How To Buy A Computer?

[10years]

I'm in the market to buy a notebook PC for work/play, but have never done so in Thailand, and would like some advice so I know what I'm getting into.

Is it possible to shop around/negotiate for the best deal?

I've gone thru the IT centers in Pantip, Fortune and Laksi and was suprised that all their list prices were the same for the same model. One salesman told me that the retail price was set by the manufacturer.

I have one model in mind and tried talking prices with salesmen/women, and came up with very little difference between stores. It seemed the only negotiating point was with the VAT and credit card charge, how much of those they would absorb. But in one case, a salesman said that instead of the "free" 2MG of RAM, he would knock 1,000 baht off the price. But they all started the bargaining with the same list price. Note: I wasn't going to buy the PC at the time so I didn't push further for their last price.

I thought paying in cash would bring a beter deal but the difference was only about 500 baht extra for credit card. Would I have more security charging the purchase on a (local) card rather than paying in cash in case there's a problem, such as not getting the model I had thought I bought. In the US I once tried to order a notebook by phone, but the one that was delivered wasn't new. I was able to return it and get my money back with the help of the credit card company (Amex).

I was hoping to knock off several thousands of baht off the price, particularly since the model in mind isn't a new one anymore.

Is is safe to buy at Pantip et al?

Someone told me that Pantip dealers are known to have opened new PCs and taken out components, or replaced them with inferior parts. One salesman said to be carefull with small shops because some don't give you a receipt.

I'm afraid of not getting a brand new PC. Can I ask to see their stock and pick out a box? Can you look at a box and tell if it has been opened?

I noticed that when the locals buy a PC or mobile phone, they have the box opened right there in the store by the salesclerk. Back home, I was used to buying something and taking it home and opening the box there. I bought my first (and only) laptop by phone and it was delivered to my apartment. Is there some reason to have the box opened in the store? Do the buyers want to check that it works? Can I take the unopened box home and later take the notebook back to dealer to load the "free" software on it, or should I get that done when I buy the PC?

What do the stores do with the demonstration/display units?

I haven't noticed any demo units being put on sale at a discount, but I have noticed that stores that used to have a display unit are still selling the model but no longer have the display unit. Do they stick 'em back in the box and sell as new?

Should I wait for the price to go down?

Acer seems to have the policy of cutting prices on the same model every month, by 1,000 or 2,000 baht, every month, or even more frequently. But the brand I'm looking at, BenQ, has been keeping the price steady the past months on the model I'm looking at, altho they did give it a steep cut right after it was introduced. I can't see the model selling all that well now since it's been out in the market several months. What happens if the manufacturer can't sell all the units at stores, do they take the leftover stock back? If I wait too long, will the stores run out of inventory of the model? Do manufacturers occassionally hold a big sale like at a special location to get rid of unsold stock? Basically, I don't want to miss the opportunity to buy this particular model but some stores have already seemed to have stopped selling it.

Should I wait for COMMART?

Someone said I should wait for the next IT show, because the manufacturers offer the best deals? When is the next show? I'm not sure if I want to wait as the screen on the old notebook I bought in 1995 no longer works.

Are there any alternatives to Pantip et al?

Are there any online stores in Thailand? Are they any cheaper? Are they dependable here?

Are there any other webboards in English that give feedback on the main PC brands and also the main stores in Pantip, such as Speed, Data IT, Mouse, CWC (not sure about the initials), etc? I noticed some postings in Thai. Is there a website where I could ge the Thai reviews translated into English?

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.

[raro]

Try the following: walk in the shop, chose the model that you like, pay for it and go home. Worked fine with me.

[Sabum]

Op Sir, you have mistaken malls with street side vendors. Would you negotiate the price of a computer at a computer retail store in your home country? Shaking my head here....

[jeffer]

You thing too mut... 

however a few points.

One reason why you see many items being opened is so the shop can affix a warranty/ proof of puchase sticker. Buy almost anything electrical and many shops will also open it for you so you can see it works, even cheap items like a toaster. Buy a light globe at Tesco or BigC and you will see a board to plug in and test the globe isn't faulty. Thais will always check before buying.

What you found was correct, prices can be identical at shop after shop. Okay, sometimes you get lucky and find a shop that has an overstock or a special promotion but don't be surprised if you check 10 shops and find 10 identical prices. If you want to negotiate then getting something extra thrown in or a variation on the credit charge is more likely than getting a discount that makes up for all the time you spent comparing prices. Bought a washing machine recently and the place I bought it from had the same price as everywhere else but threw in a vacuum cleaner which I sold the next day for 2000 baht so that was my discount. Got a 4000 baht tv with a 13000 baht refrigerator another time. Margins are tight so there isn't really a lot of room for haggling. I think also that often the person you're buying from is only getting paid a few hundred baht a day and still gets paid the same amount whether you buy or not so no incentive to reduce a price to get the sale.

Never had a problem buying at Pantip unlike some people but the advice about buying from the bigger stores makes sense if you are buying something expensive. Shops like IT City, JIB, BigIT and Hardware House are well known and have many branches so less likey not to be around in a years time if something goes wrong. I've seen the HH service centre near Fortune and it's a professional setup, something smaller shops won't have and some don't want to help with problems once the sale is complete while the bigger shops will in my experience treat you properly. Smaller shops might also be selling grey market items so the manufacturers warranty isn't really there for you. My observation is most shops expect the same price for the last display item as they charged for the untouched items. Shops like Carrefour will sell floor stock at reduced prices but so many shops won't, they seem to want to hang on to things forever until they get the price they want. Seems crazy at times and it's not as bad as it used to be but I've offered what I thought was a decent price for a floor stock item and no interest in my offer or as others have found out, floor stock may not be for sale at any price, TIT.

COMMART is an interesting place to visit but notebooks there are so in demand that it's a terrible place if you want to compare different models as the sales staff are under seige. Discounts for current models, don't expect more than 10%, more likely 5%. There can be big discounts, up to 50% on older low spec models but I've never seen anything worth buying even at those prices. On the Acer site there is a section for reduced to clear items at their factory outlet in Bangkok, mentioned on TV before so do a search. I have noticed lately however that the bargains aren't what they used to be but take a look just in case.

This is probably as good a board as any if you want info in English about IT products in Thailand otherwise plenty of review sites like Anandtech, Tweaktown, Techreport etc.

Oh, and free software. If you can pay 30,000 or whatever for a notebook then if it doesn't come with genuine software buy a real version of Windows etc. for 3,000++ baht, not the 150 baht version. Too many problems people have relate to Pantip versions even though there's people who will tell you they've never had problems. No longer worth the hassle in my opinion.

Online stores? Unless you are on a remote island then wouldn't you want to try before you buy? Prices for most things are more expensive online whenever I've looked. There isn't really a Thai version of Newegg.

[niller74]

Op Sir, you have mistaken malls with street side vendors. Would you negotiate the price of a computer at a computer retail store in your home country? Shaking my head here....

I would..!

At least try to get something extra. Like 50 blank DVDs or something similar.

[JSixpack]

Try the following: walk in the shop, chose the model that you like, pay for it and go home. Worked fine with me.

Yeah. You'll probably live a lot longer if you don't constantly try to squeeze every satang. And whatever money saved will be more than lost as a consequence of medical bills ultimately caused by anal retentiveness.

[Digitalbanana]

Op Sir, you have mistaken malls with street side vendors. Would you negotiate the price of a computer at a computer retail store in your home country? Shaking my head here....

You can shake your head as much as you want, but the fact is in Pantip and malls of the like prices are negotiable in the smaller shops. I saved at least 10-15% on purchasing an exact same product in a smaller sales chain vs Data IT store chain prices... to the op, go in Data IT first, see what you like, note the price, then walk next door to the mom and pop store and buy the same product 10-15% cheaper for the same thing.

Works for me every time, last time I bought an HP Pavilion laptop in Pantip, 3000baht cheaper.

[klikster]

Op Sir, you have mistaken malls with street side vendors. Would you negotiate the price of a computer at a computer retail store in your home country? Shaking my head here....

Would .. and have done so .. ditto in Fortune Town and Pantip.

Margins on computer components are tight and sellers have a lot of competition. So large discounts are usually not available.

Notebooks may well be a different animal.

[klikster]

One reason that smaller shops will give discounts compared to larger shops is that places like Data IT is the availability of a "tax invoice". Smaller shops may not give one. Businesses need the invoices for tax reasons. Individuals seldom do.