Bangkok Shopping Guide to MBK Sportswear Fortune Town and Bargains
MBK Sport Shoes and Sportswear in Bangkok
MBK Center is one of the places in Bangkok where you can find discounted sports shoes, sportswear and football shirts. Many of the shoes are authentic and can cost less than 15 dollars during the sales.
MBK is easy to reach by taking the BTS SkyTrain to National Stadium and walking to the mall. The building is large, with many choices across its floors, but the third floor is the main area for sports shoes and sportswear.
Some shoes originally priced at 2,590 Thai Baht were reduced to 518 Thai Baht. Other examples included shoes reduced from 2,190 to 438 Thai Baht and from 1,990 to 597 Thai Baht. Fila shoes were available for around 590 Thai Baht, while one Adidas pair had fallen from 7,000 to 1,000 Thai Baht.
The available sizes depend on the remaining stock. Most sizes may be available, but shoppers sometimes need to change their preferred style if the right size has already sold. Some last-chance items cost less than 90 percent of their original price, although the choice of style and size is more limited.
The shop also sells sportswear and football shirts. Many football shirts start at around 400 Thai Baht, with examples including an original Liverpool shirt for 560 Thai Baht. New arrivals can cost about 1,000 Thai Baht, depending on the style, colour and size.
Fortune Town Electronics Mall in Bangkok
Fortune Town is one of the best-known places in Bangkok for electronics. It can be reached by taking the BTS and changing to the underground train, then travelling to Rama 9 station.
The first floor has a food court. The second floor sells cameras and accessories, including drones, microphones and other filming equipment. The third floor has computers and is one of the most useful areas for laptops and related items.
Anyone planning to fly a drone in Thailand needs to check the registration, insurance and licensing requirements and can only fly in permitted areas. The mall also has many shops selling cameras, accessories and other electronics.
A memory card for new filming equipment was reduced from 400 to 299 Thai Baht. Camera accessories and holders for a scooter and bag cost 500 Thai Baht together, while the same items had previously been quoted at 500 Thai Baht each elsewhere.
Fortune Town also has a used-items section with laptops, cameras, accessories, iPhones and Samsung phones at lower prices. It is not only an electronics mall, as shoppers can also find stationery and food in the building.
MBK Original and First Copy Shopping
MBK also has shops selling original sports shoes, authentic t-shirts, sunglasses and travel bags. Some shops selling first-copy items had previously been closed, but many were open again during this visit.
The copy section has t-shirts and other items at different prices, and shoppers need to bargain. One example was a shirt offered at 1,300 Thai Baht after discussion. Other items included shoes priced at 570 Thai Baht and products ranging from 800 to 2,500 Thai Baht.
Some sellers describe first-copy items as being the same as the original, but they are not authentic. The quality and price vary, so shoppers should know the genuine price before deciding whether an item is worth buying.
Copy sunglasses were available for around 1,500 to 2,000 Thai Baht, although the quality may not last. Local t-shirts were available for around 99 Thai Baht, and shops such as All Seasons sold copy sports shoes along the route through the mall.
MBK was extremely busy, with very few closed shops. The market can offer good prices, but bargaining and checking quality remain important. If you do not know the original price, a seller may offer a copy at a much higher price than it is worth.
Bangkok Midyear Sales and Discounted Sportswear
The third-floor sports factory store sells original brands and has midyear sales. A pair of shoes reduced from 2,400 to 720 Thai Baht was one example. Other prices included 390 Thai Baht, while another item had fallen from 990 to 297 Thai Baht.
There were also affordable polo shirts, shorts and swimming shorts. Some polo shirts cost only 190 Thai Baht, while the shorts and swimming shorts were around 390 Thai Baht. The available sizes were varied, but the quality of individual items still needed to be checked.
Body Glove t-shirts were available in several colours. Plain shirts cost around 250 Thai Baht after a reduction from 590 Thai Baht, and the material was described as remaining in good condition after frequent washing.
Discounts depended on the style, colour and size. During the midyear sales, shoppers could find original sportswear at much lower prices, but the best bargains depended on the stock available on the day.
Bargaining for Premium Copies at MBK
Some shops selling copy bags and other famous-brand items may invite interested shoppers into rooms at the back. The better copies are usually shown there, but they are not necessarily cheap and still require careful checking.
One bag with an original price of around 35,000 Thai Baht was offered as a copy for about 8,000 Thai Baht. The price difference was large, but shoppers should remember that a copy is not the same as an authentic item.
For shoppers visiting Bangkok during the midyear sales, MBK combines original sportswear, discounted shoes, local clothing and copy-market stalls. Checking the quality, comparing prices and bargaining carefully can help shoppers spend less without losing sight of what they are buying.
