Bangkok

moreland · #1 29-04-2006, 19:03

Hey guys..

I'll be heading to LOS for the 1st time in two weeks from now (3 nights in Bangkok, 11 nights in Samui and 4 nights in Pattaya). I was hoping to get some advice on what people think is reasonable in terms of what they pay for when shopping. (Ive been told Bangkok has the cheapest prices.)

The following is a brief list of items Im looking at getting:

Quality shoes (eg. diesel), jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts, belts, sunglasses, watches, tailored business shirts, business shoes etc.

Im aware that what you pay is relative to how well you barter, however Im interested in peoples opinions on what prices are reasonable.

If anyone has a comprehensive listing on shopping prices even better!

I appreciate any advice.

Cheers
Moreland

LivinLOS · #2 29-04-2006, 20:14

The thing is there is vast differences in quality and if things are copys or domestically produced or not..

Sunglasses can be 100 baht up to 20,000 for my oakleys..

T shirts 100 baht for Thai knock offs up to the sky for real imported designer labels..

Jeans 500 (maybe up to 800 depending on style) baht for good (presume copy) diesel etc logo'ed jeans.. Nice price but small sizes and thin tropical weight denim, good summer stuff but not good for Euro winters.. Hard to find jeans for my 36+ inside leg here..

Watches.. Naff copys for 500 baht.. Good enough copies for non watch fans 1500 - 2000.. The best of the best rolex copies with jeweled movements and papers can be 6k or more..

Tailored suits.. Suits and shirts etc can be done for 4000 baht but quality improves a lot if you spend a bit more.. spending up to a max of 10 or 12k will get real superb quality but good luck finding the right places.. I just had a suit pants waistcoat and shirt made for 3500.. Could have been 2500 I think but I wanted the expensive linen..

Smart shoes start at maybe 500 or so and go up to many 1000's for imported names. Again fine up to size 10 or 11 (US size).. Gets a bit thinner at 12 and nearly impossible for my brother (13/14)..

moreland · #3 02-05-2006, 16:10

Thanks . Makes a lot of sense I guess, the amount of fakes and differences in quality effecting the price.

I was also hoping to get hold of some decent quality bed linen while in BKK..say 400 thread count...wondering what kind of price id be looking at and where to find it???

A friend of mine recently went to Bali and managed to get a detailed 'what to pay' price list of a whole heap of items sold at the markets. Ive looked high and low but just cant seem to find the same for BKK.

If anyone has come across such a list id love to hear about it.

aussie dollar · #4 02-05-2006, 18:12

bali vs thailand quality,still have some dress polo shirts i bought in patong in 1999 still after many washes are like new(cant fit into them again yet but back in training).
bali shirts fell apart within 6-12 months, so also look at quality when buying.
have found the large shopping malls in bangkok have market areas with fixed prices and are competive with what prices you get at street markets,without the haggling(still try can get them cheaper than fixed price 20 to 30 % off)

Bobby · #5 03-05-2006, 16:48

Be careful, most places are closed in Pratunam on week-ends. Pratunam is the best placefor shopping. I bought some polo shirts for 70B/ shirt and 3 years after, there are still nice !

LivinLOS · #6 03-05-2006, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

bali vs thailand quality,still have some dress polo shirts i bought in patong in 1999 still after many washes are like new(cant fit into them again yet but back in training).
bali shirts fell apart within 6-12 months, so also look at quality when buying.
have found the large shopping malls in bangkok have market areas with fixed prices and are competive with what prices you get at street markets,without the haggling(still try can get them cheaper than fixed price 20 to 30 % off)

Thats odd.. I am wearing a pair of quicksilver shorts I bought in Bali in 96 / 97 !! I have lots of stuff still left over from that tour.. Nothing I have bought in Thailand (clothes wise) has lasted that loing..

Bali does have lots of surf stuff that reral clothes but out the back of the indo factory doors.. Cheap slightly moody but real deal..

mars · #7 03-05-2006, 23:23

Bangkok Bobs website is pretty good for shopping info

http://www.bangkokbob.net/shopping.htm

aussie dollar · #8 04-05-2006, 03:55

LivinLOS I was last in bali in 1998 so maybe quality has changed since then,still feels like yesterday

(dont think quicksilver were avaiable then!!)
the cheap t-shirts from thailand I find arent much good but what do you expect for 100 baht.

LivinLOS · #9 04-05-2006, 11:52

I was there either 96 to 98 cant remember now.. Will be back this summer..

100 baht = 2.5 USD.. My bro reckons real stussy / surfwear T's are 4 or 5 USD for not copy stuff.. Will probably go with empty bags as got much better selection and quality there than here..

flysti · #10 04-05-2006, 18:04

PratuNam, and JJ Markets on Saturday & Sundays are the best, cheaper than MBK,

What I found in MBK

Sunnies: 200 up
Jeans "Diesel" 750 up for a good stich, hard to find a good fit 36.
T-shirts, 200 baht, long sleeve and short.
Jumpers: 500 Baht up.
Shorts: Demin shorts: 400, normal surf shorts 200
Watches: dont bother here.
Shoes: For some nice business shoes, you can pick up 3 pairs for 4000 on the first floor of MBK, good quailty, cork soles.
Sneakers, first floor again, small shop there near the KFC entry turn left you will see it. I picked up a pair of Reeboks for 1,500. Full legit shop having a big sale at the moment so bigger sizes are rare.

Bangkok seems rather expensive compared to Phuket for clothes, shoes the lot.

JJ markets, basically take 30 percent for the same things, becareful as they sell a lot of 2nd hand jeans and shoes there!

Happy shopping!

africanw · #11 07-05-2006, 23:21

For good retail shopping go to Siam Square.

There are a few big shopping centres there. When I was there in Dec a new one had just been built called Paragon or something.

Bobby · #12 08-05-2006, 12:29

Confirmation for Pratunam on week-end:
The shopping malls are open but most shops in the covered market close on saturday and sunday.

ElectrO · #13 08-05-2006, 14:11

I would never buy copied sunglasses. None of these are UV protected. You are just going to damage your eyes. Who cares if they "look good" because we all know they are copies, and so its not a real image thing.

I actually own original RB's but if you go into any good opticians, or even go to Tesco's you can buy really good looking sunglasses which ARE UV protected from 100 baht.

E

Bobby · #14 09-05-2006, 00:08

Yes, you're right Alfie! The market in the street is open on week-ends and crowded. I'm a little bit confused as I think you were referring to the covered sois which, IMO, are more interesting.
It could be Pratunam Shopping Center.... Honestly, I never knew the name

. But it's the covered market next to Baiyoke tower. A kind of labyrinth where you can get lost quickly (a kind of Big Bazaar for people who know Istanbul, but only packed with clothes). It's usually crowded by thai people. I've rarely seen farangs there except a few tourists. The shops inside sell only clothes and prices are clearely indicated so no need to bargain. Most of the time, there are special offers if you take more than 1 piece.
Next to it are the shopping malls (just a street to cross).
Just outside is a kind of indian tailor. My frind bought 1 pair of shorts there for 400 B (hi quality) and is really happy with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfie

I think you are talking about Pratunam Shopping Canter Bobby.
...

froggone · #15 04-06-2006, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectrO

I would never buy copied sunglasses. None of these are UV protected. You are just going to damage your eyes. Who cares if they "look good" because we all know they are copies, and so its not a real image thing.

I actually own original RB's but if you go into any good opticians, or even go to Tesco's you can buy really good looking sunglasses which ARE UV protected from 100 baht.

E

I agree. Never buy nock-off sunglasses you do not know what UV protection they have...if any at all.

I shop at MBK. It is where a lot of Thais shop as well so it is quite cheap. You have everything under one roof. Some things i bought:

Italian leather boots: 3500 baht
Cargos : 600Baht
Diesel knock offs (thik denim) - 650 baht (which included cuff taken up on the spot.
Leather wallet 280baht
Polo knock-offs - 200bht
Singha shirts 170baht

The trick is to keep argaining until they won't go down any further. Sometimes it pays to put it down and walk away....most times they will call you back with a better price.

Do not bother going to Patpong markets...it is a total rip off.

Also, dont go pass the Thai Department stores which sell name labels. You can't bargain in these stores however the prices are a fraction of what you would pay in western countries and the quality is great!

They have great shirts, polos, shoes and pants. Some things i bought:

Jeep polo 1000bht
Pinstrip white dress shirt made in italy 1000bht
snake leather slip ons (slippers) 890bht
belts 280bht
pierre cardin underware 170 baht

They have great jewellery as well. You just have to know what you want and compare prices in western countries.

frog