Shopping tips in Hong Kong please

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Question:

Any tips appreciated, especially where and where not to shop. We would be looking for ladies fashion, sports wear (Nike sweats etc.) cameras, is a VISA card accepted widely, or do ATMs take VISA cards?

From my visit to HK a couple of years ago, I discovered that cameras and other electronic gear are far cheaper in the US than there. Also, the shopping experience in HK, for these goods. leaves a lot to be desired. Clothes can be a better bargain (but nothing close to Bangkok!). ATM’s do take Cirrus and Plus network cards so you are oK there. Cheers – Gautam Gautam Subra

Response:

Get the booko "Factory outlet Shopping in HK" that you can find at most HK bookstores. it’s widely accepted. HKTA (tourist authortiy) also has booklet on shopping. Lots of ATMs, don’t know whether they take VISA, but I suspect so from the plethora of logos. Credit cards widely accepted but only for purchases over about 12 dollars US usually. Also some stores will slap on a surcharge for using a credit card. Safe travels, SJM

Response:

For inexpensive clothes items, I’d give the Temple St. night market a try. It’s two blocks west of the Jordan MTR station in Tsimshatsui. Be advised, though, that the caveat emptor philosophy (let the buyer beware) is played much more loosely in Hong Kong than in the U.S. and western Europe. What we might consider outright deceiptful and over-the-line, some merchants consider as sport. For example, a street vendor may have a CD titled "REM’s greatest hits" with a picture of REM on it. Song title’s are REM’s and there’s no fine print or anything else to indicate it could be anything but the real McCoy. Actually, though, it’s some band doing its best to sound like REM — apparently there’s a whole small industry for that. In the U.S., they couldn’t use the picture without permission and would be forced to make some disclosure on the packaging (if they hadn’t been sued out of business first). But this is Hong Kong. Shops are no refuge, either. Lonely Planet seems especially critical of camera and electronics shops in Tsimshatsui (basically saying to avoid them). Nathan Rd. also has some pretty expensive spots; I saw the Marlboro Classics jeans store with a "sale" on pants at US $100 or so. They wanted cash only at that price — and some people were actually paying it. The same brand was selling in Cebu, Philippines, at about $10. All in all, there’s very much in the way of selection all around Hong Kong, but be extra careful about thoroughly checking things out and take nothing for granted (even if it’s something you can take for granted at home). RC

Response:

There have been some excellent tips in the various responses, esp. regarding quality/authenticity of items. An addition to the comment about knowing your size: the sizes won’t match, so it may not even help. An Asian "XL" will very, *very* different from a western "XL". Here’s a radical idea for you about shopping in HK: Don’t If you are truly an astute consumer, there is almost nothing you will find in HK that you won’t find at home for a similar or even smaller amount of money (esp. in the US in big urban areas), and even if you pay a bit more at home you will have a better sense of whether you are really paying the right amount and will probably be more assured of the authenticity/quality of the item…and you will have be able to return/exchange the item if the item turns out to be defective/shoddy/wrong size, something you definitely won’t be able to do in HK except at the poshest most expensive of stores (where you will definitely pay more than at home). Best yet, you won’t have to lug a ton of stuff home which you could have gotten at the local mall/shopping area anyway. Why not bring home, instead, experiences which you can’t have at home… -Andy — Andrew Ferguson

Response:

Re Hong Kong Shopping: "Ladies fashions" can be many things: You can find almost any designer you like (for example, St. John Knits which you will find in the large shopping malls like Pacific Center at about 2/3’s of the US cost). Here you can pay with VISA, but often if you ask you will get a small percentage off if you pay cash. On the shopping streets (Granville and Cordovan Rd) off Nathan Road (Kowloon) you will find small shops with lots of clothes–you can find great bargains, but you have to look for them. (e.g.: Liz Claiborne for next to nothing)–however it is cash only….and you can’t try anything on (so it’s good to know what size you wear). There are good buys in handbags and knock off watches on the Hong Kong side on several streets–you can get directions from the Hong Kong Tourist Authority (they have a good website as well that is very up to date). Didn’t see a lot of Nike’s there (many more in Korea) but then I really looking all that hard. HK also has several chain stores that carry ladies clothing–Bossini comes to mind. I would compare them to Benneton (in fact I would not be surprised to learn that they were owned by the same company as the clothes look similar). They have nice quality sports clothes at reasonable prices. I’m not sure where you live, but at least for those of us in the States, cameras are not a good buy. In fact, most of the time they cost more in Hong Kong. The only nice thing about the shops there is that they have the latest models….a very large selection….and if nothing else you can actually "touch" a much wider range of merchandise that you can in the usual camera/electronics shop here in the States. I would hesitate to buy anything electronic in HK these days–with the exception of computers. Can’t speak to the ATM question, but I would be willing to bet it is not a problem. There is a bank on every corner and more going up every day. (Don’t know what will happen after next year but they keep building them). Enjoy your trip–it is a great city. Lois Barnum

Response:

Shop around. The prices in Hong Kong vary dramatically, a pair of running shoes I purchased at a store costed me $500 HK, while it was only $200 in another. Beware of ‘fake’ brand name clothing, although I rarely buy brand name clothing, it is obvious when you see a group of old ladies all wearing Calvin Klein T-shirts. Another thing you should watch out for is electronics, there are a lot of ‘fake’ brand names as well. Avoid buying items from shops aimed at tourists, they’ll probably rip you off. VISA, MasterCard and AMEX are all widely accepted as far as I know. If you shop smartly, I am sure you will find shopping in HK quite delightful… — Anthony Chan

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