[HKFella]

This has been discussed some time ago but I can't find the thread and things like these get dated.

So here's the question, to those familiar with both sides of the Great Divide (Pacific Ocean) - HK and Canada/US:

What items from Hong Kong and the vicinity would you consider "worth "taking along (good value, unique, whatever) in/as personal baggage by someone returning to Canada/US?

Another twist to the question: what if isending it in company-paid full container load+air shipment of personal effects is also an option?

Duties: assume it's all exempt or nominal. HK includes vicinity like SH, Macau, GZ, ZH.

Would welcome your suggestions. Thanks.

[climber07]

Two things come to mind:

Tailored Clothes and Custom-Made Furniture.

[HKFella]

Thanks.

How about anything from the multimedia side?

Back in the simple old days of VHF, UHF, PAL (various), SECAM, and NTSC plus VHS, it always made sense to take back a multi-system (Ni-cam capable too) TV and VCR back from HK or Sing (different PALs) to Canada as multi-system was non-existent at the usual distribution outlets there, and with these imports you could watch video tapes mailed or brought in from anywhere - Asia, Europe, Middle East, whatever, plus local. You could also send local recordings from there to friends across the oceans.

The current LCD TV (HD) and set top boxes, and connections through broadband internet or wireless not to mention various ways of recording and playing video and the coming of HD are all a bit fluid concepts for me and frankly I've been just too busy in HK to devote serious time figuring this out. So, does it make any sense taking back TVs, DVD recorders and players, and the like? What kind?

[Jon.E.Kong]

If you want a "small" decent HDTV get one in HK. A lot of the ones sold here you can't get in Canada.

Any expensive electronics as you won't have to pay tax on them also makes sense. Even if it costs the same as in Canada, you save at least 10% usually guaranteed.

[timklip]

but make sure it's dual voltage (i think most of the new stuff is right?) as you're plugging into 110-120V in N.A....but i'd hold of as most electronics are cheaper (at the big box retailers), and customer service is WAY better, in Canada...case in point: my HP printer power supply cooked itself here under warranty. had to take it into the service centre for a week of testing and checking before they agreed, yep, it's the power supply! in Canada, a tiny plastic gear in a similar printer broke (i had the fragments to show them) also under warranty. the guy at cust. service (Best Buy) says wait a sec, goes to the back and pulls out a new printer for me, i'm gone in 60 seconds...

do a search at FUTURESHOP.ca or BestBuy.ca for price comparison...if it's even anywhere close to a Hong Kong price, i'd buy it in Canada. better yet, wait for the crazy boxing day blowouts every christmas for an even better deal...haven't found that here yet...do your shopping in Alberta and you'll only pay the GST (5%)

[timklip]

climber is right...if you get a company sponsored container fill it up with furniture, you'll save a fortune

[Mattny81]

Ok, if you get a sponcered container, like some have said, load it up with furnature. same as in canada this can be the more exspensive side of it all. If you bring your electronics remember to bring the outlet converters.

Ignore what jon.e.kong said if you have to ship at your own cost. The cost of HD tv's large or small are roughly the same in cost, even with the tax (and if you ship at your own cost you now probably wasted any savings if not more).

Alot of SONY, Panasonic, ect. products will not be covered under warrenty in north America. I had to send my sony cell phone back to HK last year to have it fixed. I believe laptops and DSLR's do have some limited warrenty.

[Jon.E.Kong]

Agreed customer service is lightyears ahead in Canada (actually pretty much anywhere outside of Hong Kong is better than here)

I highly disagree that most electronics are of similar price in Canada. You obviously do not know where to shop here if you think the average TV of exact same spec will cost you the same as in HK vs. Canada. Also I said many of the tv's you can get in HK are not available in Canada, as in different versions, not prices. Asia has a whole whack of 32 inch tv's etc. you can not find anywhere in Canada.

Almost everything 'Japanese' is dual voltage nowadays, and if it's a tv you can switch the plug/cord very easy, if you can't it's a cheap tv and don't buy it.

OP said assume posting was on the company, so what does shipping cost matter?

As for warranties, Sony rarely 'covers' anything bought in Canada let alone HK, so I wouldn't recommend them. Sony has terrible service in Canada, believe me I've had to deal with them many times professionally through work. Canon has excellent international warranty coverage (for AV at least).

Yes you could do your shopping in Alberta to save the tax, but it's still an extra 5%. Like I said if you know where and how and when to shop HK should always be at least 10% cheaper than Canada for electronics.

If you shop at Futureshop or Bestbuy you have lost all credibility to comment on shopping tips. Best thing about HK is no big box stores selling big boxes of garbage.

[HKFella]

Just added a few more items to the list:

Those handy transparent plastic folders - assorted coloured ones as in Japan Home Stores - can't get anything like that at Staples and Office Depot and a few visiting colleagues would particularly load up on those for that reason.

A pack of A4 file folders for residual papers and documentation that continue to flow from out here. One pack of A4 printing paper.

Filing cabinet that can take Letter, A4 and Legal hanging folders + hanging folders for same.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by timklip

but make sure it's dual voltage (i think most of the new stuff is right?) as you're plugging into 110-120V in N.A.

I'm highly mindful of dual voltage. Another reminder - load up on plug adapters. Accompanying someone at Pricerite, I found myself with a bit of time to kill. Out of curiosity, checked the back of some unheard-of brand big LCD TVs being prominently promoted - turned out to be 140-230V, what in the world is that for? Salesperson who was otherwise doing nothing and had sprung to my side grreatly concerned when I started turning the TV was so befuddled by the question that he vanished the split-second I took my eye off of him (you gotta love HK - how can you get anything like this in N. A.).