Kuala Lumpur - everything fake or what?
a story by Andreas (Germany) written down at Red Palm Hostel in November 2004 about fake DVDs and watches and the art of negotiation. The original story and many more stories and picture on the german website MoveTivation.net Internetseite

Though DVDs are new to us and are booming here now big time. The price for one DVD is 10-13 Ringgit, 2.00 - 2.30 Euro! And we're talking about a good quality DVD9. Quite Unbelievable. However: For risks and side effects ask frequent buyers or the hostel owner of trust. You have to be careful not to get DVD5 or DVD3 which has only been equipped with a DVD9 sticker. And, well, there are rumors that these incredible prices - just like at the above mentioned products - are only caused by the fact that we are talking about fake products
But as the Malaysian says: Only Genuine Copies! The Lonely Planet summarizes:
"Sungei Wang Plaza is especially good for camera gear and cheap (but possibly pirated) software and hardware components."

Software-CDs with whole collections of applications cost a whopping 5 Ringgit. MS Office for just 1 Euro is even more irritating for us. They just have everything at stock. I even got the "Social Statistics Program" of my dreams in version 12.0 as well as all kinds of GIS-applications.
As we went shopping, Tilo (our hostel host and KL-informer) asked the sales person, if they had a certain malaysian film, which has been in the movies recently and is supposed to be really good. The guy said they don't have any Malaysian films. Foreign movies, that's okay. If there's a raid and you get caught and you will be - he crossed his hands - but that can be settled with money. But if there are malaysian films on the shelf, you would - he crossed his hands again - that would be a problem.
If you wanna buy cameras or notebooks you should be a professional negotiator. Though there a price tags on all good in the Plazas (shopping malls) but they are if at all just the start of negotiations. Basically the goods are priced about 1/3 more than they will be sold over the counter later. You also have an advantage in the negotiation process if you did some research on the web before of the actual price of the good of your choice. If you walk out of the store with your newly acclaimed camera and the sales person waves at you happily with a wide grin on his face then you know: I paid to much, much to much. That's what happened to me as I bought a new mouse for my notebook which was obviously constructed in the same way as a Microsoft mouse which I always wanted to own. It was prices 42 Ringgit and I managed to haggle it down to sweet 35 Ringgit. Nonetheless, it was a good deal for me as I saw the mouse in store near Stuttgart (Germany) for 39 EUR (about 200 Ringgit). Still I always realize, I love steady prices with no negotiations.
MoveTivation.net Internetseite
If you want contribute some extra information, report some correction or just comment, please feel encouraged to do so.
Comments are moderated to avoid spam. It might take a few moments until they appear on the website before we approved the comment.
Add your comment here.
|
Maggie harding |
What type of DVD do I but that can be played on Australian dvd players By Maggie harding on Jul 18, 2008
|
malaysian food blog aggregator
Wildlife Adventure tours
Loving Photo Essay of KL Monorail by The Monorail Society
comprehensive malaysian travel portal
malay newspaper
see all links
KL used to be a paradise for faked goods. Shops selling movies and software could even be found in shopping malls. Since 2007 the government forced the shops to close in the tourist areas. Now, you need to go to shopping malls outside the city center to find the DVD shops. However, you can still find them at the market on Petaling Street in Chinatown. Quality is usually good unless it’s a brand new film then there is chance that you might get a cinema copy.
Malaysia had it’s 12th general election on march 8, 2008 and it turned into a political tsunami with a strong opposition. This article sums in up nicely.
Kuala Lumpur, The Gardens / Midvalley Megamall

It's time again for the anual Rainforest World Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village near Kuching (Sarawak, East Malaysia - Borneo). This unique music event will take place July 11 until July 13. Besides music performances visitors can attend workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts in the afternoon.






You need to be logged to write a comment. Log in here:
Not a member of the Backpacking Asia community? Register here!