World ? Asia ? Thailand

Thailand: Tips on Shopping

Customs officers in many countries are now actively searching bags of tourists returning from Thailand and confiscating any pirated CDs and DVDs, designer knock-offs, and copy watches. In places like the U.S., U.K., and Australia, the import of counterfeit merchandise is a crime and you, as the buyer, will have your holiday purchases confiscated. A purchase may be "low dollar" to you, but when thousands of copies are sold, it damages the businesses that create and pay for the copyright of these models. Every year, media reports also confirm that earnings from these underground counterfeit industries go toward money laundering, drug production, prostitution, and child trafficking. By not buying fake brands, you are not just abiding by the law, but helping stamp out racketeering that ruins lives.

Shopping Scams

Gems, fake goods, illegal betting: Every year naȹve tourists take the bait and get caught in a scam. To beat the cheats, follow these simple rules:

  • If anyone approaches you on the street and offers to take you to a shop (or anywhere for that matter), refuse.

  • If a tuk-tuk or taxi driver wants to take you shopping say, "No thanks" (or "Mai ao, khop khun").

  • Be suspicious of strangers who flash TAT, Tourist Police, or any other "badge," in order to get something from you.

  • Know that there is no such thing as a government auction, government clearinghouse, or anything "government"-related to the gems industry.

  • There is no such thing as a tax-free day for gemstones purchases.

  • Do not agree to let any gem purchases be shipped to your home address.

  • As with any purchase you make, if you use a credit card, keep the card in your sight at all times and watch the store assistant make one print of it.

  • If anyone tells you that your purchase can be resold back home for more than you paid for it in Thailand, walk away.

    • Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2012, Whatsonwhen Limited and Wiley Publishing, Inc. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Travmarket cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.Event details can change. Please check with the organizers that an event is happening before making travel arrangements. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site.

    InternationalFlights.com is dedicated to bringing you cheap international flights and international travel to destinations all over the world. Whether you're looking for a cheap international flight to Africa, Asia, Austria, or Australia, or a cheap flight to Scotland, South America, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland, cheap tickets are our game. We can help you find cheap flights to anywhere, from Amsterdam to the Ukraine, from Belgium to Turkey. On our cheap ticket site you can search for international tickets or international airfares; you'll find tips, deals, and discounts for airlines and tickets to anywhere in the world, including China, Cyprus, Denmark, Dublin, Egypt, and England. International airlines have cheap flights to just about anywhere these days; international airfares and cheap airfares for travel, both business and pleasure, to locations such as Europe, Finland, France, Frankfurt, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, and Japan.

    Search now for international airline tickets, and get your cheap flight to Korea, London, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, or Paris. Our massive database of flights will help you find the cheapest flight, the cheapest ticket, wherever you want to go. Book your airline ticket to the Philippines, Prague, or Rome, and know that you're getting cheap airfares. Whether you say airfare or air tickets, the result's the same. Your international ticket will be a great price. If your next air ticket is to Russia, Thailand, or Turkey, you can trust InternationalFlights.com to get you the best deal.

    home