Buying handbags & silks in Bangkok?

[Bobcat]

Hi, Guys

I have got it past the post and am coming out for my first trip. Newbie to Los late Feb early March. Needless to say I am being given a list of copycat requests ie Abercrombie, Hollister handbags all that stuff. Are there any places to go to that would be recommended, personal use only, which shopping centre or market, ie quality & the usual do,s & donts.

I am also trying to source a silk furnishing fabric weaver/ manufacturer on a business basis. I am looking to start a range in the UK, then distributing to Europe & the USA rest of the world long term. Can you point steer whatever you call it, or you may even be involved in. Plus it gives me a great excuse to return.

[Snick]

Buying knock offs isn't as good as it used to be, currently only the Suan Lum Night Bazaar has decent quality.
Know exactly what you want, inspect the bags very carefully - they will often try and pass off a defective bag to you at first - I usually reject the first bag or two after finding some bad leather,bad stitching, etc...
Then comes the haggling, they'll often start at 2x or 3x the final price, you might even have to walk away at some point and wait for them to call you back.
It might not be worth it.

[pacman]

You will find the people at the Department of Export Promotion very helpful.

Go to their web site www.thaitrade.com & make an enquiry.

BTW, if you go overboard buying copy bags, etc & arrive at customs with a lot, many countries will deem you to be carrying a commercial quanity & will want the relevant import duty & sales tax paid. Once they see they are counterfeit, they will seize them & you will be left with nothing. They could even charge you with an offence.

It is a grey area with copies bought for personal use. A few normally won't be questioned, the customs guys aren't experts at picking fakes & they just turn a blind eye to this common practise.

However, bring in more than a few, as in a suitcase full or more & some jurisdictions will be all over you.

[Guest]

pacman is correct about that

[thegame925]

Are there any places to go to that would be recommended, personal use only, which shopping centre or market, i.e. quality & the usual do€™s & don€™ts?

The best, the absolutely best, kept secret relating to handbags in Bangkok is a little shop, called "Money Clip", hidden away in Siam Square Soi 3, across the Rama I Road opposite the Paragon Centre.

You do however need to know that which you are hoping to find.

The shop appears to have the usual range of handbags and copies of famous makes and also specialises in hand-made shoes - particularly ladies sandals.

However, if you go into the shop knowing that you want a Chanel Model X  handbag or a Kelley Bag Model Y handbag, you will be taken through a false wall at the back of the shop or possibly upstairs, where you will be shown a catalogue with almost every imaginable make of handbag.

You tell them what you want to see and they bring it out (if they have it, which they usually do) or they will tell you to come back in 24 hours when they will have it.

I am told that these bags are not "fakes" in the "regular" sense but "over runs" (the Brits call it "cabbage") from the regular production of these bags from wherever they are made.

The prices are not cheap - but they are substantially less than the real "real thing".

You do not need to accept the price you are told, when you are sure you have the handbag or handbags that you want, then, and only then, you can start to negotiate.

When you get to the lowest level they will accept, you will know by the look in their eye, and at that point there is no point in trying to haggle further €“ they will immediately lose interest and  you will be lead back into the main shop and shown the door.

I have been told by American, british, Italian and French ladies who are €œprofessional shoppers€  that what they can buy in this shop, whilst appearing expensive, is good value and far better value than similar quality purchased in similar outlets in Europe.

Of course, morally, what you are doing is wrong, as wrong as buying a cheap fake on Patpong or Sukhumvit Road, but you know that already.

I post below the full name of the shop, the address and a map to guide you.

[Snick]

Great Tip, I will check it out next I have orders to get such and such a bag.

[Bobcat]

  Game & Pacman thanks for that, very kind. Morals well if we are talking about those then what are we doing here. Cabbage not heard that one. Bit like the grey market. This will keep the troops happy at home too.

I thought this thread had been erased. Whenever I post something it gets moderated. Or seems too. I have been a member for a while but posting has not been my fortee.  

I think I will have to join the VIP section. Worth it guys?.

Now I am going end of Feb for the first time and the excitement is almost too much for me.

I was going to stay at Dreams which is around 14 but I am having second thoughts as this I would imagine is not easy easy walking distance from Nana re ST stuff rather use ones own room. What is the better hotel thats close by. Web link would be really kind & am I better booking through an agency. I believe from looking at previous reports its the Dynasty something. I know it can be found (lazy old git) but if youve got it to hand that would be kind. How much are the rooms roughly at this time of year.

I would love to catch a glass at guess. Am I right in guessing this is a good place to catch up with forum members.  

I too am also looking forward to posting my first trip report, with pictures if I can get my box camera to work

[pacman]

(Bobcat @ Jan. 30 2010,00:32) I think I will have to join the VIP section. Worth it guys?.

If the sight of naked ladyboys is likely to offend, definitely not!

As for hotel accommodation, there is ample choice near Nana Plaza, depending on your budget. The Majestic Suites, the Landmark, the Dynasty Inn, the Dynasty Grande, the Dawin - they are all used by BMs here & you should find any of them satisfactory.

The Nana Hotel opposite the Nana Plaza is not recommended by the way.

Try one of the booking websites for prices & availability. I like www.agoda.com - their special deals are as good, if not better, than any other site. Look for places in lower Sukhumvit.

The Guess Bar is base camp in Bangkok & is the best place to meet up with BMs. Lots of newbies wander in & introduce themself. You never know who you might meet.

Good luck with your first visit to the Kingdom & trade-in that box camera for something better & post a few pictures for the rest of us to share.

After all, we do it for you...          

[kevin4252]

Also would highly recommend the Majestic Grande, right on Soi 2, walk out the front door and a 2 minute walk to Guess, and another three to NEP, I always stay there, can't say enough about the place, and a free breakfast too, enjoy yourself Bob
p.s.---use their website, easier me thinks, kevin

[pacman]

      I actually meant the Majestic Grande...        

A dumb mistake seeing how I stayed there myself...    and liked it...        

[guydesavoy]

As for hotels, I can recommend The Dawin in soi 4 (part of Dynasty group).

http://www.thedawin.com/

Has been rated by quite a few BMs here, myself included. Just a hop and a skip from Guess bar.

For bags, there is a shop in the Night market referred to by Snick which also sells pre-owned brands in good condition.

TheGame's tip was a good one. Many more like that to be found in the VIP sexion, so yes, worth joining I'd say. Especially in preparing your first trip.

[Bobcat]

Thanks Guys & if I can buy you one   when I am there it would be a pleasure. Less than 4 weeks........ Oh as an aside. I am going with some others who I am sure are more GG friendly I trust nana has that too. Whats the ratio?

[Snick]

The Rainbow bars (1-4) are the best GG bars in Nana.
Lollipop and Voodoo have a mix of GG and Post-Ops
That being said, the best GG bars are on soi cowboy, Tilac, Bacart and Lone Gun.

[pacman]

There are more than enough GGs to keep your friends happy. I think the ratio would favour GGs anyway, just don't tell your mates there is a chance the girl they are with might be a post-op.

That's a likelihood anywhere in LOS but some of the prettiest girls are going to be LBs. If you say nothing, they will never know. And should they find out, what's the worst that can happen? They might decide they would like a visit to the pre-op bars.

Do not underestimate their curiousity about LBs. Many guys only need to know they are in like-minded company to take that first step.

We all had to start somewhere...

[Bobcat]

Yeah thats so right. It will be amusing seeing the way they approach the issue. Talked with one of the guys and he,s cool and up for it. I think he,s had encounters before. He refers to them as Bert, why bert I dont know but its Bert.

The pressure is that old code of conduct what goes on stays on . Dont want any loose cannons in respectable Surrey.

I started in the dam when a postie suggested a bit of alternative & brought in a LB, it blew my brains out. That first sight of a tool being unloaded from the panties. I will never forget it.