Fake goods worse in Pattaya than BKK

[peckerwood 60]

I apologize in advance for posting this off topic topic here, but I need your insights right away. I have determined to buy an iPad. Went to Tukcom yesterday, and I was quoted a price of 15,600 baht for a 16 gig (Wifi only) iPad. Wondering if I could get a better price in Bangkok, I googled it and was directed to the Thai Visa website (which I think is generally reliable). This particular thread was about where to get the best price for an iPad in Bangkok. Well, one of the replies to the OP said that he had bought a similar iPad at MBK for 20000 baht. This set of alarm bells in my head. Why on earth should an iPad be more than 4000 baht cheaper in Pattaya than Bangkok? Sure, I would love to save the money, but I really don't want a counterfeit iPad, what with all of the attendant hassles. On the other hand, in reading this thread I also discovered that the prices for the iPad in Hong Kong and Singapore are significantly less than in Bangkok. Why should this be so? Perhaps the dealers here in Pattaya are smuggling these devices in from Hong Kong, marking them up a bit, and reselling them to me. Or perhaps the prices in Bangkok are kept artificially high by some nefarious cartel. Any thoughts?

Edited October 7, 2011 by peckerwood

[Idefix 2,275]

Hi. How old is the thread you read on TV?

20,000 could have been the price we had a few months ago, before the iPad2 was officially released in Thailand.

15,200/15,600 seems to be the first price nearly everywhere in Pattaya or Thailand now.

[9cisco999 107]

I apologize in advance for posting this off topic topic here, but I need your insights right away. I have determined to buy an iPad. Went to Tukcom yesterday, and I was quoted a price of 15,600 baht for a 16 gig (Wifi only) iPad. Wondering if I could get a better price in Bangkok, I googled it and was directed to the Thai Visa website (which I think is generally reliable). This particular thread was about where to get the best price for an iPad in Bangkok. Well, one of the replies to the OP said that he had bought a similar iPad at MBK for 20000 baht. This set of alarm bells in my head. Why on earth should an iPad be more than 4000 baht cheaper in Pattaya than Bangkok? Sure, I would love to save the money, but I really don't want a counterfeit iPad, what with all of the attendant hassles. On the other hand, in reading this thread I also discovered that the prices for the iPad in Hong Kong and Singapore are significantly less than in Bangkok. Why should this be so? Perhaps the dealers here in Pattaya are smuggling these devices in from Hong Kong, marking them up a bit, and reselling them to me. Or perhaps the prices in Bangkok are kept artificially high by some nefarious cartel. Any thoughts?

 

 

 

if you can get a serial number from an iPad you're considering buying you may be able to call Apple and confirm its not fake or stolen. (1 800 my apple)

 

 

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Went to Tukcom yesterday, and I was quoted a price of 15,600 baht for a 16 gig (Wifi only) iPad. Wondering if I could get a better price in Bangkok, I googled it and was directed to the Thai Visa website (which I think is generally reliable). This particular thread was about where to get the best price for an iPad in Bangkok. Well, one of the replies to the OP said that he had bought a similar iPad at MBK for 20000 baht. This set of alarm bells in my head. Why on earth should an iPad be more than 4000 baht cheaper in Pattaya than Bangkok?

 

You should be asking why someone in BKK is paying over 4k Baht more than the official price. I don't know where the fake goods bit comes in ... simply buy the thing at an official reseller such as iBeat.

 

 

 

[peckerwood 60]

Hi. How old is the thread you read on TV?

20,000 could have been the price we had a few months ago, before the iPad2 was officially released in Thailand.

15,200/15,600 seems to be the first price nearly everywhere in Pattaya or Thailand now.

Thanks. I (stupidly) didn't check how old the thread was. I will just buy the iPad in Pattaya and be done with it. Again, Many thanks for the information!

[Grandpollo 366]

if you can get a serial number from an iPad you're considering buying you may be able to call Apple and confirm its not fake or stolen. (1 800 my apple)

 

Apple does not keep track of anything stolen (this misconception comes up a lot in the Apple support world) and the fake serial number will be the same as a real one so this advice isn't going to work. They are not the "DMV" of iPads.

 

If you want to buy Apple buy at an authorized dealer of which there are in Bangkok. I can't imagine what part of the world you have to live in to pay Thai prices but if there's no other option don't buy at Tukcom. You won't get a warranty for starters and it can be fake and will be total shit if it is.

 

Also 16GB is a very poor choice for any iPod/iPad as that is not going to hold much. I have a 64GB and have to remove things to add new things all the time. Bad choice unless it's all one can afford but waiting until a proper one can be bought is smarter.

Edited October 8, 2011 by ricktoronto