Shopping for Gear in Bangkok
January 10, 2007 by nopstar
The Shop
On your next visit to Bangkok if your in need of some gear you should drop by the “Sport Marketing” store. Their motto should be crap name, good prices. Each time I’m back I stop in to pick up some gear. It’s relatively easy to get to, their shop is located next to the National Stadium (Sanam Kela Heng Chart). If you take the BTS, take it to the National Stadium stop, exit the station at “Exit 2″ and walk to the end of the block and hang a left into the Soi. The Store is on the middle of the block around Chula Soi 5 and Soi 6 (Soi is rd. btw). It’s a tiny “mom and pop” shop and they only carry “Twins” brand gear. For the best possible deal, I would suggest that you go and do group order. You should be able to get gloves for the low to mid thirties… If you go to the stores next to the Lumpini or Rajadomnern be prepared to get reamed. I wouldn’t buy anything there unless your really feel compelled.
it’s about 3 stores past the FBT store
Tips on Haggling
- Don’t be a dick! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen deals go south because the vendor just thinks you’re a dick (Sulliman). Keep it friendly, smile, play the game. Thai people don’t like confrontation. In some countries haggling is more serious and combative… Don’t scowl and wave your finger in peoples faces it won’t work.
- Know your price. You should have a general idea of what something should cost. If you know the approximate range start a little lower… keep it friendly start at 50%… typically they’ll Say no way and then the haggling process begins.
- Walk away. No I’m not saying this should be your sole tactic. Vendors know when you want something. They do this for a living… What I’m saying is that you’ll find the identical product 10 stalls away. Gauge a price from the first vendor use it on a second vendor. (be careful not to do it too close to the original vendor, chances are they’re owned by the same peeps.) The second point is that if you can genuinely walk away they can sense this and make a last ditch effort to work with you.
- Know when to haggle. Don’t haggle at department stores and over food, it isn’t done you cheap bastard!
- Have perspective. This isn’t a hostage negotiation, your on vacation buying a $3 T-Shirt. At the end of the day you may find yourself haggling over $1 (.50p for my English readers!). Seriously when is the next time your going to be there? If you want it, buy it.
If you feel have a “negotiation” tip that works, add it to the comments. I would love to hear about it.
Haggling seems to be a must when shopping in any 3rd world country. (Oh, and Suli should stop being a cheap bastard- he drives a CKL for Christ’s sake!)
how much would a basic twins gloves cost?
Glenn-
I don’t remember precisely, but I’m pretty sure I paid around $25. Remember though, I went with a couple of friends so we combined our order.
Hope this helps
thanks, the pictures and the directions posted here are very helpful!
just got from bangkok, got a fancy design at 1250baht ($35).
Cool, thanks for the tip, I’ll check this place out in August!
Thanks for the tip. Managed to find the place easily. They do stock a wide range of twins stuff. Purchased 3 grappling gloves. price approx 1100B to 1300B.
Pay by cash give 50B discount
Hi, I’m going to Bangkok this weekend & plan to visit this sport marketing shop. Does anyone know the shop phone No or opening hours? I searched by website but could not find anything about this shop..
Just got back from BKK. Found the shop with some friends and bought alot of shorts, gloves, ankle supports and linament. That whole area is a sporting goods district.
Hi All, just got back from Thailand and had to come online to give you a heads up about this shop called ’sport marketing co’. Based on this thread and reviews i went out of my way to come to this shop and buy some gear, still a geat thread so thanks :) – i spent around 10,000 Baht at this shop! On that note I paid 1300 Baht for a pair of 16oz Twins dragon gloves which was after negotiation. Trusting this was a good deal i went for the whole lot. shops around Rajadomnem were doing the same gloves for 1800 Baht as a shelf price.
Anyway to cut a long story short this shop is nothing special at all – i went to a handful of shops around Lumpini stadium and the same gloves were 1100 as a shelf price – no negotiation and deff no need to spend 10000 baht! i was very gutted, dont make the same mistake i did!
A particular shop i recommend is right next door to Lumpini stadium – all products are at a great price, its very busy and very well stocked – if i could do it again i would much rather spend my money there. Its called TWINS SPECIAL CO LTD … they even have a decent website http://www.twinsspecial.com
enjoy!
P-
Sorry to hear about that… it’s been ages since I’ve been to the Sport Marketing co.
Thanks for the heads up.
hahahah the article also instructs NOT to go to the good shops around lumpini