I am planningvto visit singapore in mid july. Have a lot of queries, please help with them...?

Question

1. Where to by electronics for cheap but good quality - other than big malls.
Where to buy music systems, car stereos, iPods, digital camera and handycam ?
2. Where to buy genuine singapore gold/ platinum...and how much does it usually cst per gram.
3. What does 'duty free shopping mean' ? Is it only at airport and is it cheaper than local shopping in singapore ?
4. Which are the shops in singapore that usually offer best rates / good deals during Singapore sale ?
5. Is bargaining practised in Singapore ? To what % ?
6. What all can we buy from Mustafa at Little India in Singapore ?
7. I would also like to meet some job consultants (I am an IT prefessional from India.) If someone can provide me details of job consultants in Singapore....

Answer 1

eating , shopping ,

Old Airport road hawker centre and shopping centre

cheapest

Answer 2

Hi, seems like you are getting quite good replies so far, so I will try to fill in a bit more of the blanks.

1. Besides these places, there are smaller electronic shops who can match or even better these shops. Try Paris Silk Store at Holland Village. You can bargain with them despite their low price.

2 South Bridge Road Centre is the jewellery centre in Singapore. There the shops are mainly jewellery shops. So you get gold and paltinum. You will have to check the day price as it changes with the world gold/platinum price.

3. Duty-free means that there is no duty imposed on the items. It used to mean that it should be the cheapest price, if duty is paid for the same item elsewhere. Hoever, with parallel imports, you can get same item at lower price other than in the duty-free shops nowadays. You maight as well go to the sales in town as the sales price can be better than duty-free price now.

4. Well, the the ongoing sales, some department stores change their sales items weekly, so best to hunt around. Look for what you want at the specialty stores.

5. Most of the big shops practise fixed price sale. Those smaller ones though o allow some bargaining flexibility. Check with the shop if their price is fixed. If not try 20-30% as these shops do not over-inflate their prices.

6. Mustafa carries all kinds of goods 24hours. But again, not everything is the lowest there. So look around and then head for Mustafa if you cannot find anything elsewhere.

7. As for job consultant, sorry, this is not my cup of tea.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

lots of question... o.k. let me try..
1) The best places are still SimLim Square and SimLim Towers and Funan, IT Mall.
At Funan (close to City Hall MRT) you can normally get a good understanding about prices and then go to SimLim and bargain there..
Small shops are all along the 'Heartlands', i.e. HB estate. I usually recommend Toa Payoh (same name for MRT station).
2) Gold, normally in every jeweler store. Prices are shown and are identical. Difference is workmanship if you buy jeweler. Platinum, I've not come across, sorry. Prices may change again in July. So just check out any shop when you arrive and you'll know the latest. I would need to check if you really need to know now.. Send me an email, in case it's important.
I would not recommend Little India as I've heard the quality is not so good there. In Chinatown you run the risk of being overcharged. Any shop of the established chains is recommended..
3) Good question. From my experience in many countries, it's meant to attract people to spend a lot of money for expensive things that they might get cheaper somewhere. There's a huge DFS in Scotts Road, just off Orchard Road. If you have a global VIP card, with the discount you're slightly below the prices at the airport, where DFS does not sell perfumes or so. You can order cigarettes and liquor there and pick it up at the airport on your departure. I'd recommend checking out prices there for the branded stuff and then looking around to get an idea or bargain. Although not so common, be aware that you also might get fake stuff in smaller shops. Although generally I've made good experiences that people tell you when it's fake, there are bad people around everywhere...
4) Most shops have good offers. Listing them all, would take it too far. Walk along Orchard, and you'll see plenty of them..
5) In small shops, yes, you can try (e.g. places like Far East Plaza, definitely). The big stores like DFS, don't. But you can always ask politely...
6) You get everything there, 24h a day. However, I feel the quality of goods has dropped since my first visit in 2000, and they are not that cheap overall. You can get cheap stuff there, but then it's really cheap...
All I buy there nowadays are spices, especially the Indian. But of course, you really get everything there..
7) Well, for that you should check the Yellow pages for agencies. Although if you're in IT, India is currently the place to be.. Wages are going up, there is a shortage of qualified people and that's where the future is. There are some big local consulting companies that also work globally. Singapore is right now a place for the future, although of course the salaries are still higher (and so is the standard of living). But it might really be easier for you to get a job in India right now in IT than Singapore...

Hope it helps a little. If you have further questions or need clarifications, email me...

Answer 4

Hi Anne! I'm a Singaporean... hope I can help you somehow :)

1. Sim Lim Square, it's near Bugis MRT station (Underground). Though I heard the place might shoot prices up when they see tourists... you might still be able to bargain for a cheaper price if you persist and also because the starting selling price is already lower than in larger electrical malls.

3. DFS Galleria also located at Orchard Road, a 5-min walk from the popular Orchard MRT station. It is not cheaper than in the usual shops, just that you don't have to pay tax at the customs.

4. Bugis street, something like the Women Street and Temple Street in Hong Kong, don't expect too high quality apparel for the low prices though.

6. You can buy almost anything from Mustafa... haha. From electrical applicances, to gold, foodstuff, suitcases, apparel, just to name a few! It's open 24h by the way.

Answer 5

Singapore has been called a playground for the wealthy but Singapore offers more than just high-end shopping malls, luxurious lodges or fine food and you are able to enjoy a fun holydays in that town and you will discover how with Hotelbye . One of many places many visit in Singapore may be the opulent Marina Bay Sands resort complex. Marina Bay is a place that includes a resort, high-end luxurious brands, mall with a canal running through it, the ArtScience Museum and the Marina Bay Sands Skypark.The Skypark's is a vessel where you are able to discover an infinity pool that covers the hotel. And, actually if only the resort visitors are permitted to utilize the share, the observation terrace is available for everyone. The blissful luxury and the elegance of Marina Bay Sands exemplify Singapore's style and support designate a major international town in Southeast Asia.

Answer 6

Welcome to Singapore

1a) Sim Lim Square - Digital Camera, Handycam (Try Bargain)
1b) Funan It Mall - iPods (Fixed Price)
1c) Ubi Industrial Park - Car Stereos

2a) Little India - Gold (Try Bargain)
2b) Chinatown - Gold (Try Bargain)
2c) Bugis Village - Platinum (Fixed Price)
(Sorry, not too sure about the price.. )

3) Duty Free Shopping mean you do not need to tax your wallets paying those extra dollars which count as duty towards imported goods.

4) PEOPLE’S PARK (Chinatown) U did not stated items so I suggest this location)

5) Certain place... Yes... U can try bargain...

6) Mustafa now opening 24hrs... Price Fixed... I think U can get better pricing elsewhere for items sold here

7) U can try the following website... Hope information can help U... Feel free to contact me for more information... Will try my very best to answer all your question to my knowledge

Answer 7

since u r from India.. juz go one place.. Mustaffa Centre.. they hav everything under 1 roof.. the best part .. it open 24 hrs

u want a job consultant.. then visit.. www.mom.gov.sg

Answer 8

hey i dont know much,,,,but plzzzzzzzzzzz dont forget to visit Mustafa Center
njoy ur stay

Answer 9

DONT GO Lousy place disgusting place toilets so smelly toilets very smelly

Answer 10

Make sure you bring chewing gum. You will love the response.