Plasma so expensive

[rendl42]

Just moved here a few weeks back from Australia. Been to Singapore plenty of times and had always considered electronics cheap if you went to the right place.

So I started shopping for a Plasma screen. The prices here are obscene. Have done the tour, Mustafa, Best Denki, Audio House etc. Checked out some Comex promotions. All prices are still 150-200% the price of Australia (which is 150-200% the cost of the USA).

So are there alternatives? Is shipping a screen over from Australia feasible?

Tks.

[durain]

JSo are there alternatives?

CRT? OLED?

[rendl42]

CRT / OLED... Very funny!

Any body got something a little more useful to add?

[bigfilsing]

i think if you way up the shipping cost + chance of damage+ no warranty once here, you'll be better off biting the bullet and buying locally.

There are occaisionally some good deals on ebay SG but beware of scammers ( China India HK...the usual suspects )

Cheers

[Thaiclan]

I just bought a 32" for $299 at Giant. Its only a Hyundai brand but I thought it was a good deal..... This forum is HUGE on this screen now

[rendl42]

So I just dropped into Best at Plaza Singapura. They had the Pioneer 508 plasma (50"). List price $SG18,999.. Exact same model in Sydney, $AU4,299. Fedex will courier it for $SG740.

The only issue to check is warranty. Can probably get a third part warranty for five years for around $300-400.

[Thaiclan]

Rendl42 have you thought about getting a home cinema projector? We looked at plasma screens for our lounge but then opted for a home cinema instead. The picture is great, it takes up no room at all and if you are renting here its far easier to move on with...... and of course costs only a fraction of the price of a screen.

[Strong Eagle]

So I just dropped into Best at Plaza Singapura. They had the Pioneer 508 plasma (50"). List price $SG18,999.. Exact same model in Sydney, $AU4,299. Fedex will courier it for $SG740.

The only issue to check is warranty. Can probably get a third part warranty for five years for around $300-400.

Don't forget that you will have to pay customs duty (GST) on your import.

[sierra2469alpha]

Hi Rendl - I'll back up Strong Eagle's post, however if you are MOVING to Singapore, then an explanation of our experience might help you.

We bought a new Sony Bravia LCD in our home country before we left. Our removalists picked it up from the shop, then "apparently" it didn't make our container. They then purchased another one, and FedEx'd it up, and marked the customs declaration as "missed shipment" and cross referenced it to our original shipping manifest.

We didn't have to pay duty, but as SE says, if you import it directly, you'll be up for duty. And they are darned strict here - I bought my wife some nice lingerie online for her birthday and it was $302 - $2 more than the limit, and subsequently I got hit with duty on it.

HTH, P

[edit: spelling mistook]

[rendl42]

Thanks for he info Chatter

I gave up ultimately and bought a Pioneer HD Ready 508 from Best Denki for $4,999.

Good advice on the duty, I will have to remember that.

[durain]

excellent choice on the KURO. it can beat LCD and FULL HD screen hands down!




p/s did you haggle with best denki? or get some freebies like a toaster or iron?

[sampas]

LCD is almost as good a plasma but a cheaper price.