Bangkok-shopping-markets
 

hy, It's my first trip to Bangkok this may - we'll spent about 5 days there.
As a woman I'm naturally very interested in shopping, and I as I've heard from many sides and read here already loads of times - Bangkok is a shopper's dream come true.
Anyway I was told to go to the nightmarket in pathong(?) - and I wonder if anyone could help me with some questions. Apparently I was told that at a market you're supposed to trade with the seller - how far can I go there - I know that it should be in some barriers.
To the sellers at the markets only take cash???

And another questions - my sister wants to have a scarf of raw silk? - where would I get that in Bangkok.
Txs for the help

I've not been to the night market at Pathong, but I have been to Suan Lum and it is quite nice.

YES YES YES to bargaining with the seller. And I would say YES to taking Thai Baht as your bargaining power will be best with the local currency.

You will find raw silk scarves at the market, I would think. I've bought many scarves, but in the area around Chiang Mai. Check at a store called ABC, which you can find at the World Trade Center (now has a new name) or go to the Thai Craft Center, which is located just behind Gaysorn Plaza mall.

I am also a shopper and Bangkok is the BEST!
Carol

great tip - I'll be going to Chiang Mia as part of your 6 day trip of "northern thailand" and there will be a visit to an craftscenter.
Is it cheaper there or in BKK?

My experiences in Patpong (my spelling there are variations) is that the stall owners there are spoiled by the huge number of tourists and by American tourists who do not bargain, so I have found them unwilling to bargain much; they tend to offer a price and stick to it, and I have encountered rude salespeople in Patpong (a real exception in Thailand). There are many, many other and IMO better shopping areas in Bangkok. I would recommend you buy a map called "Nancy Chandler's Guide to Bangkok" which is a map and shopping guide to Bangkok. It has an index by subject so if you are looking for silk, she will give you a list of shops and you can locate them on the map. You can it buy it on the web from her website (Nancychandler.net), or your hotel may have a copy in their gift shop or bookshop.

If shopping really is high o your list, then you would want to time your trip to be in Bangkok when the weekend market is open. This is for SERIOUS shoppers. It is massive and has basically everything under the sun for sale. Very easy to get to by sky train, not a bad or expensive cab ride back to town if you buy a lot. The Nancy Chandler map mentioned above has a special section on the Weekend Market which is helpful as it is easy to get lost. Nancy Chandler also has a shoppers map to Chiang Mai.

Two words of advice for all shopping in Thailand (and Asia general): bargain hard and pay cash. Many Americans are not comfortable bargaining, but just dive in. Go at least 50% below their offering price, lower if you want. Tell them a price they ask is a number that is unlucky for you, make an offer with an 9 (as 9 is an auspicious number in Thai Buddhism). The first and last sale of a day are lucky, use that to your advantage if you are out early or late. Make a game of it, do not become angry, but also be firm. Walk away if you are not getting the price you want, they will most likely follow you out of the shop and agree to your price, and if not you will either see it again at another shop or you can go back. At the end of the day, if it is an item you want and the price seems good to you, then it doesn't matter; but bargaining is part of the fun. As for cash, you will get a better price all the time. (Bargain and pay in Thai Baht, try to learn as quick as you can what a dollar is worth compared to a Baht, and bargain in Baht. Don't use US dollars as you will not get a good exchange rate from a shop owner for US dollars.). If you are having a hard time getting them to agree t o a price, tell them you will pay what they are asking with a credit card, or your favored/lesser price in cash. Note that smaller shops and street stalls will most likely not take credit cards. The only exception to cash would be something you are having shipped, so you can leave it to the credit card company if it is never delivered.

IMO the best place to buy silk items is one of the many Jim Thompson silk shops; you are sure of the quality, as you can easily get a fake in a market stall. It costs a bit more at Jim Thompson, but you do get what you pay for.

The night mkt u must visit is called Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Is a great place to pick up local stuff. Open daily 6 PM - 10 PM. Quite centrally located. The weekend market Cicerone is referring to is open Fri-Sat and Sun so maybe u could manage it. U can even go by sky train - is near a stop called Mo Chit. For raw silk scarves u can also go to Narai Phand, near Chit Lom sky train station. The JIM T ones ar4e gorgoues but are screen printed mostly rather than plain raw silk. IN case u want to shop for JIm T stuff at good prices go to their factoru outlet at Sukhumvit SOi 93. Worth a visit if u plan to shop a lot.

As Cicerone says if you are looking for silk or 'quality items' stick to the real shops. You should also check the malls and Supermarkets like Lotus-Tesco and Big C. The markets are fine for market type goods but to give you one example, you see people parting with B 100-150-180 for a T-shirt which is probably too small and poor quality, go to somewhwere like Lots and you pay B 69-99 for a t-shirt and probably a decent size. Be very very wary on cloth sizes unless you can test/try on as L or XL are more like a small M size in reality. I am not 'huge' by any means but I need XXL in a t-shirt just to fit. Patpong is dedicated to tourist shoppers.
If you are going to Chiang Mai it's a bit of a different story because you can find amazing things in the markets, really nice stuff.

even picking up souvaniers (sp) can be cheeper if you go to department stores. like Central, Rabinson. ZEN many offer exclusives and they tend too always have discounts. ohh and the products are ligit.

dont miss the markets.i visited the chatachuk market-fascinating array of stuff and amazing atmosphere!it is blazing hot in may so b prepared

the best part of chatachuk are the pupies and ileagal animals for sale.

It is also the best place too pick up bargain bin, slightly beat up/ fake souvaniers for those back home who you don't love that much.

you can pick up one of those litle. hand painted porcalin (sp) cups for 100 baht or less. but you can easaly see that the painter was in the 13th hour of her 15 hour shift. I find it better to pick up the slightly chipped once with deasent art. you then can say 'it must of happened durring the flight".

besides the regular shopping there is the custom made shopping....you can have most anything made to order for far less than off the rack things at home....bring pictures or samples and they will copy them....allow plenty of time for several fittings....a great store for silk womans things is the js thai silk shop on the ground floor of the river city shopping center, next to the sheraton orchid hotel...it is my wife's favorite shop for silk things---almost all custom made...reasonable prices

silk scarves are available everyplace...it is hard to avoid them...all prices, all shapes and sizes...jim thompson is a great place for more expensive ones...reliable top quality...

Be sure to check out the gorgeous Jim Thompson silk purses and accessories. They are superb quality, and such lovely colors and prints. Go to the big store (can't tell you the address) for the very best selection. You can find Jim Thompson shops in Central, Zen, some of the upscale hotel shops, as well as the Emporium mall. The stores don't seem to all have the same items, I've noticed. I get such lovely compliments on my Jim Thompson bags, wallets, and cosmetic bags. (they are not cheap but you get the excellent quality you are paying for)
Carol