buying electronics in hong kong

Hi we are going to be in Hong Kong beginning of April. I want to buy a camcorder; laptop; and blue tooth. Can you get warranties that will be honoured in Canada. Can you get items with north american plugs. We are only there for 2 days - where is the best place to go. Really appreciate any advice

thanks

buying electronics in hong kong

Hi,

the best place to buy electronic items is in those big electronic shop chain such as Fortress (you can find it in many shopping mall), Broadway and Chung Yuen Electrical.

just a warning, never buy anything in the small electronic shop along the Nathan Road in TST which alway named as %26#39; SONY%26#39; or %26#39; PANASONIC%26#39;.

I may not sure about the American, but you may ask!

hope it helps

buying electronics in hong kong

Agree about not buying in the small, brightly lit shops along Nathan Road (and similar ones around TST), as they often use unscrupulous practices to rip off tourists. There has been heaps of threads on this topic. Best sticking to the well known chain stores such as Fortress or Broadway. Harbour City and Times Square have some of the larger branches. You should also check prices at home for comparison; given the current exchange rate it may not be all that attractive to shop in HK.

You will not get american type plugs if you purchase in these chain stores, but you can easily get an adaptor plug at electrical shops or stores selling home items (should be under HK$10).

I agree about where to buy, there are cheaper places than Fortress and Broadway, but you take your chances. What I would say though is that there is a certain amount of disagreement over international warranties. I would check very carefully to make sure your warranty will be honoured in Canada, don%26#39;t take the shop%26#39;s word for it. On the other hand, as has been said it might not be such a bargain. It will however be the latest stuff outside of Tokyo.

Make sure you understand about warranties, etc before buying. I%26#39;d stick to Broadway or Fortress. You might save a little (I mean a percent or two) at other places but it%26#39;s not worth your time.

Also, watch for Canadian customs. From what I know, they like to slap duty on goodies you bring back.

most electronics do NOT attract duties. Only 5% GST, and PST depending on arrival port. Since there is no direct flight to MTL, there is no PST payable at customs for the OP.

Bluetooth is so cheap in Canada, it%26#39;s not worth the hassle, unless you mean headsets - I know of none that carries worldwide warranty.

Certain brands of camcorders and laptops carry worldwide warranties valid in Canada. You have to look at the actual document (if shopping at reputable stores) or verify with the local distributor.

You will need to pay extra for the OEM north american plug, or just get an adapter for 1-2CAD in HK.

Bear in mind that customer returns, demos are often sold as new and is legal in HK.

It may or may not be cheaper. Go to http://www.fortress.com.hk and compare similar items with the prices at Future Shop.

The best thing you can do to make sure the guarantees will be valid overseas is to check the manufacturers%26#39; websites to ensure that you are going to an authorized retailer / agency. Broadway and Fortress are authorized for most reputable brands, but if there is a particular brand and model that you know you want it is worth your while to check.

I also second the advice to check current exchange rates!

Hi

I found a useful site www.shopcite.com for checking prices when I was shopping in Hong Kong last week. They even have a mobile version www.shopcite.mobi so you can use it anytime to avoid being ripped off.

It certainly helped me when I was trying to buy a Canon EOS 450D 18-55mm kit in a shop and they said they could offer me a better value for money Nikon D60 18-55mm kit at $6000. I found instantly on my

mobile the Nikon D60 kit was only selling for around $4980 so I just walked out the shop. I agree with barri to avoid the neon light shops.