Wanchai Computer Centre

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  Wanchai Computer Centre Review

  This market brings together laptops, games, cameras etc. There are about 50 small stores and the market is located near the subway station at Wan Chai road etc.
  
  Hong Kong is tax and VAT free so you should be able to make some savings. I found quite a difference between prices quoted versus Europe on cameras but for laptops I felt it was about equal.
  
  Hint - bring your own pen and paper as they don’t allow you to take away any notes on prices they will have written down. With so many shops, choices and options it’s a little difficult to remember who offered what with which accessories.
  
  The prices in the market aren’t advertised and are not fixed so there is a little room for manoeuvre. Check prices on line first if you can.
  
  A note of caution on prices and haggling. I struck up agreements in two separate shops only to find those agreements reneged on by the shop when I tried to pay. In shop 145 I had agreed a price but when I went to pay they wanted me to sign the credit card docket without having any goods. When I refused I got all manner of reasons why I should actually buy something else. This included that my camera was a bad model, an old model and that they had to send some someone to get one. I was eventually told I would have to wait 2 hours for my camera. In the end I got the transaction voided and left empty handed. It was all a bit uncomfortable and un-necessary.
  
  Be warned - if you have signed the credit card docket without first getting the goods you are in a bad position!
  
  In shop 162 I had again agreed prices. After the agreement I was asked if I wanted to buy x, y or z accessory - pretty standard practice. When I didn’t buy any of the offered accessories, the agreed price suddenly changed by adding a percentage for my paying by credit card – even though this had been fully agreed and understood. This was for a purchase of HK$7500 so we weren’t talking small money here!
  
  I'm not a shrinking violet and am accustomed to haggling. I have visited markets in 5 continents and not had this sort of experience before. It was a little bit threatening and definitely uncomfortable - particularly when it happened twice in quick succession.
  
  Verdict
  This is probably a good place to get some competitively priced electronic goods. You do need to do your homework and know what you are looking for in advance and bring a pen and paper with you. The sharp practices I found left a sour taste in the mouth and a feeling of being ‘done’ even though the prices were OK. This somewhat spoiled the experience of a very expensive purchase. My advice - if you go be very careful here.
  
  Coolock_Kev

  by Coolock_Kev, 1/22/10

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