Shopping in Singapore: Tips and Info not only for the expatriate community
Singapore is an excellent place for shopping and has over 250 shopping malls to visit. This site lists shopping malls and shopping areas with a map and provides a shopping directory to search for products and services by sections. It is a treasure trove for those visiting or living in Singapore!
Official opening hours are from around 9am to 10pm, but many shops especially those in Suntec City, Funan (the IT Mall) and some others do not open before around 11 am.
Late night shopping: on Orchard Road every Saturday as shopping and dining hours at participating malls are extended till 11pm.
It is very difficult to insure that information is constantly updated as the shops close down and move to other more promising locations in a matter on months.Therefore, We recommend to call the shops, verify their location and ask for direction and opening hours.
In general the service industry has a very good reputation for being efficient, friendly and very well aware of the competition. Negotiate maintenance charges and new parts with the contractor before the work is carried out and ask for a warrantee period for repairs and/or new parts.
Visit the Consumer Protection's Association' s (CASE) web site for information on fair practices in retail and services and view the list of 20 unfair practices which may affect you. Purchase the book "Fair Trading and You" (SGD 2.00) available at Popular bookstores and the CASE office. If you have a complaint about a shop see the Websites below:
Have you found the right insurance for your fine art collection? Many fine art collectors tend to put less effort in sourcing for the right insurance as compared to selecting the artworks. Very often, they will settle for a basic, low-cost home contents policy to insure their valuable collection and may not realise that such policies rarely cover the full value of their artworks.
So in the event of a loss, they may find that they receive less for the damaged item than what it is really worth.
When you online shopping for goods at American shopping websites you may experienced that delivery to Singapore is rejected. There are three services in Singapore which help you to order online with about 50 % of American websites not accepting an overseas credit card and delivery address.
- ComGateway provide you with a domestic US shipping address to enter on the merchant's website instead. Orders will be then delivered to the US address for further shipment to Singapore. ComGateway also permits you to use a Singapore issued credit card, DBS Mastercard or POSB Mastercard, to order your goods, in case you do not have a US issued credit card. ComGateway has an agreement with DBS and the US banks to help verify the DBS Mastercard. If you do not have a DBS Mastercard or POSB Mastercard ComGateway can order on your behalf. Charges are an extra 4.5 per cent of your merchandise total.
- vPostUSA - vPostJapan
is a shipping service launched by SingPost which provides you with a US/Japanese shipping address to enter on the merchant's website instead. Orders will be then delivered to the US address for further shipment to Singapore
- vConcierge will purchase the items you want to order online on your behalf and bill you for them. The order will then be shipped to Singapore with vPostUSA or vPostJapan. .You can pay with your credit card or NETS but costs are an extra S$10 plus 2 per cent of your merchandise for this services.
Watch out for shipping cost as they may be higher than the price of the ordered item! The best deal is to order at online shops offering you to ship for free to any domestic address. Clever expats organize online shop pools from the same merchant and save this way!
Allow for about four to five working days for delivery and add another three days during busy periods such as Christmas.
Please note: due to security concerns there are a number of dangerous goods which are excluded from shipment. See below website for details.
Central Singapore Amphiteatre
Blk 116 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
Tel: 6259 4116
Fairs, Bazaars and Exhibitions in Singapore
Exhibitions, fairs and garage sales are a standard feature in Singapore to buy discounted goods and services.
Until recently the many trade fairs and bazaars were the best kept secret in the expat community.
You can now subscribe to the free monthly newsletter from SingaporeFairs which informs about those events, the traders and venues and general lifestyle themes in Singapore.
Drive via the PIE, TPE and ECP. Car park is available. When you leave by taxi you need to pay a surcharge of SGD 2.00
SBS Bus Services 12, 24, 35, 38
MRT East-West line to Tanah Merah Station. Change to MRT heading to Changi Ariport. Exit at Expo Station. Short walk.
Singapore Sale
Initiated in 1993, the Great Singapore Sale is happening over eight weeks from May to July and Singaporean are known to save the whole year to get the best bargains. Discounts are about 20 - 30 % but can reach up to 70%. This year we were able to shop until midnight and - guess what- we might as well do so the whole year in future! Watch out for Singapore's special trade fairs for computer and travel when you want to buy a PC or laptop or plan your annual leave. Survival Tips for the Sale: Good shoes and a mobile phone to call a taxi to avoid queues. Avoid the weekend as Saturdays and Sundays are very crowded. Some Credit Cards offer special deals during the Sale and it is worth studying their deals as advertised in the Straits Times or send to you by mail. Many malls have special events accompanying the sale especially for children as the sale is happening during the school summer break.
Initiated in 1993, the Great Singapore Sale is happening over eight weeks from May to July and Singaporean are known to save the whole year to get the best bargains. Discounts are about 20 - 30 % but can reach up to 70%. This year we were able to shop until midnight and - guess what- we might as well do so the whole year in future! Watch out for Singapore's special trade fairs for computer and travel when you want to buy a PC or laptop or plan your annual leave. Survival Tips for the Sale: Good shoes and a mobile phone to call a taxi to avoid queues. Avoid the weekend as Saturdays and Sundays are very crowded. Some Credit Cards offer special deals during the Sale and it is worth studying their deals as advertised in the Straits Times or send to you by mail. Many malls have special events accompanying the sale especially for children as the sale is happening during the school summer break.