My tip is for shopping. When I was at MBK, I found a metal elegant tissue box I wanted to buy for my sister. The lady selling it asked for 2000 baht. I stepped aside and looked for the item on eBay. I found it for $8 USD from China. I went to another shop, showed them the picture and the price asking if they had it. They did, I saw it before I asked. I asked how much and she gave me a slightly better price than the eBay price but she was not smiling...

truth well known  already to ancient Romans ' buyer beware".

 

On another hand box could be the same looking but of better material and workmanship so not exactly the same.

 

I have 2 sweaters which are looking the same, even from close distance. Only when one touches them realizes that one is cashmere and another polyester / cotton blend.

At times I'm asked by friends  " which one you are wearing today , cheap or expensive ? ".   They all like answer ' cheap one, I wear expensive only when I 'm going to see people I like"

Foolish shop keeper, I'd of told you to crack on and buy it from China then - in the hope that it eventually arrives with you, in one piece and is of a similar quality of that which you hoped for, especially without you being able to stop and look at it and decide on the purchase, whilst standing in her shop that she's paying the rent for that enables you to have that very benefit - to which your reply is "I can get it cheaper in China" - yep, you'd be told to go head  - and to stick your phone where the sun doesn't shine on your way out the door as you went.

Well the one she sold me was made in China haha. But it worked and I'll continue to do it. I also ordered a few more on eBay as Christmas gifts and they are a little nicer than the one I got in Thailand.

 

I was with a friend from the Philipines who appreciated my use of ebay. Last year I used Amazon to compare prices and found Thailand to be too expensive to buy anything to take home.

Your use of eBay may be super, I don't know. But, if you can't find unique, handmade items in Thailand that can't be found on eBay and Amazon then you're a terrible shopper.

Actually I'm with Bucky on that one as the amount of Chinese tat that's being sold in the malls and stalls in Thailand now is ridiculous - and the same for many other Asian Countries  - and actually even bloody Benidorm in spain etc !  The Chinese seem to have set up a world wide distribution and supply centre for "tourist tat" as no matter where I go it's the same shite from the same factories and if you're lucky it's got the correct name of the Country you're in printed on it  - and actually sometimes I've even seem gifts with the WRONG Country name on it too no less !   ( Handy if needing to lie to the metaphorical missus that "no love of COURSE I was in London at a business meeting  - whilst actually getting sucked off in Bangkok ! :-) 

 

The above items ( especially in Europe) do all seem to be distributed in Chinese owned shops, all selling at roughly the same prices and EXACTLY the same Tat and I wouldn't be surprised to find in years to come that it was a Chinese Government programme to flood the west with their goods and was used as a vehicle for people smuggling and god knows what ( just like chinese restaurants are known to do still even now!) 

You're quite right about stalls. But, one example of a place I always go is in that mall, almost, totally dedicated to Japanese golfers in Plaza Thaniya. It's ( I can't recall the name ) a shop on the same floor as Cutey and Beauty and was sponsored by Queen Sirikit. Wonderful ceramics, celadon. Chopsticks with silver mountings, etc.

 

Not an antique shop, but one set up to promote Thai handicrafts. I always find stunning and unique things there are reasonable prices.  I'm not looking for Tourist crap.

Well the one she sold me was made in China haha. But it worked and I'll continue to do it. I also ordered a few more on eBay as Christmas gifts and they are a little nicer than the one I got in Thailand.

I was with a friend from the Philipines who appreciated my use of ebay. Last year I used Amazon to compare prices and found Thailand to be too expensive to buy anything to take home.

I agree, most of the stuff shoes clothing etc I can buy cheaper in Australia, even my favourite Polo shirts.

 

I dont bother buying much in Thailand anymore, went to the Patpong markets in September couldnt believe the prices of t shirts !!!

I know they pay huge rent in Patpong but the markets in Australia are cheaper,and usually run by Thais or Chinese.

I now do all my clothes shopping before going to Thailand .

 

Even a visit to Home mart in Pattaya to buy curtains and cushions seemed to be more expensive than back home so gave up.

 

Thailand is not cheap anymore unfortunately

For local produce in the neighbourhood market, Thailand is cheap.

But once you go for imported stuff, even counterfeit, it's no longer value for money, especially when you factor in the exchange rate. Same same for their duty-free outlets.

Fortunately their hotel rates remain very competitive.

 

Fortunately their hotel rates remain very competitive.

BKK hotels become very epensive especially the up market ones,Outside of BKK at last years the prices have risen up

Substantially but are still competitive I agree.

I dont bother buying much in Thailand anymore, went to the Patpong markets in September couldnt believe the prices of t shirts !!!

Let me be blunt, if you buy T-shirts in Patpong market and complain about the price, you didn't do your homework.

Patpong market must be the most expensive place to buy stuff in a street market.

 

In 2010, I made the mistake of buying a wristwatch there. Starting price was 500 THB, with help of a Thai friend I negotiated it down to 250, and now I see the similar watches in local market for 100.

 

Underwear, however, is cheaper in Silom than in local market.

1.the shop-chain paborn hints at is NARAYANA PHAND, nowadays usually shortened to just Naraya, they have shops in many touristy parts of BKk (also somewhere along Surwong).

2.All the endless theories about how to bargain etc are all pure bullshit, just like taxi-hints. The un-experienced or brainless tourist simply does not dare to venture beyond the places mentioned somewhere, this includes MBK. Most also still think that BKK-taxi's are all with faulty meters and have to be negotiated-they only know of those standing still at HTLs etc.

Thus many vendors in touristy places like MBK simply will not lower their pirces from the absurd highs they have set their mind on. This also in most other tourist-ghetto's, like KhaoSarn. 99% of those vendors are Burmese, BTW.

Heaps of most of those things are in tesco or BigC for normal fixed prices and you even get points on your BigC-card with it.

3.indeed, Th is nowhere near the bargain basement it long time ago was, except for some prized-label fakes. The clothes are esp. bad value-here in EUR at cheap chains like KiK etc. they sell better quality for less.

 [4]once bought an imi-Rolex on P-pong for 200 and have never seen that-with label-for less, though probably the very same contents without label sell for 99 or 100-back 10/12 yrs ago and still now too. it lasted near 5 years and then the battery went flat and could not be replaced. But who needs a watch anyway today?

Fortunately their hotel rates remain very competitive.

and this is what counts for us tourists. After all , how many t-shirts we really need.

 

I find clothing on local markets inexpensive but as soon as we move closer where foreigner congregate it becomes more costly.

 

But days of shopping on my trips are long gone, I like to travel lightly- both ways. It means I tend to buy everyday items -shaving cream , soap, tea and sugar etc there and can't care less about the price.

 

Thing I like to buy in abundance in Thailand is guy's time with me and country remains well stocked with that item

Thailand is not cheap anymore unfortunately

 

Southeast Asia and China are booming, becoming richer and richer. There is a wealth and power transfer going on from the West to the East. Also more than half the world population lives in that area (East and Southeast Asia). It is the future. Profit from it while it still lasts. At the end of this century East and Southeast Asian gay men will go for sex tourism to third world Western Europe. 

 

I feel sorry I only discovered Thailand 4 years ago. I missed out on the really cheap days. Cambodia and Laos appear for now to be lagging behind in that area when it comes to growth. My hope for sex tourism is focussed on these two countries. If Thailand's escorts are going to demand some day current European escort prizes for their services I need to look elsewhere. But eventually these 2 countries will catch up. Their populations will demand reforms if their neighbours get all wealthy.

At the end of this century East and Southeast Asian gay men will go for sex tourism to third world Western Europe. 

 

 

predicting is very tricky job , specially predicting the future as they say.

 

And it's safe to say it's least of our worries of what will happen at end of this century , specially in matters of sex as it's safe bet that by that time we will lose our erections . Completely.

predicting is very tricky job , specially predicting the future as they say.

 

And it's safe to say it's least of our worries of what will happen at end of this century , specially in matters of sex as it's safe bet that by that time we will lose our erections . Completely.

Lose our erections?? Damn right, the end of this century is some 80 years away... I'm not really worried.

Lose our erections?? Damn right, the end of this century is some 80 years away... I'm not really worried.

 

But the time is not that far away when Thailand's moneyboys will ask 4000 baht for a session. Maybe already somewhere in the next decade if their economies keep growing. It is then economically not profitable anymore to travel that far for sex with the boys of your dreams (considering all others costs will also have risen: hotel, food, etc)

You are, for the most part, expected to haggle a little:

 

 

https://youtu.be/u75XQdTxZRc

 

 

But its no different to the Thai boy who asks for 2k short time, but will happily accept 1.5k and might even go for 1k if his rent is due. But I would get guilt feelings driving the hardest bargain I could with people who are economically far less fortunate than me. 

But the time is not that far away when Thailand's moneyboys will ask 4000 baht for a session. Maybe already somewhere in the next decade if their economies keep growing. It is then economically not profitable anymore to travel that far for sex with the boys of your dreams (considering all others costs will also have risen: hotel, food, etc)

some already are, try Moonlight models.

 

Yes , one can bring price down by haggling although it may take fun out of whole thing ( to prevent this I usually counteroffer only once and then it's yes or no situation ) or looking for cheaper supplies which are often even right there in the bar as few bars now have dual pricing for show and ordinary go-gos.

 

There are still a lot  of economical and not a bad looking ( and feeling ) options available.

 

If it will not be economically profitable to travel then some of us will stay home, others will still be coming figuring increase in their budget the same way we absorb   rent or gas price rises.

 

Hit may come from other corners - increase in airfares for example.

What may be even worse we may not be able to travel for health reason, God forbid but it happens. Or family commitments at home may keep us there.

 

My point is - worry about future in the future when comes to things like vacations.

 

And keep in mind , nice changes happen as well , like rise of salary or unexpected windfalls like my former boss who got impossible to reject  offer for his home , cashed in , bought small apartment, retired at 62 and now is travelling the world  sending us postcards from here and there 

But I would get guilt feelings driving the hardest bargain I could with people who are economically far less fortunate than me. 

that's true, 500 baht is 15 USD, we need to keep this in mind when driving hard bargain as often we get carried over relatively insignificant amount - for us , not boy in question.

 

Last month I had massage with guy and we settled on 1500 but I upped it to 2000 when we were done. His face expression and exclamation ' o my God, I can pay my rent with that " was well worth extra 500.

Then right after,  I went to Chula Besaj pharmacy and bought some drugs saving 1950 baht on 3 month supply compared to my local prices so it looks we both had fun, no ?   

This is one of those topics that starts out being helpful, continues to be helpful but moves into values and the philosophy of hard bargaining, and factually lets readers know the location to find cheap underwear!  

For local produce in the neighbourhood market, Thailand is cheap.

But once you go for imported stuff, even counterfeit, it's no longer value for money, especially when you factor in the exchange rate. Same same for their duty-free outlets.

Fortunately their hotel rates remain very competitive.

Your right , the African guys in BKK were qouting me anything from 6 to 10,000 baht .

that's true, 500 baht is 15 USD, we need to keep this in mind when driving hard bargain as often we get carried over relatively insignificant amount - for us , not boy in question.

 

Last month I had massage with guy and we settled on 1500 but I upped it to 2000 when we were done. His face expression and exclamation ' o my God, I can pay my rent with that " was well worth extra 500.

Then right after, I went to Chula Besaj pharmacy and bought some drugs saving 1950 baht on 3 month supply compared to my local prices so it looks we both had fun, no ?

 

I guess some would argue you maybe driving the prices up by offering more ?

 

Its good if you can afford it and your on a high salary or retired or whatever but I certainly dont expect every farang to be able to afford to overtip sex workers , not everyone has the money , I dont think anyone should feel guilty because they haggled with a sex worker.

My experience this last trip? Some guys got tipped the requested amount and a few had their requested amounts doubled without comment. I handled with one guy online and we didn't meet because if a 500 baht wall we both refused to get over. Also there were nights I threw my money around in the bars and other nights I didn't. One evening I was in the complex sitting with a friend who had 2 guys entertaining him. One guy turned to me and suggested I call over a guy he pointed out to sit with me and buy him a drink. I told him no. He mused that I didn't like having fun and buying guys drinks. I said nothing more.

 

That was the same night I was at the 7/11 in the rain, caught 2 cute guys rain ponchos and we all ended up in my room in a 3 way.

Your right , the African guys in BKK were quoting me anything from 6 to 10,000 baht .

snow is cheap in Greenland but expensive in Jamaica, sun -other war around