Alternatives To Homepro

[ozsamurai]

I am a bit of a DIY buff, and I have been constantly dissappointed with what HomePro has to offer, no real tools, lumber, wire, plants etc.. Does anyone know of a decent hardware store in BKK, similar to a Bunnings? Tracking around Mum & Dad stores finding nothing is getting tiring.

Cheers

Oz

[guava]

There's quite a few home goods/hardware/DIY/building supply sort of places along Ratchada (between Sutthisan and Lardprao, but closer to Sutthisan). Sometimes I go looking around there if HomePro Ratchada doesn't have what I want, which isn't that often, but I'm not that hard-core DIY either

Talk to the local Thai handyman / "technician" wherever you live. They can tell you or maybe even take you to where they go - or get whatever you want for you. They're usually salt of the earth people.

Just found old TV Thread I remembered seeing - info should still be current. Haven't been serious lumber shopping for quite a few years though.

[ozsamurai]

Thanks for the heads up

[longball53098]

I don't know where their all the stores are located but if there is a Global House in the BKK area it is one of the best.

I live in Rayong and this store is really great.

[JetsetBkk]

I am a bit of a DIY buff, and I have been constantly dissappointed with what HomePro has to offer, no real tools, lumber, wire, plants etc.. Does anyone know of a decent hardware store in BKK, similar to a Bunnings? Tracking around Mum & Dad stores finding nothing is getting tiring.

Cheers

Oz

HomePro sell Black and Decker, and Bosch. What else do you need?

[RubbaJohnny]

Agree Bunnings deficit ,tho most of there cheap stuff comes from China and can be obtained here ,BUT and I sympathise entirely as I spend hours sourcing stuff 5 hrs N of C Mai

There is BGlobal and Home Mart which is in Carrefour Mall on C Mai East ring rd a 10 min walk from bus station .

Theresalways the option of importing specialists stuff from overseas but of course weight duty and insurance are factors.

Good luck try orking at Thai pace and gradually you will blend in or go nuts

[annabel]

Home Pro !!! My biggest dissapointment since I am here on a permanent basis .....2 years ....Bought tons of stuff from them ...furnished my whole B&B with their stuff.... In June I bought 2 Garden umbrellas = 900 Baht each..... which dissintegrated a month later...and I mean DISSENTEGRATED....ripped apart at the seams .totally discoloured and the fabric started falling off of them ....decided to go and complain and brought one of the umbreallas to show them ...Ok ...in short ...3 visits later as now suppose to meet the top manager ....arrive at scheduled time of 1.00 PM ...after a 10 minute run around am told that she is in a meeting and will be back in about 30 min...Ok no problem ...will wait !! Wait ...wait ....wait ....!!! And after 45 min I ask ...where is the manager ...?? Am told on her break ...ok ! another 30 minutes and now that they figured I wasn't going to leave .....pouf comes the dragon !!!

Well doesn't the Thai lady with me tell me ...Hey she was very much here at this counter when we arrived ... what is this non sense ??? Ok, let's keep our cool and be Thai .... no getting upset ....

Khun Annabel what is your problem and how can I help you ??? I explain and the same question for the 3rd time is asked ...Did you keep the umbrella open ...? DUH ....well yeah...it's a garden umbrella nah ??? It's being sold in your garden section nah...?? No reply and then SORRY WE CAN'T TAKE IT BACK OR REFUND YOU .....IF YOU BUY NEW ONE THOUGH WE WILL GIVE YOU 20% DISCOUNT ......Helloooo do I have Stupid written on my forehead ..?

I then asked, Dear Khun whatever her name was , if you bought not 1 but 2 umbrellas at 900 Baht each and they dissentagrated after 1 month would you be happy / satisfied ...ANSWER....= Well No!!

Ok so how can you tell me = No Refund and no Exchange ....= = No reply just the usual smile

Am I peeved ...? You bet I am ....They just don't care and they have all my purchases on record and I go there so often that half the staff greet me = Sawadee Khun Annabel .....and then this....!!! over a 900 Baht umbrella .....They don't care to lose a good customer !!!!

I then said ...ok, but you have just lost a good customer and I will do my best to never recommend you to anybody and never buy here again and I won't ....

Tried to find an e-mail for the Bangkok head office ...can't find it but I will and I will complain there ...yes I know ....good luck to me !!!

Anyway , am not saying don't buy there....I'm not saying they are really bad guys ...only that be careful of what you buy and ask and make sure you get a garanti ...It seems every store, as big or small as they may be in Thailand, do not have a "Customer Satisfaction Garanti Policy " and just don't give a hoot ....unless of course your name is Thaksin or Samak ...

Just the way t is!!! .....but if enough of us complain maybe it'll start making a difference and we can be at least garantied that we get what we pay for is what we get ....Value for money !!!

Ciao Annabel

[Bangyai]

O.K. Oz...bit of a D.I.Y bloke meself as a) Its cheaper I enjoy it so......

For lumber check out two sois running parallel to each other off Pracharat Road in Bang Sue district. Don't know the names of the 2 sois ( each about 1 kilometre long ) but they are pretty well opposite the Bang Po police station or near the Bang Po branches of the Bangkok bank or the Gasigorn bank ( according to my A-Z map of bangkok map A34 grid ref G and half / 4 and half sois marked in brown ) If you can get a taxi to the area and ask around everyone will know. Parking is tight but possible. These 2 sois have absoluteley everything you could want in the way of lumber, from just ordinary stuff to the most intricate carvings you can think of. By carvings I mean gingerbread stuff, name plates, lattice work , coving, decorative strips for furniture construction etc etc. If you can't get it here...its not available anywhere....and at the cheapest prices in town. Altogether must be around 100 wood merchants here.

For plants, drive to the end of Rattanatibet road ( 25 k past the Mall, Ngamwongwarn road ) then turn left down the route 9 Kanchanapisek Road. Immediatley you will see scores of plant ( green type ? ) venders on plots of land next to the road. Here you can buy anything growing from houseplants to full grown trees with their rootballs in small sacks. Busy on Sundays when all the Thais drive out here for cheap plants. This green strip runs for a few kilometres...just keep going .

Edited August 25, 2008 by Bangyai

[madjbs]

For good tools and all kinds of other DIY and car stuff, go to Khlong Tom market. You can get pretty much anything there. Normal shopping during the week and a street market on Sunday.

Edited August 25, 2008 by madjbs

[technocracy]

Isn't there a ToolPro somewhere in Bangkok? They also have a decent enough stocking a power and handtools.

Homepro in Udon anyway - has a decent selection if you ask me. They have Makita, Dewalt, Hitachi and Bosch Pro (the Blue tools) which are good enough for pros internationally so I don't see why a DIY'er in Thailand needs anything more. Most DIY'ers will only use the tools maybe once a week all of the above brands will last you a lifetime with that kind of usage.

The thing is they don't have BIG tools - you won't find jointers, thickness planers, bandsaws or other free standing tools (well ToolPro has a table circular). They don't even sell bandsaw blades.

My workshop is full of tools - which get used pretty much everyday most are chinese Makita I've bought here in Laos and they've stood up to all the abuse they've been put through. Although I have destroyed 1 palm sander and 1 belt sander - the rest just keep on going.

The only thing I'd absolutely love to beable purchase is a couple of proper Stanley hand planers. The only hand planers they have in Thailand or Laos are the blocks of wood with a blade in them or power planers (which I do have) - neither do the job as good as a proper cast iron based hand plane. I'll be purchasing on in the UK when I visit next month.

[GungaDin]

Khlong Thom Market location: 13.7356 100.4966

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?source=ig&a...sa=N&tab=wl

Am I correct?

thanks

gd

[Gippy]

True Value in Nonthaburi is worth a look. I bought a Master Mechanic hand plane from there last week and a few other tools. They have a good selection of goods mainly imported from the US including BBQs, wood chips for smoke on the BBQ, drill presses, bandsaws, radial arm saws and a half decent looking table saw.

[neverdie]

I miss Bunnings so much....next time Im in Oz, Im gonna spend a whole day in one of their stores....PLAYING

[Artisi]

Oh for a couple of Bunning's in Thailand - what joy that would be. I intend stocking up next time in Aus. with all those little bits and pieces you always need and can never find in LOS.

[zenidea1]

Home Pro !!! My biggest dissapointment since I am here on a permanent basis .....2 years ....Bought tons of stuff from them ...furnished my whole B&B with their stuff.... In June I bought 2 Garden umbrellas = 900 Baht each..... which dissintegrated a month later...and I mean DISSENTEGRATED....ripped apart at the seams .totally discoloured and the fabric started falling off of them ....decided to go and complain and brought one of the umbreallas to show them ...Ok ...in short ...3 visits later as now suppose to meet the top manager ....arrive at scheduled time of 1.00 PM ...after a 10 minute run around am told that she is in a meeting and will be back in about 30 min...Ok no problem ...will wait !! Wait ...wait ....wait ....!!! And after 45 min I ask ...where is the manager ...?? Am told on her break ...ok ! another 30 minutes and now that they figured I wasn't going to leave .....pouf comes the dragon !!!

Well doesn't the Thai lady with me tell me ...Hey she was very much here at this counter when we arrived ... what is this non sense ??? Ok, let's keep our cool and be Thai .... no getting upset ....

Khun Annabel what is your problem and how can I help you ??? I explain and the same question for the 3rd time is asked ...Did you keep the umbrella open ...? DUH ....well yeah...it's a garden umbrella nah ??? It's being sold in your garden section nah...?? No reply and then SORRY WE CAN'T TAKE IT BACK OR REFUND YOU .....IF YOU BUY NEW ONE THOUGH WE WILL GIVE YOU 20% DISCOUNT ......Helloooo do I have Stupid written on my forehead ..?

I then asked, Dear Khun whatever her name was , if you bought not 1 but 2 umbrellas at 900 Baht each and they dissentagrated after 1 month would you be happy / satisfied ...ANSWER....= Well No!!

Ok so how can you tell me = No Refund and no Exchange ....= = No reply just the usual smile

Am I peeved ...? You bet I am ....They just don't care and they have all my purchases on record and I go there so often that half the staff greet me = Sawadee Khun Annabel .....and then this....!!! over a 900 Baht umbrella .....They don't care to lose a good customer !!!!

I then said ...ok, but you have just lost a good customer and I will do my best to never recommend you to anybody and never buy here again and I won't ....

Tried to find an e-mail for the Bangkok head office ...can't find it but I will and I will complain there ...yes I know ....good luck to me !!!

Anyway , am not saying don't buy there....I'm not saying they are really bad guys ...only that be careful of what you buy and ask and make sure you get a garanti ...It seems every store, as big or small as they may be in Thailand, do not have a "Customer Satisfaction Garanti Policy " and just don't give a hoot ....unless of course your name is Thaksin or Samak ...

Just the way t is!!! .....but if enough of us complain maybe it'll start making a difference and we can be at least garantied that we get what we pay for is what we get ....Value for money !!!

Ciao Annabel

lol tell me about it I purchased some look alike replica nylex hose and attachments for watering the garden 1600 baht and the entirety of it basically exploded within a day under less water pressure than a dehydrated pee .

Well I can share your frustration finding good quality building materials /tools especially electrical items in essence is a waste of time and energy . Finding skilled workers that have the know how to use these tools re quality control is another major problem in itself. Thou I must say i have never met a ppl up north that can use sush basic tools or methods with such creativity some of the results might be shoddy but having said that Id be with sticks and strings totally lost. Put a bucket under the leaking roof , drink op whiskey sing and have fun with the rest of em . we can all dream of having another bunnings n thailand and thats at least positive .

[ajarnmarc]

Home Pro !!! My biggest dissapointment since I am here on a permanent basis .....2 years ....Bought tons of stuff from them ...furnished my whole B&B with their stuff.... In June I bought 2 Garden umbrellas = 900 Baht each..... which dissintegrated a month later...and I mean DISSENTEGRATED....ripped apart at the seams .totally discoloured and the fabric started falling off of them ....decided to go and complain and brought one of the umbreallas to show them ...Ok ...in short ...3 visits later as now suppose to meet the top manager ....arrive at scheduled time of 1.00 PM ...after a 10 minute run around am told that she is in a meeting and will be back in about 30 min...Ok no problem ...will wait !! Wait ...wait ....wait ....!!! And after 45 min I ask ...where is the manager ...?? Am told on her break ...ok ! another 30 minutes and now that they figured I wasn't going to leave .....pouf comes the dragon !!!

Well doesn't the Thai lady with me tell me ...Hey she was very much here at this counter when we arrived ... what is this non sense ??? Ok, let's keep our cool and be Thai .... no getting upset ....

Khun Annabel what is your problem and how can I help you ??? I explain and the same question for the 3rd time is asked ...Did you keep the umbrella open ...? DUH ....well yeah...it's a garden umbrella nah ??? It's being sold in your garden section nah...?? No reply and then SORRY WE CAN'T TAKE IT BACK OR REFUND YOU .....IF YOU BUY NEW ONE THOUGH WE WILL GIVE YOU 20% DISCOUNT ......Helloooo do I have Stupid written on my forehead ..?

I then asked, Dear Khun whatever her name was , if you bought not 1 but 2 umbrellas at 900 Baht each and they dissentagrated after 1 month would you be happy / satisfied ...ANSWER....= Well No!!

Ok so how can you tell me = No Refund and no Exchange ....= = No reply just the usual smile

Am I peeved ...? You bet I am ....They just don't care and they have all my purchases on record and I go there so often that half the staff greet me = Sawadee Khun Annabel .....and then this....!!! over a 900 Baht umbrella .....They don't care to lose a good customer !!!!

I then said ...ok, but you have just lost a good customer and I will do my best to never recommend you to anybody and never buy here again and I won't ....

Tried to find an e-mail for the Bangkok head office ...can't find it but I will and I will complain there ...yes I know ....good luck to me !!!

Anyway , am not saying don't buy there....I'm not saying they are really bad guys ...only that be careful of what you buy and ask and make sure you get a garanti ...It seems every store, as big or small as they may be in Thailand, do not have a "Customer Satisfaction Garanti Policy " and just don't give a hoot ....unless of course your name is Thaksin or Samak ...

Just the way t is!!! .....but if enough of us complain maybe it'll start making a difference and we can be at least garantied that we get what we pay for is what we get ....Value for money !!!

Ciao Annabel

On the third of February I made the mistake, as I now come to realize, to buy an Samsung Air Conditioner from Home Pro. Our appointment was supposed to be the following day at 10:30, well this being Thailand, that turned out to be 16:30. No problem aside from when they did arrive they informed my wife that first they was thirsty, so after a few sodas under their belts, they went on to say they hadn't eaten, so again my wife made them something to eat, big mistake, because then they ask for cigs, and I gave them a pack and asked when is the installation going to be complete? They finally completed the single air installation at 20:30, not a big deal. The next day we had to leave for work at 7:00 and didn't return home until 18:00, when I figured I would open up my air and enjoy a movie. Air opened ok, but the problem was the compressor never shut off, it just stayed on, even though I had the A/C set only at 29c, so the next day I had my wife call the store, since they boast about a two week guarantee that the store offers after installation. The same guys happily came back, and this time with friends, that also worked at homepro, so now I have 4 guys in my house. First they shut the curtains tight, check all the windows are latched, and complain about the gaps or lack of air tight seal in a few windows to my wife, afterwards I inform them that we have been using the LG A/C in the bedroom which is only 9,000 BTU to cool this whole house of about 600 sq, bad sealed windows and all. We figured that we could save electricity (average monthly bill 1,500) by buying a second unit @ 13,000 BTU for the living room, which is only 300 square feet. So then they started to measure with their digital measuring device, which takes them about 30 minutes, with guys coming in and out of the house. They then try to inform my wife that perhaps we needed a bigger unit....I tell them if the unit is to small it would at least go off and come back on perhaps in five minutes, depending on the outside temperature at the time, but the compressor would go off, not just stay on for hours and hours never going off. Well that made them decide to sit outside and watch to see if it never went off, which they did for the next 90 minutes, all the while asking for something to drink for the 4 thirsty guys who are not working anything. Finally two more guys show up, that are supposed to be managers, who walk inside to get out of the heat mostly, with their peace of paper and some writing on it, and then inform my wife that perhaps the A/C isn't big enough to cool this 600 square foot bungalow, so I have to inform them that the bedroom(300sq) is now being cooled with an LG A/C and has being doing the entire house with the bedroom door open for the past two years without any problems. The two guys that are supposed to be managers, with their piece of paper in hand, decide to call Samsung Service Center to send out someone. So now I have 6 guys sitting outside and two more guys show up from Homepro, before Samsung Service Center guys show up, with two more guys. The Samsung guys change a part that makes the compressor finally shut off, after five hours of running... now the whole team has been at my house for five hours watching the A/C run. Everyone leaves and we think it is finally fixed. Night time comes and we turn the A/C down to 26c to find out that the A/C can't reach 26c, and now the compressor stays on trying to get to 26c, which it never does, it just stays at 28c, so I finally turn the unit off to wait for homepro to return to address the this new issue. Again the try to inform me that the unit is to small, so I inform them that A large unit rated from 9,800 to 12,500 BTUs will cool a room sized from 350 to 650 square feet, an oversized air conditioner will cycle on and off, wasting energy, increasing electric bills, straining the unit, and doing a poor job of dehumidifying the room, so stop trying to sell us something we don't need, and just fix what you sold us! They then tried to inform us that the outside temperature is causing the issue making it hard for the A/C to bring the temperature down to 26c. I kindly asked them to leave, and will deal with the management at the store directly,

not wanting them to waste more electricity watching the A/C run while they think about what, their budda only knows. My wife is also working with Samsung Service Center, to see what they will do,

since Homepros two week guarantee is like most warranties in Thailand.... A joke!

Does anyone have contact information for Homepro's corporate office?

[Donnyboy]

here

[Donnyboy]

Homepro/Global arent a patch on Bunnings, but if i had to choose, Global

[Eff1n2ret]

Even Global at Rayong have some strange gaps in their inventory, whilst having stuff I'd never dream of buying like heavy chain hoists and sheet metal shear presses. I was there yesterday looking for a woodworking vice - some hope, they'd only got a couple of ordinary engineers vices, obviously been there a very long time, no prices on them. I was also looking for a drill press to mount an electric drill on.

On the way home a van pulled up next to me at the lights covered in logos of various European brands, so I looked up the company when I got back - www.thaiphat2000group.com. They're in Amata city near Laem Chabang, and their website lists a pretty comprehensive range of industrial tools, including a Record woodworking vice. I haven't got round yet to calling them to see if they've actually got one in stock.

[Crossy]

<snip>

Night time comes and we turn the A/C down to 26c to find out that the A/C can't reach 26c, and now the compressor stays on trying to get to 26c, which it never does, it just stays at 28c, so I finally turn the unit off to wait for homepro to return to address the this new issue. Again the try to inform me that the unit is to small, so I inform them that A large unit rated from 9,800 to 12,500 BTUs will cool a room sized from 350 to 650 square feet, an oversized air conditioner will cycle on and off, wasting energy, increasing electric bills, straining the unit, and doing a poor job of dehumidifying the room, so stop trying to sell us something we don't need, and just fix what you sold us! They then tried to inform us that the outside temperature is causing the issue making it hard for the A/C to bring the temperature down to 26c. I kindly asked them to leave, and will deal with the management at the store directly, not wanting them to waste more electricity watching the A/C run while they think about what, their budda only knows. My wife is also working with Samsung Service Center, to see what they will do,

since Homepros two week guarantee is like most warranties in Thailand.... A joke!

Does anyone have contact information for Homepro's corporate office?

The quick-and-dirty method used by Homepro to determine aircon size is:-

Room Area (in m²) x 600 = Aircon Size (in BTU).

So your 300 square foot living room (about 30 square metres) would want a unit about 18,000 BTU, so I suggest your unit is somewhat undersized. However I would expect it to be able to get the room below 26C, but much depends upon your aspect, windows, insulation etc etc.

Is the unit actually chilling (cold air coming out)? Have you got a thermometer to verify the actual room temperature, it should be reduced even if the unit is too small.