jethro69

I'd recommend the i9100T, maybe from a True or DTAC shop as this supports 850/1900/2100 3G, at a minimum.

Do you know where there is a DTAC or True shop that I can send me sister to??

You know if there are shops in siam paragon?

I think she is going there tomoorow.

I bought mine (i9100) at Samsung shop in Fortune on Ratchada. Right next to MRT Rama 9 station.

I doubt that any of the mobile operators will help you with the vat refund. A better bet is to go for MBK, and go for one of the larger shops. Or how it is about Jaymart and vat refund?? I'll try to pick one on Thursday or Friday, and post than the location, I picked mine and about vat refund, 18900 is a good quote anyway.

So, finally I got mine ;-). I returned only yesterday on a crappy Bus from Chiang Saen, so I first had to take a nap, and it was already around 6 pm. So not much time to shop around. Went straight to Phra Ram 9, as I wanted to go to TescoLotus anyway. Went up right to the 4th floor into the ITmall, as I knew from prior purchases, that the have the VAT refund. They had also a stock of SG2, to my surprise it was already discounted to 17900 Thb. I cashed out also the VAT already. (1171 THB). So I got it for 16729 THB. At the moment a great deal indeed.

GT-I9100LKATHL (whatever that means in the end)

I'd recommend the i9100T, maybe from a True or DTAC shop as this supports 850/1900/2100 3G, at a minimum.

Do you know where there is a DTAC or True shop that I can send me sister to??

You know if there are shops in siam paragon?

I think she is going there tomoorow.

I bought mine (i9100) at Samsung shop in Fortune on Ratchada. Right next to MRT Rama 9 station.

I doubt that any of the mobile operators will help you with the vat refund. A better bet is to go for MBK, and go for one of the larger shops. Or how it is about Jaymart and vat refund?? I'll try to pick one on Thursday or Friday, and post than the location, I picked mine and about vat refund, 18900 is a good quote anyway.

Google with Vat Refund Thailand came up with :

http://www.thaiwaysm...vat_refund.html

and here the link for the revenue department

http://www.rd.go.th/vrt/

It's quite easy. If buying, the shop has a yellow form, which must be filled out. Then when leaving the country, you have to show the item for inspection, so don't pack it in the checked luggage. After passing immigration, there is another office where you get the 7% refunded, minus a 100 bath fee.

Thanks guys. i did the calculation and saw that if you meet the criteria, you could get refunded 18,900 x 7% - 100 = 1223 off of the SGs II, if you leave by plane within 60 days of purchase. is it hit or miss with an authorized dealer having these forms?

I did it many times on different items, cameras, laptops, and mobile phones. As for the SGSII, I guess that the price will be everywhere the same more or less, so just shop around until you'll find someone who have the forms. The IT mall's (Pantip; Fortune) for example have them, but I don't know if they have the phone.

It's an i9100 so it can be used with any provider. I paid 18,900 Baht for it. A little more expensive than from True but I need to be able to use 3G in 2 or 3 European countries.

In Europe 3G runs anyway not on the 850 MHz band.

I googled a bit, and found that for example Telstra in Australia has the T model as well, they stated that it's fine tuned to run on the 850 MHz band. So the Thai T version might be the same, maybe also an explanation why it comes out here so late.

I'm just back from Central Plaza Chiang Rai. Many of the shops have the S2, although none of them offered the VAT refund, so I'll pick one in Bangkok next week.

How exactly does that VAT refund thing work? I hear it is very complicated and can only be done at the airport? Is it similar to the "mail-in" rebate that you must wait 6 months for?

It's quite easy. If buying, the shop has a yellow form, which must be filled out. Then when leaving the country, you have to show the item for inspection, so don't pack it in the checked luggage. After passing immigration, there is another office where you get the 7% refunded, minus a 100 bath fee.

I'm just back from Central Plaza Chiang Rai. Many of the shops have the S2, although none of them offered the VAT refund, so I'll pick one in Bangkok next week.