Duty Free At Bangkok Airport

[WilliamIV]

I purchased a Digital Camera from

"King Power" in Bangkok Airport

A Sony T3 for Baht 19,990.

I told the Salesman - they are Bht 1,000

cheaper than that in Town!

And this is Duty Free?

He claimed there were three different models

but on my return to Bangkok - I cannot

find them !

I wish to take the matter up with King Power.

Has anyone any advice?

Where can I find out the Rate of Duty on a Digital Camera?

Should I complain to the Tourist Board

or does someones past experience show

THAT to be a waste of time?

Bill

[Gazza]

Years ago I bought a Sony walkman and a Sony video camera from Carrefour within months of each other. Both were more expensive in King Power. Only by about 500 baht for one and 1,000 baht the other.

Exact same models but I don't know if the duty free ones were made in Thailand or Japan.

[DJ Pat]

I always thought King Power was a rip off anyway.

[tuky]

more expensive duty free IMHO.

another thread about this here.

[ovenman]

Should I complain to the Tourist Board

or does someones past experience show

THAT to be a waste of time?

Complain about what...? That you bought something that you knew could be had at a cheaper price elsewhere?

The King Power duty-free stores have never had a reputation for offering good prices.

Edited February 8, 2005 by ovenman

[Erwin1011]

Simply put : ripp off at all counts !

[aaaaaa]

Should I complain to the Tourist Board

or does someones past experience show

THAT to be a waste of time?

Complain about what...? That you bought something that you knew could be had at a cheaper price elsewhere?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hahaha! very good point!

it seems to be most favorite reason for all complains: ppl like to complain about decisions they make/made themselves....

[meemiathai]

This has been a long time question for me. What is a duty free shop? I have never seen them selling anything that is cheaper than in town. Well probably except cigarettes. So I always thought the only people who will buy things there are the ones who don't really care how much they cost.

[Steve2UK]

Sorry - slightly different subject.

Am I right in remembering that there's a Duty Free shop available to arriving international passengers at Don Muang - and a reasonable choice/prices? Just want to pick up some cigarettes & booze - and London Heathrow's usually a rip-off.

Thanks.

[Thaicoon]

King power in my book, is a complete rip off, only bought one item off them and never again, in Bangkok airport in November, my Thai stepdaughter rang me from the UK, Dad can you get me a Sony Network mp3 walkman, went to king power paid 19,900, baht, works out at £276, you can buy one in Bangkok for less than this, and in the UK about the same, so they are no cheaper than stores in the shopping malls, will not be using them again.

[Thaicoon]

Sorry - slightly different subject.

Am I right in remembering that there's a Duty Free shop available to arriving international passengers at Don Muang - and a reasonable choice/prices? Just want to pick up some cigarettes & booze - and London Heathrow's usually a rip-off.

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Everything in the UK is a rip off, wait untill the euro comes, it will be far worse.

[Steve2UK]

Sorry - slightly different subject.

Am I right in remembering that there's a Duty Free shop available to arriving international passengers at Don Muang - and a reasonable choice/prices? Just want to pick up some cigarettes & booze - and London Heathrow's usually a rip-off.

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Everything in the UK is a rip off, wait untill the euro comes, it will be far worse.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tend to agree on both counts (examples from decimalisation and just about every country that joined the Euro).

But - is Duty Free available to arriving passengers?

[theviking]

Can't you see what "tax-free" at don muang are good for?

That's for ppl just in transit, not ment for all those leaving LOS.

Is it so hard to imagine that stuff are cheaper outside the airport?

Even BURGER KING are more expensive than downtown, hehe...

[chuchok]

Just think about the amount of rent they pay.Price of ciggies is the same as in the supermarkets in LOS.

[grahamb]

But - is Duty Free available to arriving passengers?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. There is a small shop in the baggage hall that has a small selection of drinks. Can't remember if it has anything else...

[johnh101]

But - is Duty Free available to arriving passengers?

There is a duty free in the Baggage Reclaim Hall but it mainly sells alcohol and is Very, very expensive.

Much cheaper going to Carrefour, Tops or the like

[bobrcb]

All duty free shops are not what they claim to be. They have to make a profit and no doubt are charged exhorbitant rents. Having said that, compared with Heathrow, virtually all South East Asian airport duty free shops are a bargain for cigarettes and alcohol. I regularly buy 200 Marlborough in the baggage hall upon arriving in Bangkok for 480 baht, which apparently is not much cheaper than the shops in Thailand, but compared to Heathrow, last time I checked , over £23 (1700 baht), it is a real saving. For those who hold them, I found out when I left Bangkok Airport last month, that you can get a 5% discount from King Power if you show them a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus card when you pay for your purchases.

Bobrcb

[kreon]

why not buy your camera/perfumes in a shop that handles vat reclaims for tourist

works for me all the time, bargain hard and on top pick-up another 7%

i bought a perfume for 2,100bt, at airport 2,200bt and picked up about 135bt on the vat return, so price was +/- 1,960bt, obviously i had a few items more

au revoir

[Crazy Dave]

the depature gates in bkk at the stalls charge 120baht for a can of heiniken

[Rinrada]

Bt 2,800 for 3 x big (litre)bottles of Johnnie W Black in a nifty gen. leather Executive briefcase.....good value.(for hiding new laptop)

One bottle in the smoke is @ £28 each and the same deal at Thief-row Airport about £65.(incl.gen.leather......etc)

Last time got a similar good one but with a rucksack and a couple of Big Chivas Regals.....

Ref the Hein.....free in the Lounge.......got-the-geer

[theviking]

why not buy your camera/perfumes in a shop that handles vat reclaims for tourist

works for me all the time, bargain hard and on top pick-up another 7%

i bought a perfume for 2,100bt, at airport 2,200bt and picked up about 135bt on the vat return, so price was +/- 1,960bt, obviously i had a few items more  

au revoir

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought the minimum VAT refund was 5000baht, at least it says so in all the shops, in the VAT refund office and elsewhere....

[PvtDick]

I guess by "duty free" it means the benefit is for them, not for you.

[theviking]

I guess by "duty free" it means the benefit is for them, not for you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nobody of you get this?

Duty free...it means you can buy stuff that you can enjoy when you are "off duty", as in "not working".

[Steve2UK]

But - is Duty Free available to arriving passengers?

There is a duty free in the Baggage Reclaim Hall but it mainly sells alcohol and is Very, very expensive.

Much cheaper going to Carrefour, Tops or the like        

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info/tip johnh101 (& bobcrb). I'll save myself the carrying hassle and pick up the poisons with the rest of the supermarket stuff.

Everyone else can get back to their gripes now.........

[ajahnlau]

The duty free shops on arrival are good value when you consider they sell 1litre bottles compared to 750ml at supermarket.

[Opl]

Hi !

Even books are much more expensive at the airport ( 25 to 40%), everything is overpriced ( from tiger balm to anykind of souvenirs , absolutely everything except cigarettes).

[dr_Pat_Pong]

But - is Duty Free available to arriving passengers?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes. There is a small shop in the baggage hall that has a small selection of drinks. Can't remember if it has anything else...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just booze. ( near the toilets )

[WilliamIV]

Thanks to everyone who addressed my post.

Tax Refund is for Tourists

You cannot claim it if you are on Non Immigrat Visa

To the guy who "stole" my thread LOL

The Two arrival Halls - Terminals 1 & 2 - which you can walk between

before going thru Customs has several Duty Free Outlets

I always buy a Bottle of Liqueur - Tia Maria, Cointreu, Grand Marnier etc - they ARE cheaper than in town

So it will be worth at least Looking ...

To the Smart Arxe who said why did I plan to Complain after knowingly

buy something more expensive - I planned to buy it there - to use on my trip - thinking (wrongly) that it would actually be "Duty Free"

Bill

[WilliamIV]

The Several Outlets in the two Baggage Halls

Do Sell Cigarettes

Spirits

Beers

Wines

Liqueurs

Limit of ONE bottle per passenger

[ovenman]

To the Smart Arxe who said why did I plan to Complain after knowingly buy something more expensive - I planned to buy it there - to use on my trip - thinking (wrongly) that it would actually be "Duty Free"

That Smart Arxe would be me... I never said that you don't have a point about the duty free stores being expensive at Don Muang (they are). I just don't see what sort of complaint one can make after purchasing something there while knowing that the same item could be bought cheaper in-town. Duty free is not synonymous with cheapest.

Many of the shops in the transit area at Changi Airport in Singapore offer a guarantee that their prices are as good as any found at a reputable dealer in Singapore proper. The shops at Changi I refer to are not necessarily the duty free shops. Until the King Power stores offer a similar guarantee (don't hold your breath waiting), there's not much one can do other than not shop there. As long as people keep buying from King Power at their current prices, what incentive do they have to change?