Monday, March 18, 2013


Summary of Lego Shopping Guide in Hong Kong (March 2013)

I'll concentrate solely on Lego and ignore other types of shopping (shoe street at Fa Yuen, other non-Lego figurines, Sogo/Hysan, etc.)

Let's start with the regular places, and suggested walking directions in orange:

(1) Mongkok
(a) Richmond Centre - exit Mongkok MTR D2, walk east along Argyle Street until junction with Sai Yee Street. Before reach here, should see the building name. Just a few shops inside.


(2) Yau Ma Tei
From Mongkok, either take MTR or walk down Sai Yeong Choi Street (South) towards CTMA centre.

(a) CTMA Centre - nearest is Yau Ma Tei MTR A2 or walking directions above from Mongkok. Few shops inside also.

(b) Sino Centre - walk out CTMA, it is behind it. Go south to Dundas Street, then back to main Nathan Road and walk north. Also few shops inside here.

(c) Last for this area, is walk back south towards In's Point (or exit Yau Ma Tei MTR A2). Only two floors here, 1st and 2nd floor up the escalator. This is the heaven with quite a lot of shops selling Lego at attractive prices. Make sure do proper price check before buying.
Also, all small-shops here deal in cold-hard-CASH only. Make sure you bring enough cash, as they don't accept credit card, charge card, debit card, cheque, etc.

That's all for Mongkok/Yau Ma Tei area. I did not spend much time here anyway.

Toy's R Us - Ocean Terminal at Tsum Tsa Tsui. I did not go there, so can't comment much.


(3) Causeway Bay. Below is the suggested route:

(a) Sogo Causeway Bay - 7th floor. Quite a lot of selections here. Price is similiar RRP like Toy's R Us and not as cheap as other HK small-shops.

(b) Brickstime - Hysan Place 5th floor. This is a new building, directly opposite Sogo along Hennesy Road . There is a shop here also.

(c) Toys "R' Us - Windsor House, Causeway Bay. From Sogo/Hysan main traffic-lights zebra-crossing, walk east along Great George Street. You will pass Wellcome supermarket before you see Windsor House. Go up and there is quite a range of Lego here as well.
Basically, prices are the same among all Toy's R Us. Availability, I would say most outlets are similiar but prices are not competitive with outside small-shops.

Toy's R Us : 9398 4x4 Crawler = HKD1989.90 (~RM800), I bought at In's Point for HKD1500 (~RM600)

Toy's R Us : 10197 Create Fire Brigade = HKD1598.90 (RM640), somewhere else should be cheaper .

Toy's R Us : Current Friend's polybag = HKD48.90 (RM19.56), cheapest I found is HKD38 (RM15.20). Some selling HKD40-42 (RM16-17).

Toy's R Us : Lego City - train tracks

Toy's R Us : Lego City - tanker

Toy's R Us : Various base plates (32x32 and 48x48)


(d) Red Mall - Jaffe Road. Trace back towards Sogo, and then to Jaffe Road. There is another Lego store here.



(4) Kennedy Town (North-West of HK Island)
High-level map

Zoom-in map

(a) AA Place - Kennedy Town Praya/Centre. No MTR here. Take the "Kennedy Town" Tram towards west, from anywhere in HK island (that is available, of course). You can board at Causeway Bay and the ride will take 45-60 minutes. Else board the tram at Sheung Wan will be faster. Make sure board at the West (W) stops. (E) will go eastward.
Flat rate HKD2.30. Don't take the rest as it will stop earlier at Shek Tong Tsui or Whitty Street Depot or worse, goto Happy Valley. 

Get down at 98W Kennedy Town Praya stop. 


Just 50m and go in Kennedy Town Centre. Only one shop here (with 2-3 shops by same owner). They have a wide range and many bricks/parts for sale, some of which are not on display. If you have anything in your list, ask them directly.


To go back, walk to same Tram area, wait at 03E Holland Street station.




Summary:
* Don't ask me how I dig out few extra places, although it is not new.
* Go on your own expedition, you may find something that I did not find.

Tips #1: Be alert on every aisle on every floor, make sure you have imaginary building walkway in your mind. Some shops are in secretive corner.

Tips #2: Be alert inside the shop. Many minifigs/parts. Sometimes some small parts are put in boxes at the counter. You can find heads, guns, weapons, parts, etc.


Some prices taken from a shop:

Minifig, super heroes

Pick a brick, R2D2 = HKD1488 = RM595.20 (This may not be cheapest, go shop around)

VW T1 Camper van price drop = HKD980 = RM392 (This may not be cheapest, go shop around)

Watsons / Mannings (Guardian): 18x Duracell AA = HKD39.90 = RM15.96 = RM0.89 per piece.
Energizer is cheaper about HKD33-35 , GP Alkaline is even cheaper at HKD26-29+. I don't think can get such prices for branded batteries back in Malaysia. 
Ikea/Tesco brands are cheaper, but I'm using equivalent Duracell for comparison.
Also, free luggage-lock for my extra bag to bring Lego back to Malaysia =.="

During my trip, the currency conversion rate is about RM40=HKD100. Or RM100 = HKD250
Just divide by 2.5 to convert to RM.

So, before I end, here is my haul (yes, that's a single-bed):
8110 Unimog @ HKD1500 = RM600
3185 Friend's Summer Riding Camp @ HKD850 = RM340
41017 Squirrel's tree house @ HKD38 = RM15.20
41019 Turtle's little oasis @HKD38 = RM15.20
9398 4x4 Crawler @ HKD1500 = RM600

That's all for shopping in Hong Kong. Go for your own hunting !!!

Edit: 2nd shopping guide added here.

1 comment:

  1. Hey .. I'll share what I can find with you in Taiwan.
    You have email ?

    ReplyDelete