Camera tricks

I just came back from an island much compare to the one I am staying. Yes its Hong Kong and did you know its not spell Hongkong in one word. I actually din.

Anyway, in pursue of a decent camera, I had tot of getting the awfully good looking GF-1. This is until my dear CB whom advise me to stick with a lesser camera without the fancy lens changing. Looking around I targeted the Panasonic T27 (aka ZS3 in some region)

It was offered at the airport at a reasonable price including casing and a 8Gb card. And that became my baseline. Walking along Nathan road, I noticed that there were plenty of camera shops. Interestingly all offered Tax free and there are barely any locals patronising. Just a couple of tourist whom are mostly white.

I went abt asking their offer price. Most quote 2500 HKD. Thats about 500 and it was a good price to me. I finally settle on one that look "trustworthy". They quoted be a reduction of 100HKD after some bargaining. They did offered some accessories to up the price but I din budge. Strangely midway through they replaced the person assisting me with one that seems to have been awake for 5 days.

His eyes were red and he look tired. Not to mention impatient. I asked to test the model and he was rude and insist that I hasten up. After some time he informed me that he did not had the stock for the model I wanted and offered a lower range for a cheaper price. I din budge and left.

Crossing the road, there was still time before my shuttle was to arrive. I walked into another shop. I merely asked for the price and he said 1800 HKD. Now thats 360. A big drop. A part of me and glad that the earlier deal fall through becos of the lack of stock.

However this shop was cunning in their own way. The setting of the test model was dim and aimed to let you feel that you are using a entry level camera. They then started encouraging me to try the Canon SX 120. And it seems to be a better all rounder.

The interesting thing is that he too need to get the stock. Amazingly such a well size shop cant house a small camera box. They did however house many lens and filters for the DSLR ranges.

Anyhow while waiting for the stock to arrive, he kept persisting me to get the SX 120. Even offering improve pricing. I am skeptical. I din play along and just waited. And this in total was a 1.5 hrs of wait.

In that period, there were some ang mohs whom came in asking for a particular lens but were enticed to get more expensive ones. I began to realise there is no stock and the deal was the SX120 or nothing else.

Indeed, I read from some articles there this con shops operates by showing you a degraded model of the item you want, only to offer you a gem. It seems they are out for the big bucks.

Having miss the shuttle, I was pissed off and left. A few days later I happened to be back there and went in to ask if they had the stock. Another staff approached me asking for the price the previous guy quoted. When I said 1800 HKD he kept it cool and said that the ZS3 is only available in Japanese. While the one I should get is the multi language T27. And that is 2700HKD.

I just walked off.