Samsung S3 4G LTE in Sin Tat in Mongkok for 2280 HKD too good to be true?

[hkieexpat335]

Today, by accident, I realized that the building where my hostel was had many phones being sold in it. My hostel was actually in the Sin Tat building in Mongkok also called Sincere House. I was walking around Sin Tat, looking for a new phone, and saw some amazing deals which I didn't plan on seeing. I was originally just looking for a cheap smartphone to replace my problematic smartphone, but saw some amazing deals on Korean phones and others. One especially great deal that 2 different vendors both gave me was for the Samsung Galaxy S3. One vendor was selling the
Galaxy S3 with 3G for 2180 HKD and another for 2080 HKD. And they both were selling the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G for 2280 HKD, and both offered a 1 year warranty for within Hong Kong only, and a free original cover.

There are of course dozens if not more than 100 vendors in the area from the ground level up to 2nd level. There were so many vendors selling Samsung phones. I had some vendors very close to the cheapest vendors I could find selling the same phones for 200 or even 400 HKD more. The reason I am writing here is because I read that there have been some scams in that building.

It did seem very legitimate, at least with the vendors I saw, and I talked with each of them for a while. One was on the ground level, and the other on the 1st level. I have been to shady markets in mainland China, but this didn't seem like one.

Later in the day, I went to Wanchai Computer Centre, and was looking to compare prices there to those at Sin Tat. It seemed that the phones in Wanchai Computer Centre were a lot more expensive for the exact same products even 500 or more hkd, which surprised me. I know that rent much be much higher in Wanchai than Mongkok, but I don't understand how there could be so much difference in price. I do realize that the Samsung Galaxy S3 came out in 2012, and the S4 is the newer model, and of course price can drop rapidly with time. Both vendors definitely indicated that the price was very low, and they wouldn't budge on price, as that was their final price.

I have checked various different famous stores in Hong Kong like Broadway which sells the Samsung Galaxy S3 with just 3G for 2998 HKD.
http://www.broadway.com.hk/hotitems_sort/101/all/3

And here http://www.expansys.com.hk/samsung-g...-white-232328/ I found the S3 with 3G sold for 2,799 HKD. So, I really was thinking twice about the price back in Sin Tat.

I would love to think that this place, Sin Tat, has amazing, legitimate deals. I just need confirmation. So, is it possible that Samsung S3 with 3G model 9300 can be sold for 2080 HKD, and the Samsung S3 with 4G LTE model 9305 can be sold for 2280 HKD or is this likely a scam or too good to be true? I absolutely would hate to buy a new phone, and later find out it was fake or they did some shady stuff or grey market stuff.

Thanks

[HK_Katherine]

Parallel imports - grey market, not illegal but only a local warranty. Most phones are like this - you save between 500-1000 I've found. My previous note was one, only annoying thing was that it was "chinese" at heart and even though I could change the language settings for 99% of my uses, the samsung apps and stuff always remained chinese. Luckily I don't use them.

[jimbo]

Be wary as you would do when buying from those types of shops.
I was there last week and just do your due diligence, check its new rather than used etc.
Test it with the sim you're using etc and you'll be just fine.

[pin]

Grey goods for sure. only in store warranty.

As Jimbo has said, test the phone you intend to buy. Also make sure you keep an eye on the phone you intend to buy at all times. If they give you a new box and not the test phone, take that phone out of the box and test it again.

Make sure you go into the system settings in the about phone section make sure the model name, firmware information matches exactly to the Samsung specs that you will have checked out online already.

[imparanoic]

Today, by accident, I realized that the building where my hostel was had many phones being sold in it. My hostel was actually in the Sin Tat building in Mongkok also called Sincere House. I was walking around Sin Tat, looking for a new phone, and saw some amazing deals which I didn't plan on seeing. I was originally just looking for a cheap smartphone to replace my problematic smartphone, but saw some amazing deals on Korean phones and others. One especially great deal that 2 different vendors both gave me was for the Samsung Galaxy S3. One vendor was selling the
Galaxy S3 with 3G for 2180 HKD and another for 2080 HKD. And they both were selling the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G for 2280 HKD, and both offered a 1 year warranty for within Hong Kong only, and a free original cover.

There are of course dozens if not more than 100 vendors in the area from the ground level up to 2nd level. There were so many vendors selling Samsung phones. I had some vendors very close to the cheapest vendors I could find selling the same phones for 200 or even 400 HKD more. The reason I am writing here is because I read that there have been some scams in that building.

It did seem very legitimate, at least with the vendors I saw, and I talked with each of them for a while. One was on the ground level, and the other on the 1st level. I have been to shady markets in mainland China, but this didn't seem like one.

Later in the day, I went to Wanchai Computer Centre, and was looking to compare prices there to those at Sin Tat. It seemed that the phones in Wanchai Computer Centre were a lot more expensive for the exact same products even 500 or more hkd, which surprised me. I know that rent much be much higher in Wanchai than Mongkok, but I don't understand how there could be so much difference in price. I do realize that the Samsung Galaxy S3 came out in 2012, and the S4 is the newer model, and of course price can drop rapidly with time. Both vendors definitely indicated that the price was very low, and they wouldn't budge on price, as that was their final price.

I have checked various different famous stores in Hong Kong like Broadway which sells the Samsung Galaxy S3 with just 3G for 2998 HKD.
http://www.broadway.com.hk/hotitems_sort/101/all/3

And here http://www.expansys.com.hk/samsung-g...-white-232328/ I found the S3 with 3G sold for 2,799 HKD. So, I really was thinking twice about the price back in Sin Tat.

I would love to think that this place, Sin Tat, has amazing, legitimate deals. I just need confirmation. So, is it possible that Samsung S3 with 3G model 9300 can be sold for 2080 HKD, and the Samsung S3 with 4G LTE model 9305 can be sold for 2280 HKD or is this likely a scam or too good to be true? I absolutely would hate to buy a new phone, and later find out it was fake or they did some shady stuff or grey market stuff.

Thanks

why get grey import if the prices is only HK$500 difference, high tech products can develop faults,

http://www.price.com.hk/product.php?p=140006

CCAV sell official for HK$2620, they are reputable

http://www.ccav.hk/

why do you want Samsung, for same price, Samsung phones are not as price competitive ( probably due to popularity) there are phones with better specifications

but most important, what are your requirements? largest screen for money, best camera, sd card storage, removable battery

xperia sp ( good all round, decent spec, sd card, good camera)

http://www.price.com.hk/product.php?p=151753

Nexus 4 (fast and decent spec, no sd and battery life is okish)

http://www.price.com.hk/product.php?p=146802

xperia v ( waterproof, ok spec)

http://www.price.com.hk/product.php?p=144379

Moto g ( best value for money, some compromises, cheapest, not decent camera)

http://www.price.com.hk/search.php?g=&q=moto+g

here is a guide for that price range

http://www.gsmarena.com/shopping_gui...iew-1008p4.php