Changes at Pantip Plaza?

[pinkpanther99]

I was speaking with a friend of my wife at the weekend who works for one of the largest retailers in Pantip Plaza.

She was telling me that last week her boss, along with management from the other large retailers in Pantip are in discussions with the mangement of Palladium Mall and are close to agreeing a deal to move all the computer shops in Pantip over to the Palladium.

Apparently, Pantip management have been steadily increasing the rent - approx 10 percent each year and now about 40 percent of shops are unoccupied.

So there could be some pretty big changes at Pantip - anyone else heard anything?

[dunks]

Evidently not.

[Docno]

Now Sek Loso will not be able to go to Palladium also?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dJ9x_ciodA

[SoiBiker]

Fortune Town is better anyway.

[dantilley]

I went there last week, a lot of shops empty, a shadow of its former self.

Where's Palladium Mall? Any idea what would become of Pantip Plaza if the IT shops moved out?

[thailandforumaddict]

Yes they are moving.

[technologybytes]

I think that the whole concept of a computer mall is a bit outdated now anyway. So many of the things we used to have to go to Pantip for are available in many more places these days, even supermarkets sell lots of IT related stuff.

It does not help that you cannot walk through Pantip without being offered porno dvds, and many of the shops in there are dodgy.

Edited April 27, 2015 by technologybytes

[kingstonkid]

Last I heard they were trying to get Pantip to a more upscale shopping venue. It seems that a lot of Thais feel that they can raise rents in tourist areas. SILOM is another spot that is starting to see empty areas as rents get too high to make a living.

I think that a lot of Thais are seeing the areas as cash cows and forgetting that what is there is what made them the money they have. Let's face it it is ot that they have to pay property taxes or bills that are increasing most of these properties are mortgage free.

Palladium is not that far from Pantip on the other side of the road a bit of a walk but not that bad.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/search/palladium+mall+bangkok/@13.7495432,100.542558,17z

[oztaurus]

Pantip and Fortune appeal to two different markets:

For the person who knows what they want, you can stand in front of a shop in Fortune IT and glance around the store and see if they have what you are looking for, without needing to actually enter the store or interact with the staff.

Pantip appeals to the hunter in me - I know that whatever I am looking for - it is in here somewhere if I can just find it. Plus I also discover a lot more interesting things along the way. I end up spending more money in Pantip that Fortune.

A move to Palladium (diagonally opposite Platinum Fashion Mall at the traffic lights) could make sense for both the mall which has been struggling for years and the traders. At least it has more parking.

[Minnehaha]

Pantip and Fortune appeal to two different markets:

For the person who knows what they want, you can stand in front of a shop in Fortune IT and glance around the store and see if they have what you are looking for, without needing to actually enter the store or interact with the staff.

Pantip appeals to the hunter in me - I know that whatever I am looking for - it is in here somewhere if I can just find it. Plus I also discover a lot more interesting things along the way. I end up spending more money in Pantip that Fortune.

A move to Palladium (diagonally opposite Platinum Fashion Mall at the traffic lights) could make sense for both the mall which has been struggling for years and the traders. At least it has more parking.

Agree with your assessment of the appeal of Pantip ...

I usually wind up buying more things when I go to Pantip, not necessarily spending more, but I agree your point is valid.

Seems I could always find a cheaper item at Pantip, whereas FT usually had one option or maybe 2. The competition at Pantip kept prices down, I figured.

[wvavin]

I think Pantip Plaza is a good place to get all your IT needs if you don't have further intention to hunt elsewhere. Its a pity that it has lost its former glory.

[bangkapi]

Dammit...If that happens I won't be able to rent my 7th floor parking spot at Grand Diamond for 2,000 baht a month.

[lorbhaim]

Pantip Plaza CM -

many empty shops....

[ray35ty]

Charoen Siriwatthanaphakdi who owns pantip plaza could afford to have the whole place empty for the next 100 years and probably pay each customer 1000bht to walk into the shopping center. He is Thailand's third richest worth of US$12.2 billion. He is chairman of Thai Beverage as well as Fraser & Neave

[samsensam]

Last I heard they were trying to get Pantip to a more upscale shopping venue. It seems that a lot of Thais feel that they can raise rents in tourist areas. SILOM is another spot that is starting to see empty areas as rents get too high to make a living.

I think that a lot of Thais are seeing the areas as cash cows and forgetting that what is there is what made them the money they have. Let's face it it is ot that they have to pay property taxes or bills that are increasing most of these properties are mortgage free.

Palladium is not that far from Pantip on the other side of the road a bit of a walk but not that bad.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/search/palladium+mall+bangkok/@13.7495432,100.542558,17z

i heard the same thing about pantip wanting to go upmarket and was being refurbished.

Palladium has been a ghost mall since the authorities closed down the illegal dvd shops there a couple of years ago. they certainly have the shop space and as you say it's near pantip so should maintain its customer base

[mulder12345]

I primarily go there for the restroom and a/c. I did take a Thai language course there though. I cannot see how those shops stay solvent. It seems they are over staffed and usually empty when I'm there. Same same with the IT floors of other large malls.

[questionsreplies]

In people dreams yes !

Anyway prices are the same everywhere and nobody beats BANANA IT, JEAB and IT CITY, these are the biggest retail IT companies in Thailand and nobody can beat them.

Fortune Town is better anyway.

[dddave]

There was a long thread on this forum late last year about the proposed renovation of Pantip Plaza.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/713926-bangkoks-pantip-plaza-to-undergo-major-facelift-to-draw-customers/

[ozyjon]

Each time i traveled to Thailand i would land in Bankok

and my first outing would be to Pantip, i would buy the

best laptop that had the features i needed, i would give

the laptop to a less fortunate relative then start again

every few years, i bought a lot of stuff there and knew

the shopkeepers, but, on 3 occasions, upon returning

to Sydney my credit card was cancelled by my bank,

it appears that my card had been skimmed, the last

time it happened i decided to make phone calls to set

my mind at ease, the person i spoke to informed me it

happened in a place called Pantip Plaza and did i know

of it, needless to say i still go there but i only buy small

things and i pay cash and yes i now know who skimmed

my card, advice, don't ever let your card out of your sight

and don't let anyone copy your passport (for warranty)

they are getting a copy of your identity, now i know.

[Brer Fox]

Pantip Plaza near the Bang Kapi Mall is much the same. Half empty, no people and doomed.

[Anthony5]

I went there last week, a lot of shops empty, a shadow of its former self.

Where's Palladium Mall? Any idea what would become of Pantip Plaza if the IT shops moved out?

I wanted to say Panthip will become a dump, but it is actually always been a dump.

[Anthony5]

In people dreams yes !

Anyway prices are the same everywhere and nobody beats BANANA IT, JEAB and IT CITY, these are the biggest retail IT companies in Thailand and nobody can beat them.

Fortune Town is better anyway.

Ahem, IT City is in very bad papers for a few years already, and I wouldn't be surprised if it disappears very soon.

[HerbalEd]

Fortune Town is better anyway.

Indeed Fortune is much much better and has an MRT station just outside the main entrance. Pantip Plaza is so outdated.

[Denim]

Panthip plaza on Ngam Wong Wahn is still pretty good and has a very good food court. Great flea market in the top floor car park on a weekend. Also good for cheap second hand women's clothes starting at 20 baht for any tv cross dressers out there.

[HerbalEd]

Pantip and Fortune appeal to two different markets:

For the person who knows what they want, you can stand in front of a shop in Fortune IT and glance around the store and see if they have what you are looking for, without needing to actually enter the store or interact with the staff.

Pantip appeals to the hunter in me - I know that whatever I am looking for - it is in here somewhere if I can just find it. Plus I also discover a lot more interesting things along the way. I end up spending more money in Pantip that Fortune.

A move to Palladium (diagonally opposite Platinum Fashion Mall at the traffic lights) could make sense for both the mall which has been struggling for years and the traders. At least it has more parking.

Some people just like doing things the hard way, I guess. Personally I prefer the easy way, and with nice cool aircon and super easy MRT transport.

[StasD]

forget Pantip Plaza as a good IT seller, Zeer Rangsit is much better now

[cracker1]

I am sure I read about 18 months ago, on this site, that Pantip would close this year for major "refurbishment". It was expected to be closed for about 1 year and then re-open again.

[tw25rw]

Pantip and Fortune appeal to two different markets:

For the person who knows what they want, you can stand in front of a shop in Fortune IT and glance around the store and see if they have what you are looking for, without needing to actually enter the store or interact with the staff.

Pantip appeals to the hunter in me - I know that whatever I am looking for - it is in here somewhere if I can just find it. Plus I also discover a lot more interesting things along the way. I end up spending more money in Pantip that Fortune.

A move to Palladium (diagonally opposite Platinum Fashion Mall at the traffic lights) could make sense for both the mall which has been struggling for years and the traders. At least it has more parking.

Some people just like doing things the hard way, I guess. Personally I prefer the easy way, and with nice cool aircon and super easy MRT transport.

Yes, and it has a nice new Central over the road for 'normal' shopping. It's generally a more handy area to get to and from and nicer to hang around in.

[stevensg]

Have to see what you buying,I once buy a power bank at pantip for 500baht but saw the same thing at khong thom for 300baht few years back.

[BKKdreaming]

forget Pantip Plaza as a good IT seller, Zeer Rangsit is much better now

They are so far from each other that they do not have the same customers,

and how do you get to Rangsit from Central BKK , its a long way !