lifemagic

Where can you buy it for 2590?

OK. I wanted to post for two reasons. One, I assumed things are always no refund, no exchange, and found out it's not the case in mid-range places, that you can actually trust seven day returns policies, and so perhaps other people do not know this.

Secondly, I'm always quick to let people know the negative, to warn people of bad things I come across, and I try to balance this with positivity also sometimes, but ... whatever.

I live in Phnom Pehn and spent my last but one day in BK shopping. Two things I bought turned out to be faulty. A good quality bag had a velcro counterpart missing so it wouldn't close properly. As well as this, a Canon Ixus 175 camera had a fault, the focusing would stick and it was near unusable. I realised this in the evening and my heart sank. I woke up in the morning and didn't want to face the day, my last day, knowing it would be frustrating, unsuccessful, dealing with unreasonable people who don't care (ever the optimist, me!)

I needn't have worried. I bought both items in Central World, the big one near Chitlom. The camera came from Big Camera on the fourth floor. I went back with the camera, box,receipt, explained the problem. He looked at it, admitted it was faulty, I filled in a form, he let me open another and check it worked properly and it took ten minutes. No eye-rolling, no 'farang this, farang that'; just a simple exchange.

I bought the bag from Isetan, the Japanese department store also in Central World. I got a new bag, identical bar the fault, off the shelf, and took it with my faulty bag to the cashier. She looked at them for about two seconds, apologised, gave me the perfect bag, smiled and that was that. Took around five seconds in all.

Am I still in Thailand? Why aren't they calling me names and arguing?

Anyway, thanks CW. You'll be getting my custom again.

I just want to 'put this out there'.

I managed to get mould in my ixus 160 so decided to replace it. It's been replaced by the ixus 175. Every single place in BK sells this for 3495.00, except Siam Paragon, which was 300 baht cheaper. I asked to look at one. The first one had something wrong with the metering. I switched it to centre-weighted, turned of tracking and face tracking, but it was still using evaluative metering, measuring and placing little boxes all around the screen.

I looked at another one, and it was OK, centre weighted just left a green box in the centre of the screen, and focused only from the centre. However, the lens was stuck somehow. When it focused close, then I tried to focus far, it would be all blurred. Turning it off and on, it would then focus far, but then trying it close, it would blurr, turning it on and off solved the problem, i.e. the rear lens is sticking somehow.

Also, none of these were in sealed boxes, though the guy told me canon never seals boxes.

I went to Powerbuy in the big central world. They had boxes sealed in plastic with a canon non-removable seal over the box opening, under the sealed plastic.

I lastly went to Big Camera in the big central world. They had boxes that were open, like in Paragon, but there was no damage to the box indicating a removed sticker and they guy told me canon never seal boxes.

I looked at one camera, this is all the 175. The metering was OK but the focus sticking was the same. The guy looked and admitted it was faulty. He showed me the next and it was OK. I was really happy with the 160, so I bought it. I went and had a coffee and tested it. It was OK for about ten minutes, then the same problem happened, the focus jammed and all was blurred. Turning it on and off solved it, but I can only focus once then. The shop was closed. At home I kept looking at it. In addition to the main symptom, zooming while using video resulted in the picture being completely blurred, and the zooming action itself had a grating sound, i.e. the rear lens is defninitely sticking.

So I went back to big camera, explained the issue. They looked at it and agreed it was faulty, and let me look at another. It worked as far as I could tell. I had to fill in a form, but they let me exchange it. That was a couple of days ago. So far, so good.

I am, in this post, just saying two things. Be careful with this model. And Kudos to Big Camera for honouring their 7 day exchange promise. There was no argument, they didn't call me farang or be rude, the whole thing was done with a smile. Will use again.

OK. I'll do that.

For God's sake, I wish I'd just left it.

I can't take the money because the person is traceable, so... I just can't. That's just me.

But Thai law says I have to hand it in within three days?

But the story about someone accusing the finder of taking some money. It's so sad I have to consider this... but we all know how this place can be.

I'm leaning towards the police now, but what if I've left it too late, and would I insist on an itemised receipt?

Hi,

I found a ladies purse on the floor in MBK yesterday. Not much in it, about 450 baht, key fob, old receipts, but there's a tracable debit card (Bangkok Bank). I thought this would be no problem, give it to my hotel reception (where I've stayed on and off for years and trust them), ask them to send the hotel address to the bank, explanation, the girl/woman can come pick it up.

But this morning, the hotel staff were confused and then horrified. They said that if any money should be missing from the debit card, they (the hotel) or myself (the finder) can be arrested. If I go to the police they will just steal it. So basically, I should take the 450 and dump it, and they seemed genuiniely non-plussed as to what my problem with this was.

Well, I know some women in a cybercafe, I mean I've known them well for years, leave my bag here when I travel etc. I just explained it to them and they said the police would be OK and there's no worry.

What shall I do?

Yeah, cpk, kidney etc. The initial neurologist who ordered some plus the electrical test ended up saying it's caused by excessive dieting (I'd lost 15kg with a diet over two years), to eat protien.

I went back to work, three months later I thought it's a bit worse so I went to an orhtapedic surgeon. He had a good look as said the same, it's going to take time to build up. Eat protien and go swimming.

Then I went to the UK. My GP initially said it's normal as I'm tall and thin and the muscles are symettrical, but then admitted there's some loss on my thigh. So he ordered full tests, came back and he said nothing is hugely abnormal. No conditions. Go travel, eat protien and work.

So I got back and had a good look at the tests, cpk etc ok, but inflammatory marker up, potassium up and Vit d. down, so was just thinking of supplementing.

Since I got back, I've been using a resistance band for working out, sit ups, press ups, grip strength etc. I strained my legs a couple of times doing squats, but stopped. Everything else is a little stronger, can do a few more sit ups and press ups now and my bicep is noticibly wider, though my leg looks about the same. It's very varicoused (I'm only 44 though) so I don't know if that's something to do with it.

I have a three month semester starting June 15 so I'm going to join a gym and just stop obsessing (or at least try to).

OK, so not poss. I'm asking because I had a blood test for muscle wasting and it all came back normal except vit D. so they blamed vegetarianism and dieting and told me to go swimming. But I guess I can try and get it from diet? I did see some vitamin D (not K2) at boots but it was a dummy pack and you have to ask the pharmasist for it, the only vitamin you have to do that for (not sure why).

Is it possible to buy vitamin K2 as a supplement, in Bangkok. I know I can get it from Natto and sourkroaut etc. but there are supplements called MK4 or MK7 or something. I asked the pharmacy and they didn't know what I was talking about.

Hi,

I've been traveling since 2013 and going to UK (uk passport) on 31. I bought 30 valium in Phnom Pehn (no prescription) and want to take them back. Is it easy to get a bit of paper, preferably around the Banglampoo area, that would satisfy customs going in?

Thanks again for the support. The test came back normal, i.e. my muscles are atrophied but electrical stimulation is normal, so nervous system OK, but actually, that makes diagnosis more complex.

I had blood drawn too, not sure for what overall, I think white cells, thyroid and something else. I'm going back tomorrow.

I asked this guys times. Actually, it's the guy who did the scan who is rarely in, the specialist is in all days except saturday (though took the kings birthday off). I'll go and see him tomorrow, and see what the next steps might be. As far as I can work out from my policy document, I'm insured.

Sounds alright for you I think. Definitely no emergency if they're leaving you alone for a fortnight.

My tests didn't show anything, i.e. my nervous system tests as normal, though that actually rules out a simple (and cheap) diagnosis. Now, it could be anything.

Thank you. That is really, really helpful. Yes, I'll go back and get this first thing done, and see what this guys hours are. The thing is, I didn't know if I'd been 'claimed'. Probably irrational, but it's a stressful time; I'm not thinking straight.

Thanks again.

Thanks. Hopefully sounds quite good for you if they didn't see anything.

I'll be hopeful for the both of us.

I just volunteered for a three month semester in a phnom pehn ngo (loved it) and volunteered the next one starting December 15. Came here (Bangkok) for a break and my shin was a bit swollen when I got here so I went to St. Louis yesterday.

First guy said it's normal because it's a bit varcoise, but there's a gap between my legs, the muscle is shrunk. Sent me to Orthopedics. He said there's atrophe, sent me to neurology. He said the same, but not sure why. Could be a lot of things. First, go back Thursday for some kind of electrical test (5000b), and hormone blood test (1500) to find out what kind of wasting it is. He told me it's going to be complex as I don't have any other symptoms, it will take a long time, am I insured (yes) and next we will start looking for a malignancy.

Mind went blank/numb at that point. I've been in a bit of a daze since actually. Before this, I asked if I would be back at school for the 15th and he said it would be ongoing, best case scenario would be continuing the diagnosis there, though he seems to want me here.

The question I'm asking here is... I've been warned it's complex and will take a long time to diagnose. So the procedure seems to be, they look at you, decide the test (I had to wait three days), then you will have to wait again until that particular doctor is back in the hospital to see them again, rather than just seeing anyone who is there straight away. Is that right?

Like the first ortho guy, made another appointment for me in a weeks time, in case I get sent back from neurology, if I don't get sent back, then cancel it. Now I'll have this next test and perhaps have to wait until this same guy is back. That's another reason it's going to drag on.

Is it different at a bigger hospital, i.e. everything done one thing after another, or you just have to flow with it. This waitings doing me in.

I'm in a similar position. Going back for more tests Thursday. Scared, very scared (lonely).

Hugs to you.

I've never used the Clarity in an ATM successfully, and have only tried to do so in Cambodia. I've successfully used it for an over the counter withdrawel in Thailand. I've also used it in Cambodian supermarkets requiring the PIN.

In the atm the Clarity didn't work in (Canadia in Cambodia) I then successfully used both a Caxton FX and a Metrobank debit (mastercard).

Maybe, but all my other cards are working OK. It's just this one.

Hi,

I posted ages ago to say I was waiting to receive my UK credit card (clarity) which will have practically no fees for me. Just to report my findings...

Over the counter advances (from bank of ayutthya) were free both ends. I paid off straight away and paid about six english pennies in interest.

BUT then I moved to Cambodia and it's useless. It doesn't work at all in the free Canadia atms and no one will do a cash advance. Apart from weekly shopping it's useless. I phoned them and they said the atms here use 'chip and signature' but the card is chip and pin (ridiculous). Anyway, I googled it and there are no end of complaints about it, i.e. the card is hit or miss atm-wise.

It's about forty quid for the extension, but should be routine.

It's slightly nuts though isn't it. They let you fly with an onward ticket to a neighbouring country. Then, say you are refused entry, they have to fly you out the country, but the ticket you have isn't leaving for a month yet, and is for a country for which you don't have either a visa or onward ticket for and so they couldn't actually make you use it. They'd have to fly you home.

Weird.

OK, that's as I thought; complain to the store. As if the store will care. Yesterday, I asked to speak to the owner and they said they can't give out his details because it's their job to protect him, wouldn't even tell me his name. There is no way to complain, iow.

UPDATE:

Don't believe it, but I just got an immediate response to an email.

Dear ******,

Sorry for any inconvenience. Panasonic on Seri Thai road is still open.
May we advise you the service center as below;

All care service center , Sukhumvit 46/1 tel. 02-392-2715
Micre Electronics service center , Rachaprarob Rd. tel 02-247-1368

Best Regards,

Nantaporn

---

Yay, go Nataporn!

I returned to BK a couple of days ago and thought I'd pay the bill on a card as they charge 2% and so it means I can avoid atms. I'm a regular, stay three or four times a year. While she was processing the payment, I remembered to say 'Thai Baht', and she said 'actually, we do both currencies'. Of course, the receipt showed my UK card had been billed in Dollars to baht (two converstions) plus their two percent, plus the card's 3%=13%. I complained and she said it's the default (I noticed there were two machines, a standard black/grey Bangkok bank, and an orange 'no name' one she'd used for me). She refunded me and said, 'pay cash then, easier for me', but insisted I sign the receipts to process the refunds, one of them said 'no refunds' and the other was a refund, and both confirmed I'd been offered a choice.

Yes, heard it all before. Luckily, thanks to this forum, I knew what to do and watch for. The thing is, these 'very strict rules' from Visa, they're not enforced at all, right? I can't just send an email to someone who would give a poo? I just suck it up.

It's the personal apsect though also. It's the place I go to all the time, she knows me, always gives me room I like when I go etc. It all means nothing when there's the chance to rip me off.

The visa Thailand website doesn't even have proper contact details.

Hi,

My Lumix is broken after just a few months, and the service address I have on the card in 75 Seri Thai Road, Kannayao district. The tourist board said it's far, not sure of buses, go to Mochit and 40 minute taxi from there, so in other words, it's going to take all day. I tried phoning but only get waiting messages for ten minutes.

Does anyone know, is that still the correct address, is there any location more central? Does a bus go there? Thanks for any info.