To avoid being scammed in computer village Lagos stay away from buying from street hawkers, avoid unrealistic cheap offer, check authenticity of the product, Never blink eyes off when fixing your gadgets and compare prices.

The above are just highlights, but let’s get into it deeply and uncover how to avoid being scammed in computer village Lagos.

For those of us who don’t know what this is, let me give you an introduction to Computer Village so that we all start on the right foot.

Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos, is Nigeria’s largest tech market. It’s a bustling hub where you can buy, repair, or sell phones, laptops, gadgets, and accessories. The market is known for its wide range of products, from brand-new items to fairly used ones, often at competitive prices.

In the Market you can find skilled technicians that fix software and hardware issues. While it’s a great place for tech deals, patronizer should also be cautious with their dealing which is the bread and butter of this post.

Here’s a street view of Computer Village Lagos drawn from our YouTube channel.

Video sources: Lagosnownow

How Do I Avoid Being Scammed in Computer Village Lagos?

In As much a Computer Village remains a one-stop shop for all tech needs in Lagos, there are countless ways people get ripped off, but here we’ll discuss the very obvious ways, then you can use your initiative to raise your guard on the other avenues.

1. Aviod Street Hawkers

I intentionally made this the first due to personal experience prior to years of frequenting the market.

When I talk about street hawker i don’t mean traders that sells pouch, charger and other accessories and other legitimate products in stall, wheel barrow or road side.

The street hawkers am particular about are those ones that stand on the street with few phones in their hands, asking “you wan buy, you wan swap, you wan sell” , ….. You see those guy? the terror they can unleash Is beyond the context of this post. So, to be safe just avoid those street hawkers at all cost. Also you be cautious of those guys that stand on the street asking what do you want to buy, offering to take you to a cheaper seller, avoid them as well.

Note: No apology to anyone who feels discredited as a street hawker in Computer Village as your colleague has caused innocent customers serious pains

2. Avoid Unrealistic Cheap Deal

Having been in the mobile electronics gadgets business for over a decade now, I can tell you that a lot people still don’t understand that mobile devices and accessories are in two categories the ” genuine and imitation”.

I understand that user always find it challenging to identify the differences, but the seller of those item knows the real and the fake one. For example, you will hear price of an original Samsung S23 screen for 300K + while the Fake one ( normal one) goes for 70k +.

So, what those sellers do is when they give the customer price for the original screen with example above for 300k, which at most after haggling deal should settle for 280k. But if the customer prices the item ridiculously cheap for say 150k, in that scenario the seller then offer the fake one which is closely similar with the original one.

Although a few honest sellers will tell you your offer can’t go for the genuine one if you will like to opt for the copy as always referred to.

From the examples above you can see how one can get scammed over unrealistic cheap deals. I know a lot of reader will ask how do I differeciate between fake and original? Yes this isn’t something to explain with text here, but to be at a safer side while shopping for electronics gadgets and accessories always ensure you research the product you want to buy online before visiting the stores.

3. Check Product Authenticity

Here the authenticity of the product you buys matters, it determines how durable and well it functions. I know this could be tricky for people, especially for not so tech – savvy individuals.

The point is, there are things you can do to ensure that the phones, laptop, accessories and other hardware you buy are actually worth your money.

They include :

  1. Buying From Credible Stores: This could save you a lot of stress and headaches. Although prices could be slightly higher from other regular store, but it is actually worth it if you value peace of mind.
  2. Research Products Online: This particular tip help me grew from a total mobile electronics novice to a savvy. Websites like GSMArena and Pangoly providers lot of information such as specifications, originally check, reviews and product comparison which are tools to enable you make a right decision when purchasing a gadget.

4. Stay Vigilant

To avoid being scammed in Computer Village Lagos you need to be actively vigilant when dealing with both traders and technician.

In a cases where you need to fix your mobile gadgets, ensure you visit reliable technician and opt to wait and get it the same day. This is attainable due to availability of parts needed in the market.

Also, whenever you have the need to fix you phones, laptop and other gadgets, play safe by placing a mark on RAM, Hard drive , Battery and other detachable components for easy identification.

5. Compare Prices

This applies to any kind of business with many vendors as players. To avoid losing your hard earned money carelessly, always engage in prices comparison of the product you want to buy.

This not only save you from over paying for items, but also let you have a better understanding of the worth of your gadgets.

So, it is advisable to compare prices from at least three to four shops before finally settling for your choice.

Note: It’s important to note that the higher the price of item doesn’t translate to it being original or vice versa. It’s essential to apply other tips mentioned above in this post to guide you when dealing in Computer Village Lagos.

Conclusion

Computer Village in Lagos is a tech hub that offers both opportunities and risks. While it’s a great place to get gadgets, repairs, and accessories, to avoid being scammed in computer village it is important to stay alert and apply smart strategies. Avoiding street hawkers and overly cheap deals, checking product authenticity, staying vigilant when fixing gadgets, and comparing prices are practical ways to protect your money and investments.

By following these tips, you can confidently navigate and avoid being scammed in computer village, there by getting good value for your purchases. Always remember, knowledge is power so research, ask questions, and don’t rush decisions. Computer Village can be a rewarding place to shop if approached wisely. Stay sharp, and enjoy your tech shopping experience in Lagos.