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Rant: They Don'T Always Want Your Money (For Phones).


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Posted

So, I tried to buy some phones in Bangkok tonight. A Samsung Galaxy S2 for myself and a Note for the GF (It's a surprise). Of course I want to see if I can get some deals.

Went to Siam Paragon (yeah, probably the worst place to start, but whatever. Open to suggestions).

Went up to JayMart. Was able to get what I thought was a decent discount of THB1000 off each of the S2 and the note (retail: 23K for the Note, 17.5K for the S2). THB38.4K out the door. Wasn't even a consideration

Decided to see if we could pull a better deal. Went over to MBK. Got numbers all over the place, as low as 17K for the Note. Immediately smelled something rotten. Did some research right in front of a couple folks and decided that going the random phone vendor route was not the best idea. I saw everything from boxes with expertly faked seals to different model numbers to even a branded version for Korea. Decided I wasn't in the mood to play Russian roulette just to save a few thousand baht.

Hit PowerBuy at MBK. The had S2s and Notes in stock. Thought I'd negotiated a deal with them but because the S2 came with a 16GB card, they refused to budge on any discount on that phone. Walked.

Went back to JayMar in SPt. Asked if we could get the same deal. They were fine with that. Then, as I'm filling out the paperwork, suddenly everything changes and they can either sell me a white S2 or a black S2 with the 16GB card with no discount. I balked, they froze, I walked.

Yes, TIT, I know. But the way that Thais leap over dollars to get pennies is both amazing and maddening at the same time. Thing is, they would have more than made up the missing 1K in accessories anyway. The extremes in this country are simply maddening.

End rant.

So, anywhere else I might be able to buy these things other than for full price at the Samsung store?

Posted (edited)

You sure 5.3" tabphone is a good idea for small thai lady (i'm assuming your gf is thai)? I am pretty sure she would love an iphone over samsung a hundred times.

Edited by muratremix
Posted

There are many reputable low-margin sellers at MBK selling genuine Samsung product. You can usually recognize these by the huge throngs of Thai people milling about in front of the shop. Trying to get a deal at a retail seller like Samsung or Jaymart is a waste of time, unless you can get the VAT back. (The fake Notes seem to be ~ 17,000.)

The Note is holding at 21,000 and the SGS2 at 16,500, PM if you want the name of a shop, or you can look here:

http://www.thaimobilecenter.com/spec/price_from_user_all.asp?id=2861

http://www.thaimobilecenter.com/spec/price_from_user_all.asp?id=3039

Posted (edited)

You sure 5.3" tabphone is a good idea for small thai lady (i'm assuming your gf is thai)? I am pretty sure she would love an iphone over samsung a hundred times.

GF is not Thai, already has (had) an iPhone and is tired of the Apple nonsense. She specifically wants a Note...I begrudgingly talked her down to an S2 which is why this is a surprise. I also have an iPhone and I'm tired of it crashing all the time (had jailbroken 3.1.2 with no problems, updated to iOS 4.0.2 and don't want to go any higher lest I lose my unlock). The Note is hot but I just don't want to carry that big a phone around in my pocket.

There are many reputable low-margin sellers at MBK selling genuine Samsung product. You can usually recognize these by the huge throngs of Thai people milling about in front of the shop. Trying to get a deal at a retail seller like Samsung or Jaymart is a waste of time, unless you can get the VAT back. (The fake Notes seem to be ~ 17,000.)

The Note is holding at 21,000 and the SGS2 at 16,500, PM if you want the name of a shop, or you can look here:

http://www.thaimobil...all.asp?id=2861

http://www.thaimobil...all.asp?id=3039

Thanks for the tips, greatly appreciated. I figured there was a method to it. The first store I hit quoted me 17K with a 'worldwide' warranty, though, and I was like 'shyea right!' I hit a few other stores and got prices between 18 and 20 but on further examination of the packaging I could tell they were trying to be sneaky. It was getting late and I was tired and that's not a good combination for getting a deal without potentially getting ripped off.

I've figured out that most big box stores aren't interested in dealing, though I was surprised that the Samsung store was willing to offer me 3% off on the Note and the S2 (we tried going back but they had closed. That'll be our ace in the hole today.)

I'll shoot you a PM.

Edited by roxnadz
Posted (edited)

You're tired of your hacked, old iPhone crashing? cheesy.gif Why not get a new, not-hacked one? They're 21k in the online Apple store, and I hear they don't crash wink.png they even come with SIRI which is pretty cool.

I saw the Note in a very official looking store for 19.9k.

Generally, you either take your chances with the small dealers or you pay up - and I think you're right particularly with the Note there are many different model with different specs so unless you're an expert with model numbers it's probably not worth it. As for the stores, clearly they have a price they can't go below, and they won't sell you the phone at a loss. So most likely you have just offered less than their purchase price, or purchase price + minimum margin. Margins in Thailand are very low though so you probably offered too little.

Whether or not they will go lower has nothing to do with how much they like you and everything to do with whether or not they can make money on it. If a few dealers told you no then... you need to offer more.

Good luck!

Edit: Just see Lomatopo's prices - I am certainly no expert so I am probably mistaken. Played with a Note 2 months ago in Centrai Airport in CM at a special temporary promo shop selling Samsung phones.

Edited by nikster
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