How to Shop like a Pro at Mustafa Centre - Top Tips on Enjoying a Hassle-free Shopping Spree at the Mustafa Centre

 As one of Singapore's top retail destinations, the towering Mustafa Centre is a one of a kind shopper's paradise in the heart of Little India. Offering travellers floor after floor of consumer goods, clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products, this bargain paradise is known to be a crowd magnet all year long. From making the most of a shopping spree to avoiding the mishaps common among first-timers, here are some guidelines to surviving your first retail excursion to the Mustafa Centre.

                                                            Img via Wikimedia Commons
                                

1. Prepare to be Tagged

All shoppers who are heading to the Mustafa Centre must leave their big tote bags and large backpacks behind. This is due to the fact that your belongings, including your backpack or day bag, will be cable-tied for safety reasons at the entrance. That is unless one is only carrying a small crossbody bag or a small bag that the security personnel will deem unnecessary to tag. The hassle of having one's backpack or large handbag cable-tied is that it is done while your wallet, phone, and other necessities are inside, so you will effectively be unable to use anything from the bag during your time inside the mall. Although the convenience of carrying a big handbag or backpack when shopping cannot be underestimated, it will simply serve as a hindrance in this case.

 2. Create a Game Plan

The Mustafa Centre is spread out across several floors and split up into two buildings so knowing where to enter and start is crucial to enjoy a shopping experience at the venue. Enter from Gate 1 and start from the bottom up. Don't hit the supermarkets first because you will want to save that for the end of your shopping spree as this is where most tourists lose all control and stock up on groceries and spices. There are entire aisles dedicated to Himalayan sea salt, for example, and the organic produce on offer is just as enticing.

3. Plan Your Exit

While it may seem premature, a coherent exit strategy must also be in place before entering the shopping centre as you will need a taxi to lug all your purchases to the hotel. Tourists can book a taxi in advance as long as they time it perfectly and inform the driver which gate they will be waiting at. Grab is a great app for this type of ride while those who wish to flag down a cab will find there are plenty down Syed Alwi Road.

4. Get a Head Start

Staying at Park Hotel Farrer Park or any of the many hotels in Little India Singapore will help one make multiple trips to the Mustafa Centre during the holiday and this is a great advantage as it is impossible to cover two buildings full of bargain products in one go. Try to enter the mall as early as possible to avoid the crowds as the number of shoppers only increases as the morning turns to the afternoon.

 5. Don't Haggle

Although the Mustafa Centre is a bargain hunter's paradise, haggling will get you nowhere as the prices marked on the products are fixed, unlike local outdoor markets where one can bring down the price by negotiating with the seller.

 6. Find Unique Goods for Less

Although most travellers are content to stock up on affordable accessories, t-shirts, shoes, and handbags, there are more worthy bargains to be had at Mustafa Centre including fantastic deals on watches and other electronics. Luggage and eReaders such as Kindles are sold at unbelievable prices here alongside large television sets. The most unusual item on sale at the venue is gold. Travellers can purchase gold at the Mustafa Centre if they so desire.