I need to furnish an apartment, which although furnished, needs additional stuff. Suggestions for the cheapest place to buy the items below would be appreciated. Examples:
Bit more niche electronics - 3D printer, single board computers, bench power supply, multimeter, soldering iron, electronic components
I heard about Guang Hua plaza but there are no online price lists, and walking into a shop without an idea of how much they are selling something for beforehand in my experience is asking to pay a higher price.
For non-urgent items, how does shopping online (e.g. Amazon, Ruten, Aliexpress) compare to in-store purchases? In the past I always found it to be cheaper, sometimes by a factor of 1.5 - 10x. For items where reliability was important (such as computer components) buying first hand from shops, with warranties, beat buying stuff off Amazon or Aliexpress.
You can get cheap stuff to start out with at any 百貨 (baihuo)
I personally don’t think it is necessary to buy expensive forks when they go for nothing here. Google Streetview examples provided.
There are mattress stores everywhere. If you prefer a more user friendly experience, IKEA sells them.
Guanghua is not a scammy place. Most stores display their prices in front of the store and it’s easy to shop around on foot cause they’re literally beside each other.
CoolPC is a popular store to go to and they don’t have an online shop, but an online catalogue.
You’ll easily go over your $2000 TWD limit and pay tax on imports if you use Amazon or Aliexpress.
Shopee is great for non urgent things and niche products in Taiwan.
It depends, honestly. Anything in particular you were thinking of?
I’ve never purchased one, but I often pass by stores just full of office chairs. I think those would be a better price than at big box stores. The malls AFAIK also sell them.
The large Carrefour stores have a lot of this stuff. All household goods, all appliances and more. They even deliver and install if needed. Warranty is a given.
Can try Ikea or Nitori for decent chairs at lowish prices. I have one from each. Or try Shopee. For a really good chair, you may have to look elsewhere.
If you’re near a Costco, most of that is available from there. And if you’re buying all that stuff, you’ll easily get the money back on the executive card and then some. You won’t have as much choice in brands, but Costco tends to sell “better” (but not excessively expensive) brands without an overwhelming selection. That helped with my decision fatigue anyway.
Also ask yourself if you need everything you listed. Facebook marketplace can be a nightmare to navigate, but sometimes you can get things that foreigners brought from abroad. You might even realize you don’t need the thing while you wait.
I strongly advice against Amazon though. Most of the shit sold on there in the past six or so years comes from Taobao. Better to pay a slight premium to get it drop shipped from Shopee than have it shipped from an Amazon warehouse in the US, after it was shipped there from China.
If I remember correctly, you just need a form of ID (passport if you don’t have an ARC card yet) and your payment? You’ll also need a mailing address. I always use my work’s address. (The credit card, if you apply, is far more complicated, especially if you’re a US citizen).
You get your Costco card in hand as soon as you sign up.
As for other chains, I’ve never shopped enough at any of them to gain benefits, but sometimes they give you freebies or round down when your total is only a few NT above a round number (like NT$303 is NT$300 instead)
I haven’t been able to open a bank account yet, because the bank said I must open it in the town where I will be living/working and not in my temporary Airbnb address.
Opening a bank account once I move in is also at the top of my priorities.
So when I go shopping at Costco, I won’t have a bank account yet in Taiwan.
Can I get a Costco card by topping off the account with cash? So it would work as a debit card.
I have some questions for forumosans in 2025. I am seeking to purchase a modestly sized table and a couple of chairs. Nitori has some options, not crazily priced. Does any one have experience with Nitori’s furniture? Is this going to be junk I regret buying, or are forumosans generally satisfied?
Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I bought a wooden coffee table from them (◆茶几 HILL 107 LBR｜NITORI 宜得利家居線上購物網) years ago and I still love it. Quality feels great for the price, it’s extremely sturdy.
