Hong Kong Shopping

If Hong Kong is the ‘City of Life', then life is a mall. There can be few places with more ships per square metre than Hong Kong – they are absolutely everywhere.

While Hong Kong is so crowded that most residential or office buildings go higher and higher, apparently rooms can always be made for another capacious mall or upmarket shopping district.

Prices for clothing accessories shoes and homewares are comparable with other country. Slightly cheaper cameras computers and electronic equipments are available. And discounts can be obtained at some small retailers if you are prepared to haggle.

There is no sales tax in Hong Kong but some of the sales assistants are too attentive which can be irritating when you just want to be left alone to shop. English is widely spoken.

One thing watch out for is that shops tend to open and close, or move premises at a faster rate than in most other cities. Also there are a growing number of second hand shopping options in this eternally image conscious city.

Take note of a shopping festival which features an array of special offers events and discounts that takes place each year from the last week in June until end of August.

There are a variety of sales seasons but of particular note is the fact most shops start their sales halfway through December.

Online Shopping

Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for items that are not available locally. There are no restrictions on what internet sites can be visited from Hong Kong computers and credits cards from Hong Kong banks are accepted around the world.

All the usual suspects such as Amazon, As seen On TV and eBay can deliver to Hong Kong. Note however that international shipping fees from outside Asia typically cost about $150 for a small to medium package.

Hong Kong Major Shopping Malls

Hong Kong Mall rats have plenty of choices. Pacific Place, in Admiralty, has three floors of almost entirely luxury brands, while The Landmark and Prince's Arcade vie for the custom of chic Central. Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong MTR station, in northern Kowloon, is worth the long trip from Central, for its variety and quality.

Causeway Bay has the big Japanese department stores, Sogo and Mitsukoshi, as well as the towering Times Square. Standard opening hours are daily 0930-1900 and later in many cases.

Hong Kongers bridle at the very idea of a sales tax, so visitors can forget about hoarding their receipts. Here are some of the major shopping malls in the city.

Shopping Areas

Hong Kong have several shopping areas largely dedicated to a particular product such as Ap Lei Chau furniture warehouse or Mong Kok's Trainers Street. These shopping areas offer something different from the rest of Hong Kong shopping malls and street markets.

Hong Kong Street Markets

Hong Kong Street Markets range from those selling souvenirs and trinkets that cater for tourists, to traditional wet markets selling live seafood to poultry vegetables and meats.

The biggest street markets such as Ladies' Market in Mong Kok or Stanley Market sell anything from table napkins to clothing handbags to small electronic gadgets.

One of the most delightful is the Yuen Po Bird Street, on Prince Edward Road West, in Kowloon. Open daily 0700-2000, this market is primarily concerned with the sale of song birds. Nearby, on Tung Choi Street, is a flower market and a goldfish market.

Street Markets are generally the cheapest places to shop in Hong Kong but this reflects the quality of the goods on sale. You can bargain in most markets but the price shouldn't drop too much unless the stallholder was charging you a real antique when it is actually fake or for high quality jade when it is garden variety.

Hong Kong Department Stores

Most of Hong Kong Department Stores are either inside or adjacent to shopping malls to maximize convenience and passing trade. Most stores sell a brand range of items which almost always includes fashion, cosmetics, home furnishings, jewelry and gifts.

Japanese style department stores such as Sogo, Seibu and UNY are particularly popular. Department stores vary from the dollar stretching bargain shopping of Jusco to the credit-card straining luxury of Harvey Nichols. The grand old lady of Hong Kong department stores however remains Lane Crawford.

Hong Kong Shopping A-Z

TOP - Hong Kong Shopping

Refunds and Exchanges

Exchange policies vary from store to store. But general refunds are rare unless goods are faulty and even that you have to make do with an exchange. It is the general rule to keep your receipt as your chances of obtaining a refund or exchange without one are greatly reduced.

Most international brands will allow an exchange of products returned in their original conditions with always the receipt with an allotted period of usually seven or 14 days.

Items bought on sale however usually cannot be returned or exchanged for any reason. So better make sure it is what you want and in good working order before purchasing.

Consumer Rights

Consumer rights have been improved thanks to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Consumer Council. They have a website www.consumer.org.hk which contains a wealth of information's on what to do if you have a complaint your legal rights and general consumer information such as product recalls and safety alerts.

Look for the (QTS) Quality Tourism Services logos which give added peace of mind upon purchasing. And if necessary to call the police the number to call is 999.

Shipping

Hong Kong is the gateway of the west and the east and there is no shortage of local and international shipping couriers ready and willing to send your package off around the world.

UPS, DHL, and FedEx are well represented in Hong Kong and rates are comparable to those in Europe and the U.S.

How to Pay

Credit cards of Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted by the majority of stores. Diners Club cards are accepted in some places.

Cash is usually the only acceptable methods of payments in the markets. Currencies other than Hong Kong dollars are not generally accepted.

However, some of malls, international brands and even department stores have begun to accept Chinese Reminbi and US Dollars.

Bargaining

Bargaining can be an acceptable and useful practice in Hong Kong although this is becoming less prevalent. Retailers in such establishment seem more willing to lower their prices if you are purchasing more than one item, so if possible team up with a friend who is also looking to make the similar purchase.

Bear in mind though that some but not all such retailers are telling the truth when they say their prices is fixed. In the street markets feel free to bargain like crazy. Even a little knowledge of Cantonese will go a long way to proving you are not a dumb tourist ripe for the fleecing.

TOP - Hong Kong Shopping

While this Hong Kong website have made extensive effort to be accurate, we make no warranty or guarantee as to the correctness of the above and all information listed here. Certainly schedules, prices and policies will and do change. Sometimes contact info is provided so one way to be sure is to call or book ahead. Similarly, we do not guarantee the claims made by our sponsors and advertisers. Caveat emptor!