fatigue
Senior Member
Thank you.. must be poor hearing on my on part.
Just to add, based on my experience,
Koreans are very hospitable. One shop even gives ginsheng drink to customers (even before you buy)
Seoul - Travelling and maybe camera shopping
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Thank you.. must be poor hearing on my on part.
Just to add, based on my experience,
Koreans are very hospitable. One shop even gives ginsheng drink to customers (even before you buy)
KRW/SGD may be good for SGD now but if the product is not made in Korea, chances are it is not going to be cheap just because of the exchange rate. They are very smart, eg. in LV shop, they use USD for the items. So no cheap shopping. Sigh.
But korean food, korean facial products, korean ginseng..... Cheaper with the stronger SGD! Anyway, good luck for your camera/lens shopping!
derrickbettas
New Member
Hi ,
You can try buying camera plates :Lplates(RRS style) korea made , Brand Mestos: only half the prices of rrs. Lpates for D300 listed 88.00us, d300with grid 165.00 listed. can get cheaper prices from camera shopes if they carry them.
You can try buying camera plates :Lplates(RRS style) korea made , Brand Mestos: only half the prices of rrs. Lpates for D300 listed 88.00us, d300with grid 165.00 listed. can get cheaper prices from camera shopes if they carry them.
I've not seen any camera shops yet over there but they are indeed very hospitable. Though language barrier is also indeed a problem, but learning simple phrases can help some time.
ic... so the price isnt that good? Prob HK better then? Thanks for the info!
Oic... so they take USD for most camera items? i thot they accept only won.
by plates you mean the tripod plates?
I was referring to shopping experience in LV (Louis Vuitton) in Seoul. I was hoping that with the weakened krw, I can get bargain there. But the shop is smart to price them in USD, so they will not be affected by the weakened krw. So unless it's something made in Korea, there's good chance they will need to price them to match their imported goods cost.
Anyway, how's the camera bargain?
Minor correction/addition to previous posts.
Thank you is kamsha mniida.
To say "I can't speak the Korean language" is: Hangul Mal mullayo.
Personally though I wouldn recommend not to utter a single word in Korean or Japanese when you are in those respective countries. This is my personal experience and instead of building bridges with local words, try bargaining in English. Brandishing some item related what you are planning to buy (if that's some expensive item like camera, etc...) might help to convince the seller that you are genuinely interested and not just another curious tourist passing by. After finishing the deal and you're satisfied then it's a good idea to say kamsaha mniida or kumas mida, if you wish to be more polite. Be careful when you are in Yongsan or Technomart because they're only slightly less meaner than some of the gentleman we come across in SLS. Needless to say, it's not a good idea to rush into a deal that looks like a bargain at the outset because it's very popular for stripped down versions or additional +++.
All the best!
Thank you is kamsha mniida.
To say "I can't speak the Korean language" is: Hangul Mal mullayo.
Personally though I wouldn recommend not to utter a single word in Korean or Japanese when you are in those respective countries. This is my personal experience and instead of building bridges with local words, try bargaining in English. Brandishing some item related what you are planning to buy (if that's some expensive item like camera, etc...) might help to convince the seller that you are genuinely interested and not just another curious tourist passing by. After finishing the deal and you're satisfied then it's a good idea to say kamsaha mniida or kumas mida, if you wish to be more polite. Be careful when you are in Yongsan or Technomart because they're only slightly less meaner than some of the gentleman we come across in SLS. Needless to say, it's not a good idea to rush into a deal that looks like a bargain at the outset because it's very popular for stripped down versions or additional +++.
All the best!
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gnohz
Senior Member
Hi, wonder why it's better to bargain in English? Care to share?
Maybe because can get cheaper? ;p
Or perhaps they will start bombing you in Korean or Japanese :sweat:
Dong/Nam-daemun sellers can speak understandable English because of Korea's large expatriate market and steady flow of foreigners (Same goes for Japan). Bargaining in English can be bit of a challenge for most of the sellers and if they find the price offered to them is reasonable, they'll usually agree. Trying to greet them in Korean is a commonplace trick and when used, they'll talk to you more and more in Korean (or Japanese) regardless of the other person understands or not.
It's just personal experience that when I frustrate them out with English, they have agreed more than talking to them in Korean - their comfort zone. YMMV, but no harm in trying this because once the deal is struck, you can always say thanks in Korean.
LOL they use 'Kam Sia' in Korea too ??
Actually the international airport has great deals too ..... duty free..... my nephew just bought a Panasonic LX3 for about SGD570 equivalent with international warranty +1 4G card
Go here to get their Korea Tourism 5-10% discount cupon that can be used in Airport duty-free shops.... dont know if it applies for camera equiptment but no harm trying
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_1_1.jsp
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AND if you are a blur sotong..... you can apply for a Goodwill Guide to show you around..... its free volunteer service so please pay for his/her food and other site fees and transport costs
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/GK/GK_EN_2_7_3_1.jsp
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/GK/GK_EN_2_7_3_1.jsp
gnohz
Senior Member
Dong/Nam-daemun sellers can speak understandable English because of Korea's large expatriate market and steady flow of foreigners (Same goes for Japan). Bargaining in English can be bit of a challenge for most of the sellers and if they find the price offered to them is reasonable, they'll usually agree. Trying to greet them in Korean is a commonplace trick and when used, they'll talk to you more and more in Korean (or Japanese) regardless of the other person understands or not.
It's just personal experience that when I frustrate them out with English, they have agreed more than talking to them in Korean - their comfort zone. YMMV, but no harm in trying this because once the deal is struck, you can always say thanks in Korean.
I see. No harm trying :bsmilie: Thanks for the tip.
Basically, any language that's not their comfort zone but can be understood should be ok :thumbsup: Should be able to keep them on their toes that way
Apart from English, they speak Japanese too? Heard that Korean is very similar to Japanese, so perhaps they're more fluent in it? :think:
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gnohz
Senior Member
Hmm i guess so. It has always been the case. But it seems to be changing with the younger generation. The older generation still has anti-Japanese sentiments i think. :sweat:
It's mostly a matter of personal preference. As mentioned after, this bias is only with senior generation and especially the Korean sellers look beyond this because Korea sees lot of Japs coming there for shopping.
All the best with your shopping!
Never make the trip leh. last min decided not to stopover in Seoul since the connection timing is really bad.. maybe in June/July will try it to go.
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