Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [96]
A common practice is to sell grey-market equipment (ie imported by somebody other than the official local agent). Such equipment may have no guarantee at all, or the guarantee may be valid only in the country of manufacture (which will probably be either China or Japan).
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REFUNDS & EXCHANGES
Most shops are loath to give refunds, but they can usually be persuaded to exchange purchases that haven’t been soiled or tampered with. Make sure you get a detailed receipt that enumerates the goods, as well as the amount and payment method.
There is really no reason to put a deposit on anything unless it is an article of clothing being made for you or you’ve ordered a new pair of glasses. Some shops might ask for a deposit if you’re ordering an unusual item that’s not normally stocked, but this isn’t a common practice.
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SHIPPING GOODS
Some shops will package and post goods for you, especially large items. It’s a good idea to find out whether you will have to clear the goods at the country of destination. Make sure you keep all the receipts.
Smaller items can be shipped from the post office. United Parcel Service (UPS; 2735 3535) also offers services from Hong Kong to some 40 countries worldwide. It ships by air and accepts parcels weighing up to 70kg. DHL ( 2400 3388) is another option.
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WHAT TO BUY
Antiques
Hong Kong has a rich and colourful array of Asian, especially Chinese, antiques on offer, but serious buyers will restrict themselves to the reputable antique shops and auction houses only; Hong Kong imports many forgeries and expert reproductions from China and Southeast Asia. Just remember that most of the really good pieces are sold through the auction houses such as Christie’s (Click here), especially at its auctions in spring and autumn.
Most of Hong Kong Island’s antique shops are bunched along Wyndham St and Holly-wood Rd in Central and Sheung Wan. The shops at the western end of Hollywood Rd tend to be cheaper and carry more dubious ‘antiques’ – tread carefully through this minefield of reproductions, books, magazines, Chinese propaganda posters, badges from the Cultural Revolution and so on.
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SHOPPING STRIPS
The main shopping areas are Central (Click here) and Causeway Bay (Click here) on Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui (Click here) in Kowloon. Nathan Rd in Tsim Sha Tsui is the main tourist strip. Central is good for clothing (from international high-end brands to the hautest of haute couture), as well as books, cameras and antiques. Causeway Bay has a lot of department stores and low-end clothing outlets, while old Wan Chai (Click here) has a sprinkling of interesting clothing and interiors places.
Either side of the Kowloon peninsula you’ll also find ever-increasing retail space, including at the Elements mall in West Kowloon and at Megabox ( Map; Wang Chui Rd, Kowloon) to the east near Kai Tak airport in Kowloon Bay.
Warehouse sales and factory extras can be found along Granville Rd (Click here) in Tsim Sha Tsui, in Causeway Bay and on Ap Lei Chau ( Click here), the island opposite Aberdeen. Most of these deal in ready-to-wear garments, but there are a few that also sell carpets, shoes, leather goods, jewellery and imitation antiques. Often prices aren’t that much less than in retail shops, and it’s important to check purchases carefully, as refunds are rarely given, and many articles are factory seconds and imperfect.
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For Chinese handicrafts and other goods (hand-carved wooden pieces, ceramics, paintings, cloisonné, silk garments), the main places to go are the large China-run emporiums scattered throughout the territory, such as Chinese Arts & Crafts (Click here) and Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium (Click here).
Clothing
The best places to find designer fashion and top-end boutiques are in the big shopping centres and malls, especially Landmark (Click here) in Central, Pacific Place (Click here) in Admiralty and Festival