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Browsing Posts tagged shopping
As of Monday, May 3rd, 2010
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and the Grand Hyatt Erawan have suspended guest services until May 9th, 2010. Both hotels have continously updated their homepages to keep their guests up to date of the situation in Bangkok.
The Intercontinental Bangkok and the Centara Grand acknowledge that there are political protestors in the area, but continue to accept hotel reservations.
Central World Plaza is day to day. Visit www.centralword.co.th for daily updates. There will be a pop up window that will inform their customers that the place is closed or not.
Gaysorn and Erawan Bangkok do NOT inform their customers of any political uprisings or if the shopping center is open or not. Best idea is to call if you plan to venture behind enemy lines.
Central Chidlom offers day to day updates on store hours on their website www.central.co.th
Be careful out there, and its really best to avoid that area altogether if you can.
Why are these people rioting? Check out this clip of a riot that started in an American Apparel rummage sale in London. Scary. What prompts these people to get all rowdy before the sale? You haven’t even gotten through the doors yet! Act calm and composed outside, and then let loose once you’re inside searching for those best bargain jeans. Well, I guess these people are going home with a pair of fashionable steel bracelets instead.
These cuffs can’t be bought, they’ve gotta be earned.
GAP finally opens its doors at Central World Plaza
Highly anticipated. It look so long for GAP to finally open, that we all thought it was just another bad rumour. Just like Krispy Kreme coming to Bangkok perhaps. (Correct me if I’m wrong) GAP is conveniently located on the ground floor of Central World Plaza in the circular area where they have the glass elevators. Its where the old G-Star shop used to be. Walking into a GAP store in Bangkok reminded me of shopping in college. You always found something to buy at the GAP. Unfortunately, I walked into the store today and I was a bit disappointed.
I remember there used to be a door greeter in every GAP store whose sole purpose was to say, “Welcome to the GAP!” Maybe they did away with this already I am not sure. I was not able to interact with any staff so I am not going to comment on their customer service. I will, however, comment on the men’s clothing that was displayed. There seems to be a lot of winter items currently in the store. I mean, I love a nice GAP sweater or a hoodie, but where would I find the opportunity to wear winter items in Thailand. Its the middle of March, and you should already be displaying and promoting your summer items, and maybe your winter items should already be in the back on a round rack marked ”SALE”
Second, pricing. Okay I checked, and the prices are very reasonable if you do your currency conversion from Baht to US Dollars. Meaning, that they did not mark up the price that much from what they are selling them for in the States. For example, a simple T-shirt with a pocket would cost you US$18.00 at the GAP and roughly about Baht 550 at the GAP store here. OKay. Fair. However, you can’t help but notice that most items I looked at were made in Cambodia or Vietnam. So basically, I’m paying Baht 550 for something that’s made next door. In the States I would be able to justify this and say that, “Okay, there has to be some shipping costs to get this T-shirt all the way here from Cambodia.” But to Bangkok? You have to ask yourself, “Is this T-shirt really worth that much?” Comes down to the basics of Value for Money.
Lastly, I remember that GAP used to pride themselves on being a clothing store where you can purchase a pair of jeans based on waist and inseam length. For example, you will notice that all of GAP’s jeans will have a sticker running down one pant leg that says 32 x 32 or 34 x 36. Meaning size 32″ and inseam measures 32″ or size 34″ and inseam 36″ However, I noticed that all inseams at the GAP were all 32″ What if a tall person wanted jeans? The waist size varied from 28″ to 38″ (I think), but the inseam remained constant at 32″ for all sizes on display. I hope that they have other sizes in stock!
Okay, enough ranting. Go check it out. Decide if you want to buy stuff. Don’t let me persuade you to do anything.
