passutoba Posted October 13, 2010 Share #1 Posted October 13, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've just been to HK for work and was looking for a wide angle M lens....I ended up getting a new 2.8/28mm elmarit from New Francisco in Wing On plaza, but i just wanted to vent my frustration at the general apathy from the shops and staff there in general.....the francisco bloke was marginally less terse and disinterested than most, but still, look slightly more happy and engaged as i'm spending 13000 HKD or whatever in your shop......the guy at Tin Cheung Classic was the best, but just didn't really have what i wanted, but at least he was warm and engaging...do they just think i'm some dumb whitey off a cruise ship? or maybe locals just spend so much money in these places that it doesn't matter and they don't need to wake up the young assistant asleep over his bowl of noodles....champagne court was a joke, some bullshit merchant wanted 20000 HKD for a leitz canada 28 elmarit...anyway, hope this rant helps somebody somewhere who might be going camera shopping in HK..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 13, 2010 Posted October 13, 2010 Hi passutoba, Take a look here Hong Kong..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Archiver Posted October 14, 2010 Share #2 Posted October 14, 2010 I've been to Tin Cheung in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Man Shing in Mong Kok. Tin Cheung salespeople tend to be pretty good, and will tell you what you want to know about the stock. Man Shing salespeople have been a bit abrupt, in my experience, unless you corner the new guy. But Man Shing seem to have a good range of Leica gear. They had a gorgeous limited edition anthracite MP with Leicavit a couple of years ago. When in Hong Kong, I always go camera shopping with a native Hong Kong Leica f®iend. And I avoid every other Tsim Sha Tsui camera shop like the plague. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted October 14, 2010 Share #3 Posted October 14, 2010 … And I avoid every other Tsim Sha Tsui camera shop like the plague. I second that! I had only most pleasant experiences with New Francisco Photo Co., which is always my first camera shop in Hong Kong, when I look for a Leica item. Generally, the bigger stores mostly in high trafficked areas in Tsim tend to have rather pushy, young personnel, not much interested in the customer. One has to understand the shop owners though - you don't bring 20.000HKD for a lens - you might be bringing 2000 − 2500 HKD - from that, the shop pays for costs, taxes and bags in a small margin. They do not earn much money, when every second whitey form a cruise ship enters shop, to try out some lenses, asking a lot of questions and ending up, buying a filter. Sarcastic mode off: it has a lot to do, how you deal with them and with whom you are dealing. You go upfront in, ask price and availability on a specific item and only after having satisfying info on price and availability, you close a deal, including "trying out" - most dealers will be very willing and friendly. Entering the store and doing the same things in a different order might end you up feeling treated disrespectful I have learned, that shopping in Asia (China especially) is quite different, than in western countries, living here for a little time now. Trust (and open friendliness) here comes not with the wallet entering the store, but with a relation, building up, coming back again and again, being friendly and engaging. There are exceptions (many shops in Tsim or "the tourist pushers") - I prevent them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted October 15, 2010 Share #4 Posted October 15, 2010 or maybe locals just spend so much money in these places that it doesn't matter and they don't need to wake up the young assistant asleep over his bowl of noodles.... hehehe sounds so familiar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted October 15, 2010 Share #5 Posted October 15, 2010 The best Leica shop in my experience is L&H in Causeway Bay (Windsor House, 11F) but Tin Cheung is good. I have never had any real problems although I am often with my HK Chinese wife, which may help. You have to understand that much of the business comes from rich mainland Chinese who pay cash and often buy several items at a time. Margins are thin and the mainlanders are less price sensitive - they often buy for prestige rather than for the love of a Leica in use. None of this excuses poor / arrogant service but HK used to have a reputation for that in the boom days and maybe those days are returning. I have never been to New Francisco. There is also a Leica distributor in Stanley Street but a lot of these shops have limited stock available on demand. L&H can usually get me what I want and with a full warranty. There are official Leica boutiques in IFC2 and Times Square but they have never had much when I have visited - everything needs to be ordered. I have never paid list price for a regular item but have paid a premium over list for hard to get items such as the Noctilux. Credit cards are generally less attractive to the dealer. Hope this helps. Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted October 16, 2010 Share #6 Posted October 16, 2010 Just remembering another option: Zhao Xiang Guan, less well known but located in TST - 12F, 35 Kimberley Road. I have bought from there - friendly service and know their stuff. I was referred to them by a pro I know here in HK and they carry quite a lot of used kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest user62134 Posted October 16, 2010 Share #7 Posted October 16, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) It well known fact that more billionaires live in Hong Kong then any other place World wide. They are use to the Amex Black card. We always dress rather ___hmm casual, but when we want their attention and good manners, I pull out a ID that is known World wide and it is amazing how fast they jump to attention. The `head hot-in tot' shows up and even this old geezer in jeans gets damn good service. Amex does not pay them for at least 60 days. Cash talks ! But H.K is now doing so much business they are no longer begging for customers as they were just 25 years ago. Sadly, I don't think it will change soon. Some do not know who Mao was ! LOL Damn they are 1/5 of the Worlds population, so they do out number us. Right? xie-xie (Shay-Shay) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezc203 Posted October 17, 2010 Share #8 Posted October 17, 2010 I think the general rule of thumb is they only step away from their noodle bowls for S2 and M9Ti purchases Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted October 17, 2010 Share #9 Posted October 17, 2010 I think the general rule of thumb is they only step away from their noodle bowls for S2 and M9Ti purchases I think this is a tad harsh. Some of the sales people have a real passion for the stuff they sell and will talk at length even if you don't buy. But don't expect that in a busy store with high rents. HK real estate is arguably the most expensive in the world. The rents are crazy. If they don't sell they close down. The best places are where the shop is owned because the guy was smart enough to buy long ago before prices skyrocketed. We are currently in a major upswing in real estate rents and sales prices, commercial and residential. I know because I am being priced out! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest user62134 Posted October 17, 2010 Share #10 Posted October 17, 2010 Andrew___ I certainly meant no disrespect for the people of Hong Kong ___ have been coming there since the mid 1960's. In the past 30- years several times yearly. Many fond memories and watching H.K. grow. Have pictures taken in the old "cat alley' on H.K. The Bank Of China building when it was only the shell___because the workers were told bad `fungi shway' (SIC) now a landmark to see. We still travel there quite often, and to Shanghai___how it has grown another favorite city. We have always been polite to the sales people and received the same in return. In my post yesterday I was merely joking. We are all too aware of the huge costs of dining and staying there. On our last trip there a kind Chinese lady friend insisted on taking us to the latest new hot spot for dinner and she insisted on picking up the tab. Total of 6 people on the 29th floor___her Amex card we saw the bill for dinner alone, just over $10K US! Then on to Shanghai Four Seasons hotel, 6 days___many $K US. I think you'll agree the "mantra" from Beijing is ___"making money is good, making MORE money is better." Poor old Mao must be rolling in his grave. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted October 17, 2010 Share #11 Posted October 17, 2010 Andrew___I certainly meant no disrespect for the people of Hong Kong ___ David David, none taken but not everyone understands how HK works! Just don't get me started on the standard of driving here. May see you next time you are here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest user62134 Posted October 17, 2010 Share #12 Posted October 17, 2010 LOL We ALWAYS leave the driving to others ___you think us crazy ? Wrong side of road ___ and they don't think they will ever get hit ? !! We sit in the back and strap in ! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R9user Posted October 17, 2010 Share #13 Posted October 17, 2010 I must say I ave also had good Service from Tim Cheung and Kinefoto (In Stanley Street Hong Kong Island) My experience at New Fransico was similar I once bought a 35mm F2.5 but the second time round staff as so disinterested in me I left without buying anything. Most of the official Leica Dealers know their stuff (see website for list) but I also had to pay a premium - I managed to purchase a M9 on 25 September last year but it cost me HK$5000 more (I will not mention the store as it was my own choice and it was still significantly cheaper than my home country and many other countries, and besides, I did not have to wait) In general Hong Kong is a pleasure to shop for Leica gear, but know what you want beforehand and email/phone in advance rather than trying to make up your mind in the store Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R9user Posted October 17, 2010 Share #14 Posted October 17, 2010 I must say I ave also had good Service from Tim Cheung and Kinefoto (In Stanley Street Hong Kong Island) My experience at New Fransico was similar I once bought a 35mm F2.5 but the second time round staff as so disinterested in me I left without buying anything. Most of the official Leica Dealers know their stuff (see website for list) but I also had to pay a premium - I managed to purchase a M9 on 25 September last year but it cost me HK$5000 more (I will not mention the store as it was my own choice and it was still significantly cheaper than my home country and many other countries, and besides, I did not have to wait) In general Hong Kong is a pleasure to shop for Leica gear, but know what you want beforehand and email/phone in advance rather than trying to make up your mind in the store Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkie Posted October 19, 2010 Share #15 Posted October 19, 2010 Smart 'whiteys' bring a hot blonde or get their whitey wifey to enquire/buy their gear. Enuff said:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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