2004-02 Gran Canaria: Centro Comercial Yumbo - Harrison Electronics (Harry Sons)

For many years Gran Canaria was part of a special tax-free shopping zone, and the vacationing Europeans would flock to the Centro Comerciales to save money on the latest electronic devices.

Sadly, some of the shops decided it would be easier to make a profit from defrauding customers rather than just selling product. If you search the 'net you'll find many detailed reports of shops running purchases for ten or a hundred times the price; when everything electronic cost many hundreds or thousands of pesetas, it was easy to miss an extra zero or two. Credit card companies policy (wisely) was "if you sign the chit you're on the hook for the purchase". Caveat emptor.

When I lose my digital camera I decided that I'd buy a uncastrated version so as to not miss recording the remainder of the trip (and for those extra features). I checked out some of the shops with which I'd had some relationship in years past (when I was a big consumer of analog photographic lenses). Some seemed too sleazy, others didn't carry my top-of-the-line camera, others did but wanted such a huge mark-up, others couldn't tell the difference between model numbers.

So it was to my great delight when I discovered Harrison Electronics, on the top level of the C. C. Yumbo, nearest to the Hotel Neptuno.

Harrison, also shown as Harry Sons, has that same cluttered look as any of the other dozen shops to be found nearby. (Here's Isaac and Rose; I have no idea at what she's looking.)

Nick, who is patient, knowledgable, and of good humor, takes note of my exact requirements. His price for the desired camera is excellent (about what it would cost me at home), and can be had in a day (his shipment was sent to the Las Palmas store and he has to drive up and get it after hours on the day I stop by). He can't get a 512 MB Secure Digital card, as the local consumers won't pony up for them, but can get a 256 MB card. Twenty-four hours later I've got everything in my hot little hands.

So if you're looking to purchase some consumer electronic item, audio or photographic, stop by and give Nick a chance to quote you a price you like. Hopefully your experience will be as satisfying as mine.

(I take it as understood that I have no financial interest in passing along my recomendation, but in case it isn't I make this note to you.)

Have you found errors nontrivial or marginal, factual, analytical and illogical, arithmetical, temporal, or even typographical? Please let me know; drop me email. Thanks!

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