in Hong Kong should I be shopping for cheap men's clothes? I've seen Jardine Crescent and the Ladie's Market recommended in some guidebooks.

Thanks for any help.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

- are electronics (such as a Blu-Ray player) still a bargain compared to Calgary prices?
Not really...at least not authentic electronics
- are most goods similar in price between Hong Kong and the mainland? I finish the trip in Hong Kong so if the prices are similar I'll hold off on my shopping until then.
Hong Kong will almost always be more spendy. You may want to hit up Shenzhen
- how much should I expect to pay for a knock-off Rolex watch or Mont Blanc pen?
No idea...$40?
- can I get a custom tailored suit/shirts made in Hong Kong if I only have about 2 and a half days there? How much should I be paying for a decent suit (nothing high end)? Any recommendations for tailors?
Two days is easily enough time. Depending on fabric you can get a custom suit for less than $250. I went to Sam's on Nathan Road...more for the experience than anything else...I'm sure there are better values out there.
- where in Hong Kong should I be shopping for cheap men's clothes? I've seen Jardine Crescent and the Ladie's Market recommended in some guidebooks.
We shopped around Nathan Road and found cool little shops on the sidestreets. To be honest Shanghai and other mainland cities may be a better bet.

Other things...
The Badaling section of the Great Wall is the closest to Beijing and is a gong-show sooooo many tourists. If you have a chance to hike the Simatai section it is rugged but worth it

There is a local antique market in Xian that is quite cool. located at the intersection of Zhuque Road and Nan Erhuan Road...like EVERYTHING in China assume it is fake and pay accordingly. Also if you like history the Xian museum is great (as is Shanghai's)

The Buddha in the Lama Temple in Beijing is stunning...as epic as anything in China IMO

Learn to haggle and a couple of key terms (i.e. How much, Too expensive, Give it to me Cheaper...how to count). You can also use the calculator that almost all vendors will have to negotiate...if you pay more than 30% of the asking price you are getting scammed...definitely walk away from vendors they will chase you.

Bring a little phrasebook that has a decent menu in it with Chinese characters next to the menu items. Then if you are at a restaurant by yourself you can point to something you can handle and see if they can help you (try eggplant over there...)

Count your change and look out for non-chinese money slipped in with your change. Its hard when everything looks like Monopoly money but it will probably happen

[stang]

Pick me up a left handed Fake Gibson guitar please.....

If you say no, then I was just kidding,

If you say yes, then I can give you cash for it....

[jjbouma]

I'm also going to China in a week and was wondering the same things. I'll be in Beijing and Shantou. Can anyone share good places to go shopping for men's clothes and approximate prices you should be paying?

[stang]

My advice goes DOUBLE for you

[JohnnyB]

Well, I live in Shanghai, and I'm going to Hong Kong within a couple of days, but I haven't bought any of the things you're asking about. I can try to find out for you though. I'll let you know when I do.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by jjbouma

I'm also going to China in a week and was wondering the same things. I'll be in Beijing and Shantou. Can anyone share good places to go shopping for men's clothes and approximate prices you should be paying?

Two links here. All you need to know about shopping in Beijing

http://www.beijingtraveltips.com/shopping.htm

http://www.beijingtraveltips.com/tip...ning_howto.htm

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Well, I live in Shanghai, and I'm going to Hong Kong within a couple of days, but I haven't bought any of the things you're asking about. I can try to find out for you though. I'll let you know when I do.

That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

And stang, I'm not even sure I will have enough space in my luggage for my stuff so I think a guitar is unlikely

[stang]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

And stang, I'm not even sure I will have enough space in my luggage for my stuff so I think a guitar is unlikely

You can ship it to me!! LOL

Rant
Those crooks want like 300 USD for a knock off Gibson (which is good) but then its like 110 to ship... and if you want a case (which I do) then its 80 bucks plus another $60 to ship the case.. JUST STICK THE DAMN GUITAR IN THE CASE TO SHIP....and its not even like the guitar is close in quality to a real gibson
/rant

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by Byrns

http://www.beijingtraveltips.com/tip...ning_howto.htm

Those are good bargaining tips. I would add on to those that you should never underestimate how cheap an item can be in China. I have been to back room knock off stores with a friend who is from the city near Shanghai where a lot of the clothes are made and knows their value. He's frequently been able to get 90% off. Even if you think you're shooting low, you can probably go significantly lower. I thought I was doing well getting 60%-70% off until I saw him at it.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

- are electronics (such as a Blu-Ray player) still a bargain compared to Calgary prices?

Depends on what electronics you're looking at. Digital Cameras are almost always "cheaper" It may be similar to the price you're paying here, but that price includes things like extra battery, memory card, camera bag, tripod, etc... If you're looking at a Blu-Ray player, I'd wait til you get back here.

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

- are most goods similar in price between Hong Kong and the mainland? I finish the trip in Hong Kong so if the prices are similar I'll hold off on my shopping until then.

I would not have an idea, it's been years since I've been in the mainland, however, there used to be a lot of tours from the mainland going into HK... purely shopping tours, so very possibly HK would be cheaper

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

- how much should I expect to pay for a knock-off Rolex watch or Mont Blanc pen?

At the ladies market... a Rolex knock off that my friend bought was $350 HKD, which, at the current exchange rate, you're looking at around $60 CAD

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

- can I get a custom tailored suit/shirts made in Hong Kong if I only have about 2 and a half days there? How much should I be paying for a decent suit (nothing high end)? Any recommendations for tailors?

Two and a half days is alright as long as you don't shop at those big name stores like G2000... I don't remember how much I paid for mine, but you're probably looking at around the $150 range for a full suit

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

- where in Hong Kong should I be shopping for cheap men's clothes? I've seen Jardine Crescent and the Ladie's Market recommended in some guidebooks.

Outside of those places, you can also shop for them at Stanley, another tourist attraction and it's in a "nicer" area of HK

Like Fozzie said... really learn to haggle, you have no idea how much money you will save when you haggle. And you can haggle almost anywhere as well. I've haggled in the electronic chains like Broadway, haggled in souvenir shops and in the Ladies Market.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

At the ladies market... a Rolex knock off that my friend bought was $350 HKD, which, at the current exchange rate, you're looking at around $60 CAD

To build on this, you will notice that not all knock-offs are of equal quality. You may find some that are basically the same quality as the original, and some that are much lower (though you won't find the same quality for Rolex). Prices range accordingly, but all should be very cheap. I've gotten guys in Shanghai down to around five bucks for a Rolex.

I stress, things are much cheaper than you would likely even imagine in China. To give you some perspective on this, most of the successful young professional Chinese I know in Shanghai are making around $10,000 CDN a year in good jobs, and the non-professionals I know are making half that or less. That should give you an idea of how cheap things here really are. It's difficult to fathom at first from a Western perspective, but that's reality here.

[JohnnyFlame]

No don't shop in Hong Kong. Way more expensive. In Beijing stay away from Wang Fu Jing as it's really upscale unless you really know where to hunt. Silk Alley and Lido are good for clothes but the best place to go is the Pearl Market(Hong Chau). It's right across from the Temple of Heaven which is a great place to go(a nice combo trip with a little sightseeing and shopping). Great place for shoes, camera's etc., shirts, pants and all kinds of stuff. It's a hole unless they have upgraded it since I left but just ignore that. I dont' remember exactly but around 20 kuai taxi ride from Silk Alley to the Pearl Market. Right behind it is a toy store(well first floor is) and it is an awesome place to buy games. I would go there and just buy every single gamecube and ds game they had because they were so cheap(you need a mod chip for whatever system you own as these are NOT original games).

Lido is up near the airport and if you end up staying at one of the hotels up there like the Sino Swiss it's a short cab ride from there. Otherwise if you stay downtown it's a long way to go. Tianyi market is also close to downtown and has a lot of electronics. Lido and Silk Alley are way different than they used to be--nice building and clean etc. I much preferred when they were street markets.

They will, of course, assume correctly that you are a tourist. Take whatever price they start with and offer less than a quarter of it. So if they say a T-shirt is 100 kuai then it's 20. I could regularily get them for 10 but I can speak Chinese and I was a regular and I like to bargain hard. Don't make the mistake of thinking what it costs at home-converting- and thinking hey this is a bargain.

Best way to shop there is go up to a stall. Get a price. Haggle a little. Move on. You will see the exact same item again no doubt. Offer a lower price than you haggled for the first time. Move on. By the time you reach your third one you will have a better idea of the price. Now then get ready to do battle. I have had them screaming at me as I left and my second oldest daughter was even better at just holding her ground.

Just be nice and polite but firm. Go way low with your offer and creep up. If they don't make bigtime drops in their price just walk away. You will eventually get close enough where they will follow you or grab your arm or start with buy two and I'll give you a better price. etc. Now you are in the ballgame. Say no problem I will buy two heck even three but I want a bargain price then. Calculate and actually drop your price.

There are indeed some very good bargains as long as you go to the right places and are willing to bargain.

PS : I've picked up Rolex's for as little as 25 kuai which at the time was like 5 bucks. It's hard to do on just a quick trip but if you get off the beaten track the prices go down further.

PSS: If you go to Simitai you are looking at an all day affair. You can get a car to take you up there or a little cheaper is a private minivan. I have done it for around 550 for a minivan. Add a 100 to 150 for a car. There are actually a lot of great places to see north of Beijing in Miyun. Lots of hiking spots and places to visit the wall etc.

[JohnnyB]

Back from HK now. Great place. Beautiful and fun, but definitely more expensive than the mainland overall. My impression is that what makes Hong Kong a shopping Mecca is abundance and variety rather than value. Although things there aren't cheaper, the range of products you can buy in Hong Kong, and the number of stores to buy them at makes the selection in a city like Shanghai look pretty weak. If you are looking at buying legit brand name products you will find a lot more of what you want in Hong Kong, for other things you will likely want to wait for the mainland. If you're going really soon you might still be able to take advantage of some of the new year sales. Lots of places with up to 70%A off while I was there. Great place anyways, and some nice parks around. If you get a chance to spend an afternoon in the Hong Kong park near Central Station I would recommend it. It's a beautiful little getaway in a convenient spot, with great scenery and a cool aviary.

[stang]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Back from HK now. Great place. Beautiful and fun, but definitely more expensive than the mainland overall. My impression is that what makes Hong Kong a shopping Mecca is abundance and variety rather than value. Although things there aren't cheaper, the range of products you can buy in Hong Kong, and the number of stores to buy them at makes the selection in a city like Shanghai look pretty weak. If you are looking at buying legit brand name products you will find a lot more of what you want in Hong Kong, for other things you will likely want to wait for the mainland. If you're going really soon you might still be able to take advantage of some of the new year sales. Lots of places with up to 70%A off while I was there. Great place anyways, and some nice parks around. If you get a chance to spend an afternoon in the Hong Kong park near Central Station I would recommend it. It's a beautiful little getaway in a convenient spot, with great scenery and a cool aviary.

If you ever see a left handed Gibson Les Paul.... and feel like shipping it over to me hit me a PM

[Suave]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Great place anyways, and some nice parks around. If you get a chance to spend an afternoon in the Hong Kong park near Central Station I would recommend it. It's a beautiful little getaway in a convenient spot, with great scenery and a cool aviary.

A great place to spend some time and escape from the city.