Though there are many good deals on offer, caveat emptor (buyer beware)
is definitely a good rule to follow in Bangkok. Fakes passed off as genuine
and overpricing are rampant amongst certain valuable items, particularly gemstones,
art and antiques. Bear in mind that refunds are very rare in Thailand - goods
are sold 'as is' and once you have bought something, that's it. Barring pretty
exceptional circumstances, you will have a lot of difficulty in getting any
money back, even with a valid receipt. Chances of a refund are best at the
big department stores (check their policy beforehand if you think you might
need one) and are virtually nil at street stalls and small independent shops.
Replacements and free repairs are often the best that can be hoped for, though
even getting these can sometimes be a struggle. Don't let a friendly stranger
or tout take you shopping either, as they will take a commission on anything
you buy. This will result in inflated prices being quoted to you so that the
vendor can compensate your 'friend' for his/her efforts.
Gemstones are a particularly risky item to buy in Bangkok, as many tourists
are tricked into paying a lot of money for 'gemstones', which later turn out
to be fakes (or are real ones, but massively overpriced). Never buy from a
store you are taken to by an unsolicited third party, and don't believe any
claims they may make of 'government sale', 'TAT endorsed', 'factory prices'
etc...People are often tricked into spending large amounts of money with the
promise of being able to resell the stones when they return home for a big
profit. Don't be fooled by this claim, the stones or fakes you will be sold
are worth only a fraction of what you pay for them and any money spent is
basically lost. It's impossible, even for qualified gemologists, to tell good
fakes from originals without the aid of specialist equipment, so bear in mind
you are buying solely on the word of the salesman. The TAT may be able to
reclaim some of your money for you if you were tricked into buying fakes,
but if you've simply overpaid there's little that can be done. It's wise to
be very wary of mailing gems and other precious stones home, as this removes
any chance of getting a refund if you have been scammed and they may well
never arrive in any case.
A lot of places only accept cash to pay for merchandise, though some more
expensive and/or larger stores and department stores do take credit cards.
Credit card fraud is a problem in Thailand so, while there is no need to
be overly paranoid, it's well worth trying to never let the card out of sight
if possible.
