Alright, ladies! A little shopping post for you.
If you're ever in Hong Kong, you have to visit Ladies' Market. Basically, it's a street market full of clothes, bags, shoes and knick-knacks. Yes, some may argue that it's too tourist-y and you may be able to get some things cheaper elsewhere, but if you're only there for a short while and don't have time to hunt all over the place, a street market like this is perfect for shopping (especially for souvenirs). Ladies' Market is located at Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok.
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| 1) Envelope bags |
My Top 10 tips for shopping at Ladies' Market:
1) Haggle! However, start haggling only if you're really interested in the item. The stall owners can get pretty mad if you do some serious haggling (50%), then change your mind.
Personally, I start off looking slightly interested, ask for the price, make quick mental calculations while looking disinterested, then quote price I'm willing to pay (50%). The stall owner would usually then quote another price higher than mine (80%). My next step depends on how much I like the item. If I still really like it, I make one final quote as a compromise (60% or 70%). If I sort of changed my mine (say, the quoted price put me off slightly, but I'll have it if the price is cheap), I stick to my original price (50%). If the owner is still unwilling to match my price, I then walk away. More than once, the stall owner called me back to give me the price I asked for. WIN!
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| 2) Little denim handbags |
2) Do not despair if the walking-away trick doesn't work. Many of the stalls sell the same thing, so you can always move on to the next one to haggle. Even better now that you know what the "market price" is.
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| 3) Colourful rubber purses/phone holders |
3) It's fine to ask for prices and it's perfectly fine to walk away if the quoted price is too high for you. Do not be pressurized into buying anything.
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| 4) Umbrellas |
4) This didn't happen to us, but if a stall owner starts grumbling at you, just walk away. They can get very persistent, but just smile and say, "No, thank you" and quickly walk away. Don't be over polite, just walk away as soon as possible.
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| 5) Funny underwear |
5) Be reasonable. Do not ask for ridiculously cheap prices. I heard a stall owner scold a woman because she was asking for a 80% discount!
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| 6) Mao Zedong pocket watches |
6) I noticed the stall owners who were more friendly and helpful were more willing to haggle in order to make a sale. The ones that continue chatting to their friends and don't even look up when we peer at their items are the ones that are not desperate to sell off their items (for what ever reason). You probably wouldn't get much of a discount from them.
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| 7) Earrings |
7) Do not be afraid of asking for new items. Personally, when ever possible, I don't buy the displayed item, but instead ask for a brand new one. These are usually still wrapped in plastic/paper and haven't been touched/dropped by hundreds of hands.
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| 5) Louboutin knockoffs |
8) This goes without saying, but if you see a branded item there, it is most certainly fake. So be aware that you're buying counterfeit items (no judge-y, though. I may or may not have bought some knock-offs myself hehe).
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| 9) Mini food keychains |
9) Be aware of "No Photography" signs. Although I didn't see many of these, certain (anal) stalls did have them.
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| 10) Mini camera thumbdrives |
10) If you're like me and like to look at and buy quirky things, be prepared to spend a good couple of hours here. Bring some water, wear comfortable shoes and go crazy!
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| 11) Mini teapot thumbdrives |
HAPPY SHOPPING!
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| 12) Ladies' Market |
