All visitors to Thailand should remember to be nice and respectful to all Thai service people in retail and restaurants. They are just trying to earn a living as most Thais earn less than $600 a month. I have seen plenty of rude and arrogant tourist treat the Thai people disrespectfully (especially from "certain countries" or cultures). As Cal said, be nice and have fun.
Yes. Especially the ones who rip you off and scam you. They deserve respect like they gave to you. Visitor to poor country giving them your money, BE NICER
Great video mate. I’ve been coming to Thailand regularly for 20+ years. I find with shopping malls, sometimes you can build up a rapport with a seller. There’s one guy in Pattaya who always tells me ‘this is quality number 1’ or ‘this is quality number 2’ and yeah the lower quality stuff can fall apart super fast. Even within the fakes there’s many layers of quality.
Definitely. It’s best to chat a while. Quality differences are huge. Some are pretty much the exact same as authentic goods, and normally from the same factories… while others are much more noticeable cheap fakes. Finding a good seller is very important. Cheers!
Pretty much accurate info, based on my 25+ years of living in Thailand. Some observations - the eye test they give you is basic to say the least. I was checked at the company you mentioned and they failed to diagnose my cataracts. I spent 5000 on glasses that made no difference to my vision. And as you say, NO REFUND. Had surgery and was then able to buy reading glasses in the mall for 150. On refunds, I read once of a customer at one chain store who bought shoes and the sole came loose the next day. The store refused a refund, he insisted, and they called the police. Customer service, Thai-style. However, I once bought a laptop pc at what was then Tesco, it came with Linux (not specified before sale) and they refunded my credit card the next day. Finally, clothing. My preference is to buy cheap 100-200 baht shirts or shorts, and if they start looking a bit rough after a few months then I buy new. Nice to change the wardrobe regularly. I did once buy a genuine Nike shirt for my wife and it was still good 20 years later. You pay your money and take your choice. That's the great thing about Thai shopping - you do have a choice.
Thanks for sharing this tips, i always enjoy your contents. They are concise, factual without clip bating, at least in my observation. Keep up the great work brother.
Hi good video thanks for the updates I have been travelling to Thailand for 20 years now. Now I am taking early retirement moving to Thailand early next year.
I got the fake airpod pros at mbk. I knew they were fake but made the mistake of letting the seller play his music. It was bass heavy and actually made the airpods sound good, but when I played youtube through them, it sounded muffled. The other thing that worries me is wondering if the fake bluetooth hacked my phone somehow. I also got cheap sunglasses at floating market, they didn’t even last 4 hours. But I also got some good products from Bankok too. Im currently in Krabi.
Yeah. I found the fake products often were quite low quality. I prefer to just buy more local brands as the quality is often much better while prices are low.
Good advice for first time visitors/shoppers. I prefer to seek out actual THAI vendors. MBK and many stall markets teem with non-Thai sellers. I like to put my money in Thai hands. i ask, "Are you the owner?" (that is, not an employee of a non-Thai).
Nice one! For electronics you might find cheaper prices than in Europe because of the lower VAT in Thailand. Then getting the VAT back at the airport is a bit tricky.. because you need to get it stamped BEFORE passing immigration and sometimes the queue is super long and you might have to run to catch your flight!
Thanks for this. You just made me laugh. In Australia where we are currently based I’m an S sometimes XS but when I get to Thailand I’m more like an M lol. It’s much easier for me to find clothes that fit when I’m in Bangkok. However, for my husband it’s much harder 😂 What always makes me laugh is the “one size fits all” in most markets like Chatuchak or Pratunam and there’s no way to try on. I love going there but more for the atmosphere and practice speaking Thai rather than buying clothes. I’m sure a lot of people who’ve not travelled to Thailand before will find this video really useful. It’s well presented and entertaining as usual 😊
Thanks for the kind words. I always have a laugh at the one size fits all as well. I take a look around me and I’m like nope… it most definitely does not include me 😂
MBK is my jam! Lol If you want the higher quality fakes, you need to go into the backs of these shops. Many have hidden rooms, or the sellers will take you to a hidden room where the good fakes are.
Size matters. I actually bought jeans that had wrong size labels (W/L in inches). Luckily, got them exchanged the next day saying I just needed a bigger size. So I now don't go trouser shopping in Thailand without a tape measure.
I have been going to Bangkok for more than 40 years. I get even vat refund in groceries 😊 we are always in a group of 5 sisters so we put together all our purchases on the same day to get the vat minimum purchase. I don’t like to buy fake branded products, I would rather buy those without the fake branded name products. With regards to clothes locally made, I ask the seller to measure the chest or waistline, or bring your own tape measure because many shops do not allow you to fit the clothes.
I was just there at Siam Paragon (and MBK) 2 days ago. A Ralph Lauren jacket costs almost double what I would pay in America for the exact same thing. I did find a few luxury fragrance brands to be a bit cheaper, yet others more expensive.
@@gerrytime3403 A couple of years ago I got a Casamorati (Xerjoff) a bit cheaper from Atelier De Prestige Iconsiam. IIRC, their Maison Crivelli and Frederic Malle were a bit cheaper. I think their Creed and Kilian were way more expensive. Just a tip, some of the niche/designer fragrance brands in Emsphere are having a 20% off promo sale (Tiziana Terezeni, Byredo, and a few others) for a short time. This trip I was on a hunt for niche Thai perfume and found exactly what I was looking for with Prin (Skonx @Central World).
I went looking for a computer bag in Bangkok in January this year . After going through all the bag shops along Sukhumvit road , i found one i liked . I asked how much and i was told 1500 . I offered 1000 and the woman said i will sell it to you for 1200 . I again said i will give you 1000 and she agreed . It pays to stick to your guns when it comes to haggling
The VAT only applies at a certain amount and up. Do not buy fake goods at the market, as they will likely confiscated by your country’s customs enforcement.
funny thing is what is consider original and fake? if the same product were made in the same factory, I bough two different pants before and they're identical, made from the same country and same material only difference is one has GAP logo 😂
Hi i got a very good tip to on what not to buy in a mall. Every mall in thailand you can see manny booths where they sell electronic cheap. manny different booths. They sell phones and they can also fix your phone if your screen is broken or if the back on your phone is broken. I recomend that you never go to anny of the places and fix your phones. They are using only stolen parts from different phones around the world. You can actually see people in uk stealing phones and shipping them to other countries. All this places in all shopping mall uses stolen parts on your phone. And when you are coming back to your country and want to report it to your insurance company. You will not get no money or no help. Because now your phone uses stolen part and have another emai number. I did break the back of my phone. And i did go to a place to fix it. When i got back home i contacted my insurance and i was told that this phone was not mine, but did belong to a person in brazil. so never go to that places to fix your phones. they are also selling lots of phones and tablets. Are they stolen before?
Very good information. I am curious now too... there is a growing problem of phone theft and pickpocketing here too! I will add this information to a future video as it's very helpful.
I order online a lot. Never really had any issues… with the exception of a popcorn maker that simply didn’t turn on. Returned that. But the story doesn’t surprise me 😅
I ordered a refurbished cell phone online, the package arrived...I paid and there were 3 rolls of toilet paper inside...the sender was illegible...Shit
That’s a tough one to answer. You could survive on $100 or spend $5000… depends on your lifestyle! But credit cards are widely accepted, but often have a minimum spend. Enjoy the trip!
all clothes you buy in any mall unless its made in original factory are not true i have bought clothes in markets all over thailand for many years and are perfect last for years mall clothes are twice as expensive for same quality
Ya I think it will really depend on each country and the exchange rates. As a rule, it’s normally not necessarily cheaper here but it definitely can be! I probably should have been clearer that it differ depending on your home country and it’s best to compare the price! Cheers
Thai local manufactured things and food = no import tax = alot more affordable And for fakes u have different tiers of quality. Highest quality "fakes" is stuff that ARE from the original factories but "fell of a truck". There are no reason to go to Thailand with full suitcases..U can find ANYTHING u need probably alot more affordable and often better quality for the climate.
MBK...I don't know why...the sellers used to be Thais...now 95% are Pakistanis or from Bangladesh...most of them can't speak Thai...What's going on there...
Nothing new for me know these kind of things for years, funny the Top Charoen stores I always look if they customers and 99% I walk past one of their shops I never see any customers. For wearing glasses of contact lenses there is one exception if you wear hard contact lenses you out of luck everywhere in Thailand they don't have any cleaning products of it and they don't sell hard contact lenses either. Come on everyone know these days that luxury shopping malls with high end brand names are expensive all over the world nothing new their but you right in Thailand they are even more expensive. The Watson and Boots are not fake in MBK same as the gold shops only the small watches, clothes and bag shop are fake but you know it by the cheap prices compare to the real ones. Buying too quickly is all over the world nothing to do with Thailand just look first where ever you are. In my country I have be careful with clothes sizes also sometimes M sometimes L🙂
Good points. I think that once you've been here for a little while it's all very familiar. When I first came, I definitely didn't know enough.. the no refunds one caught me.
Yeah it’s a bit jumpy due to frame rate and overexposed. New camera and I think I accidentally tweaked the settings while shooting 👀😅 but I’ll take the compliment! Cheers
All visitors to Thailand should remember to be nice and respectful to all Thai service people in retail and restaurants. They are just trying to earn a living as most Thais earn less than $600 a month. I have seen plenty of rude and arrogant tourist treat the Thai people disrespectfully (especially from "certain countries" or cultures). As Cal said, be nice and have fun.
I agree ☝️ thanks for the input!
Yes. Especially the ones who rip you off and scam you.
They deserve respect like they gave to you. Visitor to poor country giving them your money, BE NICER
I'm hooked to your content! Really good and realistic advice!!
Thank you for the kind words! Cheers
10 years ago, I bought a fake Ralph lauren, believing to have made " une affaire"... but incredible, this shirt is still alive. Very good quality :)
You must have found one of the good quality ones. They definitely exist too! Cheers
Great video mate. I’ve been coming to Thailand regularly for 20+ years. I find with shopping malls, sometimes you can build up a rapport with a seller. There’s one guy in Pattaya who always tells me ‘this is quality number 1’ or ‘this is quality number 2’ and yeah the lower quality stuff can fall apart super fast. Even within the fakes there’s many layers of quality.
Definitely. It’s best to chat a while. Quality differences are huge. Some are pretty much the exact same as authentic goods, and normally from the same factories… while others are much more noticeable cheap fakes. Finding a good seller is very important. Cheers!
Pretty much accurate info, based on my 25+ years of living in Thailand. Some observations - the eye test they give you is basic to say the least. I was checked at the company you mentioned and they failed to diagnose my cataracts. I spent 5000 on glasses that made no difference to my vision. And as you say, NO REFUND. Had surgery and was then able to buy reading glasses in the mall for 150.
On refunds, I read once of a customer at one chain store who bought shoes and the sole came loose the next day. The store refused a refund, he insisted, and they called the police. Customer service, Thai-style. However, I once bought a laptop pc at what was then Tesco, it came with Linux (not specified before sale) and they refunded my credit card the next day.
Finally, clothing. My preference is to buy cheap 100-200 baht shirts or shorts, and if they start looking a bit rough after a few months then I buy new. Nice to change the wardrobe regularly. I did once buy a genuine Nike shirt for my wife and it was still good 20 years later. You pay your money and take your choice. That's the great thing about Thai shopping - you do have a choice.
Thanks for the kind words. I agree with you on the refund policy. Seems fairly haphazard. Thanks for the input!
Thank you your videos are so informative. Moving to Thailand next year. So l am learning everything I can.
Glad it's helpful! Good luck planning the move.
Thanks for sharing this tips, i always enjoy your contents. They are concise, factual without clip bating, at least in my observation. Keep up the great work brother.
Thanks for the kind words. I try to avoid the click bait. Cheers
Hi good video thanks for the updates I have been travelling to Thailand for 20 years now. Now I am taking early retirement moving to Thailand early next year.
Thanks for the kind words and good plan! Cheers!
Good advice, MBK Shopping centre is very nice, spend wisely by taking time and bargaining.
I enjoy the environment there. Always a little chaotic. Cheers!
11k views and only 346 people chose to give you a like? Criminal. Commenting for the algorithm. Nice channel, you got a new subscriber.
Thanks for the kind words! People holding onto those likes 😅
Appreciate the truth bombs !! Had no idea you can't return things there. Dually noted.
Glad it’s helpful! Cheers
I’ve been coming to thailand for 27 years. Lots of good tips for newbies…
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
I got the fake airpod pros at mbk. I knew they were fake but made the mistake of letting the seller play his music. It was bass heavy and actually made the airpods sound good, but when I played youtube through them, it sounded muffled. The other thing that worries me is wondering if the fake bluetooth hacked my phone somehow.
I also got cheap sunglasses at floating market, they didn’t even last 4 hours.
But I also got some good products from Bankok too.
Im currently in Krabi.
Yeah. I found the fake products often were quite low quality. I prefer to just buy more local brands as the quality is often much better while prices are low.
Good advice for first time visitors/shoppers. I prefer to seek out actual THAI vendors. MBK and many stall markets teem with non-Thai sellers. I like to put my money in Thai hands. i ask, "Are you the owner?" (that is, not an employee of a non-Thai).
Very noble of you 😂
This is true. It can be similar in many markets. Very different sales approach as well as Thai sellers are generally more relaxed
Nice one! For electronics you might find cheaper prices than in Europe because of the lower VAT in Thailand. Then getting the VAT back at the airport is a bit tricky.. because you need to get it stamped BEFORE passing immigration and sometimes the queue is super long and you might have to run to catch your flight!
Good points. I agree ☝️
Thanks for this. You just made me laugh. In Australia where we are currently based I’m an S sometimes XS but when I get to Thailand I’m more like an M lol. It’s much easier for me to find clothes that fit when I’m in Bangkok. However, for my husband it’s much harder 😂
What always makes me laugh is the “one size fits all” in most markets like Chatuchak or Pratunam and there’s no way to try on. I love going there but more for the atmosphere and practice speaking Thai rather than buying clothes.
I’m sure a lot of people who’ve not travelled to Thailand before will find this video really useful. It’s well presented and entertaining as usual 😊
Thanks for the kind words. I always have a laugh at the one size fits all as well. I take a look around me and I’m like nope… it most definitely does not include me 😂
Thumbs up 👍 Cal
🙏
MBK is my jam! Lol
If you want the higher quality fakes, you need to go into the backs of these shops. Many have hidden rooms, or the sellers will take you to a hidden room where the good fakes are.
Correct. Definitely very different levels of quality on offer. Thanks for the advice!
Great channel. New sub!
Thanks for the kind words! Cheers
Size matters. I actually bought jeans that had wrong size labels (W/L in inches). Luckily, got them exchanged the next day saying I just needed a bigger size. So I now don't go trouser shopping in Thailand without a tape measure.
Definitely. I recommend always trying on the clothes first. Fits can be all over the place when it comes to size!
I have been going to Bangkok for more than 40 years. I get even vat refund in groceries 😊 we are always in a group of 5 sisters so we put together all our purchases on the same day to get the vat minimum purchase. I don’t like to buy fake branded products, I would rather buy those without the fake branded name products. With regards to clothes locally made, I ask the seller to measure the chest or waistline, or bring your own tape measure because many shops do not allow you to fit the clothes.
Good tips! Cheers!
I was just there at Siam Paragon (and MBK) 2 days ago. A Ralph Lauren jacket costs almost double what I would pay in America for the exact same thing. I did find a few luxury fragrance brands to be a bit cheaper, yet others more expensive.
I find the US can be the cheapest for most name brand products. Economy of scale and lack of tariffs.
What fragrance brands I'm curious I usually find the fragrances are more expensive.
@@thebangkokguide Luckily, Ralph Lauren is a US brand, it seems everywhere else has a crazy mark up on it. Even the UK.
@@gerrytime3403 A couple of years ago I got a Casamorati (Xerjoff) a bit cheaper from Atelier De Prestige Iconsiam. IIRC, their Maison Crivelli and Frederic Malle were a bit cheaper. I think their Creed and Kilian were way more expensive. Just a tip, some of the niche/designer fragrance brands in Emsphere are having a 20% off promo sale (Tiziana Terezeni, Byredo, and a few others) for a short time. This trip I was on a hunt for niche Thai perfume and found exactly what I was looking for with Prin (Skonx @Central World).
@@Hrangue What is your opinion on the local fragrances I haven't explored too much of it?
Great tips!
Thanks 🙏
Good vlog ❤
Thank you 🙏
Always fun to see your posts 😅😅😅😅
Cheers! Thanks for the kind words
Need a vlog on where to buy big boy clothes. Took forever to find shirts in MBK that fit. And that was a few years and a few pounds ago.
That's a good idea. I think that would be helpful. Cheers
I went looking for a computer bag in Bangkok in January this year . After going through all the bag shops along Sukhumvit road , i found one i liked . I asked how much and i was told 1500 . I offered 1000 and the woman said i will sell it to you for 1200 . I again said i will give you 1000 and she agreed . It pays to stick to your guns when it comes to haggling
This is the right approach.
The VAT only applies at a certain amount and up.
Do not buy fake goods at the market, as they will likely confiscated by your country’s customs enforcement.
That’s a good point! That’s for the input! Cheers
Thais love it when westerners wear their brands !!! So get a Warrix shirt !!! It's only 8-10 $ / 300-400,- THB . A large is 3XL ...
Forgive my typo😂
However, thanks for the subtle correction ❤. True Canadian 😂
As a Canadian I am sorry that you went by the Tim Hortons as you came out of MBK and did not show it.
Haha fair point. Tim’s has become very popular here!
Good one! 😂😂😂😂
Depending on what country you are from , glasses can be very expensive. Imported components can be subject to punnishing import duties.
True. But local brands are very inexpensive.
funny thing is what is consider original and fake? if the same product were made in the same factory, I bough two different pants before and they're identical, made from the same country and same material only difference is one has GAP logo 😂
Very accurate. Most of the factories essentially operate shadow factories at night or next door producing the fakes.
Hi i got a very good tip to on what not to buy in a mall. Every mall in thailand you can see manny booths where they sell electronic cheap. manny different booths. They sell phones and they can also fix your phone if your screen is broken or if the back on your phone is broken. I recomend that you never go to anny of the places and fix your phones. They are using only stolen parts from different phones around the world. You can actually see people in uk stealing phones and shipping them to other countries. All this places in all shopping mall uses stolen parts on your phone. And when you are coming back to your country and want to report it to your insurance company. You will not get no money or no help. Because now your phone uses stolen part and have another emai number. I did break the back of my phone. And i did go to a place to fix it. When i got back home i contacted my insurance and i was told that this phone was not mine, but did belong to a person in brazil. so never go to that places to fix your phones. they are also selling lots of phones and tablets. Are they stolen before?
Very good information. I am curious now too... there is a growing problem of phone theft and pickpocketing here too! I will add this information to a future video as it's very helpful.
Purchased a fake Nintendo game system..in South Africa called golden china years ago..superb purchase it was..
Sounds like a solid buy! Cheers
Good advice, now show me worst mistakes shopping on walking street.
That one is coming 😅 Cheers
How does ur mic cancel out noise so well?
It's a pretty good mic. DJI. I run it through Logic Pro after... have come up with a decent set of settings that do a good job! Just trial and error!
What about shopping online? I had a Thai order a DVD player for me. The player arrived without a cord going to the TV and the remote was for a TV.
I order online a lot. Never really had any issues… with the exception of a popcorn maker that simply didn’t turn on. Returned that. But the story doesn’t surprise me 😅
I ordered a refurbished cell phone online, the package arrived...I paid and there were 3 rolls of toilet paper inside...the sender was illegible...Shit
Question, can you claim vat on those counterfeit goods from mbk?
No, they normally won’t provide a VAT receipt.
@@thebangkokguide yes apparently is only participating stores with a signage. Like in Singapore.
nice
Thanks!
So would you say even name brands that are made in China and Indonesia are more expensive in Thailand than in the US? Like Nike or similar brands?
Or are you just talking about fancy brands made in the West?
The US will be cheaper for almost any name brand product due to the size of the market and lack of import tariffs or taxes.
@@thebangkokguide sounds good, thanks!
how much cash do I need for 3 days ? are credit card accepted mainly ?
That’s a tough one to answer. You could survive on $100 or spend $5000… depends on your lifestyle! But credit cards are widely accepted, but often have a minimum spend. Enjoy the trip!
You can be a wierdo,just be a friendly and polite wierdo.
Can be more interesting that way.
Funny
Nobody likes a dangerous weirdo.
Is there a time limit on claiming the vat tax?
Great question. It's actually 60 days. I should have added that. Cheers!
How Long you being in Bangkok. How we both Chat Personally 😊
I have lived here for 9 years. Long time!
all clothes you buy in any mall unless its made in original factory are not true i have bought clothes in markets all over thailand for many years and are perfect last for years mall clothes are twice as expensive for same quality
I bought Iphone 14 Pro cheaper in Thailand than in Europe 😉
Ya I think it will really depend on each country and the exchange rates. As a rule, it’s normally not necessarily cheaper here but it definitely can be! I probably should have been clearer that it differ depending on your home country and it’s best to compare the price! Cheers
I wish i get a job in Thailand
Cal I don't think countries should return the tax Thailand needs the money since it has a big deficit
Fair point. Just pointing out the law.
Thai local manufactured things and food = no import tax = alot more affordable
And for fakes u have different tiers of quality. Highest quality "fakes" is stuff that ARE from the original factories but "fell of a truck".
There are no reason to go to Thailand with full suitcases..U can find ANYTHING u need probably alot more affordable and often better quality for the climate.
Totally agree with your comment. Cheers!
No refunds 😂
MBK...I don't know why...the sellers used to be Thais...now 95% are Pakistanis or from Bangladesh...most of them can't speak Thai...What's going on there...
I noticed this also… many areas are similar, but also a lot of Rohynga Burmese that fled Myanmar wars (can be similar background as Bangladeshi).
Nothing new for me know these kind of things for years, funny the Top Charoen stores I always look if they customers and 99% I walk past one of their shops I never see any customers. For wearing glasses of contact lenses there is one exception if you wear hard contact lenses you out of luck everywhere in Thailand they don't have any cleaning products of it and they don't sell hard contact lenses either. Come on everyone know these days that luxury shopping malls with high end brand names are expensive all over the world nothing new their but you right in Thailand they are even more expensive. The Watson and Boots are not fake in MBK same as the gold shops only the small watches, clothes and bag shop are fake but you know it by the cheap prices compare to the real ones. Buying too quickly is all over the world nothing to do with Thailand just look first where ever you are. In my country I have be careful with clothes sizes also sometimes M sometimes L🙂
Good points. I think that once you've been here for a little while it's all very familiar. When I first came, I definitely didn't know enough.. the no refunds one caught me.
@@thebangkokguide yeah that one I did not know good you mention it
That's not a Thai selling those 'knock off ' bags! Huge rip offs on branded eyewear! Beware! * I've lived here 38 years +
That's correct. I noticed this as well. MBK actually has very few Thai sellers... Mostly South Asian and Rohynga Burmese.
@@thebangkokguide Nepalese feature quite well also!
Don't forget Mr DIY
Great store!
video jittery, low frame rate
Yeah I noticed as well… also a slight over exposure. New camera so need to play around with it a bit more. Thanks for the input!
Too many kek
Bad quality video but interesting subject
Yeah it’s a bit jumpy due to frame rate and overexposed. New camera and I think I accidentally tweaked the settings while shooting 👀😅 but I’ll take the compliment! Cheers