Need Advice For Purchase At Mbk Camera/ipad

[sercano]

Hello everybody and thanks for the fantastic service you provide with this forum. I have had an incredible time reading your advises and tips in my trip to Thailand and I would like to ask you a few more questions hoping some of you could help me. Thanks in advance.

I am currently in Bangkok and Thailand islands for the next 2 weeks and I am considering buying some electronic equipment. I have some devices in mind,but I also wanted to keep my mind open and see prices and advises before completely making up my mind.

I was thinking for the following equipment:

- Tablet:

Either iPad 2 or iPad 4 (retina) wifi only, 16GB. No need for more

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, wifi 16GB

I would be more inclined to the Note just because I am a long time Android user, but if the price is right, I could also use an iPad, since I could give it some use for app development.

- Phone:

Again, I was between the iPhone 4s or the iPhone 5. I don't like the size of the 5, it seems too big for me, but again, i didn't want to close any possibilities, so trying to keep my mind open I said to myself that I will hear prices and then decide.

The other possibility was the Samsung Galaxy S3 pretty much for the same reasons I stated for the tablets

- Camera:

I have long-time wanted a Reflex and I had some previous experiences with the Nikon D3100, basic model but quite effective for the kind of use I would give it, so I was between the D3100 (because I already know it) and the D3200 which is the new superior model that will replace the previous one.

My conclusions after an afternoon shopping at MBK center:

- Phones are not worth the hassle, before going to the mall, i made a comprehensive list of all the devices with their prices in several amazon sites (UK, Spain, France, etc...) with the best price in each one of them converted in BHT. From the "reliable" list of shops I could gather before going there, I didn't find any that proposed a much better price than amazon (much better for me is "at least" a discount of 50€ or more to start talking, anything less than that I wouldn't even consider)

- Tablets, to my disappointment, I couldn't find any Samsung device with a good price or the shop that provided it wasn't looking very reliable. Instead, the iPad 4 (retina) with 16GB + Wifi (the version I wanted) was quoted at 16500 BHT and 16000 BHT on several shops. The best price I could get for the same device in Europe was around 17600 BHT. That plus the 7% VAT refund that some shops were proposing would make it 70€ cheaper than the best deal in Europe (even more if we factor shipping costs) which sounds like an interesting discount for a 400€ device. One of the shops was CAMERA CENTER, which I suppose is reliable, could somebody confirm if the price sounds correct for a real Apple device and this shop can be trusted?

- Cameras. I visited all the major shops in the building looking for the exact same models I posted above, the prices varied greatly, from 12300BHT I got quoted at PHOTO AV to 18500 BHT at POWER BUY for the D3100. The best quote I got from Amazon in Europe was 14920 BHT so if the references for PHOTO AV check, it would provide savings over 70€, for a 300€ device I think it is not negligible. The other shop that gave me a good price for the D3100 was FOTO PRO, can someone say if they are serious and can be trusted?

Prices for the D3200 were quite interesting as well, since the best price in Europe was 19700 BHT and I got the same model offered for as low as 16000 BHT. Factoring the VAT back we would be talking of a little over 100€ but I am not completely sure the difference in price with the D3100 can be justified (at least for me) since I am not going to make a heavy use of the camera.

So far, Im inclined to buy the iPad4 16GB Wifi and/or the Nikon D3100. Those two are the sweetest deals so far, but I am open to hear your comments and suggestions, both about the equipment and the different shops that were mentioned. Also, if you have references for other shops to check out at nearby malls (Siam, Central Rama, etc...) I would gladly pay them a visit.

Thanks again for your help, it is much appreciated.

[YipYipYa123]

many of the cheaper items in MBK are fake or refurbuished or factory 2nds that didnt pass inspection 1st time around

examine items very carefully before paying ,many real items dont come with warranty as well so if the differnce was only 2000thb

id probably buy one in the country i intend to use it

Apples Istore thailand wouldnt even fix my friends iphone because it wasnt a thai model even though he bought it in MBK and i think the

same goes for thai phones in western countries (some repair centres dont always honour the warranty so they say to fedex it back to thailand for repair etc )

[taninthai]

Electronics are not generally any cheaper here than Europe a few apple products are cheaper here than the uk ,mbk is ok if you want to buy 2nd hand

[Morden]

I'm into Galaxy for smartphones and Canon for cameras but that's just my preference.

My first smart 'phone was an HTC bought second hand from someone who bought it in Italy. After a few months, it needed a new screen. No-one would touch it or even take it in part exchange. Even in Thailand, make sure that what you buy is genuine and made for the Thai market. Prices are all about the same wherever you shop but discounts can usually be negotiated. If you are offered something below the normal price, I suggest that you don't buy it.

My impression of the electronics booths in MBK is that they are stuffed with fakes, seconds and products made for other countries but imported to satisfy demand.

[GreenSnapper]

Don't buy electronics in Thailand. Too many scams, even at so called "reputable" shops. It is not worth to save a few € for getting a used/fake/returned/refurbished product sold as "new". Often shop staff is behind the scams, especially at bigger shops in the nicer Malls.

[Morden]

Don't buy electronics in Thailand. Too many scams, even at so called "reputable" shops. It is not worth to save a few € for getting a used/fake/returned/refurbished product sold as "new". Often shop staff is behind the scams, especially at bigger shops in the nicer Malls.

It depends on where you shop. In any case, I have to buy in Thailand. We buy major items from reputable shops. The dodgy ones are found in booths in the malls and markets.

[YipYipYa123]

i bought a "new" galaxy s3 in MBK

it was shrink wrapped and they cut the "do not accept if this seal is broken" tab in front of me

i spent about 20 minutes checking the phone menu ,camera quality and cpu speed to ensure it wasnt broken or fake

it seemed immaculate in every way and faster than the galaxy nexus i was comparing it against

when i got home i realised the instructions inside the sealed box were from a differnt phone (a thai model with a differnt product code of i9300T rather than the international model from vietnam which i bought i9300 )

its still a great phone and saved about 5000-7000thb against buying it from AIS shop around the same time but i have obviously got a refurbished phone or something like that even though it seems to be perfect in every way

you cannot be too careful when buying expensive stuff in thailand though ,MBK especially as they see a foreigner and probably think its fine to scam him as hes probably going to be gone by the time he notices or cant even remember which staff/ stall he purchased it from etc

[sercano]

Thank you all for your comments and advices, I think I will finally give up on the idea of purchasing here, as you say, sometimes 50$ aren't worth the troubles.

[muratremix]

You can buy Nikon D5100 instead of D3100 for 16900 baht (or lower) price from Fortune Town (Rama 9) or Pantip (small shop near stairs on 3 or 4th floor).

Galaxy Note 10.1 is very expensive for its features, buying it would be the biggest mistake you can ever make. iPad 4 on the other hand starts from 16500 baht at iStudio (You can also ask tourist vat refund form for 7% vat back which makes it even cheaper).

As for iPhone 5, it is bigger than 4S but also slimmer, more attractive (especially white one) and only $100 more expensive than 4S.