Buying Gadgets in India

xirokx

Hi,

I am travelling to India for the first time with my family and wondered if electrical goodies such as digi cams, digi camcorders and other such like "boys toys" are cheaper in India than in London? I will be buying in the Mumbai area if I come across anything.

I have had a look at a few websites but not many of them list prices.

Wondered if anyone could help?

Cheers!

GoanCanuck

Electronic gadgets are more expensive in India.

mira4bai4

They appear to be about 30% dearer than here in Aust. based on the online web prices.

xirokx

thanks

WarrenA

The big killer is import taxes. You can find "grey market" gadgets, which means that someone's cousin brought them in without paying taxes. But those are iffy. Lately, prices have come down a bit, but India is a software-producing nation, not hardware. For deals on gadgets, you need to hit Taiwan or Malaysia. Sometimes the best buys are in duty free -- just because you don't pay tax. But Delhi's duty free is awful -- you can do better shopping during a layover in Amsterdam, Bangkok, or Dubai.

Good luck!
W

john.sw

There is 50% import tax on gadgets and gizmos, so they are more expensive in India.

You can buy "grey" imports in some places, but they won't have the maker's guarantee on them.

India is also a bit slow to embrace the new gizmos we see in the West.

For instance, we have been using VoIp for years, but can you buy a VoIp phone in India?

Maybe you can in the big cities, but in my part of India Win 98 is dominant, and you may as well leave your 1GB flash memory stick at home!

Have fun!

John

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MeCasa

I've become somewhat of a USB port demon, but the fact that most cybercafes in India run 98 is no small problem for a USB demon

I wonder how most cafe owners feel about cutomers installing drivers

Probably wouldn't go over big so I'll have to bring a lappy with optical slot to upload most anything