SurfRider

Has anyone had recent experience with receiving goods from Amazon in Thailand? 

In the past I've had problems receiving shipments from the US (not Amazon) and don't want to risk the same again. 

I've had two shipments that never arrived and another that incurred high Customs duties. 

In this case, I'm considering running shoes in a large size that's s very difficult to find in Thailand. 

Thanks much in advance for any comments. 

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Jomtien Alert - 6:30pm today: A light battalion of Songkran attack vehicles operating on both sides of Jomtien 2nd Rd. in the vicinity of Pastrami-On-Rye attempting to drench anyone in sight. Also a few loose cannons with water blasters running amok on the sidewalks.

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Just found some at Lazada. Recently ordered Avantree Bluetooth Transmitter & earphones from them - 3 to 5 day delivery - cash on delivery.

http://www.lazada.co.th/all-products/?q=Digital+Coaxial+To+Analog+Audio+Converter+-+Black

One even includes a digital-optical cable.
( would think they could come up with a better name than "Hotdeal" )

http://www.lazada.co.th/hotdeal-digital-to-analog-audio-converter-759994.html

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Does anyone know where to find a Digital-to-Analog Audio Adapter to connect digital-optical output of a TV to the input of a Bluetooth Transmitter?

Couldn't find it at TukCom. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Similar to this:

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KK: I thought TukCom also - tried several there - not a clue.

Thanks ELF - can you tell me which Bluetooth headphones you have and if you got them locally.

Do you recall which Avantree transmitter you bought? Thanks!

Does anyone know of a source for a Bluetooth Audio Transmitter/Adapter?

(For TV Audio to BluTooth Earphones)

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From Sydney:

http://www.smh.com.au/world/veteran-journalist-andrew-drummond-to-leave-thailand-amid-safety-fears-20150119-12t99l.html

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Sophon tech says their current problems stem from a bad server which has been replaced but apparently not yet quite got its head together. Also, a fire yesterday on Pattaya Tai took out some of their cabling and caused another outage.

"CEO...maybe if we all start to call, he might actually employ skilled staff and fix the problems"

Antagonizing and harassing the CEO isn't the answer. They have very competent and skilled people - I worked with two of them this morning.

Their current problem is somewhere in management. I made sure that both the owner and CEO are aware that some of their customers are concerned about that and they may lose customers if the problems aren't solved soon. My guess is that they will be and the old reliable Sophon will resurface. (fingers crossed ) . . .

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Sophon been down here 4 days - many promises "will be fixed in 30 minutes" from lame office staff (TiT). Finally got through to CEO - technicians allegedly arriving in the AM. (not holding my breath )

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Yes, but I believe the alternate is .4.4, not .8.4 - neither of those can be accessed thru Sophon, at least with my connection that is. There are 12 hops on the path to the Google DNS servers - 5 of those show 100% packet loss. You can test your path with the App at PingPlotter.com if you want.

If anyone has the IP for a non-google DNS, I'd like to try that.

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Yes, I did the standard 30 minute power cycle with the router. No change. I have a route trace running - shows 5 OF 12 hops to Google DNS servers are dead - 100% packet loss. So, the problem is not the link to the Internet, it's the inability to access a DNS server.

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Thanks for the phone number. Finally got a call through - couldn't understand much of whatever they said - then they hung up the phone . Now, no answer again.

Does anyone know the current status of the problem?

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Konying: Can you post the phone number you have for Sophon? Both numbers I have are not answered. Thanks!

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Is anyone having Internet access problems with sophon broadband in Jomtien? Basic connection appears ok, but cannot access Google DNS. No answer @ Sophon office all day, thus no Net access. Route trace shows 6 hops dead to Google servers. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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"After perhaps two years, they seem to be doing some work on these awful holes in Jomtien!"

Was this just another fleeting fantasy, or what?

Seems the brief spurt of activity awhile back on the Abysmal Craters of Jomtien has become an event relegated to history. Yet another TiT???
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Anyone know a local source for Bun Bo Hue (or similar), a Vietnamese soup?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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The announcement below was posted today on Facebook.

"Following extensive renovation, we are pleased to announce the return of the 'Blues Factory' Featuring some 'old faces' and many new ones. Our opening date will be announced in the next few days. Prepare to be ROCKED ! !"

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They must not have had much experience running a restaurant. Open during slow season in an out of the way location with little or no promotion and without enough perseverance to survive for at least 6 months - they were flirting with failure.

I agree that the Rompho area would have likely produced a much different result. I've seen places surviving there with seemingly VERY few customers.
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Might be best to double check and make sure he's referring to the right place. I ate there yesterday, mid-afternoon and everything appeared normal - had three customers at an off hour.

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"in the next day or so i will go to Raro's then check the coordinates from my GPS...as it seems to be the only way to get them"

If you know the spot on a Google Map, right-click the spot and select "What's Here?" -- the GPS coordinates will appear in the box at the upper-left of your screen.
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I've had tests done at LifeCare Labs, (referenced above) many times, as have others I know. Results generally match tests done at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Tests they cannot do there they send to the BPH lab. They will fax or eMail your results to you, usually the evening of the day you stop by. Saves a return trip.

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"Every time my internet package expires i feel i am getting unauthorized internet charges...my subscription I.E if the monthly subscription is 799 baht"
   
AIS users can get WiFi Internet for 69 Baht per month.  You can sign up for it on your phone/device at any AIS WiFi hot spot. Charges are deducted weekly from your Top-Off account.  keep your phone's "Mobile Data" option turned off and the device will connect automatically to any AIS WiFi whenever you're near one.
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"I miss CNBC and Bloomberg ... Fox Noise's absence has left a void"

Bloomberg audio is still on Sophon but the video is currently out - both were working earlier today. Sophon tells me that one of their satellite dishes was hit by lightning, but they expect that Fox will be back tomorrow morning. (so those suffering from FDS {Fox Derangement Syndrome} will once again have something to chatter about )

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It's true - I was there in March and got the lady with the computer and printer in back of her. She inputs all your data and prints out your next 90-day report form, folds it and staples it in your Passport. Her instructions were to bring the pre-printed form with your Passport to your next reporting day, sign it, and she'll repeat the procedure for the next time

I checked this anomaly with the person who publishes the Pattaya City Expats Club newsletter (which posts extensive Visa and reporting info on their website). He verified that many expats have reported the same-- so get the lady with the printer and you will no longer need to present any supporting data or copies, etc. -- it's all in her computer. The other two behind the desk still use the old procedure.

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