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City Heat
||Getting
from Point A to B | Sightseeing
in Bangkok
Shopping in City of Angels | Bangkok
Activities | Day
Trips Outside of Bangkok
Before discussing specific things to purchase, some general observations
are in order. Bargaining is a way of life in the City of Angels,
except in large stores. Even in these bastions of computerized price
tags, clerks are sometimes authorized to give unadvertised discounts
- fixed prices are unheard of in Thailand. When bargaining, a smile
and lack of interest in the object the vendor is trying to sell,
seems to work best.
Avoid going to any shop with a tout, tour guide or someone you
meet on the street. They all get a kickback and frequently lead
the unwary to stores with fake or second rate merchandise. The worst
thing to do is to be taken to a store by a tuk tuk driver who offers
you a tour of the city for 10 baht. If you do, you will be taken
for more than a ride in his three-wheeled chariot.
 Jewelry
Thailand is a good place to buy gemstones. In recent years it has
rapidly become one of the world's largest sellers of gems and
finished jewelry. Although the country's own sources of stones
have decreased in recent years, it imports gemstones from Australia,
Sri Lanka and other places and then cuts and polishes them. If you
know what you are doing and if you do a little homework, there are
bargains to be found in stones and jewelry. Formerly diamonds were
not a significant item in Thailand, but the country now has over
30 diamond cutting houses and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses
has established a bourse in Bangkok. Labour is cheap in Thailand
and craftsmanship is generally excellent, so gold ornaments are
also a good buy. When buying gems or jewelry, always buy from a
reputable dealer and never go to a shop recommended by a tout, tuk
tuk driver or a taxi driver. Avoid "government sales"
or "factory prices." The government doesn't buy or
sell gems and there is no such thing as a factory price. Above all
avoid buying anything from someone who approaches you on the street
claiming to have some sort of a deal.
Antiques
It is possible to find "real antiques" in Thailand, but
never lose sight of the fact that "making antiques" is
big business in the back streets of some neighbourhoods. In addition,
if you do purchase a real antique, you will have to get permission
from the Fine Arts Department of the government to take it out of
the country. Also, Buddha images require permission from the Fine
Arts Department and possibly the Department of Religious Affairs.
Chinese and Thai antiques are available in Chinatown, the Silom
Galleria, the Oriental Plaza and at the River City Shopping Complex,
but they will not be cheap. If you see something described as an
antique at Chatuchak Weekend Market, the odds are extremely high
that it is a fake.
Textiles
Silk is one of Thailand's great bargains. The country's
silk is softer and more coarsely woven than that of other countries.
It can be found all over the city, but care must be taken that you
are purchasing real silk and not a synthetic fabric. To get an idea
of what the best products are like, go to one of the numerous Jim
Thompson outlets and inspect the merchandise. Inexpensive material
or articles of clothing marked "Thai silk" - like the
ties sold on Sukhumvit and Silom Roads - is not silk, but a synthetic
fabric. Hand-woven silk and cotton from different ethnic and tribal
groups in Thailand are one of the country's greatest buys.
It comes in a variety of patterns and styles that reflect the culture
and ethnic group of the person weaving it. Although usually cheaper
closer to where it was woven, Bangkok has the advantage of having
selections available from all over the country.
Tailoring
The streets of Bangkok are lined with tailor shops, many with signs
proclaiming "suits and clothing ready in 24 hours." It
is best to avoid these places as it is impossible to produce a piece
of quality, or even passable, merchandise in such a short time.
Even worse are shops offering deals including several articles of
clothing at a price too good to believe. The best tailors need at
least two, and usually more, fittings to produce a "tailor
made" suit. If you find a good tailor, you will get an excellent
suit for far less than you would pay off the rack in most countries.
Shirts, blouses and dresses are also good buys. Probably the best
way to find a good tailor is to talk with someone who lives in the
city. The best tailors are often located away from tourist areas
and near residences of expatriates.
Ready-Made
Clothing
Fake designer clothes with the appropriate labels are found on virtually
every street corner and in many shops, including some that look
quite reputable. Everyone knows the merchandise is fake, but the
practice continues unabated in spite of spasmodic attempts by the
government to bring it to an end. Quality ready-made clothing distributed
under local labels is increasingly available at very reasonable
prices and this might be the best way to stop the practice of selling
fake items. In other words, why buy a fake when a quality local
product with a known brand name is available at a lower price? Sports
shirts, dress shirts and men's slacks represent some of the
best buys in ready-made items. They can be purchased at any of the
city's large department stores and at the huge and incredibly
crowded Pratunam garment market.
Handicrafts
Everyone seems drawn to the wide variety of handicrafts made by
hill-tribe groups, but don't make the assumption that this
is all there is to Thai handicrafts. Some of Thailand's best
buys come from contemporary craftsman creating items designed for
the modern consumer. Good examples are handcrafted stainless steel
cutlery, wooden items for the kitchen, placemats, other items for
the table and pieces of unique and inexpensive jewelry. These items
are available all over the city, but the widest variety of selections
is found at the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Leatherwear
Although handmade shoes are often disappointing and poorly made.
Leather jackets are frequently well crafted and sell at a fraction
of what they would cost elsewhere. A jacket tailor-made to your
specifications should run about 3000 baht if you do a little bargaining.
Excellent leather briefcases and overnight cases are also available
but be sure that the brass fittings are of decent quality. Although
available all over the city, some of the least expensive shops can
be found near Soi 1 on Sukhumvit Road.
These are but a few of the items that can be purchased in Bangkok.
Everywhere you turn you will find interesting things to buy at prices
frequently lower than found elsewhere. Steer clear of the touts,
have fun while you shop and don't forget to bargain!
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