MasterWizard
Member
Firstly I must say I have been travelling to Hong Kong at least twice a year since 1978.
As I was travelling to HK on business in October, my son asked me to buy him a digital video camera as the price is lower than our local market (South Africa).
My time to “Shop” in HK this trip was very limited, but I could sort out his camera on the hoof between appointments. I arrived in HK From Shenzhen on May 29th. I dropped my bags in my hotel & dashed for my first appointment. I passed a Store called Fortress (Chain of discount stores in HK selling all types of Electronics, Cameras etc).
I asked about the camera and got a price of HK$12900. This was now my target price. Next stop on route to the underground was one of the many camera shops on Nathan Road. The price HK$8000, wow already an improvement. Next store HK$7500, I had hit the right price.
Two more stores on route to the train confirmed that $7500 was the best deal. So I sat down in the fourth store, examined the camera, whipped out my Amex and said “deal”, charge it. Now I must add that the young salesman had been wonderful, even offering to lend me his phone to make an international call to my home to confirm the price with my son, what a good guy.
The charge was documented, I signed and waited for the camera. The young man returned and said at this moment they do not have any stock, could I return later. I said no, I do not have he time to return, I would wait a few for minutes. He walked off to see if he could find stock from another stockroom. I was pleased with the service.
Now I am sitting at the little sales counter waiting for my camera. An older man who introduces himself as the manager joins me. He thanks me for the support & starts to handle the ‘sample camera on the counter. ‘Not a bad camera” he says, ‘Pity it does not have any warranty”. “What” was my reply? No, this camera has no warranty, as it is a China knock off from Shanghi. He points out how good the knock off is, even down to the serial no & the box. Did the young man not point out this to me? He then proceeded to show me some of the ‘knock off” faults, loose pop up flash etc. Wow. I said I did not want a knock off please cancel the sale.
My signed copies are stamped cancel & torn up in my presence. I was so impressed at the honesty of the store; I thanked him promising to return to get the best deal on the real thing.
I dashed from the store pleased with myself and thankful for at least one honest store in HK.
Later than evening having completed my appointments I returned to the area, popping in to a Fortress store that was known to me (bought my 707 etc from them). I was greeted by Andy, one of the young salesman who remembered me from previous visits.
“Andy, why is there such a major price difference between your stores & the camera stores on Nathan road”?
Andy proceeds to explain how the Nathan Road Camera stores work. Firstly most stores on Nathan road are owned by one man, (I did find it strange that all the business cards from the 4 stores I visited all had the same layout, only the store name & telephone numbers were different).
Each store has at least one sample of the camera in question. They sell the camera and then proceed to tell you about the warranty & knock offs from china. I could not believe what I was hearing.
Once they convince you of their integrity, they proceed to sell you the same camera later at a higher price; you are sucked into the trap.
Well I was horrified; I was after all a seasoned international negotiator. I had been had. Now I was concerned as to the charge papers I had seen being torn up, all with my signature on. “Do not buy from these stores” was Andy’s advise. I did not tell him I had. I thanked Andy promising to return to get the “Best Deal” from him.
I called the bank that night to check if the charge had been processed, it had not. As of writing (9th November) I still do not know if the charge will arrive, time will tell.
The next day I got the camera for my son and he is currently as pleased as punch.
I relate this tale as a warning to others who buy cameras from other markets. If the deal is to good to be true, it normally is.
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May The Focus Be With You
As I was travelling to HK on business in October, my son asked me to buy him a digital video camera as the price is lower than our local market (South Africa).
My time to “Shop” in HK this trip was very limited, but I could sort out his camera on the hoof between appointments. I arrived in HK From Shenzhen on May 29th. I dropped my bags in my hotel & dashed for my first appointment. I passed a Store called Fortress (Chain of discount stores in HK selling all types of Electronics, Cameras etc).
I asked about the camera and got a price of HK$12900. This was now my target price. Next stop on route to the underground was one of the many camera shops on Nathan Road. The price HK$8000, wow already an improvement. Next store HK$7500, I had hit the right price.
Two more stores on route to the train confirmed that $7500 was the best deal. So I sat down in the fourth store, examined the camera, whipped out my Amex and said “deal”, charge it. Now I must add that the young salesman had been wonderful, even offering to lend me his phone to make an international call to my home to confirm the price with my son, what a good guy.
The charge was documented, I signed and waited for the camera. The young man returned and said at this moment they do not have any stock, could I return later. I said no, I do not have he time to return, I would wait a few for minutes. He walked off to see if he could find stock from another stockroom. I was pleased with the service.
Now I am sitting at the little sales counter waiting for my camera. An older man who introduces himself as the manager joins me. He thanks me for the support & starts to handle the ‘sample camera on the counter. ‘Not a bad camera” he says, ‘Pity it does not have any warranty”. “What” was my reply? No, this camera has no warranty, as it is a China knock off from Shanghi. He points out how good the knock off is, even down to the serial no & the box. Did the young man not point out this to me? He then proceeded to show me some of the ‘knock off” faults, loose pop up flash etc. Wow. I said I did not want a knock off please cancel the sale.
My signed copies are stamped cancel & torn up in my presence. I was so impressed at the honesty of the store; I thanked him promising to return to get the best deal on the real thing.
I dashed from the store pleased with myself and thankful for at least one honest store in HK.
Later than evening having completed my appointments I returned to the area, popping in to a Fortress store that was known to me (bought my 707 etc from them). I was greeted by Andy, one of the young salesman who remembered me from previous visits.
“Andy, why is there such a major price difference between your stores & the camera stores on Nathan road”?
Andy proceeds to explain how the Nathan Road Camera stores work. Firstly most stores on Nathan road are owned by one man, (I did find it strange that all the business cards from the 4 stores I visited all had the same layout, only the store name & telephone numbers were different).
Each store has at least one sample of the camera in question. They sell the camera and then proceed to tell you about the warranty & knock offs from china. I could not believe what I was hearing.
Once they convince you of their integrity, they proceed to sell you the same camera later at a higher price; you are sucked into the trap.
Well I was horrified; I was after all a seasoned international negotiator. I had been had. Now I was concerned as to the charge papers I had seen being torn up, all with my signature on. “Do not buy from these stores” was Andy’s advise. I did not tell him I had. I thanked Andy promising to return to get the “Best Deal” from him.
I called the bank that night to check if the charge had been processed, it had not. As of writing (9th November) I still do not know if the charge will arrive, time will tell.
The next day I got the camera for my son and he is currently as pleased as punch.
I relate this tale as a warning to others who buy cameras from other markets. If the deal is to good to be true, it normally is.
--
May The Focus Be With You
. Normally I do shop at Broadway & Fortres stores. My Favorite Broadway store is in Mongkok as is my computer stores. But not many foreiners are familiar with Mong Kok.