Why would anybody buy a mobile at MBK?

I have a new Zenphone-5 that I like. My GF likes it but wants the smaller Zenphone 4.5. Yesterday I was near MBK so I went up to the phone area on the 4th floor and inquired at 6 or 7 shops that had the 4.5 on display. None had any price tag displayed and almost all gave me an opening price of 4,400 to 4,500 Baht, then: "For you, today only" B4300. One went as low as B4100 but none would go below that.

Later in the day I went to Fortune, more than a dozen dealers displaying the phone as well as a marked price: usually B3900. I bought one for that price with a 8gb memory card tossed in.

It seems that at MBK, you are almost guaranteed to pay more, not less. So many shops selling the same thing are clustered there. They mostly seem to have the "Screw the customer for whatever you can get" attitude.

No bargains there.

Agree, Fortune is now my first stop for anything technological.

I do really well for prices religiously at MBK, I usually am buying more than 1 so can twist their greed a bit more..

Pants the Great Wall

It seems that many of those counters on the 4th floor of MBK are the same company. Or all use the same distributor.

I always avoid the small stalls for buying phones, because usually Tesco and Big C have better prices.

And they both have good chances of still being there in one year or two if the phone has a problem.

I always avoid the small stalls for buying phones, because usually Tesco and Big C have better prices.

And they both have good chances of still being there in one year or two if the phone has a problem.

i have found that telco and big c are better also. The prices seem to be lower, the service better, and most of all the product is not a copy from china.

I always avoid the small stalls for buying phones, because usually Tesco and Big C have better prices.

.....

Absolutely.

All phones usually have a price tag (and even than, there is a discount possible sometimes).

You can check/test the phones without hassle.

AND you are not pestered by the annoying staff, the main reason, why I try to avoid Tukcom+Co. like the plague.

(helloooo welkaaaam miteeeer, wat yu waaant...and that from 5 stalls at the same time...)

BUT, if you want a non-mainstream phone like Xiaomi, Tesco/BigC are unfortunately no option.

MBK is more of a tourist trap shopping center than Fortune. Fortune is pretty much off the radar for the average tourist.

Could someone kindly post the location of Fortune?

Fortune Town IT Mall
MRT: Rama 9

Could someone kindly post the location of Fortune?

http://goo.gl/maps/8ANke

Would you guys say that Fortune is better than Pantip Plaza for low and midrange electronics?

Would you guys say that Fortune is better than Pantip Plaza for low and midrange electronics?

Electronics... as in tvs, sound systems etc?

One thing I'd say is that too many shops in Panthip have old, dust-covered stock.

The shops in Fortune seem to have newer gear, in fact they were the first place I found with the TF700T when that came out.

One thing I'd say is that too many shops in Panthip have old, dust-covered stock.

The shops in Fortune seem to have newer gear, in fact they were the first place I found with the TF700T when that came out.

Fortune is more for professional, good if you look for the latest high end technology. Pantip is better for bargain hunters who don't mind last year product but want the best price. Beside Fortune is in the middle of nowhere. Unless you're looking for something very specific Pantip has a more convenient more central location.

One thing I'd say is that too many shops in Panthip have old, dust-covered stock.

The shops in Fortune seem to have newer gear, in fact they were the first place I found with the TF700T when that came out.

Fortune is more for professional, good if you look for the latest high end technology. Pantip is better for bargain hunters who don't mind last year product but want the best price. Beside Fortune is in the middle of nowhere. Unless you're looking for something very specific Pantip has a more convenient more central location.

Fortune is in the middle of nowhere... how so? It is above an MRT station and opposite Central Rama 9...

Personally I prefer Pantip over Fortune but for ease of access Fortune wins. Larger car park also.

One thing I'd say is that too many shops in Panthip have old, dust-covered stock.

The shops in Fortune seem to have newer gear, in fact they were the first place I found with the TF700T when that came out.

Fortune is more for professional, good if you look for the latest high end technology. Pantip is better for bargain hunters who don't mind last year product but want the best price. Beside Fortune is in the middle of nowhere. Unless you're looking for something very specific Pantip has a more convenient more central location.

Middle of nowhere?

It's about 100m from Phra Ram 9 MRT station.

I don't know how much more convenient you'd want a place to be.

One thing I'd say is that too many shops in Panthip have old, dust-covered stock.

The shops in Fortune seem to have newer gear, in fact they were the first place I found with the TF700T when that came out.

Fortune is more for professional, good if you look for the latest high end technology. Pantip is better for bargain hunters who don't mind last year product but want the best price. Beside Fortune is in the middle of nowhere. Unless you're looking for something very specific Pantip has a more convenient more central location.

It's about 100m from Phra Ram 9 MRT station.

You and I have a different concept of "the middle of nowhere".

MBK is very centrally located so they can charge more. That is often the case. Most people will pay extra for convenience. Not many people shop just on price. I'd rather pay 200 baht extra than have to trek to Fortune Town. It would also cost me extra to get there. So really not worth my time.

Bt18 and two stops/4 minutes from Asok is a 'trek'? Good grief man

Zeer Rangsit must be on the dark side of the moon if Fortune is a trek to the middle of nowhere...

Bt18 and two stops/4 minutes from Asok is a 'trek'? Good grief man

And when you are in Asok what do you do ? You still need to take a taxi or a train to get to any real "central" place.

Don't get me wrong Fortune is a good place for professional IT people but for tourists and bargain hunter Pantip or even MBK are better. At least there are things to do and places to visit at walking distance once you're done looking for you techie's gadgets.

Bt18 and two stops/4 minutes from Asok is a 'trek'? Good grief man

And when you are in Asok what do you do ? You still need to take a taxi or a train to get to any real "central" place.

Don't get me wrong Fortune is a good place for professional IT people but for tourists and bargain hunter Pantip or even MBK are better. At least there are things to do and places to visit at walking distance once you're done looking for you techie's gadgets.

There is a real "central" place (Its called Central Rama9) on the opposite side of the road to Fortune. Some people need to get out more.

I wouldn't buy my IT stuff at Pantip, Fortune or Zeer, but look online these days for more choice and get them delivered to my door.

There is a real "central" place (Its called Central Rama9) on the opposite side of the road to Fortune. Some people need to get out more.

I wouldn't buy my IT stuff at Pantip, Fortune or Zeer, but look online these days for more choice and get them delivered to my door.

"Central" is the name of the group that owns the mall, nothing to do with the location. And when it comes to getting out, spending my afternoon in a shopping mall is not exactly my idea of fun, I'm not yet fully integrated.

On the other hand when you're in Pantip you can send your wife/gf shopping in the next door Fashion mall and that won't cost you an arm and a leg like the mall in front of Fortune.

Is Pantip still open?

I've thought it would be closed until December because of renovation.

However, Fortune is much better to access by BTS or MRT.

If you not fancy riding a KM against the traffic with a maniac motorbike taxi driver, it's a long walk to Pantip from the BTS station.

From BTS Ratchatewi it'll be a 10/15-minute walk to Pantip, not what I'd call a long walk

There is a real "central" place (Its called Central Rama9) on the opposite side of the road to Fortune. Some people need to get out more.

I wouldn't buy my IT stuff at Pantip, Fortune or Zeer, but look online these days for more choice and get them delivered to my door.

"Central" is the name of the group that owns the mall, nothing to do with the location. And when it comes to getting out, spending my afternoon in a shopping mall is not exactly my idea of fun, I'm not yet fully integrated.

On the other hand when you're in Pantip you can send your wife/gf shopping in the next door Fashion mall and that won't cost you an arm and a leg like the mall in front of Fortune.

You really are trying too hard now.

Apart from the massive mall opposite, there is also a Lotus Tesco in Fortune, so you can take care of all of your shopping needs in one go.

It very much sounds to me like you've never been there and never even tried, because you didn't know it was so easy.

From BTS Ratchatewi it'll be a 10/15-minute walk to Pantip, not what I'd call a long walk

No, but I'd call it longer than 30 seconds, especially if you are carrying shopping.

Of course!!! but shorter than 16 minutes!

From BTS Ratchatewi it'll be a 10/15-minute walk to Pantip, not what I'd call a long walk

No, but I'd call it longer than 30 seconds, especially if you are carrying shopping.

Carrying shopping goods, combined with a wife, wearing a little bit higher heels than running shoes, makes it an >20 min walk.

Not really pleasant in the heat.