5 tips for successful shopping in Bangkok

Shopping is one essential activity in Bangkok that no one could miss!! Today I have some useful tips to share with you when shopping in Bangkok. Hopefully, these tips will help you pay less and enhance your delightful shopping experience.


#1 How to bargain:


You can bargain almost at every shopping place in Bangkok – except for the big department stores, supermarkets and large retail stores. Smaller-scale shops allow, or even expect, you to bargain! Flea markets in touristy places like Kaosan Road or Silom Road have their goods marked-up pretty high and you can sometimes haggle it down half price. The word of advice when it comes to bargain is SMILE!


When a seller offers you the first price, smile and offer your price that is lower than what you expect to pay. If the seller still doesn’t show any sign of giving up, offer another price (with a smile). If the seller still resist, pretend to walk out of the store – turn around and offer a slightly higher price. By this point, the seller should come up with a price that is satisfactory for both parties. This trick works well for local and my friends from abroad.

#2 Shop around

Common sense in shopping is to shop around if you want the cheapest price possible. There are stores that sell the same or identical merchandise in most of Bangkok’s shopping places. Make sure to walk around, asking and comparing prices. When you find a store that offers you the lowest first price, then you can go ahead and initiate your bargain skills!

#3 Be street smart

Picking-pocketing is expected in busy markets such as Jatujak weekend market and Sampheng market. Watch out for your personal belongings and have your bags in front of you at all time. I love to go to these busy markets myself because I can get quality products for less. Just be alert of your surroundings and you’ll be fine!

#4 Thai shopping phrases

It might be difficult to speak Thai because it’s such a tonal language. However, if you at least try to speak some of these phrases when shopping – you’ll win some hearts and might even get some extra Baht off just because you try!

Hello – Sawaddee
This is pretty – Suay dee na
How much – Tao rai?
Can I have a discount? - Lod dai mai?
No thanks, I’m not interested – Mai aow
Thank you very much - Kob Khun maak
You are very kind – Khun jai dee maak
**Add ‘Ka’ to the end of each sentence for politeness if you’re female and ‘Krub’ if you’re male.

#5 Where to shop

Now you have basic shopping know-how and ready to apply these tricks to the real world!
Some of my personal recommended places to shop are as follows:
Jatujak Weekend Market, Sumpheng Market, Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Platinum Shopping center, MBK Shopping center, Pak Klong Talat (flower market) and Major Ratchoyothin Flea Market.

Next post, I will write about my favorite shopping heaven of all time!