Patty

rkkwan,
That was my interpretation as well, that you're only allowed 1 article of each type of item.

jacketwatch,
Hmmm... I don't know about the fake Rolex. What you're saying seems to directly contradict what's posted on the customs site, if I'm reading it correctly.

jimdrew

I don't know if price was really a question, but I would say that you can get most fake purses for 100 - 120 Yuan, sometimes is a hard bargain. And don't pay more than 50 yuan for a wallet. Most of my experience is the Silk Market in Beijing but I've also done some pricing where I live, Shijiazhuang (defintely not a tourist stop). Like some other posters stated, check the zippers, buttons and the straps really vary in "quality." My girlfriend roped me in while visiting, so that's how I know. With clothing and accessories, you really need to inspect the quality and test things like the buttons and zippers. Put a little stress on it to see how it holds together. If you see a flaw, point it out and demand a lower price if you like bargaining.

The DVDs should have a rating on them like DVD-5 or DVD-9, I believe 9 is the highest quality. Look on the back to make sure that there is some form of English because sometimes the movies are dubbed in Mandarin with only Mandarin subtitles. I only buy DVDs in shops and have never tried the guys on the street that say "DVDs, PS2, Xbox."

rkkwan

DVD-9 simply means the disc is double-layer. [It holds 9GB of data, hence the name.] It really doesn't say much about quality. Again, the labelling on pirate DVDs mean absolutely squat! A fake disc can promise you the world (like DTS surround sound, subtitles in multiple languages, bonus material, etc...) but only gives you a VCD-quality copy, or worse - a theater-taped copy.

You just cannot know, unless you try it there before you buy.

jimdrew

Haha, good point. I didn't know that the numbers referred to the disc space. I guess with many consumer products in China, they can promise you the world. I stick to the DVD-5 that come with a broken down DVD box that is written in different languages, has mismatched film information and credits, etc. The quality is decent for my 20 inch television and for the 8 yuan I pay. It's a gamble, but maybe it's a better gamble than playing the lottery.

Long story short, you get what you pay for, most of the time.

BillT

To the post that said if you can afford a trip to China you can afford a real Kate Spade bag- this author missed the point! By NOT spending outragious amounts that these Designers demand for their bags we take that money and use it to travel abroad!

wannagotoo

Where are the best knock-offs in Bangkok or Chiang Mai (purse/leathergoods)?

BillT

When we were in Bangkok we found some good ones at MBK.

BigJim

Just wanted to say that we returned with some of the best quality DVD's that we bought throughout our trip. We bought some in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guilin. Some for as little as 70 cents USD!! Even the people on the streets had good quality DVD's for sale!

simpsonc510

I would agree with BillT to look at MBK mall. The knock-offs are usually found at luggage stores. They don't usually have them on display, but if they sense that you are looking for a copy bag, they will open their suitcases and show you. Take a good look at the stitching and seams. You will find lots of options. Some are better than others.

Lyndie

Shanghai-Huating Market, mentioned above, also walk down Nanjing Lu near Shanghai Museum area. There were "holes in the wall" (really temporary) selling LV, Prada, Gucci. I've got the real thing and I cannot tell the difference between the fake & the real one. Maybe I'm getting old!

orgy7

I have bought some great copy dvd's in penang malaysia at Kontour (sp) mall... these things almost seem like orignials the boxes look totally lagit the quality orf movie is good and in one store you get a recieipt with the clerks name as if it were stright up.. I bought the famaly guy all 3 season for $25.. the had the simpsons dvd sets at that one store I'm talking for about 10 and it came in a nice desplay box.. . I bougt the simpson dvd seriers 1 at a shop on the lower level of the mall and they just put the dvd's in crapy sleeves. and it cost about same as the store on the second too last level..

by the way prices of dvd and cd's in Bangkok are not great and the quality is hit or miss... i bought simpson DVD serious 2 for about $8 and some seggments don''t play..

yes I miss my cartoons.!!

orgy7

Im with jack on the watch isue I rather have a timex that keeps on ticking then a fake rolex watch, then again I rather have a happy meal watch then one of those hidioussly ugly and played out ROLEX..

bring of the rath of the rolex lovers, LOL

BigJim

I got the whole Star Wars series (not the new one) for $5 USD! Unbelievable!!
Surprisingly, my $5 USD Rolex is still ticking and it's been over a month now!

jacketwatch

Orgy7: As you can tell by my handle I collect jackets and watches. Got about 30 watches now, everything from a Timex to a Rolex, a real one. LOL! I luv them all. Got no issue going from a Rolex one day to my $25.00 Russian Vostok the next. Its cool looking and that's all that matters to me but it must be real. Hey, we all have our thing, right? Big Jim I am glad your DVD's work. We got burned when we bought some in India that didn't work at all. Oh well. Once we were eating lunch at an outdoor cafe in Piza when some dude tried to sell us a Folex. We asked how much and he said $150.00!! My son scoffed and said I'll give you $10.00, He said, OK! Never saw someone come down so fast in my life but we did not get it anyway. Cheers, Larry

simpsonc510

Hey...!!! orgy7...! Quit pickin' on us Rolex people. Mine has lasted lots longer than any Timex I've ever owned. My body chemistry makes most watches run fast (I'm such a magnetic person...) but my Rolex keeps great time.

orgy7

currently I've overdosed on watch buys and cant offerd anymore good watches..

BUt recently in Bangkok I almost really fell of the wagan and checked too buy me one of those $150. knock offs.. I went too one shop, they had a huge book of watches off all makes.. I looked threw the book. which brought me back too my youth were I would look threw my mothers SERVICE MERCHANDICE cataloge and look at toys and watches. anyways I found some models I loved I pounted at the ULYSEES NARDIN, Gangues khann....

"No, have"

I then flipped to one of my other dream watches I asked if have any Glashutte Original

"no have"

OK, I got the point that they didnt offer any super lux models so I flipped too the Girard Perregaux page and showed her a fairly boring but popular Fararri( sp) model

the lady got angry "and said have ROLEX"

I got even more angry becouse they have this huge book full of some gorgious watches and all they have is freaken ROLEXES.. I gave the lady a nasty look and said in thai "MAI CHOP" (don't like).

hmmm I gues just the mention of ROLEX was the bitter pill that has stoped me from going out too by a fake watch ever since..


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jacketwatch.. i hate busting into threads like this, but I really would like to know what kinds of watches you have.. I'm a watch guy myself mainly in the asthetic look of them, I know nothing about the machanics of them though...

not counting the graveyard of watches from my youth i currently have.

1. (Italian) quartz. MOMO design speedster
2. (Swis) automatic. ZENITH port royal V dual time..
3 (German) automatic. OTIUM duez.. (the one where you tell time by looking at balls rotating aruoud).

nothing too special but I need money too eat..

Walter_Walltotti

Would agree with Orgy 7s comments relating to the shopping mall in Georgetown Penang - top quality DVDs sold in a seemingly legitimate fashion (proper shop proper boxes - labels etc - I got the godfather box set for about $10 and it looks identical to the british box set (except that it is region 1)) at street market prices. KL chinatown market is also very good.

glorialf

My feeling is the fakes are of a much lower quality than a bag or watch of the same price that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. Fakes are just crap sold to appeal to the need for some people to wear someone else's initials and play into that whole sick consumer society. Give me a real seiko to a fake rolex anyday -- same with bags. I'd rather have a quality leather bag than a piece of lousy plastic with initials all over it. aeovmtrying to md y j

jacketwatch

Agree for the most part. However there are some very hi quality replicas that go for $800.00 or more and have hi quality Swiss movements, sapphire crystals, etc. Personally I would never got one, esp. for that price. Lots of real watches one can get for that $$

BillT

Gloria- so you want the real thing-would you be buying a LV then? They are made from vinyl!!! Is that worth paying $100's? Also even if you buy the real thing aren't you also buying the same intitials?
Knnockoffs provide some pleasure to those that either choose not to pay the exhorbitant prices these designers charge or can't afford them in the first place. Of course the quality is not the same- but thats understood.