Wan Chai Computer Centre

Full agreement with prior review. This is a geeked out computer paradise and we felt confident we had gone to the right place to seek help with a computer repair.
My husband found this spot for we were seeking a computer laptop repair. This place is packed with vendors working in all things IT… computers, cell phones, video cameras, cameras, TV, etc. You name it they have it. Dozens of vendors.
We were on the top floor, as noted as the «professional floor» and being helped by AA I.T. Sytem Limited for our laptop repair. There are many vendors and many businesses, this is simply the one we selected.
Purchase or repair… this was a good place to go. We would go back.

B-​Tech (stall 155) is an honest place with good prices. Golden (133) in front has the best real estate but prices are 15−30% higher. This mall is for lots of little things you get to complement computers. Because of the shopper demographic, the mall sells cameras & other gadget related stuff.

Do. Not. Look. Elsewhere.
I have seen people paying for a HUGE premium to get electronics or to fix their phone at Central, TST or Causeway Bay.
So here’s the deal:
Step 1: Have you tried turning it off and back on again?
If it works: Congrats.
If it doesn’t: Go to Wan Chai Computer Centre.
Step 2: There’s no step 2.
I have directed people here to fix there camera lens, build a brand new PC, get a Xiaomi MiBox, recover data from a smartphone. You name it.
I have practically witnessed the growth of this place from its birth. Back then, Wan Chai 298 and Wan Chai Computer Centre were good rivals. And pirate stuff was a big hit back then (yeah, remember the shop with a lot of CD covers [with no actual discs] hanging on the wall? Those were the days man. BitTorrrent totally ruined it. /​s)
But for the last 10 years, the lease management team (I suspect) of Computer Centre made a great effort on two fronts: keeps things legit, and diversify the content. In hindsight, selling legit seemed to be either expensive and unpopular option. But now it becomes the norm.
And then you can almost find any shops here. You’ll see shops that specifically sell laptops, computers, monitors, (professional) mouses/​keyboards, (professional) AV system, printers, smartphone cases, computer books, Apple stuff, games, cameras, Internet of things, and some all-​in-​one shops (cables, usb, etc).
But no matter how they diversify, the cost of entry is relatively low, so practically it’s, in economics term, perfect competitions and everyone’s a price taker, i.e. no one can sell a Kindle higher than the market price without a competitor immediately comes into play at a lower price and steal your customers. So excepts one or two shops that’s right next to the escalator, most shops have very fair prices of whatever they are selling.

If I can’t be bothered to venture out to Sham Shui Po, the Wanchai computer mall right beside exit A4 is a pretty good substitute for getting games and electronics. The Computer Centre can be accessed by escalators right to the left of this exit. For me, it’s arguably better, because it’s closer to work and home. A and I have come into possession of a PS4 (goodbye, world) so we’ve been going here quite often for games (notable favourites: Marvel’s LEGO Superheroes and Watchdogs). It was hard for us to find PS4 games in Fortress or SONY — there’d only be like 3 or 4 options, oftentimes «out of stock», or stocked up with PS3 games instead. Computer malls like the one in Wanchai are good because the selection is so much more extensive. At the same time, it’s a little hit and miss if you don’t do your research first — we have ended up with some pretty terrible arcade-​style games that we stopped playing after one round. Not so great blowing $ 400 on a game about ancient Chinese dynasties and finding out all you do is ride a horse and slay slay slay slay slay slay slay slay slay… Sigh.
Other than games, it’s a good place to go for hard drives, CPU cases, laptops, computer accessories like USBs and cables. Another recent acquisition was a TV box, which has been super fun to browse through for movies and TV series. You can also go here for some high end audio equipment, or headphones, like the oh-​so trendy Beats or Beats pill box, which can cost a few thousand dollars.

You have to visit this place if you plan to get anything computer related. Why? Because you can’t be bothered to go to over to the dark side and chances are you will be fleeced before you know it. You think it won’t happen here, right? Wrong, even locals get caught out as the prices for the same thing could be two to three times more expensive for the shops upfront as opposed to the shops down the back (personal experience from trying to fix a an iphone screen– trying asking every single store around the place and you will know how wide the range is).
Phones aside, the places sells hardware (printers, computers, phones), software and more accessories than you can wave a stick at. Its the only place on HK island the offers everything in the same place and at cheaper prices than the mainstream electronics stores.
You will notice that some stores may have English signs all over describing what they do and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that these places tend to serve a lot of expats– naturally they will charge more but for those with a language barrier I would say its worth the premium as IT issues tend to be difficult to translate in the medium of sign language. Don’t expect service like the Ritz as most shops are staffed by youngsters who know more about IT than you do about your life so they are cocky. They will get the job done though and thats enough for me.

You might have heard about the Golden Shopping Centre in Shum Shui Po or the Computer Centre in Mong Kok, but do you know there is one in Wan Chai as well? I am definitely no technology geek or a hardcore gamer. In fact, I am one of those guys who know nothing about computer and go to other guys for help if my computer is compromised (face palm. I know).
So I went there last week to try to get a new game for my friend, and as a newbie in that area, I had to come to these places to get what I want. Anyways, for all of you who know about computer, this place will not disappoint you at all. Comprised with two floors, this place sells all kinds of computer products, electronics, cell phones, and all kind of latest gadgets, etc. (I rarely see any females walking in there to be honest). If you need professional or secret way to ‘fix’ your stuff, come here. However, for those who do not reside in Hong Kong, be careful that it might take a great deal of effort to return or even get a refund once you leave. So please carefully check the product before you leave.
Notice that this computer centre is flooded with customers and even tourists. Most items are not exceptionally cheap but at reasonable price. Most owners here do speak decent English so do not worry about the language barrier. I probably will not come here again not because this is a bad place but more about the fact that I do not want to look like an idiot in front of all the computer masters.

My place of fond memories~
You know how kids get excited when they first get pocket money from their parents to buy things? I was allowed to this privilege only until secondary school; before that, red pockets were the only «source of income» that I could spend for the rest of the year.
I am no tech geek needless to say, but video games, MAN, who does NOT love a good video game to submerge yourself in the fantasy world of gaming? Due to the location of my secondary school, this computer center is the most accessible and I simply could not stop myself from going into this jam packed indoor high tech «bazaar», go straight into the game shops and look for the latest game in store. With unknown reasons, or may be I was just unaware of, there are not many places selling computer games; even they do, they could hardly keep up with the latest trend; or may be it was due to the popularity of online games and other consoles, PC games lose their edge and thus the limited publications…
Nonetheless, this is the place where i spent a good portion of my teenage savings on the games that I bought from the 2 very distinct shops in the arcade; somehow I suspect they have the same owners yet thank to them, my teenage was so much more then science, maths and history.