Have a lot of time to kill at the airport in Bangkok. Need a new phone and tablet. Do you actually end up saving any money with the VAT or is it negated by higher retail prices ?

 

Thanks

Shops at the airport will have high overheads like rent so they have to charge more.

Who knows if the shops will even be open? There were/are a few, general tech with limited inventory (as of end Feb 2020 when I was last through).

 

You may be eligible to get VAT back in the city (Central World for example), and at the airport - for eligible purchases made elsewhere, of course.

 

Eligible means at a VAT Back shop.

 

Shop around (Lazada, Shopee) as there are sales/promotions almost daily, many around double-dates, so the next one is 10 October. 

 

Pretty easy to do the maths. Promotion price vs. MSRP less 7%.