Today's experience at Funan

[beepers]

Just had a funny experience today at Funan which I thought I would share. I went looking for a filter step-up adapter ring and an extra 32gb memory card for an upcoming photography trip.

1) For the adapter ring, oddly enough, Alan Photo didn't have any (or just couldn't be bothered). I went over to Bally - and guess what? Was quoted $28 for one :sweat:... And when asked why it was so expensive, he said it was because "its a big ring". After a previous similar experience where they gave me a silly price, I had promised myself never to go back in there. I guess I shouldn't break my promises! Ended up paying $8 at SLR Revolution - which probably wasn't the cheapest possible price - but at that point, it didn't matter.

2) I was rather surprised at the range of prices for something as commoditised as SD cards. A 32 GB Sandisk Extreme goes for $60 at Alan, $65 at TK, $75 at a random general electronics store - ended up paying $50 at SLR Revolution. Yes, this sounds like a plug for those folks, but it just so happens that they are on a different floor and was the last store I went to. When I got a generally reasonable price, I just decided to pay up instead of continuing my search (given the rapidly decreasing marginal utility).

Lesson of the day? Don't assume that there is any semblance of competitive pricing practices in Funan - WALK AROUND or you will get ripped off.

 

[kelth78]

I bought my Sony NEX from SLR Revo and the company stamp on the warranty card is Bally! Either they are under same boss or SLR took the NEX stock from them.

 

[thatnikon]

I bought my Sony NEX from SLR Revo and the company stamp on the warranty card is Bally! Either they are under same boss or SLR took the NEX stock from them.

same boss

 

[beepers]

How strange - strikes me as a totally different type of operation in terms of display quality, staff training, general professionalism...

 

[thatnikon]

1 random staff at CP told me... 1 shop to chop those tourist & carrot head... 1 shop to disturb the market... I do not know what that means but I sense sour grapes... lol

 

[Cowseye]

1 random staff at CP told me... 1 shop to chop those tourist & carrot head... 1 shop to disturb the market... I do not know what that means but I sense sour grapes... lol

It makes perfect sense...
One handles the foreigners and chase off the locals, the other serves the local and regular diligently. They offer better price and forces others to down their prices.

 

[trd2970]

Doesn't matter... whoever gives the best price gets my business. Most of us here would have done our research and know how to differentiate local vs grey sets, check shutter count, check focusing accuracy etc. Frankly doesn't matter which shop we get from. I dont believe in "relationship building" enough to stick to a particular shop...used to do that previously but I realized that shop took me for granted. For now, as long as price is good, stocks available, I will take it.

 

[netidolweb]

It makes perfect sense...
One handles the foreigners and chase off the locals, the other serves the local and regular diligently. They offer better price and forces others to down their prices.

good cop, bad cop

 

[Blur Shadow]

Thanks for sharing.

It is always true that one should always do one's homework before making any major purchase.

The concept of free market and free competition hinges on several factors, including:

1. Perfect Information
2. Completely liquid markets

First, no one consumer ever has perfect information. Hence, the more research you do, the better informed you are, an the closer you get to the best price.

Next, most stores get their inventory by batches, and continuous trading is not present. Hence, it may be possible for the same item to go at different prices simply because the cost for that product may be higher for one then the other.

For example, store A may have gotten an earlier batch, which may have cost more than the later batches. This is especially true for the latest products, where early adopters are penalized.

In another example, store A may have assumed more risk by ordering a larger quantity, thereby getting a larger discount than store B. That is a business risk that store A has to bear.

 

[donut88]

It makes perfect sense...
One handles the foreigners and chase off the locals, the other serves the local and regular diligently. They offer better price and forces others to down their prices.

It's ok with me. The more they disturb the market, the better for all consumers

This is to prevent cartel anti competition practices, which is illegal BTW.

Imagine every shop in Funan sells everything at same price? Is it fair to consumers?

 

[kane-rulez]

Imagine every shop in Funan sells everything at same price? Is it fair to consumers?

As long as they sell at realistic prices and not MRP, this way you wont get to know later that "oh you know that shop is selling it at 100$ cheaper than what you brought it at." as far as i know Nikon dealers have more or less the same price they get it at from Nikon.
For new items depending on the dealers reputation etc with Nikon they may be offered more stock but price to dealer remains more or less the same. The minimum price is fixed below which they cannot sell. and the maximum is fixed by MRP

Case Example : Dealer A get 50 units from Nikon ( Dealer A selling price is 3700$)
Since Dealer A has the stock and no one else has, Dealer B may buy it from Dealer A @ 3900 and Sell it at 4300$
Since Dealer B is now selling it at 4300 Dealer A jacks up the price to 4200 $

Thereby creating Artificial Inflation and Early adopters here get penalized.

 

[thedaniel]

A 32 GB Sandisk Extreme goes for about $41 at Sim Lim Square. But have to be careful as fake one is common. But I normally only get from trade shows at Suntec and Expo through the Sandisk booth.

 

[denzelwng4]

same boss, different tactics

 

[thatnikon]

A 32 GB Sandisk Extreme goes for about $41 at Sim Lim Square. But have to be careful as fake one is common. But I normally only get from trade shows at Suntec and Expo through the Sandisk booth.

from bizgram?

 

[thedaniel]

from bizgram?

Both Best Buy and Best Bargain is offering around this price.

 

[daredevil123]

Just had a funny experience today at Funan which I thought I would share. I went looking for a filter step-up adapter ring and an extra 32gb memory card for an upcoming photography trip.

1) For the adapter ring, oddly enough, Alan Photo didn't have any (or just couldn't be bothered). I went over to Bally - and guess what? Was quoted $28 for one :sweat:... And when asked why it was so expensive, he said it was because "its a big ring". After a previous similar experience where they gave me a silly price, I had promised myself never to go back in there. I guess I shouldn't break my promises! Ended up paying $8 at SLR Revolution - which probably wasn't the cheapest possible price - but at that point, it didn't matter.

2) I was rather surprised at the range of prices for something as commoditised as SD cards. A 32 GB Sandisk Extreme goes for $60 at Alan, $65 at TK, $75 at a random general electronics store - ended up paying $50 at SLR Revolution. Yes, this sounds like a plug for those folks, but it just so happens that they are on a different floor and was the last store I went to. When I got a generally reasonable price, I just decided to pay up instead of continuing my search (given the rapidly decreasing marginal utility).

Lesson of the day? Don't assume that there is any semblance of competitive pricing practices in Funan - WALK AROUND or you will get ripped off.

You might be interested to know that SLR Revolution and Bally are brother and sister companies... Owned by the same owners and they share stock and sometimes share staff.

 

[thatnikon]

You might be interested to know that SLR Revolution and Bally are brother and sister companies... Owned by the same owners and they share stock and sometimes share staff.

during the professional talk organize by shiro and SLRR, i saw bally staff in SLRR green shirt

 

[avsquare]

good cop, bad cop

无间道 photography store edition :bsmilie:

 

[trd2970]

You might be interested to know that SLR Revolution and Bally are brother and sister companies... Owned by the same owners and they share stock and sometimes share staff.

Yup it's now a well known fact....question is will ppl still support slr cos of their low prices?

 

[thatnikon]

Yup it's now a well known fact....question is will ppl still support slr cos of their low prices?

to some, price is king