Reply #1 cactuss's post
Bro, if you go to Fortress or Broadway, you will definitely get a genuine article. Whether or not you get a good price compared to what you can get back home really depends on what country you come from.
You can also buy at the smaller stores around the city, there are many to choose from in TST, SSP and especially Sai Yeung Chi Street in Mong Kok.
However when you go to these places... let the buyer beware. Some stores offer "reconditioned" items sold as new. Some offer parallel imported products that have guarantees that will not be honoured. Some times the menu is in a language you can't read etc... be careful.
The most common scam though is this. You've done your homework and you've decided you want the SONY B1000. Best price you can get back home is equivalent HK$2,000. You ask for a price and sure enough, the price is good... HK$1,200. You agree to buy but they dont have stock. They check for you and advise it is an old model, now discontinued and will be hard to get accessories for... are you SURE you want it...?
...I'll tell you what, I do have the NEW C1000. It's a much better camera and it has only just come out. I'll tell you what, it's normally $2,400 but I'll do it for HK$1,900. Let's make it $2,000 and I'll include a spare battery & case.
You depart with a huge smile thrilled with your negotiating skills. The smile lasts all the way till you get home and see the C1000 on sale at a discount electrical retail for equivalent HK$1,000.
The guys in these stores are MASTERS at this routine. Trained like AMWAY sales people.
ONLY solution is know the model you want, find out at home how long it has been available, know the price of the camera AND accessories, memory stick, battery, case, everything, know the price. Do NOT ever change your mind about the model you want once in HK. Decide that BEFORE you leave, research the net for new models etc, easy to do. When you buy your camera, turn it on to check the menu is in a language you understand, check the manual is in a language you understand. Try it out and compare to the same camera you tried out at home before you came to HK, weight, look, feel, how long things take to load etc.
Good luck, plenty of bargains to be had... just dont let you be the one that gets "had".
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