Kuala Lumpur - everything fake or what?
a story by Andreas (Germany) written down at Red Palm Hostel in November 2004 about fake DVDs and watches and the art of negotiation. The original story and many more stories and picture on the german website MoveTivation.net Internetseite

Though DVDs are new to us and are booming here now big time. The price for one DVD is 10-13 Ringgit, 2.00 - 2.30 Euro! And we're talking about a good quality DVD9. Quite Unbelievable. However: For risks and side effects ask frequent buyers or the hostel owner of trust. You have to be careful not to get DVD5 or DVD3 which has only been equipped with a DVD9 sticker. And, well, there are rumors that these incredible prices - just like at the above mentioned products - are only caused by the fact that we are talking about fake products
But as the Malaysian says: Only Genuine Copies! The Lonely Planet summarizes:
"Sungei Wang Plaza is especially good for camera gear and cheap (but possibly pirated) software and hardware components."

Software-CDs with whole collections of applications cost a whopping 5 Ringgit. MS Office for just 1 Euro is even more irritating for us. They just have everything at stock. I even got the "Social Statistics Program" of my dreams in version 12.0 as well as all kinds of GIS-applications.
As we went shopping, Tilo (our hostel host and KL-informer) asked the sales person, if they had a certain malaysian film, which has been in the movies recently and is supposed to be really good. The guy said they don't have any Malaysian films. Foreign movies, that's okay. If there's a raid and you get caught and you will be - he crossed his hands - but that can be settled with money. But if there are malaysian films on the shelf, you would - he crossed his hands again - that would be a problem.
If you wanna buy cameras or notebooks you should be a professional negotiator. Though there a price tags on all good in the Plazas (shopping malls) but they are if at all just the start of negotiations. Basically the goods are priced about 1/3 more than they will be sold over the counter later. You also have an advantage in the negotiation process if you did some research on the web before of the actual price of the good of your choice. If you walk out of the store with your newly acclaimed camera and the sales person waves at you happily with a wide grin on his face then you know: I paid to much, much to much. That's what happened to me as I bought a new mouse for my notebook which was obviously constructed in the same way as a Microsoft mouse which I always wanted to own. It was prices 42 Ringgit and I managed to haggle it down to sweet 35 Ringgit. Nonetheless, it was a good deal for me as I saw the mouse in store near Stuttgart (Germany) for 39 EUR (about 200 Ringgit). Still I always realize, I love steady prices with no negotiations.
MoveTivation.net Internetseite
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2007:
8.Nov - Deepavali
20.Dec - Hari Raya Qurban
25.Dec - Christmas Day
2008:
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10 January (Thurs) Awal Muharam (Maal Hijrah)
7 & 8 February(Thurs & Fri) Chinese New Year
20 March (Thurs) Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
1 May (Thurs) Labour Day
19 May (Mon) Wesak Day
7 June (Sat) Birthday of SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong
31 August (Sun) National/Merdeka Day
1 & 2 October (Wed & Thurs) Hari Raya Puasa *
27 October (Mon) Deepavali *
8 December (Mon) Hari Raya Qurban
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Quote:
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