Originally Posted by
TOMFORD
That's why rather than going to China, I stick to places with lower import tax rates like HK, Thailand, and I would say Singapore too, but I never plan on visiting there again. I'm a rather small person by American standards. Neiman Marcus doesn't carry my size for the designer I like. Some of that designer's US boutiques don't even carry my size.
Asia is more expensive than the US for designer clothes etc. If you want designer rather than counterfeit, you will pay a hefty premium on US prices in HK, Singapore etc. HK may have no sales tax but prices are still high to 1) factor in high rents and 2) to maximise profit from the cash-rich mainland market. The only designer "item" I found to be cheaper in HK when I lived there was Armani make-up (and Apple products).