Electronic Shopping Areas / Malls

[alohatiger]

I'm kind of sick of Pantip Plaza, with all the sleazy touts spouting "Mp3 Cd DVD sex vcd" and grabbing my arm. Also, I've found that Pantip is NOT the lowest price. Seems they have raised the rents and the landlords are making all the cash, thus forcing the folks at Pantip to sell hard to survive.

So, Pantip's not the bargain it is anymore. I've also heard of several scams there, but I really don't know the accuracy of the reports, or how widespread. Could only be isolated incidents, or not. What I heard: there were "bag-slicers" that would slice the bottom of bags and steal their contents without you even noticing! That's why I have a nice tough bag! Hard to slice!

And I also heard that some places may fix your computer, or install whatever, but they can also swap your electronics for cheaper, low-grade electronics, then hawk your brand name stuff! True or not! I hope it's very untrue.

But could you please tell me where I can go and get a fair price without getting gouged. They just love me when they see me, and sometimes charge 10x the going rate. I hate that.

I would like a full-service computer / electronic center that charges fair prices and offers everything everyone else has. And the sleaze is ignorable, but I'd rather not be bombarded by sex-video touts either.

There's some new IT city in the north, north of Mochit called Laksa?

Any others will be GREATLY appreciated. Old Siam? Near Chinatown somewhere?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU For your input!

Alohas and mahalos,

Alohatiger

[backflip]

"fair price without getting gouged"

You posted that you've already found a place with better prices. Are the prices "fair" there? I'm sure you've tried "Big C" and MBK, but you felt you were being gouged. You have to learn how to negotiate a price that is "fair" to you, without anger or desperation, and walk away if you don't like the deal.

Since you've heard about the "bag slicers", I'm certain you've also heard about the jewelry scam, the real estate scam, the "sick water buffalo" scam, the Immigration scam, the Customs scam, and the "if-you-don't carry-your-passport-you'll be-sorry-scam". Bangkok, at least for some people, is a very scary place.

[JSixpack]

Seacon Square/Seri Center and Fortune City offer much pleasanter shopping experience and I go there for most of my computer needs and DVDs. However, Panthip is the largest and has the most variety and, er, character. For high-end stuff or esoteric repairs, Panthip is the place. I miss the "hidden Panthip" of small shops at the back of most floors.

Prices at the small "chain" stores are pretty much the same everywhere in Thailand. Bargaining is the rule at the independents. Panthip attracts more ignorant tourists, so there is some tendency to charge a tourist markup. However, if you know how to bargain or have a Thai proxy, you shouldn't get ripped off.

[kiwi fishing bangkok]

next time someone asks "sexy DVD" say yes you will sell him some for 500BHT each then aks for the money "come on 500BHT now" hassel him, give him what he has been giving all the other tourists, they just dont know what to do and want nothing to do with the CRAZY FARANG! (really funny if you do it with a twiching head! look like a crazy geek!)

for some strange reason I now walk through pantip and get no hassel!!!

as for the cost, ask the price at one shop then go to another and ask how much, tell them you get it cheaper at "that shop over there", if you play three of four shops off against each other you will get a good price.

all of this makes for a fun time shopping at pantip, my family laugh when I stalk the "sexy dvd" sellers!!

now all that read this please please take the time to hassel the people hasseling you, and set a new standard! fight fire with fire!

got a problem with a tuk tuk driver, just wont leave you alone, tell him ok you will go with him, watch the smile on the tuk tuk drivers face, he is thinking "another Farang sucker", now its time to wipe the smile off his face, when he asks where you want to go point to the shop next to you, ask how much to go there.

ok now he is worried, point to the shop again and ask "how much Baht there" he will say something like 10 baht, say "good ok give me 10 baht" he is realy worried now, so hassel him!! "come on ten baht now!!"

when he starts to walk down the street, follow him a little saying "cip baht karp"

I have found it is better to do this than say NO twenty times and have it ruin my time, so I turn it around and have some fun! Thailand is a great place to be!

[alohatiger]

For some reason you and I kiwi fishing bangkok are on the same wave-length. It is just so time-consuming and frustrating dealing with the touts. They really sap strength and spoil the experience. I've gotten rude (not a good thing) and almost backhand the touts when they grab my arm (ready for a swat!) NOT a good thing! Luckily, they know I'm only joking. [Do NOT try this at HOME!]

And I've decided, you've got to be quicker on the draw. Have an idea of the real cost BEFORE saying hello, and then blurt out the real cost or a bit lower immediately. Cuts the negotiation time short, because you interrupt their dreams of whisky and dancing girls with a real price. If you're good, you should never ask, "How much?"

If you don't know, you can offer a ridiculously low price, but you've got to be in the right area at the right time. Tourist traps during high season, most folks won't budge, even when two weeks ago you were their best friend. They've just got bigger suckers that they'll hold out for. Less work for more money! The Thai tout way.

You're right, SEACON square is quite nice and I'll check out Fortune City!

[mark lamai]

yep,

fortune city is much smaller and nicer and has almost everything you could want.

there's a new one on the corner of Vibhavadi-Rangsit rd and Chaeng Wattana rd.

looks big but havent been in there.

some shops at Rangsit mall but not worth the effort.

repairs i have had at both pantip and fortune have both been a rip-off.

quick fixes, substandard parts and full on pricing.

luckily i drive a mac so fixes are done very well by the real service centre.

Around Th. Atsadang (Chinatown) there electronics and audio, second hand cameras and tools and musical instruments, army surplus and shiny vinyl boots, its an interesting walk if you like that kinda stuff.

the pro style PA audio is a lot cheaper there than anywhere lese i have seen.

but no computers.

[bino]

I gave up on Pantip a long time ago... hate the traffic and parking situation there.

Fortune Center is good. It has just about everything you can imagine, and reasonable prices. If you walk out of the IT Mall and into the "hallways" running down to the hotel end of the building, there are a lot of high end stereo shops, electronic supply places, secondhand shops and more.

IT Square in the old Laksi Plaza has become my new favorite- largely because it is reasonably close to home for me. There is a large array of shops there, and because it hasn't really taken off yet, the merchants are hungry for deals and good prices can be had there.

Zeer Rangsit is good also- quite big, lots of "intersting / specialty" shops.

Also worthy of mention is Tawanna IT Center in Bag Kapi. Medium sized and great prices.

There are reasonable IT Centers in Future Park and Imperial Lad Prao... considerably smaller than all of the above, but if you happen to be in these places for something else, they are convenient.

Best of all, these places have easy access and lots of parking! (Except Tawanna- need to park next door at the Mall Bang Kapi.)

[griser]

I also think Zeer Rangsit is nice, out by the airport tho, on the way to dreamworld. There is a new one that opened up about 2 months ago, Its called Pantip II. Don't let the name put you off. its nothing like Pantip. no touts. just abunch of computer shops with nice prices.

Its located about 500 meters past The Mall ngam wong won on the right if your coming from the city.

Greg

[Nikkijah]

If it's a PC with after-sales service you're after then I've seen an Acer store just outside of town, maybe someone knows where I'm talking about

The problem I've heard about a lot of the sellers in Pantip and some of the smaller stores is problems with after-sales service...

Good luck!

[kiwi fishing bangkok]

help,

I got through alot of Photo paper and card, I need to buy about 500 A4 sheets to get me through this month,

where is the best place to buy paper, please dont just say pantip as I have worked that place from top to bottom!

any help on this would be great, as I am paying just about enough to support a Thai family for a month just for paper!!

[kiwi fishing bangkok]

forgot to say photo paper, not copy paper!

also the spelling is bad but I blame alohatiger as there was no sleep last night, we were fishing all night and there was some drinking going on as a noticed a couple of dead wiskey bottles in the morning light!

It was a good night BUT swimming under the bungalows at 3.30am for 15 minutes to free the line is what some would call "a wake up call". I NOW HAVE BIG TEETH MARKS IN MY NEW ROD!!!!! I still blame alohatiger

all I was thinking was ALLIGATOR GAR,

http://www.mosportsmen.com/fishing/gatorgar/mouthone.jpg

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/ans/graphics/alligatorgar_sm.jpg