Shopping in Bangkok

Supply & demand

As in all metropolitan cities you get also in Bangkok simply everything, - most besides rather favorably. The dealers in the Khao San quarter offer everything, from which they mean, a Farang (Farang = bekloppter Westler, that for obskure products gladly too many Baht puts down…) its joy would have to.

Is usually correct; nothing is so ugly and from so miserable quality, that it did not want to have still another English Girlie.

Indispensable for tourists does not only give it in Banglampoo approximately around the Khao San Road. Also to the Silom Road dealer on the road offers falsified gears, to clocks etc. for the mark-conscious however financially weak Farang.

Hardly a street trader has fixed prices. Also in many shops acting is not only possible, but usual and is quite expected.


Action

Rule of thumb: Frag' after the price (“How much is it? ”). Anywhere if a price tag does not stand, you receive most for approx. 30 - 40% of the price, which is first said.

Before you begin with haggling, place to you the end price, which you want to pay (30%, but maximally 40%, more not!) before the internal eye forwards and do not decide to pay under any circumstances more all the same which comes now (yours opposite makes in the meantime exactly the same and specifies in the spirit a minimum price).

Fang' brutally low with 10% on. Your official contact you loud neck for moved to explain (in reality it is irritated, because most Farangs begin with 30%, because in the Lonley planet stands in such a way). Increase by in each case 2% (and not in 10%-Schritten!).

You receive the things for 30%. If you are in bad form, you pay 40%. STOP WITH 40%! If it does not fold, you have too highly gepokert…

The latter is not a problem. Because which is offered once somewhere, it guaranteed also a few meter continues to give: New play, new luck!

Falsified branded articles

The import of falsified branded articles such as clocks, computer, software, clothes etc. (thus the whole deadwood, which tourists in Thailand buy gladly on the road) to Germany is forbidden.

In practice border officials tolerate a falsified clock at the wrist of a traveler usually just like falsified jeans at its back.

However if reference points for a commercial character result, the goods are seized.

That means: no reference points may result that the falsifications are intended for commercial traffic. Here it concerns first kind and quantity of the things. A suit-case of full clocks is probably rather suspicious.

In practice problems arise again and again, starting from which quantity or which value the goods possess a commercial character. However no clear rules can be set up. Rather the customs officer for each individual transmission must make a new decision. This takes place due to its concrete statements in the individual case concerned.

Ingenious business idea: Falsified things favorably in Thailand buy and in the Internet presume. Did not only forbid, but even punishable. Who wanted to know always times, how it looks in devil kitchen, should operate such business.