The Best IT Malls in Bangkok


 

Bangkok is well-renowned as a real haven for shopping, whether it is for the huge range of both indoor and outdoor markets, the massive retail complexes, or the gamut of ‘hi-so’ malls that have sprung up in recent years.

It’s also regarded as something of a retail paradise in terms of all kinds of electronics. Although some visitors to the SE Asian capital may be typically and understandably wary when it comes to this particular segment of the shopping experience, there are a good few places that are well worth checking out, whether you are looking for some particular component or item, or need to get an existing one fixed.

Of course the regular shopping malls and complexes are likely to have shops that sell all manner of items such as mobiles, computers and digital cameras, as well as TVs and wide ranges of other electronic equipment. However, if there is some specific item that you are looking for, and particularly in terms of getting any repairs done, you’d be lucky to find that it a regular mall.

It always pays to shop around and compare prices in Bangkok, rather than just heading for the nearest Apple or Samsung shop, and when there is so much competition all under one roof you may just find the ideal premise for bargaining in any of the city’s IT malls.

Image by nick hubbard from wikimedia commons

The best deals may come depending on what kind of electronic product you are looking for, whether that be by way of a new power pack, or maybe you just want to get a new battery for your laptop.

Either way, you’ll be spoilt for choice in the majority of IT malls in Bangkok, if not overwhelmed, by the sheer amount of items, both new and used, that could be of some potential value, depending on how much of a ‘techie’ or computer nerd you consider yourself to be.

There’s always the games as well, if that’s your thing, and although availability of the counterfeited computer programs and DVDs that Thailand was once so renowned for has taken something of a dive in recent years, it’s likely that you’ll still find a fair few on offer in most of the IT malls in Bangkok.

So let’s take a deeper delve into what constitutes some of the best IT malls that Bangkok has to offer, from some of the huge centrally-located affairs to a slightly lower-key centre on the outskirts of the city perimeter, just in case you don’t much fancy trawling around Pantip Plaza or MBK amidst the chaotic and sometimes overwhelming thrall of the Bangkok crowds.

 

1. Fortune Town

Fortune Town is a huge shopping mall specializing in all kinds of electronics, namely computers & IT gear, phones, photographic equipment, and various other audio and visual components.  

Image by by UweBKK from wikimedia commons

Fortune is one of, if not the best of Bangkok’s IT malls, for a variety of reasons. One of its main selling points has got to be the fact that it is rather conveniently located slightly away from the main city-centre regions popular with tourists, although it is easily-reachable on the corner of Rama IX Road in Ratchada, right outside of the MRT Rama 9 Station, which means it is actually quite easy to find and access.

Many locals head to Fortune Town IT Mall due to the specialist IT shops and such like that operate here, and it is definitely worth shopping around, comparing prices, and even doing a bit of bartering to get what you came for, which is exactly what the Thais do.

This 4-storey IT mall is well-known for having not only the latest in technological items, but also for being the place to get parts and repairs for all kinds of devices that can sometimes work out quite well price-wise. The many floors feature different aspects of the IT mall experience including various repair shops, second hand items, and brand new retail items on another floor.

Image by by UweBKK from wikimedia commons

If you’re on the lookout for a specific item of software or computer equipment, there’s a good chance that someone here will have it. This IT mall is also a favourite with local Bangkok gamers, as there is plenty of choice and a good few stall owners who seem to know their stuff.

On some of the higher floors are a few other specialist shops selling music-related items such as collectable vinyl records, stereo equipment, and other musical instruments such as high-end acoustic guitars.

There are a couple of other things to know about this IT mall in Bangkok, aside from electronics. For instance, on the ground floor is a Tesco Lotus supermarket, along with a fair selection of restaurants and a food court. There are also a few coffee shops dotted around on the various floors.

And, if you feel like you still have a thirst for a more varied retail experience, the massive Central Rama 9 department store is literally just across the road!

Address: 7 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400
(MRT Rama 9/Pra Ram 9)
Hours: 10:30am-9:00pm
Phone: (+66) 02 248 5855

 

2. Pantip Plaza

Pantip Plaza is one of the most visited Bangkok electronics malls in the central echelons of the city. It’s often the stop-off place for visitors and tourists who are staying somewhere close to the area and also fancy a trawl around Platinum and such like.

This 5-storey mall is dedicated to computer and technology items, and you can find new and used computers and accessories at reasonable prices if you know what you are looking for and have some idea about the fine art of bargaining.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

The plaza is situated in a large space on the Petchaburi Road, and despite the fact that in the past this place gained some degree of notoriety related to the practice of selling counterfeit software and DVDs (someone must’ve decided to make an example) Pantip still attracts plenty of willing punters.

Doubtless you will find a few bargains and plenty of specialists who are ideal for things like repairs and upgrades. Pretty much anything that a technophile could possibly wish for will be available in Pantip Plaza to some extent, including computers and laptops, tablets, printers, software, cameras, MP3 players, etc., etc.

Pantip Plaza is actually one of the places in Bangkok where other IT traders from around the country go to buy their stock at wholesale prices, and hence make some significant savings.

The largest store in the complex is on the 5th floor and is called IT City. The store sells all the latest electronic equipment and is somewhat less chaotic than other parts of the mall. Most IT brands are likely to be available here, and this is one of the places that is an established outlet and hence probably more reliable than some of the others.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Another one of these established stores can be found on the mezzanine level and goes by the name of Hardware House. These types of stores might not be as cheap as some of the smaller stalls and traders, but you might get some discounts and at least warranties and the guarantee of some kind of after-sales service.

It’s worth remembering that there is plenty of competition for your custom in places like this, so don’t forget to try your hand at bargaining. It’s definitely true that in recent times Thai traders just don’t seem to be as flexible as they might once have been, but you should never take the first price you are given in any of these places.

Some of the stalls might not want to budge on the price but might be willing to throw in a few extras or other items in order to secure your custom. This might be something from one of the other great features of this mall — the bargain bins that many stalls have outside them containing phone and computer accessories like USB flash drives, mouse pads, cables, connectors etc., sometimes for as little as 20-100 baht per item.

The problem for some might be the issue regarding some traders openly selling counterfeit products alongside genuine items, but for others this is also likely to be the appealing factor. Pantip Plaza has actually been operating for well over 2 decades now, and there may be a few cultural differences to consider.

For instance, it’s not entirely unheard of for some of the traders in major shopping malls selling, shall we say, less-than-authentic products – this is Thailand, and the same kind of rigorous standards fixed in say, many western countries, have simply not yet come into play here – and maybe unlikely to anytime in the near future.

Again, this for many people is a selling point of the country, at least in terms of a visit here, and it has to be said that while of course they are out to make a buck, the vast majority of traders aren’t outwardly trying to rip anyone off.

The seller will in fact offer you both the copy and the genuine item, leaving it up to you to compare them and make a decision based on price and quality – a case of you get what you pay for in many ways.

Image by kylehase from wikimedia commons

To get there, from BTS Chidlom, either hire a tuk-tuk or taxi or walk 10 minutes down Ratchadamri Road past Central World on your left, over the Saen Saeb canal and then left on Phetburi Road. Walk for about 2 blocks and Pantip Plaza should be on your left.

Location: Phetchaburi Rd, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Hours: Daily from 10 am to 9 pm
Tel: +66 (0) 2 254 9797

 

3. MBK Centre

Anyone who has ever been to Bangkok has likely paid at least one visit to the massive shopping complex that is the MBK Centre, in the Siam central region of the city.

It has a fairly extensive IT section, which is useful for a variety of reasons. Many tourists head here if they need there phone unlocking once they realise that it won’t allow access to the local Thai sim they are trying to use.

If you want to buy a new phone or tablet, or even a used one, then MBK is the place to go. You’ll find a fairly concentrated maze of phone-related stalls and everything that could be associated with mobiles in terms of cases, and other accessories, sim cards, batteries, software, and various other app packages, including second-hand stuff.

Image by preetamrai from creativecommons.org

You might want to exercise some degree of caution with the second hand products though, and some of the items have been traded against newer ones or been sold for parts by locals out to make some quick change. This place has also traditionally been known locally as one of the places that taxi drivers go to sell phones left in their cabs by unwitting passengers, although whether that is the case these days or not is anyone’s guess.

Again bargaining is necessary, and you should be even less likely in a place like this so rife with tourists to take the first price they offer you. You might also find on comparison with your currency converter app that it’s not actually all that much cheaper than some people may be inclined to think before they visit Thailand.

Still worth a look though, and a stop off at this Bangkok IT centre can easily be tied in with a bit of other shopping, eating, sightseeing, and whatever else takes your fancy if you hit this central area which does get rather crowded sometimes.

Location: 444 Phayathai Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok  10330
Hours: 10:30 am- 9 pm

 

4. IT Square Laksi

If you happen to be staying on or visiting the vicinity close to the old international (and now domestic) airport, Don Mueng, there is always IT Square Laksi.

Actually not that far away from the immigration complex either, in case you needed to visit there for any reason, is this somewhat more low-key mall, at least in comparison to some of the others on this list, that nevertheless has a few stalls selling computer, electronics & IT equipment.

Image sourced from creativecommons.org

Right on the corner of both the Chaeng Watthana and Vibhavadi Roads, you’ll find a four-storey mall. Although there are a few other forms of retail including, obviously, a food court, the majority of the space is indeed taken up by various IT stores.

Address: Moo 4 333/103 Chaeng Watthana Rd, Talat Bang Khen, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210
Hours: 11 am -8 pm
Phone02 576 0333
Web: https://th-th.facebook.com/itsquarelaksi/

 

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