Buying lens & accessories whilst holidaying overseas?

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Buying lens & accessories whilst holidaying overseas?

Postby DVEous on Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:18 am

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Postby birddog114 on Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:21 am

Dubai = NO & NO

Singapore = Maybe, if you know where to go and get them, some shops in Singapore, prices are the same in Sydney!

Edit: :lol: You can bulk buying petrol in Dubai, pack them in a water bottles and bring them back to Australia. fuel are cheap there! :lol:
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Postby huynhie on Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:33 am

Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Perninsular Plaza

Alan Photo - Sim Lim Square

John 3:16 - Funan Mall


these guys are pretty good. There is only a saving of about 5-10% on most equipement but with certain you will be saving alot more such as B+W filter where you can save approximately 30%.

Some items are also more expensive like the 12-24DX compared to Australia (Birddogs prices)
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Postby birddog114 on Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:38 am

huynhie wrote:Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Perninsular Plaza

Alan Photo - Sim Lim Square

John 3:16 - Funan Mall


these guys are pretty good. There is only a saving of about 5-10% on most equipement but with certain you will be saving alot more such as B+W filter where you can save approximately 30%.


That what are my thoughts, commodities as CF cards or small purchases do not bring upto the great savings in Singapore, if you're buying something with the cost over few grants then you'll see the great saving.

Has been asking for a Nikkor 28-200G with plastic mount, I don't think he will touch the B&W filters with the price tags starting from US$100.00. :wink:
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Postby cordy on Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:02 am

Also in Singapore there is a shop in lucky plaza that is ok, I bought my Sigma 70-200/2.8 and SB600 there for considerable savings. I'll have a look for the receipt tonight and get the name of the shop

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Postby Alpha_7 on Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:19 am

Please beware of most the shops in lucky plaza. Know exactly what you want and how much your willing to pay. Otherwise they can be very persuasive. I walked out of there after 5 hours in one particular shop having spent double my budgeted amount.

On the upside I got my D70, rather then a Canon EOS 300D I went in to buy. ( I don't doubt there are some bargains there, but they are also some unscrupulous merchants.
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Hi

Postby yeocsa on Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:49 pm

Hi

For grey sets, you can buy from TCW (The Camera Workshop) - ground floor - next to Peninsular Hotel. I know the guys there - they are reliable. You can buy lots of used equipment there too.

regards,

Arthur


huynhie wrote:Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Perninsular Plaza

Alan Photo - Sim Lim Square

John 3:16 - Funan Mall


these guys are pretty good. There is only a saving of about 5-10% on most equipement but with certain you will be saving alot more such as B+W filter where you can save approximately 30%.

Some items are also more expensive like the 12-24DX compared to Australia (Birddogs prices)
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Postby Killakoala on Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:10 pm

Gold and jewelery is cheap in Dubai. Sand is even cheaper. Accomodation is expensive.

Echo the Lucky Plaza bit above. Lucky Plaza = Dodgy. The food in the basement is good though, but there's much better and cheaper elsewhere.

Funan centre and Sim Lim are my favorite places to go in Singapore for electronics, DVDs, gadgets and camera bits.

I love Singapore
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Postby DVEous on Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:02 pm

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Postby hangdog on Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:09 pm

huynhie wrote:Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Perninsular Plaza

Alan Photo - Sim Lim Square

John 3:16 - Funan Mall
{snip}


I bought my SB-800 from John 3:16 last November. The staff spent a lot of time with me, then a D70 newbie, letting me try the flash and a Nikon 12-24mm.

I can't remember the last place I shopped where the people were so helpful and friendly. This is a real enthusiasts' shop. You mightn't get the absolute sharpest price there, although it'll come close, but the service is worth it.

--Chuan, who isn't being paid for the endorsement. :oops:
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Postby Alpha_7 on Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:00 am

I love shopping at Funan, I'll have to check out some of the stores mentioned above. Funan is almost equal to heaven for me, Computer, camera and gadget stores all under one roof. My wife also located the only Jewelery store in Funan last time she came over with me... Wasn't planning on that purchase :)
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Postby Geoff on Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:29 am

hangdog wrote:
huynhie wrote:Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Perninsular Plaza

Alan Photo - Sim Lim Square

John 3:16 - Funan Mall
{snip}


I bought my SB-800 from John 3:16 last November. The staff spent a lot of time with me, then a D70 newbie, letting me try the flash and a Nikon 12-24mm.

I can't remember the last place I shopped where the people were so helpful and friendly. This is a real enthusiasts' shop. You mightn't get the absolute sharpest price there, although it'll come close, but the service is worth it.

--Chuan, who isn't being paid for the endorsement. :oops:


This is very encouraging news!! Thank you :)
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Postby beetleboy on Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:12 pm

I guess the best advice I got over there (Singapore) was "If it seems to good to be true, it is"!!

A lot of the less scrupulous places will give you a bargain price, but only if you buy seriously overpriced accessories. I got into an argument with a store owner because he said we'd made a "verbal agreement" when I said "if you do it (fuji snappy digi) for $400 i'll be interested"!! He came out with "You must buy it now because I've agreed to your price"!!

I ended up walking out of the store and was later told the guy was under investigation for his sales methods. Remember you have the power to walk!

EDIT: also remember you can often get your tax back at the airport!
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Postby DVEous on Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:59 pm

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Postby big pix on Wed Sep 14, 2005 8:36 pm

huynhie wrote:Singapore is fine as long as you go to certain stores

Cathay Photo - Peninsular Plaza

- Sim Lim Square

- Funan Mall




Remember that stores do not open in Singapore till 10am or 10:30am but are opened late, and taxi's are cheap, taxi ranks are at the side or in front of buildings, bit hard to get one on a main road, look for the taxi signs.

I have shopped at the above centres and have found that the Peninsular plaza, better for expensive items, which has a large camera store inside which I always go to for price on large items, then come back and haggle, you cannot miss the store, it is one or 2 doors inside near the second hand camera dealer, where you might find a good lens, but I have only looked in the window. This plaza has 3 entrance's

Funan is good for small cameras and camera items, len's cards, and software, bags computers, some stores for the ladies, local food in the basement is quite good,

Sim Lim is great for computers, bit of a computer supermarket, but not good for camera purchase, but they are there, be carefull.
There is a large department store 1 block from Sim Lim, on the way to Buguis Junction {spelling ?} great for the ladies and for mens shoes, cheaper than the City stores worth a look, Buguis Junction which is only 2-3 blocks from Sim Lim Square has a great trash and treasure market, worth a walk through to the main road, and above the railway station is a very good Shopping Centre, something for everyone, all this should take you more than a day.

The bird park is also worth a visit for a few pix's, but the Zoo is the best.

have a good trip..........
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