Midnight sales, promotions, limited edition releases; Bangkok’s gigantic malls are definitely a hazard to your wallet come holiday shopping season. But with this year’s credit-crunch (and our tourism industry crumbling), we suggest you steer clear of the mega malls and hit the streets and corner stores instead. We bring you a list of tried and true shops, gray market dealers and outlets handpicked by our shopping savvy staff to help you get the best deals in town. And no, we do not endorse “special edition” LVs from Pratunam. This is the real deal, only you’re going to get it for a whole lot less.
FASHION
Bangkok’s fashion events of the year, Elle Fashion Week and Bangkok International Fashion Week, have whet our appetites to refresh our wardrobe. But what is the point of following the Fall/Winter 08 season when it’s Summer all year round here? More importantly, we can’t afford this stuff. This month, secondhand and last season are your two new best friends.
Secondhand Spots
The true Thai talad is hot, damp, crowded and smelly. But that shouldn’t stop you from scouting them out. The majority of markets, like Bobae, Lalai Sup and Pratunam, sell knock-offs and cheap garnments with designs from ten seasons ago and poor finishing. There are, however, certain markets in town with hidden stalls selling real branded items for less.
There’s a secondhand designer bag booth in Wang Lang (Soi Wang Lang, Arun Amarin Rd., Wang Lang Pier. Open daily 10am-4pm) located next to a counterfeit shop named Krading Thong. The one with the real stuff has no name, go figure. It sells authentic pieces that have seen some wear and tear so it might take a while for you to find one that doesn’t have a hole or is missing a zipper. Once you do, what a steal! That 90s Fendi “baguette” clutch is yours for B2,000. Wang Lang may look rundown but don’t judge the market by its hideous setting as it is also place to find good deals on dek naew’s favorite kicks such as Nike and Converse (B300-1,000), although they’re mostly pre-worn.
Office worker havens like the markets behind GMM Grammy building (Sukhumvit Soi 21. Open Tue-Sun noon-4pm) and Srinakarindraviroj Prasarnmit University (Sukhumvit Soi 23. Open Thu 9am-3pm) are where you can get your hands on brand name dresses. Here, you’ll find a mixture of both the latest and slightly outdated clothing collections from brands like Miu Miu, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg and Nine West. The tags in the clothes are cut out to mark defects or sale items; you’ll need a good eye to find a gem among the junk. These shops also never stay at one spot—get ready to play hide and seek.
Gray Bargains
Where do you think hisos shop for their designer outfits and accessories? The Emporium and Gaysorn? Oh come on, only tourists go there. Local fashionistas in the know can usually be found looking through the racks of independent shops located in various “lifestyle complexes” or community malls across town.
The Crystal in Ramindra (Moo 6, Praditmanootum Rd., 02-508-1118) is a part of the uber luxe housing complex, Crystal Park. This community mall sells everything from groceries to brand name clothing and accessories. Rows of cutely decorated shops, backed by some of Bangkok’s fashionistas such as Um Pacharapa, Chomphoo Araya and the, um, slightly more veteran Somsak Chalachol, line the sides of TOPS Supermarket. They all offer designer goodies at slashed prices. Dress Us (02-515-0774), which has recently moved from Palm Street, sells a collection of dresses from Vanessa Bruno to funky tees from Ed Hardy and American Apparel (yes, you can get AA in Thailand). Shoe lovers can head to Shoe Berry next door for some pumps and heels from legendary design houses like Chanel and Marc Jacobs. By the gazebo at the front of the supermarket, you’ll find Sombat Plad Kan Chom (02-515-0619), Somsak Chalachol’s secondhand brand name accessories stand. The shop guarantees a low price for shoppers but that means it’s not great if you’re looking to offload your Prada. Still you can put it on their shelf and they get a small commission fee.
Outlet Finds
Ah, outlets, home of factory defects, over-stocked goods and exports that never made it to the airport. There are “factory outlets” popping up all over the country from Khao Yai to Saraburi, offering shoppers a selection of last season goodies at bargain prices. If you’re a fan, and think that the trip out of town will be worth the petrol, then head to the nearest Factory Outlet Village in Pattaya (666 Moo 12, Nong Prue, Bang La Mung, Chonburi, 038-427-764/5). There you’ll find brands like Diesel, Ed Hardy and Von Dutch if you’re not afraid of looking like a tourist.
In town, Jaspal has an outlet at Amarin Plaza (1/F, Ploenchit Rd., 02-256-9009), Replay at Times Square (2/F Sukhumvit, 02-653-3648), Levi’s near Sukhumvit Soi 62 (2533 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-332-7140), and Thai designer brand Fly Now is at The Mall Bangkapi (1/F, Ladprao Rd., 02-173-1000). They all stack up their last three seasons’ clothes with price slashes of around 30-80% off. For sporting goods, hit the outlet in Sukhumvit Soi 26 just opposite Carrefour where brands like Adidas, Nike, Wilson and North Face are permanently on sale.
BEAUTY
Beauty doesn’t come cheap. The makeup counters in department stores add a markup of 30-35% to all the products, so you’re really paying for the counter’s rent and the stuck-up service of the sales girls. There are other options around town, and in cyberspace, that offer us image-conscious ladies great deals on imported beautifiers.
Gray Bargains
There are many tax-free shops in the city where you can get all-time best-sellers like MAC, Etude, Anna Sui as well as brands that have yet to be officially available here.
Shopaholic is one of the pioneers, sitting in the once popular Palm Street Place (287, Palm Street Place, Praditmanootham Rd., 02-936-6631. www.goshopaholic.com). But don’t let the isolated location fool you, this hidden corner is chock-full of limited edition makeup sets and beauty brands. Though the place stocks pretty much everything from H&M tank tops to Victoria’s Secrets chocolate coated mints, it’s the array of favorite Western makeup brands such as Benefit, Smashbox, Bath and Body Works and Sephora that really woo shoppers. A similar store can be found a bit closer to the city in TOPS Marketplace in Thonglor under the name La Malila (081-494-9881). The store may be a bit tiny, but its collection of Two Faced, Benefit, and kitschy makeup, like fresh canabis mist and donut lip balms, make this a great address for your dose of imported beauty.
Cyberspace
This digital marketplace is only suited for those who are already cosmetics experts. Without physical contact, you must know a little about the brands and product lines to make your online beauty shopping a more rewarding experience. These online stores mainly cater to tweens and young Thai fashionistas, meaning the brands mostly hail from Japan and Korea. Rabbo (086-330-4980, www.rabbo.com) and Beauty Inter Cosmetics (081-355-0939, www.beautyintercosmetics.com) carry Etude, Skin Food, Shu Uemura and Shiseido as their best sellers. These Asian brands are not that expensive in their home countries; so don’t be too surprised, or skeptical, to see their retail price cut in half.
If you’re courageous enough, the best deals and offers are on Nana Lady Corner (www.nanaladycorner.com). Dubbed as the “Pink Site” by its fans (no hanky panky, despite appearances), this beauty trading hub allows makeup addicts to swap goods. This website requires a great deal of research and faith, but there are long-time users like “jeab149,” “tabo” and “ORANGEjuice” whom you can trust. Need a little advice on what to buy? Check out www.jeban.com for honest user reviews of the makeup they buy online.
TECHNOLOGY
It’s a tough life in the world of gadgets and tech toys. Six tech months are like 60 in human years. A new mobile phone comes out every week, and every time your model gets updated, its resale value drops by 30-50%, according to a vendor in MBK (see Secret Agent below). So, forget the rat race, avoid heartbreak and firmware glitches and buy pre-owned (or smuggled!) tech toys instead.
Gray Bargains
Whether you’re an avid gamer or a bidding photographer, you shouldn’t miss out on a day trip to Saphan Lek (Boriphat Rd.). Think of it as Sam Peng for geeks; just like any other markets, it requires serious bargaining skills and a great deal of knowledge of what you’re buying. This market is full of counterfeits and defect goods and separating the crooks from honest vendors can be a frustrating experience. For newbies, don’t bother chatting up the sellers and head straight to tried-and-true shops like Hea Tee Tawatchai (Saphan No. 3, 02-225-4155), whose fame and reputation has won the hearts of Thai gamers. For Wii and PlayStation fans, check out Maple on Saphan No. 8 (089-170-4609, www.maple8th.com).
For camera enthusiasts, just a few meters away from Saphan Lek is Pirom Plaza (Mahachai Rd., Wangburapa, www.piromplaza.com) across from Merry King Hotel. Pirom Plaza is a convenient place to pick up second hand cameras, particularly at Takeshi Camera (2/F, 02-222-8700 ext. 241). There, you can find a twin lens Yashica for roughly B4,000. The place is full of shops, so just go for a browse. Pirom Plaza also has gray market goods. These are new, original models from big brands like Canon, Sony and Nikon. They’re sold cheaper than in other shops because they’ve been smuggled into Thailand. Try Viewfinder (2/F, 081-849-4595. www.viewfindercamera.com) where a Canon 450D can be found for B22,900 as opposed to B41,000 at MBK! Warning: double-check if you can get your camera serviced in Thailand, if there’s a warranty, and in what language the manual is in.
Of course when in doubt, you can always hit Pantip (Petchaburi Rd., www.pantipplaza.com) or MBK (Phaya Thai Rd., www.mbk-center.co.th. BTS National Stadium) for your tech needs. But with rows and rows of identical store fronts, it’s hard to pinpoint the best and most reliable deal in the malls. If you must, our personal favorites are iStar by MoBuy 2Do (4/F Zone A, MBK (near ToKyu), 081-327-0655, 083-889-8399) for your iPhone needs and JIB Computer (3/F Pantip Plaza, Petchaburi Rd., 081-552-3287) for power-user faves laptops like Acer, Asus and Dell at bargain prices.
Secondhand Spots
As mentioned, Pirom Plaza is a gray market and secondhand heaven for cameras. But if you want to trade in your camera for a cash advance on a new legit one, head to Fotofile (3/F MBK Center, Phaya Thai Rd., 0-2620-9508/9. www.fotofile.com). You can also shop here—their collection of secondhand cameras ranges from the latest Nikon D-series to Leica models from the 70s—but Pirom and Ebay.com are much cheaper.
For indie Lomo and toy camera enthusiasts, forget Room Interior or True Shop and drag yourself to Fotoguffy (Chula Soi 5, 081-647-7371. www.fotoguffy.com) for vintage snappers such as Holga and Polaroid. Another Lomo and vintage favorite is Siam TLR (11/F Mercury Tower, Phloenchit Rd., 081-431-0351. www.siamtlr.com), which stocks RolleiFlex and Leica cameras at bargain prices.
Another vintage piece of technology geeks hold dear are Macintosh computers. No we’re not talking about the thin, light, eco-friendly models of today, we’re taking you back to the days of colorful iMacs and iBooks, even all the way back to the historic Macintosh Classic. At Unlimit Mac (Ratchadapisek Soi 32, 02-930-0354. www.unlimitmac.com) you’ll get to experience Macs through the ages, thanks to the owner’s personal collection, some of which are for sale.
Outlet Finds
Technology outlet stores are uncommon but not unheard of here. Official retailers usually send their products back to the head office when the new models come out, but here’s where you can get last season’s tech.
Not feeling the new redesigned Macbooks? iStudio at La Villa (Phaholyothin Rd., 02-613-0592. www.maccafethai.com) is one of the few places that still stock the older models at discounted prices. B40,000 Macbook Pro, anyone? You can also turn in your old one and buy the new one for cheap. Bring your Mac (they only accept computers, not iPods or other products) to the store and let the staff take a look. The value of your old Mac can then be taken off any future Mac purchases at the store.
Jaymart, Thailand’s biggest mobile phone retailers, also keep old models at their outlet in Rangsit (1/F Future Park Rangsit, Phaholyothin Rd., 02-958-0507/8). It might be a bit far from the city, but if you want first-hand with a valid warranty, you’ll just have to make the effort.
For Acer fans, you can get your hands on test and display models for cheap at their factory outlet (338/1-2 Nang Linchee Rd., 02-685-4330. www.acer.co.th). You can check the models available and their prices online (http://tinyurl.com/bk-aceroutlets). Items go fast so be sure to call before heading there or you might be disappointed.
BOOKS AND MUSIC
When the retail therapy stops working and the technology no longer satisfies your craving, a good book along with a fine piece of music can go a long way to soothing the soul.
Secondhand Spots
Good literature and music never go out of style, so who cares if you’re not buying the latest releases. There are numerous secondhand bookstores in corners of major markets like Chatuchak or Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Too lazy for non-air-con bargain hunting? Try Book Town at JJ Mall next time you visit the weekend market (G58 gate G1, 02-265-9364). For an even more cozy book hub, Dasa Book Cafe (Sukhumvit Rd., between soi 26 and 28, 02-661-2993. www.dasabookcafe.com) lets you sip on a cup of joe while you pretend you want to buy that dog-eared copy of Jane Eyre you’ve been reading for the past two hours.
If you’re more Elle than Elliot, and don’t mind reading last week’s news and gossip, Elite Bookshop (Next to Sukhumvit Soi 33/1, 02-258-0221) at the bottom of BTS Phrom Phong station has secondhand reads that might tickle your fancy. They also have a wide range of foreign magazines to choose from. Swedish Cosmo for B50, anyone?
Cheapskate audiophiles who do not condone piracy, your options are quite limited. If you can find music that costs less than B500 from auntie Do Re Mi (Siam Square, in the parking lot in front of Bonanza, 02-251-4351), check out her sister store JU in Pantip (2/F Pantip Plaza, Pratunam, 02-252-9933, 089-050-0026) for more affordable, secondhand albums. Old school lovers and DJ wannabes, whether it’s jazz records or electro vinyls that you are after, drop by at Jazzbah Records (11 Soi 13, Seri 2 Rd., Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24, 089-923-4005. www.jazzbah.com) and Mix Up (1/F, Hollywood Street Bldg., Ratchathewi Rd., 02-656-5656) to affordably pad your playlist.
Outlet Finds
If you don’t want to flip through the pages of hand-me-down backpacker copies, Amarin Book Lounge (4/F Amarin Plaza, Phloenchit Rd., 02-652-1600) is where all the rejects books from Asiabooks around the country end up. They’re big on fiction and home topics like cooking and designs, with prices around 50-80% off the cover. For great deal on foreign titles without having to even get off your butt, order from Megabooks (www.megabooksthailand.com) and get them delivered to your doorstep.
Cheap and Personal
Make your own gifts with these DIY shops
APPLIQUE
2/F Lido Theater, Siam Square, 089-199-4634. www.appliqueshop.com
Home for Martha Stewart wannabes; Applique is where you can design your own canvas bags, laptop messenger bags and t-shirts from their wide collection of iron-on motifs. Pick your gift and go crazy with their cutesy felt characters. The shop also lets you design a chocolate bar wrapper so you can put it on your sweet nothings.
BEADS PASSION
Thonglor Soi 13, 02-715-0211.
Necklaces, rings, bracelets, whatever strikes your string, here’s the place to get your beady fix. Though they don’t offer a class, the shop owner will take pity on you and give you a tip or two on how to successfully slide your thread into those little balls.
BIG KNIT
Natural Park Bldg, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-260-5050. www.bigknit49.com
Come on, knitting isn’t just for old people. If you want to try your hands at this mommy art, Big Knit not only offers classes but it’s a café where all the hip knitsters come and share tips and tricks.
LIKAY BINDERY
19 Sukhumvit Soi 35, 089-699-6509. www.likaybindery.blogspot.com
Visit this hidden store for a little lesson on how to make your own bound notebooks. Learn how to select materials, different styles of binding, how to design covers and whatever you need to know about whipping up your dream notebook.
SHA BHA SHINE
25 Charansanitwong Soi 77, 02-885-4788. www.shabhashine.com
Sick of giving knitted sweaters and stitched on teddies? How about a hand painted nightstand? This wood furniture workshop might not teach you carpentry skills but you can learn how to turn your dull furniture into an art piece.
Secret Agent
We talked to Tong, one of the many gadget vendors in MBK, about the competitive gray tech market.
Why did you decide to set up your own store instead of an official franchise?
With my own store, I can control everything, whether it is the pricing, the merchandising, and since I bring in all the products myself, I don’t have to pay the middlemen.
How can MBK vendors offer a much lower price than in shops like Jaymart?
We’re all wholesalers. By buying in bulk, we can cut the costs. The phones we bring in from other countries are at least 30% cheaper than what they’re selling in Jaymart. Besides, we don’t have to pay for licensing and other marketing costs, so we can offer lower prices than official retailers.
How do you set the prices?
It actually depends on the demand. We have to always be on the lookout for other vendors. We study the market, see what’s hot, especially for products that are not officially available, like the iPhones. We can set the price really high as we know people desperately want them.
Why does the value of a phone go down so easily and drastically?
The Mobile phone sector is a competitive industry. Brands that release new models regularly, like Nokia and Samsung, are more disposable and lose their value pretty quickly.
What about taxes?
We do have to pay taxes as small vendors but not as a company, rather as personal income tax.
Are there any risks in doing this business?
MBK is not controlled by the mafia despite what everybody else thinks. We’re all on our own.
