Buyer beware

    The downside to variety in Hong Kong's case is, unfortunately, service and peace of mind. When you go shopping here, go prepared and be cautious as many of the sales practices are decidedly dodgy. In fact, compared to Nathan Road, the sharks on Tottenham Court Road in London look positively tame.

    There are several important don'ts to remember when you go swimming in the Tsim Sha Tsui waters:

  • don't loiter too long in front of shop windows unless you're willing to be harrassed. Such demonstrated interest on your part quickly brings a salesman out onto the street and the bludgeoning can begin.

  • don't ask too many questions and outrageous requests - like, could I look at it? These are treated suspiciously. And don't be too obvious about shopping around either. When I whipped a pen and paper out at one establishment to jot down some prices, I was quickly chased off the premises.

  • don't expect to trial the equipment. Playing is not allowed. The general policy seems to be that you do not earn the right to demo, hold or even touch a product until you commit to buying it. Cellophane is obviously a precious commodity and they can't afford to break it unless they've got a sure-sell.

  • don't expect the salesman (there are no salewomen) to know what they're 'talking about. They usually don't and if by some small chance they do, they probably won't be able to articulate it very well in English.

  • don't believe the first price you see. Prices fluctuate outrageously from shop to shop, hour to hour, minute to minute. And the frequent motion of the exchange rate doesn't help either. In any case, the advertised price is only a starting point for bargaining. Depending on how inflated the first price is, you can expect to knock off between 5-20% through haggling.

  • don't just stick to Nathan Road. The rents are pricier here and, on the ' whole,' so are the products. Venture into tributaries like Carnarvon, Cameron and ' Mody 'Roads. But don't trust your own sense of direction if you're trying to find 'the 'same place twice. These smaller streets are maze-like and all the shops look ' the 'same. If you've found a price you like, be sure to get a card from the shop.

  • don't be surprised if you buy a fake. If ever a copyright was written, it was broken in Hong Kong. This is less a problem with cameras and computers. Equally, don't expect extensive warranties and return policies. It won't be like taking something back to the Dixon's on the High Street.

    On the whole, if you know exactly what you're looking for, how much you're willing to pay, how to tell whether you're buying a dud, and how to bargain, you could do worse than searching for your gadgets in Hong Kong. On the other hand, if you need knowledgeable product advice and peace of mind is important to you, the most reliable place to buy is back at home where you can take the item back if anything goes wrong. If you're still worried about price, you can buy your gadgets in Duty-Free at Heathrow on your way back from Hong Kong.


  • Gadget shopping walkabout in Hong Kong
  • Cream of the Crop
  • Communications skills
  • The weirder, the wackier
  • Night-time shopping and other options