Carpets- advice on where to buy oriental rug

[Boston Family Sing. bound]

Hi,
My husband's Boss (expat) is coming to Singapore from Japan next week and has been told that Singapore is the best place to purchase a Oriental Carpet.  I'm suppose to find out where to take them.  Any ideas?  

[expat]

I've had good service from these places:

Hassan's in Tanglin Shopping Center (they also hold free-of-charge carpet information/appreciation classes)

Eastern Carpets in Raffles City shopping mall (the one adjacent to the Westin Stamford)

Holland Village - aaaghh the name escapes me but it is directly opposite the market/Haagen Daz  

[carpet buyer]

You must be thinking of Hedger's!  I would highly recommend them as well.  They've done some cleaning of carpets for us and we've bought two or three new rugs from them.  Very good service.  Try and make it to one of their auctions.  You can usually get a good deal.  24A Lorong Mambong / 462-0028

[carla]

I personally have had better luck at Eastern Carpets (Edmund is spectacular) than at Hedgers. I found Hedgers to be very rude to me when in came to negotiating price.  I ended up paying the MORE for a similar carpet at Eastern Carpets just because I did not like the serivce at Hedgers.

It all comes down to what you are comfortable with.

[nualum]

What your boss might find to be fun is hitting the week-end auctions at the hotels. In the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Straits Times, one can see ads for auctions every week-end. When passing through Singapore, what I have done more than once is check out all the auctions on the same day and stay at the auction which had the most rugs in which I was interested. First, one finds out which hotels are having auctions on the same day. Then during preview time, go to each hotel in turn, sizing up the offerings for that day. I take taxis from hotel to hotel. Each auction may have 100 or more rugs on offer, with printed descriptions and estimated prices. I ranked each auction according to which one had the most rugs in which I might be interested and went back to the place which had a selection of rugs on which I might be willing to bid. Prices really are good. Depending on the day, the crowd (or lack thereof) and the auctioneer, prices can be extraordinary. It is also a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

[Boston Family Sing. bound]

Many Thanks Expat, Carpet buyer,Carla and Nualum,
I knew I could count on this site.  The info was just what I was looking for.
Nualum, 'the boss' had mentioned that they wanted to go to an auction so your suggestions were great!
Thanks so much