Protect your cash - Thailand is an extremely safe
country, but people do steal. What you consider a nominal sum might
be a months pay to a poor Thai. Don't flash large amounts of cash.
Keep
the
contents
of your wallet or purse privateWatch your credit cards Sometimes shopping becomes disorganized. Always double check to make sure you got your credit card back.
Don't allow someone to take your card to a back room. Follow that card!
Credit cards often pay extra some merchants will add a charge of 3-5% to your purchase when you use a credit card. Sometimes the salesperson will remind you, sometimes not .. look before you sign! If the price of an item is significant, consider either paying cash or negotiating down/away the credit card premium
Shop "alone" at reputable shops Very few bargains await down back alleys or at unmarked shops. Quite a number of scams do. Best is to get a recommendation from a trusted source.
Tour guides usually volunteer to take you shopping .. very often for free! That's because most/all tour guides have traditional arrangements with merchants to get a 10 - 20% commission on what you purchase.
Learn to bargain You don't need to speak Thai to bargain. Most negotiations can be carried out by punching numbers on a calculator. The shows shows you a calculator with 1000 showing. You take the calculator and enter 500. Simple, huh!
Be willing to walk away When agreement can't be reached, don't get angry. Don't yell or even pout. Just smile and walk away. Why?
- The item can probably be found at another place
- You will likely get no more than 2 steps before hearing, "Okay, okay!"
- If you have to start another negotiation you have a good starting point and range in which to negotiate.
Buy it now or buy it later? Consider how long you will be staying in Thailand, how much time you have for shopping. Sometimes it is better to look around for the best deal. And do you really want to lug all that stuff on the ferry to Koh Samui?