Sim Lim Square
Having been a frequent visitor to Singapore for decades, I must have visited just about every shopping centre there is, ranging from the mediocre to the stunning, including the two major dedicated technology malls.
Yes, I said two, and yes, I know there are other malls with clusters of technology stores, but in this case, I am sticking to the two big ones.
Sim Lim Square, for just about everything computer and camera-related, and Sim Lim Tower, for tools and electronic components.
The first thing on today's agenda is to visit Sim Lim Square and see what's available, get an idea of the prices when compared to those at home and maybe find a real killer deal.
Before moving on to the visit, some warnings: first, many of the stores do not accept or like credit cards, so remember to take cash or visit a local ATM; then comes the annoying one: expect pushy salesmen who do not like taking no for an answer.
Ok, I will admit that this problem has become less annoying over the years, going from being grabbed and basically pulled into shops, to just being asked if I wanted anything.
With all my recent visits, pushy salesmen are the exception rather than the norm, which is a most welcome change over the years of visits.
If you want to shop for a camera, especially a higher-end one, Sim Lim Square is not really the place for you; rather, check out the second level of the Funan Centre. You will find many camera stores, with no sign of any pushy salesmen, just knowledgeable staff who are happy to help.
On the plus side, haggling is possible, but it does depend on the store and what you are buying. And no, it's not like Hong Kong, where haggling is expected.
Walking from Bugis Market top
With that out of the way, the walk from my hotel was easy, flat and straightforward, just head for Bugis Market and cut through the markets, cross one major street, that's it.
The walk from the hotel was about 30 minutes, and that included getting food at Bugis and heading past the Bugis market towards Sim Lim Square.
After getting across the street at the crossing, I headed in on the ground floor, the air conditioning was like walking into an icy wall, which even for me was welcome.
First, the PSA: while traffic in Singapore is not too crazy, this street can be like a racetrack, so use the crossing or the footbridge. Trust me, I have seen several near misses.
Navigating the Atrium and Corridors top
Getting past the icy air-conditioning around the entrances, the layout is typical of Asian malls: lots of small shops packed into a rabbit warren of corridors.
One hint: do not just stay in the atrium area, as you will miss many smaller shops located in the corridors running behind the atrium.
No matter what you are looking for, you are likely to find a store that sells it or can point you in the right direction.
You may have to rummage as some stores have a mountain of bits and pieces, and some of it with little sign of organisation.
Trust me, rummaging is good, especially if you are looking for cables, adapters or specific widgets.
Specialty Stores: Batteries and Electronics top
Of all the shops in the corridors away from the artium, one really stood out, they sold batteries, and not the usual collection of AA etc, but from wandering around, they must have every battery known.
So if you need batteries, especially the less common ones, head to Sim Lim Square and check them out, or just check the Unicell International Battery Store to see what they can help you with.
And no, I was not asked by this store or any other to include them here; it's just interesting to me, as something I have not seen elsewhere.
Shopping Tips, Prices, and Tax Refunds top
Anyhow, Sim Lim Square is well worth a visit; just be aware that prices can vary widely across stores for the same products. Final words: It's not as cheap as it used to be, but deals can still be found.
When it comes to prices, the one thing I found that was actually cheaper than back home is flash memory cards and USB sticks. Both of these were about 20% cheaper than Sydney prices. And yes, I picked up several of each for my DSLR and phone backups.
One thing you need to know is that you can claim a portion of the tax back on purchases at the airport. A few years ago, you could take the receipt to the airport desk to get a refund.
Now things have changed; you need to carry your passport or a high-quality photo of it, and talk to the store, which will do some paperwork that you will need when you get to the airport. At the airport, you need to show the item you purchased together with the paperwork from the store; then they will refund the tax, either in cash or put it back on the card used to pay.
First win of the day, and the end of the shopping for now, so now it being a nice sunny day, I am heading for Fort Canning Park