Best Reputable Place To Buy A Digital Camera?

[audisadi]

Hello all,

A friend wants me to pick up a specific camera (Olympus) in Bangkok while I'm there this upcoming week, but I'm not sure where the best place to go is. I definitely want a reputable shop that will give me the real thing, not some fake knockoff.

If you have any suggestions send them my way.

Cheers.

[jasreeve17]

I never buy at MBK, as the risk (on any product) of buying a 'ruff' product is high (Nice box, nice product exterior, but Chinease innards...)

Pantip is fine if you take time and use common sense.

I bought a camera last week with the missus (she's Thai and I've lived in Bkk for six years) and we got it from Powerbuy (many around Bkk, often in Central stores), as they had some decent promotions. If you want to be extra safe then go to the big department stores at Siam sq. They might give a 10% tourist discount if you ask (I've got it perhaps 50% of the time) and they aren't any more expensive than most other places for new cameras, if you check prices carefullly.

[Soutpeel]

Hello all,

A friend wants me to pick up a specific camera (Olympus) in Bangkok while I'm there this upcoming week, but I'm not sure where the best place to go is. I definitely want a reputable shop that will give me the real thing, not some fake knockoff.

If you have any suggestions send them my way.

Cheers.

There are plenty of reputable places in BKK, all of the malls, Pantip plaza, but remember with the price, if it seems to good to be true, it generally is.....typically prices are on par, if not more expense than other countries anyway.....so it the price seems too cheap...chances are its a knock off

[RakJungTorlae]

Don’t worry to much, there are no fake Olympus cameras on the market. But there are fake Olympus accessory’s though. If in Bangkok I recommend (fortune town). But digital camera are not so cheep as people think in Thailand, try duty-free or order from Singapore

[benjamat]

Surprisingly many electrical/electronic items are actuslly more expensive in Thailand than they are in the USA or even the UK.

I buy everything from reputable sites on the web, always get the best deal.

[Archie Bunker]

Surprisingly many electrical/electronic items are actuslly more expensive in Thailand than they are in the USA or even the UK.

I buy everything from reputable sites on the web, always get the best deal.

I am always blown away by how many people are unaware of this very true fact

[audisadi]

Thank you all who have written already. My friend isn't particularly interested in a 'deal' more just in replacing her current digital camera. We live in Myanmar, so selection is pretty limited here.

I will try Pantip and others suggested. Welcome to other suggestions also.

Thank you.

[h90]

Thank you all who have written already. My friend isn't particularly interested in a 'deal' more just in replacing her current digital camera. We live in Myanmar, so selection is pretty limited here.

I will try Pantip and others suggested. Welcome to other suggestions also.

Thank you.

I bought my Canon at Panthip Place at an excellent price. They told that there is an Japanese version which is exactly the same, but cheaper. Of course I didn't believe it, but it was true......from about 10 shops 9 were honest. One tried to cheat me. Selling me a different Canon which looks exactly the same, but did not had any writing on the housing (and it was already confusing because the same camera exists in Japanese, EU and US version with different name and price).

I would have fall in that trap just they made me a price "too good to be true".

Take your time, write down the facts (and the shop, else you might don't find back) and check back on the internet if you are not sure.

[bravingbangkok]

If money does not matter then buy at easy buy, if you are looking for a bargain go to Pantip Plaza. They can give you a lot of discounts because they bring in a lot of cameras direct from Japan and do not pay tax.

[Checker]

If you are north IT Square Laksi. I always buy my "stuff" there.

[rak sa_ngop]

I bought an Olympus compact at MBK earlier this year. Got a very good price but the International Guarantee card was not included. As I spend most of my time in Thailand I will put my trust in the shop which says they will arrange for repairs with the local Olympus service centre. This way you can save about 20 - 30pc on the price, if you trust the shop!

[gk10002000]

As other posters have noted, electronics in Thailand are rarely a good deal. I haven't seen much electronics wise that was worth it. I live in the USA and have the luxury of visiting 4 or 5 major stores within the same block and get to see the real stuff and later compare it with online prices. Often I see good sales for whatever reason in the stores. Office depot was just having a red tag sale and had lots of cameras priced down, but not quite what I wanted. A new camera is my Xmas present for the year.

Thailand is good for other shopping, but not these. I would highly recommend buying online. Getting the address for delivery can be a bit tricky, but I am sure that can be worked out.

[bravingbangkok]

As other posters have noted, electronics in Thailand are rarely a good deal. I haven't seen much electronics wise that was worth it. I live in the USA and have the luxury of visiting 4 or 5 major stores within the same block and get to see the real stuff and later compare it with online prices. Often I see good sales for whatever reason in the stores. Office depot was just having a red tag sale and had lots of cameras priced down, but not quite what I wanted. A new camera is my Xmas present for the year.

Thailand is good for other shopping, but not these. I would highly recommend buying online. Getting the address for delivery can be a bit tricky, but I am sure that can be worked out.

I do not think that is true, I got a panasonic lumix DMC FX55 cheaper than my friend could find it in the states. Does not have one copied component in it, they just bring them here from cheaper markets in their suitcases and do not pay tax. I would admit though that it is not that much cheaper than the US but it is on a par.

[MKAsok]

I think RJT's already suggested Fortune. Far more civilised than Pantip. You won't get hassled at all there. The 'porno guys' in Pantip are a pain (unless you're there specifically to buy porn I suppose). Easier to get to as well (right next to MRT Phra Ram 9)...

[jaiyenyen]

Theres another Pantip, I think it's called Pantip2, at Nam Wong Wan. I've only been there once before, and can't comment on the camera shops but it's very similar to Pantip, but without all the crowds.

Another possibility is Zeer Shopping Mall at Rangsit.

[vagabond48]

I buy everything from reputable sites on the web, always get the best deal.

I am also interested in purchasing a digital camera and I live in Chiang Mai. I would love to save 20% to 30% off CM prices.

While I was in the US, I would usually purchase stuff online but where can you buy on the web in Thailand?

If you're buying from a US based company then, the cost of mailing to Thailand can be high plus what about custom duty, or receiving a defective product or having a warranty that may be only good in the US?

[Tango7]

MBK is probably the best place. There are a number of specialist camera shops. Foto File and Foto Thailand are two goods places. Foto Thailand is probably the best and very reliable as well as helpful and happy to let you "play" with the equipment. http://www.fotofile.net/newproducts.php is the website for Foto File with current prices.

The Bangkok Shopping Guide shows places via photographs and descriptions of places in MBK and Central Rama 3.

Hope this helps.

Edited October 24, 2008 by Tango7