Kota Kinabalu Shopping Tips by syetan

clothes shopping

As with electronic goods-go elsewhere for variety but if you insist, I'd direct you to visit the big 3 shopping malls again. Mind you sizes in KK can differ from western ones, and an XL there is probably closer to an 'M' in say Australia, depending on where it was made.

The bigger stores (Parkson, Pacific Ngiu Kee, Tong's) usually have everything under the sun. Women's clothing is as easily available as in any other spot where women are found-it's everywhere!!!

Just toward the end of December 2006, Warisan Square (behind Centre Point) opened, and sells branded goods, and finally there's a spot that makes KK look like an actual city...

What to buy: work clothes and leather goods (wallets, shoes) tend to be much better priced than in australia.

Theme: Men's Clothes

shopping for electronic goods

KK isn't the best spot in Malaysia to do so, but enough questions pop up on the forum about it-generally, keep in mind that the industry is very competitive and shopkeepers who try to fleece you will not make a sale because you'll be shopping around (I hope you are!!)-still a white face will probably attract a premium even after shopping around.

There's no 1 spot to go around, but basically look at the big 3 shopping malls (Kompleks Karamunsing, Centre Point and Wisma Merdeka) and by and large, you can bargain. International warranties can be excluded to reduce the price so find out about that. Mobile phones are competitive enough but most shops sell both new and used ones so find out beforehand. Also, some new phones are cheaper than identical ones because of limited international warranties-again, ask first.

Same with computing goods, but as I said at the start, it's preferable to do your electronic shopping elsewhere-Kuala Lumpur or Singapore are much better.

What to pay: cheaper than in the West, though I find digital cameras to be no cheaper than in Australia. I do recommend doing your shopping in KL or Singapore instead.

Theme: Computers and Electronics

shopping for handicrafts

KK's a good spot to do your handicraft shopping-mind you, not much of the stuff is actually locally mad-most come from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand but hey, it looks local enough...

Wawasan Plaza used to have a small area for these handicraft shops though recently it has disappeared though 2 big shops do exist on the ground floor. and Wisma Merdeka's another spot to shop around. Mind you almost all these shops buy their merchandise from the arch monopolist-Jamilah Enterprise...she's making a fortune supplying to them so I suppose if you want to buy in bulk go to her shop about a 100 or so metres from Centrepoint and get it at wholesale prices. She even sells to those people selling handicrafts around Mt. Kinabalu...

What to buy: trinklets, beads, small gifts

What to pay: it can vary widely-shop around!!

Theme: Local Craft