Shopping in Bangkok Bangkok Shopping Areas Bangkok Shopping Areas - Part 2 Bargaining for shopping Risks of shopping in Bangkok Pantip Plaza in Bangkok Bangkok Market Chatuchak Market in Bangkok Other markets in Bangkok

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.

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