Where to shop?

[wannamove]

While in Sinapore for job search I am planning to buy some electronics items. I really do not have a list of what I want - I just love to browse and if I see a good deal I usually buy something. I am looking for phones (mobile, cordless landlines), laptops and SLR cameras. Is there a place where there are quite few reasonably priced shops that I can take a look and hopefully find something great?

[x9200]

Yes. It is in Sim Lim Square and Funan mall but:
1. you have to be trained (to avoid being ripped off)
2. very unlikely you will find a deal as compared to the States
Check out in here: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic78531.html

[wannamove]

Perfect!
Thank you
and by trained - do you mean - trained in the art of bargaining? or trained in having knowledge about the product?

[x9200]

A bit more sinister: con artists. Plenty around these places and they are pretty good. More in SLS and much more in camera / small electronics business. BTW, SLS and Funan are mainly for computer / camera / home entertainment electronics. There are some mobile phone outlets over there but not that many. Lucky Plaza is or used to be the place for mobile phones but if SLS on the axis of evil is 4/10 than LP is 28
Anyway, it's nice to visit but if you are coming from US then better buy at Amazon

[sundaymorningstaple]

Good example - I recently bought a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote from the US via Amazon and even with shipping was only about 60% of the local price. Quite happy with it as well!

In fact, in view of the strength of the Singapore Dollar, almost anything is cheaper in the US than here at the moment when looking at electronic/camera goods.

[nakatago]

Good example - I recently bought a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote from the US via Amazon and even with shipping was only about 60% of the local price. Quite happy with it as well!

In fact, in view of the strength of the Singapore Dollar, almost anything is cheaper in the US than here at the moment when looking at electronic/camera goods.

That was the case even with the dollar strong-ish.

BTW, I'm curious, which service did you use to have your stuff delivered to here? Amazon won't ship electronics outside of the US, vpost has nightmare stories, borderlinx I haven't tried, yackity-schmackity, blah, blah, blah...

[aster]

Amazon will ship some electronics from the US to Singapore, it depends on the product and brand. For instance you can buy a Casio ZR100 camera (great P&S by the way) and they will deliver directly to Singapore. Cost incl. shipping... $262 which is S$317. Singapore street price is S$599, though they keep adding free goodies to sweeten the local price shock.

[nakatago]

Amazon will ship some electronics from the US to Singapore, it depends on the product and brand. For instance you can buy a Casio ZR100 camera (great P&S by the way) and they will deliver directly to Singapore. Cost incl. shipping... $262 which is S$317. Singapore street price is S$599, though they keep adding free goodies to sweeten the local price shock.

From what I understand, it's because of batteries and some law. Well, whatever it is, I haven't encountered a case where they'd deliver electronics to here!

Product Restrictions
Please note: Buyers outside the U.S. cannot purchase the following items via Amazon Marketplace: Video Games, Electronics, Camera & Photo, Tools & Hardware, Kitchen & Housewares, Software, and Computers. Nutritional supplements that are considered to be regulated drugs in Europe may not be purchased by buyers located in Europe.

[sundaymorningstaple]

My Harmony One came with a lithium battery and it was shipped with the unit itself with no issue at all. I do understand that some electronic goods DO have a problem with batteries but I don't know the reasons or types of batteries concerned. I thought I was going to have a problem but it seemed to be okay. only took 7 days from purchase to delivery.

[wannamove]

A bit more sinister: con artists. Plenty around these places and they are pretty good. More in SLS and much more in camera / small electronics business. BTW, SLS and Funan are mainly for computer / camera / home entertainment electronics. There are some mobile phone outlets over there but not that many. Lucky Plaza is or used to be the place for mobile phones but if SLS on the axis of evil is 4/10 than LP is 28
Anyway, it's nice to visit but if you are coming from US then better buy at Amazon

Thank you for the words! It is sure going to be helpful. I am surprised to hear the Amazon suggestion - thanks again

[wannamove]

Good example - I recently bought a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote from the US via Amazon and even with shipping was only about 60% of the local price. Quite happy with it as well!

In fact, in view of the strength of the Singapore Dollar, almost anything is cheaper in the US than here at the moment when looking at electronic/camera goods.

Interesting and thanks for the example!

[x9200]

One more thing, as we actually made you a bit more vulnerable to the price scam: the most common trick is to give you a good or a very good deal on the camera and rip you completely off with the accessories. Same goes for the mobile phones. People getting a lower price for the main item get typically so enthusiastic they do not care (at the very moment) if they pay $30-50 more for a single battery, or a memory card that is included for free by the manufacturer.
Take this site as a reference:

http://www.bargaincity.com.sg/

and expect the prices to be 5-15% lower in the mentioned places. In your case you should be also able to recover GST.

[wannamove]

One more thing, as we actually made you a bit more vulnerable to the price scam: the most common trick is to give you a good or a very good deal on the camera and rip you completely off with the accessories. Same goes for the mobile phones. People getting a lower price for the main item get typically so enthusiastic they do not care (at the very moment) if they pay $30-50 more for a single battery, or a memory card that is included for free by the manufacturer.
Take this site as a reference:

http://www.bargaincity.com.sg/

and expect the prices to be 5-15% lower in the mentioned places. In your case you should be also able to recover GST.

Thank you!

[zzm9980]

One more thing, as we actually made you a bit more vulnerable to the price scam: the most common trick is to give you a good or a very good deal on the camera and rip you completely off with the accessories. Same goes for the mobile phones. People getting a lower price for the main item get typically so enthusiastic they do not care (at the very moment) if they pay $30-50 more for a single battery, or a memory card that is included for free by the manufacturer.
Take this site as a reference:

http://www.bargaincity.com.sg/

and expect the prices to be 5-15% lower in the mentioned places. In your case you should be also able to recover GST.

^- This. I got an excellent deal on the just released Lumix G3 in SLS. Some random camera shop on the third floor. The price I paid wound up being US$20 more than the current price for the exact same item on Amazon. However, he gave me the real hard sell for a generic extra battery. It started at almost S$200!! I wouldn't budget and he finally came down to S$40 for it and a UV filter. I'm sure I still paid 50% more than I should have, but at that price I was content enough to buy it