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SHOPPING |
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For many stopover visitors, Singapore is synonymous with shopping ,
though contrary to popular belief prices are not rock bottom across the
board, due to the consistently strong Singaporean dollar and a rising
cost of living. Good deals can be found on watches, cameras, electrical
and computer equipment, fabrics and antiques, and cut-price imitations -
Rolexes, Lacoste polo shirts and so on - are rife, but many other
articles offer no substantial saving. Choice and convenience though,
make the Singapore shopping experience a rewarding one. What's more,
come during the Great Singapore Sale (usually in June or July), and
you'll find seriously marked-down prices in many outlets across the
island. The free monthly, Where Singapore, has plenty of suggestions as
to what you can buy and where, and the STB publishes a Merchants of the
Gold Circle brochure, which lists those shops deemed courteous and
reliable enough to display the 'Gold Circle Promise of Excellence' logo
in their windows.
If you have any complaints to lodge, contact the Retail Promotions
Centre on 450 2114 or, better still, go to Singapore's Small Claims
Tribunal , Subordinate Courts, Apollo Centre, 2 Havelock Rd (tel 535
6922), which has a fast-track system for dealing with tourists'
complaints; to have your case heard costs S$10.
A goods and services tax (GST), introduced in 1994, has added a three
percent sales tax to all goods and services, but tourists can claim a
refund on purchases of S$300 or over at retailers displaying a blue and
grey Tax Free Shopping sticker. Ask retailers to draft you a Tax Free
Shopping Cheque, which you can then redeem subsequently at the airport.
Usual shopping hours are daily 10am-9pm, though some shopping centres,
especially those along Orchard Road, stay open until 10pm (except the
Christian-owned C K Tang's, which closes on Sunday).
For designer clothes, tailor-made suits, sports equipment, electronic
goods or antiques, head for the shopping malls of Orchard Road . At Arab
Street , you'll find exquisite textiles and batiks, and some good deals
on jewellery. From here, make a beeline for the silk stores and
goldsmiths of Little India , via the intersection of Bencoolen Street
and Rochor Road , known for its electrical goods. As well as its
souvenir shops, Chinatown boasts some more traditional outlets.
Books Times bookshops at 04-08/15 Centrepoint, 175 Orchard Rd, and
02-24/25 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd. Books
Kinokuniya, 03-10/15 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd, is the island's
biggest bookshop. MPH shops are also well stocked, especially the
flagship store on Stamford Road. Select Books, 03-15 Tanglin Shopping
Centre, 19 Tanglin Rd, has a huge array of books on Southeast Asia.
Camping equipment Campers' Corner, 01-13 Paradiz Centre, 1 Selegie Rd.
Computers and software Funan Centre, 109 North Bridge Rd.
Electronic equipment Sim Lim Tower, 10 Jalan Besar, Lucky Plaza, 304
Orchard Rd.
Fabrics and silk Jim Thompson Silk Shop, 01-07 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328
North Bridge Rd. Aljunied Brothers, 91 Arab St. Dakshaini Silks, 164
Serangoon Rd.
Jewellery The entire first floor of the Pidemco Centre, 95 South Bridge
Rd, is a jewellery mart.
Music Beethoven Record House, 03-41 Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Rd, for
classical sounds; Lata Music Centre, 42 Race Course Rd, for Indian music
on tape; Roxy Records, 03-36 Funan Centre, 109 North Bridge Rd, for new
releases; Supreme Record Centre, 03-28 Centrepoint, 175 Orchard Rd;
Tower Records, fourth floor, Pacific Plaza, Orchard Rd, for a wide
choice of music on CD.
Souvenirs Chinese Mec, 03-31/32 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 250 North
Bridge Rd; Eng Tiang Huat, 284 River Valley Rd, for Oriental musical
instruments, wayang costumes and props; Funan Stamp and Coin Agency,
03-03 Funan the IT Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd; Selangor Pewter, 02-38
Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd, for fine pewterwork;
Singapore Handicraft Centre, Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Rd, gathers
around fifty souvenir shops under one roof; Zhen Lacquer Gallery, 17
Duxton Rd.
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