Although you can still find deals on handcrafted rosewood furniture, Chinese objets d'art, and carpets, prices for most items are the same as or higher than those in the United States. You should know the costs of goods you intend to buy -- especially photographic and electronic items -- at home. Though prices don't vary much from shop to shop, compare a few shops to feel secure about your price.
Shops in multilevel buildings and shopping complexes are often listed with a numerical designation such as "No. 00-00." The first part of this number indicates what floor the shop is on. The second part indicates its location on the floor. Shops in the Orchard area tend to open daily by 10:30 AM. Specialty malls, such as computer-centric Funan Centre and Sim Lim Square, tend to unfold anywhere from 10 AM until noon.
Most antiques stores have a variety of small items -- porcelain, brassware, idols, and so on -- as well as Chinese furniture, which may be of blackwood inlaid with mother of pearl, or red-stained wood with elaborate carvings picked out in gold. Falling halfway between souvenir shops and antiques stores, curio shops sell a fascinating variety of goods, mainly from China.
For small, inexpensive souvenirs, take the MRT to the Bugis stop. On one side of Victoria Street is the Parco Bugis Junction -- an air-conditioned, semioutdoor, multilevel shopping center. On the other side is an array of market stalls that sells everything from fake designer watches at S$18 each to silk boxer shorts and scarves. "Dollar" stores abound here, and they're full of such inexpensive and indispensable consumer goods as cans of "prickly heat" talcum powder (three for S$1) or packages of one-use, throwaway underwear (S$3 for five pairs).
Photographic equipment may not be the bargain it once was, but the range of cameras and accessories available can be matched only in Hong Kong. It's especially important that you establish the price at home before buying. Film and film processing remain excellent buys. All department stores carry cameras, and there are so many in Lucky Plaza that you can do all your comparison shopping in one spot.
Singapore is a reliable place to buy jewelry, and there are so many jewelers that prices are competitive. Never accept the first price offered, no matter how posh the store. (All jewelers give enormous discounts, usually 40% or more, but some, especially in hotels, don't mention this until pressed.) The Singapore Assay Office hallmarks jewelry, though the procedure is time-consuming and not many jewelers submit to it unless required for export.
In Chinatown, particularly along South Bridge Road and in People's Park, there are dozens of jewelers who sell 22K gold. Many of these are old family firms, and prices are calculated by abacus based on the weight of the ornament and the prevailing price of gold. The bargaining procedure can take quite some time.
