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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Electronics Shanghai City


buy electronics?
By Dennis Ming Nicholsin 
RIP Best Buy. Probably Shanghai's most customer-friendly electronics retailer is closing its doors to invest in other ventures. So where do we go now to get our cell phones, cameras, laptops, desktops, speakers, ipods, PSPs, and Wiis?
Modern Electronics Market (Fuxing Lu and Xiang Yang Lu). Get new and used phones (including iPhones and Androids) for a decent bargained price. All cell phone accessories are available. The place also has wholesale wires and components, kitchen appliances, home electronics, DJ equipment, laser disks and kitchen sinks (literally).Read more about it here.

Xujiahui 
Xujiahui is home to at least three electronic outlet malls (BuyNow, Metro City and Pacific Digital). You can find just about any personal electronic equipment or device for home, office, and entertainment.
Buy Now is located in the building just south of Metro City (the big glass ball) and has a huge section devoted to custom-made computers. You can have a personal consultant help you (aggressively convince you) to build a computer to your exact specifications. It might seem really fast-paced and anxiety-inducing at first, but if you know what you want before going, you can get what you need for cheaper.
For information on Metro City electronics, check out this article.
Cybermart (Huaihai Rd / Xizang Rd) 
Really just more of the same. Lots of new and used electronics and good with repairing equipment. Across the street is a smaller market where you can get lots of components and wires custom cut and assembled. I got an AC adaptor to my specifications for 60RMB.
Media Mrkt (Huai Hai Zhong Lu / Sinan Lu) 
The German brand has opened its flagship China store on HuaiHai Road. It's 6 levels of electronics, appliances and accessories. But no video game consoles or games. The huge massage chair collection (that you can test drive) makes it worth the visit all by itself. Here's their website with a better description.
Sunning and Gome 
These chains are mainly for home appliances like kitchen electronics, space heaters, washer/dryers, etc. But they have a limited selection of phones and laptops too. Customer service can be sketchy but you'll probably get what you need.
Big Chain Department Stores 
Carrefour, Trust Mart, and Wal Mart all have electronic sections.
Online Stores
If you can read Chinese or are just savvy at navigating Chinese websites, check these out:
-360buy.com will deliver your products directly to your door and you can pay them with cash or credit on delivery.
-TaoBaoMall is the expanded service brand of TaoBao (China's #1 online marketplace). The products and vendors are "guaranteed" by Taobao to provide better follow-up service (such as dealings with repairs or whatever logistical issues might arise) and genuine products (aka the real brands, not fakes). It might be a safer bet that "regular TaoBao" when it comes to quality electronics.
RussianBear's Big List of Second-hand electronics markets
ShanghaiExpat user “RussianBear” produced a long list of places to buy second-hand electronics:
Shanghai best second-hand market is at Qiujiang Lu in Hongkou district (just outside Baoshan station). They include indoor and outdoor stalls.

Le[or Lok]'s secondary market Amoy (Jingan District Jiaozhou Road, the road-Chakou)
Shanghai fair way second-hand market (fair Road in Hongkou District, near Tangshan Road)
3 Kwun Tong electronic market (in the three official Tangqiao, arrived by bus routes 44)
Ziming Zhong largest electronic market (in Yichang Road, arrived by bus routes 24)
Shaanxi Road electronic market (near the Macao Road, arrived by bus routes 19)
Xujiahui on the third floor of the Pacific City computer (only one shop)
Gonghexin lu second-hand goods market: (Gonghuoxin lu dry second floor of the bridge in recent days Head Road, the access road)
Shanghai Qiujiang Lu electronic trading market (Zhou Jia Zui Road 729, near a fair way, can be reached by road 17)
[Full disclosure -RussianBear's list is two years old. ShanghaiExpat.com did not visit all these places to make sure they were still standing, but it would have been a waste not to edit and republish it here. If you know that one or more of these places no longer exisits, please leave a comment below. The original post is here and includes places to get second-hand cars, pianos, and furniture.]
And with that we say, Bye Bye Best Buy. I guess this means my Rewards card is invalid. damnit.

Comments

Er.....what about 360buy.com or Taobao Mall???
I can't read Chinese and yet i've managed to use both these sites for electronic goods.
360buy.com is the best as it is mainly electronics that can arrive within 24 - 48 hours and paid for in cash with the delivery guy.
It's even easier now with google chrome being able to translate the whole webpage in the browser for you.
Another place i'd go is Carrefour, because let's be honest, if i was buying a serious electronic item such as any Apply product, laptop or decent camera, i wouldn't be buying it in China.
Almost all electronics are more expensive here than in Hong Kong. If HK is in your travel plans (or visa runs), go to Mongkok and bargain there. For example I got a 3G Nokia phone there that was already discounted, and because I bargained I got a free extra battery and USB charger.

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