Pantip - Not Great

[Malthus101]

So I had to go to Pantip to buy a couple of monitors that I had in mind and had seen there a few weeks ago.

At IT City, they tried to upsell me to the latest model and offered me a discount straight away (the model I wanted was out of stock and not coming back I was told) No further discount for buying 2 though. And he showed me a printout which had the sticker price and also the offer price he made me - so it's all pre-rehearsed. When I asked for a discount for 2 I got the expect, "no no, sorry, cannot!".

I also need some kind of audio system a 2.1 .

I'd done some research and found a Klipsch model and one by Logitech.

They had neither. All they had were Chinese made crap.

I thought IT City was supposed to be the best? I thought Pantip was "where you could find anything"?

As I suspected, like most great claims in Thailand, it's usually just BS.

Where can I find proper decent IT equipment in Bangkok? In a well organized setting? Pantip is a Mecca of madness!

Maybe I'd be better off at Siam Paragon?

[fotog]

Try Fortune Town for a much more pleasant shopping experience.

Another thing is that many sales people are not employees of the store but they are reps for the different brands that the store carries and that is why they are insistent to switch you to their product. Or they get a commission if you buy a certain brand over another one. This is the case in dept stores, Home Pro and IT stores, even the liquor dept at the super market.

Edited July 9, 2013 by fotog

[Malthus101]

Try Fortune Town for a much more pleasant shopping experience.

Another thing is that many sales people are not employees of the store but they are reps for the different brands that the store carries and that is why they are insistent to switch you to their product. Or they get a commission if you buy a certain brand over another one. This is the case in dept stores, Home Pro and IT stores, even the liquor dept at the super market.

Really? Very interesting. OK, I have heard of Fortune, I will check it out. I am always overwhelmed by Pantip when I go there, it's just a large jumble sale (garage sale)

I thought only in cheap bars seeling booze they did that rep act!

[alfalfa19]

Do they still have those gangs of aggressive scumbags just inside the entrance, trying to sell porn DVDs to people in PantiP?

[vivek130205]

Really is fortune town a better place to look around for electronic stuff, i never knew that i stay right next road to fortune town, i believe its the same1 , rama 9 , near central...

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[EyesWideOpen]

I agree 100%. I love Fortune town. The businesses there are far more professional, and there is a better selection of high quality stuff. Pantip is yesterday's news.......

I recently bought two HP 2311 23 inch monitors are fantastic..

Edited July 9, 2013 by EyesWideOpen

[bangkokstick]

Why not trying to think differently and try to understand that maybe what you wanted to buy it outdated and maybe not sold anymore ?

Why buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system in 2013 when there is so much better ?

Sorry, no offense but sometimes getting bored with all these foreigners who think that they always know better.

At least you should use the chance you have to be abroad to think different !

What you cannot find at Pantip you won't find it anywhere else, so just forget it !

People telling that fortune is better also make me laugh: most of the shop owners at Fortune also have shops at Pantip !

[roamer]

Do they still have those gangs of aggressive scumbags just inside the entrance, trying to sell porn DVDs to people in PantiP?

Sure do, stepped through the doors yesterday for first time in 5 years. Just needed to pick up a couple of kids dvds and a cable and was really close by. Out the door again in 30 secs empty handed. Can wait till Fortune

[BobTH]

You should take a look at this website, I have heard very good reviews on them and they will ship to your home. Maybe you are already aware of them but if not here is the link.

www.invadeit.co.th

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

As another poster said above, Fortune Town is a nicer shopping experience, with wide aisles, well lit stores, mostly knowledgeable shop personnel, low-end and high-end shops and the usual gamut of mall food and other services. It's easy to get to: Phra Ram 9 MRT stop. And if FTown doesn't do it for you, Central Plaza Rama 9 is across the road.

[jbrain]

Sorry, no offense but sometimes getting bored with all these foreigners who think that they always know better.

You're right there. From your previous posts it's clear that you are the only foreigner who always know's better.

[Malthus101]

Why buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system in 2013 when there is so much better ?

Well, like what? I buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system because I did a Google search for "best PC audio 2013" and repeatedly, at respected online sites like techrader, pcadivsor etc, these two models always came out near the top at the price range I'm willing to spend in.

If you have a better suggestion of something I can use both for my PC to play music and also to hook up to my TV for watching movies, please tell me, I'm all ears!

Oh, and availabvle in Bangkok!

Thanks.

[bangkokstick]

Sorry, no offense but sometimes getting bored with all these foreigners who think that they always know better.

You're right there. From your previous posts it's clear that you are the only foreigner who always know's better.

At least I do not keep whining like so many of them here...

[Payboy]

Why buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system in 2013 when there is so much better ?

Well, like what? I buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system because I did a Google search for "best PC audio 2013" and repeatedly, at respected online sites like techrader, pcadivsor etc, these two models always came out near the top at the price range I'm willing to spend in.

If you have a better suggestion of something I can use both for my PC to play music and also to hook up to my TV for watching movies, please tell me, I'm all ears!

Oh, and availabvle in Bangkok!

Thanks.

JBL 2.1 - usually available in iStudio or Life shops around Bangkok.

[bangkokstick]

I am far for being the one who think that Thai are genius, but among their qualities I am sure that their "don't make problems for useless things" is a good one.

Will your life change because you didn't get exactly the screen that YOU THINK is better ? Or the sound that YOU THINK is better ? No. You will die as fast and if there is anything after death you might regret having wasted your life in stupid behaviour !

As you don't know better than anybody else what is good or not just get what is available and stop crying anytime your perfect life is not just as perfect as home !

[Malthus101]

Why buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system in 2013 when there is so much better ?

Well, like what? I buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system because I did a Google search for "best PC audio 2013" and repeatedly, at respected online sites like techrader, pcadivsor etc, these two models always came out near the top at the price range I'm willing to spend in.

If you have a better suggestion of something I can use both for my PC to play music and also to hook up to my TV for watching movies, please tell me, I'm all ears!

Oh, and availabvle in Bangkok!

Thanks.

JBL 2.1 - usually available in iStudio or Life shops around Bangkok.

JBL 2.1.jpg

Thanks, reviews on Amazon rate them highly and cheaper than what I was after!

I might go and take a look in Siam now.... thanks.

[Malthus101]

Will your life change because you didn't get exactly the screen that YOU THINK is better ? Or the sound that YOU THINK is better ? No. You will die as fast and if there is anything after death you might regret having wasted your life in stupid behaviour !

No, but it makes it more enjoyable as you travel through it. Can I cut up a tomato with a cheap knife from a supermarket? Yes. Is it more pleasurable to cut that same tomaoto with a folded steel Japanese knife?

Much more so.

Will the Japanese knife last a lifetime? Yes.

Same kind of thing.

[Malthus101]

Anyway, I went to Fortune, much calmer experience. Found a shop selling Samsung monitors. They had a promotion on the NEW one I was offered at Pantip at a discount price of 5180 baht. These guys sold me them at 4290. I bought 2 plus a 500 Gb WD Elements portable hard drive for total of 10100 baht. Pretty sweet.

The model of monitor is the Samsung S23C350H - 23" full HD etc.

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/monitors/LS23C350HS/ZA

[angiud]

This is a thread about Panthip and computers not a Thai bashing one.

1 post deleted

[Litlos]

I am another fan of Fortune Town, better all round experience and it appears cheaper as well, double bonus. I just got so sick and tired of all the hassles at Pantip, plus harder to get to and the real crunch the TGF thinks the food there is not so good.

I used to go to Pantip all the time, but now FT is the preferred choice. Easy to get to, low hassle factor, better food(?), minimal tourists and good pricing. The problem is when there the other day I noticed 3 separate lots of tourists wandering through. I hope this is not FT heading the same way as Pantip with becoming known to tourists and going the same way as Pantip.

Cheers

[jbrain]

I am another fan of Fortune Town, better all round experience and it appears cheaper as well, double bonus. I just got so sick and tired of all the hassles at Pantip, plus harder to get to and the real crunch the TGF thinks the food there is not so good.

I used to go to Pantip all the time, but now FT is the preferred choice. Easy to get to, low hassle factor, better food(?), minimal tourists and good pricing. The problem is when there the other day I noticed 3 separate lots of tourists wandering through. I hope this is not FT heading the same way as Pantip with becoming known to tourists and going the same way as Pantip.

Cheers

The problem with both Pantip pratunam and wongsawan that they are real dumps, time to tear down those buildings, where Fortune town is more relaxed and has better infrastructure.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I am another fan of Fortune Town . . . The problem is when there the other day I noticed 3 separate lots of tourists wandering through. I hope this is not FT heading the same way as Pantip with becoming known to tourists and going the same way as Pantip.

Cheers

Having been through FT a few hundred times (I lived nearby in the recent past), this tour group thing is a surprise development. Then again, maybe we should not be surprised as more Chinese/Korean tours fetch up on Thailand's Welcome Mat.

OP, looks like you scored and with no hassles.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Kaoboi Bebobp

[ETatBKK]

Fortune IT went through re-modelling last year. now there is a new extension for digital camera shops, quite decent, lot of choice, good pricing too.

I am waiting for this remodelling in the computer mall as well :-)

first bonus, if you don't find your things there, go to Central Rama 9, better shop, better choice, not necessary better price.

another more bonus - Fortune IT is by far easier to reach, by MRT, or even drive there ( and park at Central Rama 9 ).

[Malthus101]

I also stumbled upon by chance, a branch of Capital Music which sells Takamine guitars - they had exactly (almost) what I am looking for!

Jolly good.

However.... this JBL speaker is not anywhere any longer. I'm going to have to add PC speakers to my list of difficult things to find in Thailand.

The best compromise will be to go for a Creative Labs 2.1 system - they only cost about 2,200 baht, which is a darn sight cheaper than paying 9,000 baht for those flashy Harmon Kardon sticks, even if they may be better (and look cooler)

The Creative Labs stuff actually scores quite highly too so I guess I must adapt as best I can to the Thai market. Rather Creative Labs than some no-name Thai brand.

Thanks for help everyone.

[impulse]

I prefer Fortune Town if only because it's right on an MRT stop at Phra Ram 9. No 1 Km walk from a BTS stop like Pantip.

The fact that it's better organized, has quite a few eateries and is less crowded- is a bonus.

The lack of aggressive porn hustlers (like at Pantip) on the way in the door clinches it.

Every time I find myself at Pantip, I kick myself for even going back instead of taking the MRT to Fortune Town.

[CPT]

I also stumbled upon by chance, a branch of Capital Music which sells Takamine guitars - they had exactly (almost) what I am looking for!

Jolly good.

However.... this JBL speaker is not anywhere any longer. I'm going to have to add PC speakers to my list of difficult things to find in Thailand.

The best compromise will be to go for a Creative Labs 2.1 system - they only cost about 2,200 baht, which is a darn sight cheaper than paying 9,000 baht for those flashy Harmon Kardon sticks, even if they may be better (and look cooler)

The Creative Labs stuff actually scores quite highly too so I guess I must adapt as best I can to the Thai market. Rather Creative Labs than some no-name Thai brand.

Thanks for help everyone.

I have found creative products to be a very good value. You can buy their speakers in Big C and the like here as well.

Completely agree that Pantip is a waste of time. Prices are higher than in the US and items that are reasonably priced (from my perspective) tend to be little known brands of very low quality plus the hassle of the vendors there and the necessity of haggling. The same or better items can be found elsewhere in Bangkok for lower prices and with much less hassle. I can't fathom why tourists go there but I also don't understand the appeal of MBK as a shopping destination...

Edited July 10, 2013 by CPT

[Malthus101]

Yes it's very easy to get to. I found a weird way to walk to Pantip from Siam the other day, ended up crossing over the canal! You know that route? Goes past some posh restaurant and through the drive of a hotel. Much money there!

On a side note - I checked out the online link that BobTH gave - online stores are a great place to check what's generally available in the country. If they don't have it, not many places will.

2.1 audio wise, I'm going with the Creative (Labs) Inspire T3130 2.1 speaker system - great reviews on the whole, and cheap at 1,490 baht.

Fortune was selling loads of them, might even be cheaper there.

[Malthus101]

PS - where can I get bog-standard HDMI cables? They all seem to cost about £25 here!

[GreenSnapper]

PS - where can I get bog-standard HDMI cables? They all seem to cost about £25 here!

You can get them cheaper at Fortune too, but why bother high Thai prices?

Just order from Hongkong via ebay. You pay a fraction what you pay here.

[Kilgore Trout]

Why not trying to think differently and try to understand that maybe what you wanted to buy it outdated and maybe not sold anymore ?

Why buying ridiculous 2.1 sound system in 2013 when there is so much better ?

Sorry, no offense but sometimes getting bored with all these foreigners who think that they always know better.

At least you should use the chance you have to be abroad to think different !

What you cannot find at Pantip you won't find it anywhere else, so just forget it !

People telling that fortune is better also make me laugh: most of the shop owners at Fortune also have shops at Pantip !

So if it was a local who thought they knew better, then it would be ok?

If you're going to play the race card you should choose your battles a little more wisely....