Glasses are much cheaper ... just make sure you get good quality.
IT: I bought a 2.5" 320GB drive from Western Digital (Caviar Blue, passes the manufacurer ID and works within the specs, so no fake) with an external Hitachi housing for 400 rmb in November (lowest retail in France was 800 rmb, noname product and Toshiba drive which I dislike).
Laptops are a lot cheaper if you type on a QWERTY keyboard. I use a French keyboard so no dice.
Phones are cheaper unless you go for Nokia or Sony, prices are pretty close to the West. The iPhone knock off with wifi and 3G works better than the original (dual sim, faster cpu, longer battery life), I saw them for 850rmb all over the place ... and for additional software, please go to iTunes
, and I kid you not, the phone has the original iPhone 3GS operating system, decent cameras too (front and back).
Clothes are cheap but brand clothes are knock-offs, same for shoes, althought I wonder if they're not the original brand shoes? They're really well made (Eider and co...), I'll get a couple of pairs next time.
If you have kids, spy pen with USB camera, records 4 hours, 110rmb, or key ring camera looks like a car remote with ccd quality, about 250. Dirt cheap MP3 and MP4's. Little RC helicopters in all variations from 150 to 550 for the mother of RC helicopters, I wish the carton was a bit smaller though. PSP games (knock offs, they work), Blu Ray movies for 25rmb which work (only 720p or aven lower), all kinds of Wii/PS2/PS3 Xbox etc accessories, I do have a problem with a PS3 gamepad which won't work with ours, so be careful or better try it if possible. Oh and kids clothes of course.
As a Laowai you will always be quoted a high price, so you're in charge of the "sales". Negotiate tough but always with a smile. The more expensive a store looks, the more expensive it is, so avoid the large luxury malls if you're bargain hunting.
In Shenzhen for electronics, take the metro to Hua Qiang Lou, follow the crowd (I believe exit A, but follow the crowd if Im wrong) and once you surface in the street, you'll get to a huge shopping artery by turning left. On the opposite side of the road is big building (almost sky scraper) labeled LGS or something like that. In there you have 6 or 8 huge floors of electonics. The competition makes prices low, and floors are specialized by type of product. The ground floor has electronic components, but as you take the escalators, you will find anything you want. Prices will be straight off among the best, not like with isolated shops. One recommendation, decide before going what you want to buy, window shopping will take up most of your time in China there, they have a lot and it's displayes randomly. THey have digital translators of course, sorry I don't remember which floor, and you'll see the floors are quite big as well, so happy hunting.
For clothes, still coming out of the metro follow the crowds onto the main shopping artery. After on block on that street on the left, there is a hall with little shops in front. It's a discount clothes market, huge and good deals (not the stuff in open air, go inside, don't be scared).
Once you're tired, there is a starbucks on the same side a bit further away
There is another big shopping area more for clothes and apparel (no large sizes) called Dongmen street, get out at Lao Jie stop and follow the signs for Dongmen. When you get out, memorize your surroundings or you will never find the metro again, the area is huge. As usual, follow the crowds.
Last one would be Luoho Commercial center, Luoho metro station, huge building with all the brand knock-offs you can imagine, + toys and electronics, gifts and much more. I did not like the atmosphere there, and prices start ver high, bargain to at lest 50% and leave if they don't play. Sunglasses should be 80-150 rmb max for instance.
Blueray dvds going rate is 5rmb
5rmb for DVDs or Bluray?
