Platinum Mall

The best place for buying clothes, shoes and other accessories in Bangkok right now is undoubtedly the Platinum Mall at Pratunam.

This retail cum wholesale place has something for everybody. In many of the shops, you can get stuff for (dirt) cheap if you buy three instead of one. There was this one shop with nice tops - where 1 top was costing 240 baht, but 3 were a bargain at 180 each - and what's more, you can even choose different colours and designs. All shops have their own deals - some are only wholesale and don't sell one piece at all. It has become a shopping trend for friends to go there in groups so that they may purchase for cheap in three's.

I don't quite like the design of the mall though - it is difficult to navigate, easy to miss many nooks, corners and aisles, and also very difficult to locate a shop which you want to visit again; not to mention the crowds thronging the narrow aisles all day.

The place closes quite early though - by 5 or 6 pm, most shops are packing up even though there are a lot of shoppers around and still potential to make sales, but the vendors simply shut down - seemingly uncaring and oblivious to the prostects of making more money - which could possibly mean that they are already making a lot of dough.

There is also a reasonably good food court on the top floor, where you are warned every ten minutes or so to beware of thefts and guard your belongings.

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The Mall Group's 'Shop Chuay Chaat' campaign

The Mall Group, including Siam Paragon and Emporium, is hosting a special sale campaign entitled 'Shop Chuay Chaat' roughly translated as 'Save the Nation Shopping', at all their branches. Highlights include attractive discounts for the recipients of the government's 2,000 Baht cheque handouts.


At Emporium and all branches of The Mall, the sale runs from March 27 to April 1, and on the 27th, 28th and 29th, the stores will remain open till midnight.

As for Paragon, the sale runs from April 1 to 6, with the store opening till midnight on the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

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Commart Thailand 2009

The much awaited and beloved Commart event is here from March 19 to 22 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The event's highlight would be the perpetual laptop war, with aggressive price-cutting by all the players, that is sellers, in the market; with discount offerings of upto 4,000 Baht off from normal prices. HP's Shock Sale Program being featured at the event will also go on at all their dealers till March 29, offering lowest-ever prices on the new Pavilion notebook PCs.

The event has the hardware industry on tenterhooks and wondering whether consumers will readily open their wallets for priced purchases in these times of economic uncertainties. It is also notorious year after year for the nightmare traffic jams and lack of parking space, therefore you'd better ditch your car and even the taxi, and get on the subway!

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'Home Improvement' sales

There are several home decor outlets coming out with their various offers this summer:

The much-loved Jaspal's Home Collection brand has a 'White Essay' themed discount from March 1 to 31. You can get 15% off on exotic white bed linen and 20% on "all that you can find white". The branches are located on the 3rd floor of Siam Paragon, 4th floor of Emporium and on the main road of Sukhumvit soi 15 - 17. For more info, visit: www.jaspalhome.com.

The Decor Mart has announced a Summer Sale of upto 70% off on their products from March 14 to 31; you can find them on Thonglor 19 and Thonglor Midtown.

The Parthenon on Charoenkrung Rd, soi 38 (next to Oriental Hotel), is having a clearance sale from March 14 to April 19. You can find "incredible discounts" on their exquisite Chinese furniture.

The Omazz Gallery on the 3rd floor of Siam Paragon is having their 3rd Anniversary Celebration Sale during March 12 to 29. They have luxury bed mattresses, beddings, linens, duvets, pillows, etc. To know more, visit www.omazz.com.

Another event worthy of mention is the Grand Furniture Sale at Siam Discovery (4th-5th floors) from March 19 to 24, 10 AM to 7 PM. There are bargains of up to 70% off on 'over 1000 pieces of fine furniture' and other indoor decoratives; and over 300 pieces of luxury brands such as Barbara Berry, Martha Stewart, Dedon Thomasville, Kingsdown, Bolier, etc.

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Central Summer 2009

Central department stores are having a plethora of sales promotional programs this summer 2009 season:

• Central Chidlom is running a clearance sale of upto 70% off on women and men fashion at the Event Hall on the 3rd floor from March 12 to 22. I have hardly found things attractive in their clearance sale but that's because I always manage to go only on the last day when all the good stuff is taken. So if you really want to find branded treasures from their clearance bounty, best to head there as early as possible, before your other shopping competitors get there! If you are shopping there on the 15, 16 or 17, you are encouraged to carry your own bags to further avail of their 'No Bag Day' discounts.



• All branches of Central have something called the 'No Bag Day Sale' on the 15, 16 and 17 of every month, whereby if you take your purchases without the shopping bag, you can get additional discounts of 5 - 10 % !!!



• There is another promotion called "The 1 Card X-treme Summer Sale" from March 6 to May 6 (2 months), where the points you accumulate in your 'The 1 Card' can be exchanged for discount coupons which then can be used for your subsequent purchases.....complicated, isn't it? Basically every 25 Baht spent earns you 1 point. Using certain credit cards will entitle you to more discounts.



• Central Lardprao's Promotion Hall on the 1st floor has a "Small Appliances Sale" from March 11 to 17 - household and kitchen appliances - upto 30% off.



• There is the Central "Bed n Rest" fair at the Ramindra branch from March 10 to 23 offering 20 - 70%discounts.



• The Central Lingerie Sale (all branches) from February 25 to March 22 - upto 60% off.



• Central 'Beauty Bonus' from February 25 to April 5 features several discounts and coupons on their cosmetics and perfumes.

So mark up these dates in your calender, and for more info, visit their website: http://www.central.co.th/promotion/index.php

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Pizza Company BoGo deal is back!

After a long time of steady (and silent) price increases, Pizza Company has come out with a one month offer of BUY 1 GET 1 FREE Pizza valid from 26 February 2009 till 31 March 2009. So those of us who have been tightening our purse strings and vowed not to order pizzas for at least 6 months can take a break from the vow this month and take advantage of the offer. The deal is valid for pizzas over 275 baht which doesn't matter as there are hardly any pizzas below that price level. So what are you waiting for? Just Dial 1112.

I must admit though that the taste and quality of their pizzas has deteriorated over time, standing no comparison over the better tasting (and pricier!) Pizza Hut. But with recessionary conditions looming, these joints need to seriously consider lowering their prices...

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