Farewell to the poor man's computer paradise

[thailandforumaddict]

"Journalists" must be a sad job, writing a useless article about something so useless...

1 sentence was enough: Pantip will be refurbished.

Everything else is stupid journashit talk.

[moon47]

I hope this place does not turn into the 4th floor of MBK. This utter tourist trap is horrible. Went to check laptop prices by suggestion from a coworker. I got the "hello Mr. what you looking?" from every other shop owner as i walked by.

I usually go to Pantip as they know that I am there for a reason and if they have what i want I will come in on my own. Found the cheapest netbook I have seen so far up on the top floor shop. If you are getting ripped of at Pantip you don't know how to haggle and check prices at other stores.

Granted Fortune Town looks nicer and is closer to MRT, it's just not the same.

[Time Traveller]

By the grace of god, and by sheer luck, that place never had a major accident or caught on fire,

had it happened, many people would have lost their lives there, other than that, Pantip Plaza

was the place to go and cemented Thailand reputation as can do place among all countries

in the region...

I think you mean it cemented it's reputation as world class seller of counterfeit software and movies.

[bendejo]

There are (were?) times when the entire main floor of Panthip is taken over by the computer manufacturers, complete with flashy displays, booth babes, and all the trade show trappings. Not exactly down market. To me, what really makes the place are the guys in the back attempting repairs that in most industrialized countries would be fixed by throwing the broken thing away and replacing it new. Maybe after the rennovations these guys will be priced out, and hopefully there will be new place for them to run their repair shops.

[Stargeezr]

The world is a very changing place and this Panthip place, is just another example.

We do indeed live in a throw away world, and I see it a lot here in Canada as well.

Everyone here has only flat screened TV's and computer monitors, as the old style

are tossed out, to go to some other poor country that does not have the money to

buy the newest style of TV's or computers.

I use my tablet and old computer, but hope to buy a new laptop soon, as the old

computer is showing its age and may fail me in a year or two.

I guess I am just another member of this throw away society.

[MusV]

Sorry - red the whole article ... cant find it out.

Pantip already closed or just get a new in and outfit same Pratunam and all the others before?

Hope does not change what is was to me and others over all the years ... very grateful, helpful place to repair the most computer appliances than to replace it.

I have been in Fortuna and the others ...nothing like Pantip - it takes time, but you never waste it. There is a plenty to do and check out during time you wait.

Allways got repaired, replaced whatever needed for a good price, in a good time. Experiences about quality and value has be done everywhere.

Why I have to eat the Banana and Papaya growing on my land ... as long I can buy them.

Edited July 5, 2015 by MusV

[bangkokfanatic]

I was in Pantip 2 days ago and the place looks like many of the vendors had already left thankfully taking those "lovely" foreign salespeople (you know the ones who have no permit to work as salespeople in Thailand) with them. Once those locusts moved in the place became totally unfriendly and pushy. It was never paradise but the last few years had seen it plummet.

[crabdog]

I used to go there years ago because there were so few other options at the time. Do not and will not miss it at all. Luckily I build and maintain my own computers so all I need is JIB and invadeit and I'm happy.

[shaggy851]

Sad to see it go. Had my laptop fixed and upgraded internals there. Surprised they dont turn it into beer bars and gogo bars charge more rent for the shops.

After you'd been a few times the porn dvd guys know to leave you alone.

The one thing i hope is that those guys who were peddling kiddie porn cant find jobs.

[chrisinth]

I went there several times to solve my laptop issues and always came away happy with both the service and cost. But the place was also invested with rip-off merchants, and much of the Mall's business, judging by the number of outlets, was pirated software, often of dubious quality and sometimes containing viruses. These days, with more and more people having broadband internet connections, everything can be downloaded, or so I'm told. And there are excellent free programmes for almost everything, such as Open Office instead of Word. No need to purchase from Pantip or anywhere else.

Just to comment on your point about pirated software. An awful lot of people are under the impression that the pirated software has been actually cracked/fixed/modified in Thailand. Generally, this is not the case, especially for the big cracks, operating systems/office suites/Adobe products, etc.

Your CD's/DVD's may be compiled here, but the majority of the pirate software comes from outside the country. So using internet download sites/torrents does not get rid of the virus/malware risks. Sure, some (most) of the sites will scan the uploads, but they cannot delve into repeated RAR/Zip files.

One of the many overlooked problems with pirate software is the ease for the re-compilers to hide any script they want to the install. If it is clever enough, it will bypass your anti-virus software as you will already have given it permission to install.

[thaibeachlovers]

Funny they didn't mention you can get what you need from the WWW so why go though the hassle of finding your way to Pantip.

It's an ugly mall, desperately in need of a face lift. I am sure that the prices will remain competitive nut the variety may change.

If they give away the market for "poorer" customers I can't see rich ones fighting their way through the attrocious traffic and crowded pavements to get there. IMO far better to start again in a location easy to reach by car with ample parking. It's only poor people that don't use cars.

[thaibeachlovers]

I disagree with the logic expressed in the article why Pantip is going "up-market". I have been there so many times to buy the odd electronic gadget, or sometimes even white goods. I went there because I knew I would find it there. Although I have purchased full systems there, never an upgrading part, although I know this was a large part of the business.

I believe the plaza update is just a grab for cash. The entrepreneurs are at it again. But I think they have left their run a bit late, my bet, it wont be there in 5 years. This country is on the economic razor's edge. You can smell it in the air like ozone.

This country is on the economic razor's edge

Perhaps in Bkk, but Bkk is not "Thailand". Up north nothing much has changed and if people are wasting money in 7 11 instead of buying it cheaper in the market you know people have got enough money. Also, too many damn cars on the roads, so that indicates people have confidence in the future to be buying them.

However, if the drought does not break you may be right, but not, IMO, for the reasons you mean.

[Bakseeda]

The Thai techies go to Fortune Town, not Panthip.

Obviously you are new to Bangkok....

[thailandforumaddict]

Obviously you are just born as you do not know that 90% of shops at Pantip and Fortune have the same owner...

But yes many people still dream awake that fortune is for locals and pantip for tourists: ridiculous

The Thai techies go to Fortune Town, not Panthip.

Obviously you are new to Bangkok....

[Langsuan Man]

Panthip, the computer geeks Thermae

[MusV]

I have been in Panthip yesterday and ... happily found my favorite HW Shop Panasonics CO.LTD (you cant get a better price for original's) still there, some other's (the best repair shop on the M Floor for sample) gone, moved or will moving (Pink Computer) to Platinum 4th Floor.

Customer Service still provided in Panthip and possible still in the building, just moved to another place or floor.

Have a try ...

The best happen to me ... the new Burger King on my walk to Panthip (about 300 from Panthip direction to Central junction) ... I love it ...

[jadee]

I stopped going to Pantip for software about 6 years ago when I discovered pirate bay and about 3 years ago I discovered aliexpress for all the parts and accessories I need, with free (albeit slow) shipping to Thailand.

[Cheesekraft]

I find most things can be ordered online, including shipping and customs, for less than the prices at shops in Pantip. No major loss here.

[professor21]

yeah the job they did at Rangist was TERRIBLE, my screen wires failed after one month