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Foreigners >Living in Taiwan : Shopping

Shopping in Taiwan

It could be argued that shopping is the top leisure activity for Taiwanese. Certainly it ranks right up there with singing KTV and going to the movies - and it is definitely the top leisure-time pursuit for Taiwanese women. Foriegners in Taiwan will find the shopping plentiful and there are more choices now in the larger cites than ever before. Even smaller townships and cities usually feature a few large retail stores where you can find all kinds of international goods. There are lots of different ways to go shopping in Taiwan, from the tiny local shop next to your residence to the major go-to destination experiences complete with movie theaters, restaurants and designer fashions.

Generally, bargaining is an accepted practice in Taiwan and many local people wouldn't think of buying something without bargaining first for a lower price. This is especially true at roadside stands and night markets. It becomes even more important when purchasing major items like motorcycles, cars and appliances. If you don't bargain hard for these commodities, you'll be providing a nice fat profit for the dealer. Of course the standard techniques apply - look un-impressed, mention a different store and threaten to leave. If you are purchasing a service you expect to receive at a later point, make sure you don't bargain too much, because you'll want the person to happily provide the service with a smile rather than any other way.

Department Stores

In the major cities, you can find large multi-story department stores from Japan that carry all the latest expsensive fashions. They are constantly holding sales and special promotions to keep the customers coming back. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, this is where shopping truly becomes an enjoyable leisure time activity and they are usually jam packed on the weekends and holidays. In the summer, many people come to the department stores just to cool off and escape the heat. In the winter, people from the north go to the department store because there may be nothing else to do in the rain. You can usually find some fine restaurants inside as well as fast food places and grocery stores with international goods.

One unique feature of the Japanese department stores is the elevator girls (and sometimes young men) that will politely hold the door for you and help push the buttons for which floor you want to go to. They can also usually provide directions on where to vist for what you need. There are also sparkling clean play areas for young kids to enjoy although some do charge a small fee for entrance. While every city has a few of its own department stores, there are two major chains in Taiwan.

While there are many department stores ranging from small to large in each city, there are two large Department stores chains with at least one store in each major city. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi ((新光三越百貨公司) is a joint venture between the Mitsui Company in Japan and the Shin Kong Group in Taiwan. This is probably the hottest and most popular department store chain in Taiwan. It is basically like being in a mall because there are many different international retailers like Gucci, prada etc. Sogo Department Store - (太平洋崇光百貨公司) also has branches in each city.

Malls

Malls are not sprawling one level complexes with massive outdoor parking lots in Taiwan. In fact, there are not that many malls at all. However, they are gaining in popularity and several new projects have been built over the past few years. The malls that do exist are normally in large multi-story buildings similar to the department stores. There are however conglomerations of stores usually all on one street or one area in many towns and cities that could be called "Pedestrian Malls". The stores are clustered together to form a central shopping district and normally cater to students and young people for the latest clothes and fashions.

Some Malls in Taiwan

• Taipei 101 - 台北101
• Core Pacific City Mall (美麗華)Taipei
• Dream Mall (夢時代)Kaohsiung - Taipei Times Article

Hyper-Markets

This term applies to all the big stores like Carrefour and Geant that carry everything from automotive parts to clothes to food. These large stores are also often popular hang-outs on steamy weekends, although the air conditioning is typically not as cool as the Department stores. They offer good deals and normally good quality on many standard items, however they typically will not offer any bargaining and there may not be any staff around to help you make a purchase.

Everything Store

In all towns and cities across Taiwan there is bound to be an "Everything Store" conveniently located and open late into the night near where you live. These stores are the staple of local Taiwan shopping. When you need to run out and buy a screwdriver, some clothes hangers, dishes or any other small household items - this is the place to go. As the name implies they sell "Everything" and are typically lower priced than many of the larger hyper-market stores. Normally the prices are clearly marked on the items, so there's not much bargaining you can do unless you are purchasing multiple items, or higher priced items. Some stores in this category may sell super cheap and inferor goods that do not last, so once you find a good one, stick with it. In some rural areas, you may even see an "everything store on wheels" where a little truck drives around to small towns offering brooms, pots, pans and other goods.

Specialty Stores

Unlike many other countries where the big name stores have pushed the mom and pop stores out of business, many Taiwanese operate store fronts out of their houses and normally specialize in one area or another. You'll see small stores for temple supplies, dishes, water filters, plumbing parts and all kinds of other stuff. Of course these small stores offer personable service and knowledge that you just can't find anywhere else. They are usually quick to offer at least a small discount, but can't afford to go very low because they may not see that many customers in a day and may already be operating on a thin margin.

Night Markets

It's always fun to go shopping in night markets, although you may be better off just buying food and playing the games instead of really purchasing any goods. Some stands offer an impressive array of products such as "Everything for 10NT." Listen for the taped message on the loudspeaker "... zup ko ... zup ko" which means "10 dollars" in Taiwanese. However, most of these goods you can find at the night market are cheaply made in China and are worth exactly what you paid for them or maybe even much less.

So, Let's go shopping!

Even if you're not that fashionable or you hate shopping, you'll probably find yourself following the crowds to the department stores, or the local hyper market on the weekend. So you might as well enjoy it and be a part of the scene.

About the Author

by Joseph Gray - resident of Taiwan off and on since 1997. For more pictures taken for this article, visit Joe's Taiwan Shopping Pictures. For more details, or to contact Joe, please visit Visit Joe's Fotozon Blog. All photographs were taken by Joe and are Copyright 2007 Fotozon.

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