Introduction

I'm not the best person to talk about shopping because I have never been the type that goes shopping as a form of recreation. I go shopping when I need to buy something.

Bargains do exist in Hat Yai but maybe not for things you were expecting. There are lots of vendors on the streets and at the local markets but I would not describe this particular shopping scene as offering good shopping. Most of the clothes, sunglasses, luggage, etc. that they sell is generally poor quality and won't last very long. The goods aren't actually that cheap either.

I stopped buying things from street vendors and markets a long time ago. Clothes just fell apart after a short time; sunglasses broke; and the luggage was no better. Aftersales service from these places is non-existent. The zip on a small holdall I bought for a trip to Phuket broke after a couple of days. I took it back to the shop after I returned but the woman was completely uninterested and refused to do anything.

On the other hand the big department stores in Hat Yai are very good. Robinson, Diana and Odean are fine but Central is probably the best. They have proper buying departments that check for value and quality, and what they sell is normally pretty good. If you have a problem with anything you can get it fixed or changed. What may come as a surprise is that the department stores are often cheaper than the street vendors.

Sales

Supposed sales are a complete joke and nothing is ever sold at the 'original' price. Items arrive on the shelves with two prices: a hypothetical original price and a sale price. Other countries have laws about this kind of thing but not in Thailand.

I wouldn't mind if it wasn't for the fact that sales assistants also try to insult my intelligence by repeatedly telling me about imaginary discounts. By definition an item is only on sale if it was previously offered for sale at a higher price but that is never the case.

Quite often, when you buy clothes, you will get a sales coupon. So does this mean the coupon entitles you to an additional, genuine discount? No.

It's all gamesmanship and shops will always do whatever they can to get the highest price for whatever is sold.

If you are just passing through Hat Yai and see goods on sale don't be tempted to buy thinking that you have arrived at a good time. Everything is always 'on sale' for 365 days a year. In other words, nothing is ever on sale.

Electronic Equipment

I would suggest that buying anything electrical from the market or on the street is a gamble. Few items come in their original boxes but are just repackaged in a plastic bag. There isn't much choice either. At one point I was looking for a shortwave radio but all the market vendors had the same models - weird brands from China.

Basic computer and camera equipment is available in Hat Yai but I stress 'basic'. If you want anything that is a bit unusual it is unlikely you will be able to find what you want. Hat Yai isn't Bangkok or Singapore.

I have bought quite a few cheap memory cards and flash drives from Hat Yai markets. Most were fine but one wasn't. After taking about 150 photos I suddenly saw a message on my camera that said the memory card wasn't formatted. It prompted me to format the card but by doing so I would have lost all my photos.

If you buy something with a problem and then leave Hat Yai you aren't going to be able to take it back. Even if you live in Hat Yai, customer service can be bad. I returned my faulty memory card but it took four months to get my money back.

As I said, it's a gamble. Of course, you can reduce the risk by buying from a proper shop but then you will pay accordingly higher prices.

Camera Gear

There are several small photo shops around Hat Yai that process photos and sell small point and shoot cameras but what if you are interested in something more than a small P&S camera? Unfortunately you don't have much choice but there are a few places.

When I first came to Hat Yai the best place for camera gear was Chia Colour Lab near the Singapore Hotel on Supasarnrungsarn Road (Map 1). However, in recent years this has been vastly overtaken by the Fuji Shop further up Supasarnrungsarn Road going towards the Prince of Songkla university.

The Fuji Shop didn't used to have much but now they stock quite a lot of gear. It's still not comparable to Bangkok or Singapore but it isn't bad for provincial Thailand.

They stock DSLR bodies and a good selection of lenses from both of the big names: Canon and Nikon. They also have filters, flashes, Lowepro bags, and a growing range of tripods, monopods and ballheads. To support your camera, Benro seems to be favoured in this part of the world but the Fuji shop also stocks Giottos, Manfrotto, and even has at least one Gitzo model.

You can also find studio lighting kits quite easily in Hat Yai. In between Chia and Fuji (also on Supasarnrungsarn Road) is another photo shop called Yin Dee Silp. This is where I bought a small studio lighting kit.

Equipment that isn't in stock in Hat Yai can generally be ordered from Bangkok and it normally takes a couple of days to arrive. The shop will generally ask for a cash deposit before ordering goods that aren't in stock.

Glasses and Contact Lenses

These items are a good deal and there are lots of shops in town. Just remember to ignore the first price you are given. If you see something you like, pretend to start walking away and wait to be offered a sensible price.

If buying glasses you would do well to already know your prescription. One of the big differences between 'opticians' shops in Hat Yai and in the UK, for example, is the competency of the person doing eye tests. In the UK it is always a very highly qualified optician and I've always had complete confidence in that person's ability. Some shops in Hat Yai do have properly qualified opticians but not the places that are only open to sell glasses.

On the subject of eyesight, there are places in Hat Yai offering laser eye surgery. It is not a subject I have done much research into but I believe that the prices are quite low. My experience of hospitals in Hat Yai has been fairly positive so I would expect doctors performing eye surgery to be competent. This procedure shouldn't be taken lightly. You need to do lots of research and in my opinion your decision on where to get it done shouldn't be based on cost.

Shoes

I think shoes are a good buy in Thailand. Not the type of footwear that tourists wear in Thailand, but ordinary business shoes. I used to spend lots of money in England on expensive shoes on the basis that it was a false economy to scrimp on shoes or mattresses because you always depended on one or the other.

However, paying lots of money didn't always guarantee comfort. I have bought shoes in Thailand for a fraction of the price and they have been well made, smart and comfortable.

Diana and Robinson have probably the best selection of shoes but - as usual - Central has the best quality (and the highest prices).

Cheap Furniture

Of course, tourists and backpackers coming through Hat Yai aren't going to buy furniture but if you plan to live in the area and rent a house you might need to. There are many shops a little way out of town with really nice home and office furniture at giveaway prices. I have bought things I know I will leave behind but even if I get six months use out of them they will still be good deals.

One thing I bought that I never expected to buy was a safe. It was Bt5,000 (about 70 UK pounds) and a real bargain for the peace of mind it gives. I'm sure that in the UK an equivalent safe would cost five or six times what it cost in Hat Yai.

Presumably shipping costs would wipe out any savings of buying furniture in Thailand and getting it sent home but it might be something that is worth looking into.

Superstores

Mall culture has reached Thailand and, as a result, huge shopping centres have sprung up in recent years. British-owned Tesco Lotus (near the Prince of Songkla University) is popular with Thai families at the weekend. In addition to shopping there are also restaurants and things to keep the kids amused. Another big plus-point is that the supermarkets are all air-conditioned and thus provide a cool sanctuary for Thais in the hot season, many of whom don't have air-conditioning at home.

French-owned Carrefour, another huge shopping mall with restaurants and markets, was the last of the big superstores to open a branch in Hat Yai and there are also branches of Big C and Makro.

Comments: This shops sells Oriental ornamental and craft items and replica antiques. Their stuff isn't bad although the choice and quality isn't the same as you might find in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

It's easy to find, opposite Chester's Grill in Lee Gardens Plaza. Open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 according to their promotional brochure.

Comments: Have you ever wondered where you can buy all the stuff that is advertised on American-style 'infomercials'?

Look no further because Hat Yai has its very own 'As Seen On TV' shop.

Srisuwandee Bicycle Shop

Address: 23 Klongrien 1 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Opposite Thai Lee Seng Products and near the Acoustic Bar
Map: Map 2 Telephone: +66 (0)74 364891
Mobile: +66 (0)81 328 9790, +66 (0)81 896 5176
E-mail: hatyaibicycle@yahoo.com

AWR - all wheel ride

Address: 26 Lamai Songhroh Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Near Chok Dee Dim Sum restaurant
Map: Map 4 Telephone: +66 (0)74 233621, +66 (0)74 233622
Mobile: +66 (0)81 690 1213
Website: www.allwheelride.com
E-mail: info@allwheelride.com

Tennis & Bike Sports

Address: 143 Niphat Uthit 2 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 3 Telephone: +66 (0)74 243660, +66 (0)74 244415
Mobile: +66 (0)81 897 1543

Comments: There are three large 'superstore' chains operating in Thailand and, with the recent opening of the new Carrefour, Hat Yai has all of them. They are Big C, Carrefour and Tesco Lotus.

Some people may have personal preferences as to which one they like best but they are all basically the same. There is a big supermarket selling everything, some ancillary shops outside of the main supermarket area and places to eat. Because of their size they tend to be located slightly away from town centres.

Comments: Carrefour (the Thais pronounce it 'car-foo') is the latest superstore to hit Hat Yai and it will put a dent in the profits of rivals Big C and Tesco Lotus. It seems to be even bigger than its rivals and of course it is a lot newer. It is really a shopping mall rather than a single store.

Apart from the main supermarket there are the usual shops and restaurants outside plus a few new ones. Just inside the entrance are several stalls selling handicrafts from various OTOP (One Tambon One Product) initiatives.

There is also a large 'HomePro' store selling everything for the home from towels, mats, lighting and electrical appliances to complete bathrooms.

Being located on the Phetkasem Road there are hundreds of sawng-thaews going past every day thus making it an extremely easy place to get to from both Hat Yai and Songkhla if you don't have a car.

Comments: Jeans, shorts and T-shirts are everywhere. The picture was taken at Hat Yai Plaza which has the largest collection of casual clothes shops in town and a thriving rag trade knocking them out. Quality is variable and prices are negotiable.

Comments: In my opinion, this is the best place to shop in Hat Yai. The ground floor sells cosmetics and women's clothing.

On other floors are men's clothes, household goods (some very nice stuff), kids' clothes, electrical goods and a book department with a coffee bar. Downstairs in the basement is a TOPS supermarket which has good food and above the department store is the Novotel Central Sukhonta hotel, probably the best hotel in Hat Yai.

The quality of goods is excellent and there is always something on sale. Tourists are given a 5% discount just by asking or by producing a discount card that can be obtained for free at the customer service desk.

I generally haven't had a problem with anything I've bought at Central but in case there is, everything is guaranteed. The most surprising aspect about Central is that despite looking like an expensive store and offering good quality merchandise with a guarantee, a lot of items are cheaper than in the local street markets.

On the second floor is a branch of Western Union.

Comments: Lots of shops in Hat Yai and all over Thailand sell silk products but this is the place to go if you wish to purchase genuine, high-quality Thai silk clothes and shoes. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. The styles are traditional Thai and may not suit farang tastes but this shop isn't for tourists; it's the genuine article.

Comments: This shop advertises quite heavily in the free map that is handed out to tourists and has a prime location - being located next to Davis Tour and other travel agents where many Malaysian tourists arrive and depart from Hat Yai by bus.

There are plenty of other (and bigger) places in Hat Yai that sell the same kind of stuff but because of its location and its advertising presence this one is perhaps better known. So, what does it sell?

Their business card (in Thai, which I have transliterated) gives a clue: hoo chalaam (sharks' fin), gra-poh bplaa (fish stomach), bpling ta-lay (sea slugs). All this stuff is dried and they also sell cashew nuts, dried mushrooms, and other dried goods.

The Chinese love this stuff and prices are a lot more favourable than in Malaysia apparently. Lots of Chinese Malaysians visit Hat Yai, and buying this kind of food forms a big part of their trip. The Thais are extremely aware of this and there are many shops in Hat Yai that have opened purely to supply this kind of thing to Chinese Malaysian tourists.

Most other shops try to attract shoppers by being big and cheap. Dee Nair Non has taken a different strategy. It's a comparatively small shop but it is well located and advertises a lot.

Comments: Diana is a little way out of town but easy to get to by tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi. There are restaurants, a ten-pin bowling alley and a cinema in addition to the shops. Clothes and shoes are the main items, of which there is a good selection. Prices and quality are reasonable. Don't pay much attention to the sales. Everything is discounted every day of the year.

Comments: In Singapore I've seen lots of places around Kampong Glam selling non-alcohol based perfume, which is of particular interest to Muslims.

There are obvious religious reasons why Muslims need to use alcohol-free perfume but it may also be of interest to non-Muslims.

In Hat Yai there aren't the same number of shops as Singapore, but this type of perfume is available. F & C Aromatic probably has the best selection.

Comments: Like most towns in Thailand, Hat Yai has plenty of Chinese owned gold shops. The primary location is along Thamnoon Vithee Road near the train station. If you are a foreign male and spend more than about a week with the same Thai girl you will inevitably get dragged into one, "just to look," of course.

Unlike all other shops in Thailand they close at 6pm because, as a gold shop owner, it is apparently not very wise to remain open after dark. It's not a violent society but there are plenty of desperate people around.

Gold jewellery is sold purely by weight. Each item has the weight engraved on it somewhere. The price is then calculated using that day's gold price which fluctuates from day to day, like all other commodities. The shop will add on their commission if making a sale or deduct a charge if buying.

The workmanship isn't taken into account. It doesn't matter if the item is very plain or has been ornately created by an expert goldsmith. Only the weight is taken into consideration.

The gold is the yellow-coloured Asian variety that is quite different from what I am used to seeing in the West. Thai girls like gold bought for them. They can wear it as jewellery and because the Thais are very status conscious it tells other Thais they have some money.

Also, if they run into hard times, gold is very easy to convert into cash.

Comments: Common sense tells me that I should be using a Mac but too much investment and too many years using Windows PCs means that I will probably never make the switch.

For those sensible Mac users, you will find a great selection of Apple computers, iPods, and accessories at iBeat.

Thais come here to buy in bulk for their own use or small restaurant businesses. The warehouse is divided into two halves. One half contains hardware and consumer electrical appliances, the other has food. Food prices are probably the lowest in Hat Yai and some of the fruit is even cheaper than at the fresh market.

It's not a pretty shop but it's not supposed to be. Everything is stacked on large pallets and I imagine that at nighttime there are numerous forklift trucks zooming around restacking the very high shelves.

The idea of Makro is to offer goods at the cheapest price possible and not to provide a sensual shopping experience.

It is located on the main road to Sadao about two kilometres from Tesco Lotus and the Prince of Songkhla Hospital. From just outside the hospital you can catch a sawng-thaew for Bt10. If you meet the same tuk-tuk driver who quoted me a fare of Bt150 for this journey please give him my regards.

Comments: This is only here really to demonstrate what a waste of time Lonely Planet is. Lonely Planet goes on about this place but after living in Hat Yai for almost three years and walking around endlessly I'd never noticed it. So, out of curiosity, I went looking. The reason I hadn't noticed it is because it is just a tiny hole-in-the-wall affair. Nothing wrong with that - many fine establishments are just small, hole-in-the-wall affairs.

According to Lonely Planet, nothing you can buy anywhere else compares with what is available at Muslim Panich. Really? Did they investigate every shop in town and compare what was being sold? The shop sells Indian sarongs and batik. I'm not an expert but the quality and selection of goods on sale here didn't look any different to nearby shops. This recommendation just seems so 'Lonely Planet'. OK, we need to include a few shops but we only have two days to 'research' Hat Yai. What about that one over there? Yeah, it looks OK. Stick it in the guide; it'll keep the backpackers happy.

Sorry for my cynicism but this is just how I see it.

Comments: This is another huge shopping emporium that has been specially built for the thousands of Malaysian (and maybe Singaporean) tourists that come to Hat Yai every week.

Nora exists exclusively for the visiting Malaysian tourists. Locals don't shop there and farang tourists are very rare. The Thai assistants all speak Chinese, and Chinese is normally all that can be heard, with very little Thai or English.

It contains the type of things that Malaysian tourists like to buy when they visit Hat Yai. There is a large car park outside for the tour buses that bring them, and therefore everything is convenient.

It's not my type of place but obviously a lot of people like it.

Comments: Ocean sells mostly clothes aimed at the younger generation but there are other shops that sell toiletries and CDs, etc, and there's also a tattoo parlour. There used to be a food court upstairs and also an Internet shop but these have long since disappeared.

When the Jatukham Ramathep craze hit Thailand, Ocean became a kind of amulet emporium. However, now that the craze is over, the amulet shops will probably close down to make way for something else.

Comments: Clothes and shoes are the main items on sale at Odean and, as usual, there are 'discounts' offered every day of the year. The quality is good and everything is genuine - no fake labels here. Apart from clothes they sell cosmetics, greetings cards, and there is a pharmacy department that sells toiletries. There is also a food centre on the top floor.

It is not good for electrical or household goods and there is no book department. You are better off going to Central or Robinson for those items.

Comments: Just one of the many opticians in Hat Yai offering bargain prices on glasses, sunglasses (not the fake ones) and contact lenses, etc.

Comments: I would rate Robinson the second best department store after Central. It's not quite as upmarket as Central but has a good selection of clothes, household goods, and electrical equipment. There are some restaurants and a food centre inside, as well as a cinema.

Comments: Siam Nakarin, located close to the roundabout and President Hotel on Phetkasem Road, is quite an Aladdin's cave. It mainly sells stationery, office equipment and furniture but carries a number of other items including musical instruments, dried flowers, photo frames, clocks and gifts.

I find it quite an interesting place to look around but I'm not like most people. Prices are low and it is different to anywhere else in central Hat Yai. It won't be found by the majority of casual visitors to Hat Yai.

Comments: I have also covered Suntisuk on my 'Things To Do' page. I never used to consider it a very serious shopping venue - just a bit of a Thai novelty - but there is some stuff worth buying.

This is the place where Bruce Lee fans can buy their Kung Fu weapons and, if martial arts weapons and huge knives aren't enough, they can buy high voltage stun guns as well. It's also the place for pirated software, CDs and movies (VCD and DVD).

Farang males, such as myself, will be singled out and offered lots of pornography by helpful Suntisuk vendors (not that farangs are stereotyped in Thailand or anything like that).

The vendors can be quite surly. Despite their constant wailing about how bad business has been since the problems flared up in the three southern provinces, tens of thousands of Chinese Malaysians still cross the border regularly week after week and spend lots of money.

Business is good so there is no need to sell at a discount and if you try haggling they sometimes get quite annoyed.

Tinned and dried food, chocolates and cookies, fruit and roasted chestnuts are in abundance and all go down well with the visiting Chinese Malaysians.

When I first arrived in town I was a bit confused about how Suntisuk works. Some locals told me it was a 'duty-free' area but this didn't make sense. It's not located on a border or at an airport so how can it be 'duty-free'? I was told the truth later.

It's basically all illegal. The goods are indeed 'duty-free' but not in a good way. Also, some of the weapons on sale are clearly illegal, as is the pirated software, music and movies.

Occasionally, you will be walking around when suddenly all the vendors will pull down their metal shutters and close their shops. They do this when someone signals that an unwanted guest has arrived, but as soon as the danger has passed the shops then reopen.

Comments: (Formerly the Index Furniture Store) As I mentioned above, there are lots of good furniture shops in Hat Yai selling office and home furniture. The selection and quality is good and prices aren't expensive, especially if you manage to catch a sale.

This big store on Niphat Songkhrao Road is just one place of many. There are several more along Phetkasem Road east of the fountain.

Nonetheless, the Indian tailors with shops in all of Thailand's tourist resorts are quite happy to meet the demand in exchange for tourist dollars.

Outside of the main farang tourist areas you can actually find real Thai tailors. They work in their shops, rather than standing outside in the street with outstretched hands and cheesy grins trying to get stupid tourists inside.

Hat Yai has a number of small tailor shops. At the moment I don't have many listed but I will add more when I get the opportunity.

Shop Name: Erawan Tailor and Dress Maker
Address: 31 Chee Uthit Road, Hat Yai (near the Hakka Association)
Tel: +66 (0)74 355697
Map: Map 4

Shop Name: Hero
Address: 317 Phetkasem Road, Hat Yai (near Vichusin Center)
Tel: +66 (0)74 232306
Map: Map 1

Shop Name: Kucee Collection
Address: 20 Manutruedee Road, Hat Yai
Tel: +66 (0)74 237667
Mobile: +66 (0)81 897 6355
Fax: +66 (0)74 354136
Map: Map 3

Shop Name: Sak Suit Maker
Address: 137/4 Thamanoonvithee Road, Hat Yai (near Saeng Thong school)
Tel: +66 (0)74 354021
Mobile: +66 (0)81 957 0087
Map: Map 4

Comments: British-operated Tesco has done well in Thailand operating as Tesco Lotus. This large retailer has used the 'Superstore' format and turned each Tesco Lotus into a one-stop shopping mall. The actual supermarket is huge. The quality of goods is OK but there is nothing really special. The emphasis is on cheap prices.

This is a good place to buy cheap household appliances and a limited number of furniture items. They also sell clothes, toiletries, stationery and children's toys. Buying in bulk is the secret at Tesco. Buying trays of canned drinks, for example, works out a lot cheaper than buying them individually in town.

Outside of the main supermarket area are small shops and restaurant franchises. If you have a car, there is a big car park and the spaces are covered which is a nice feature in hot Thailand. Getting tuk-tuks from the main door can be problematic. They tend to make you wait for a long time until they are full and the prices quoted to farangs are often stupid. Sometimes it's easier just to walk across the car park to the road and hail a tuk-tuk from there.

When Carrefour opened on Phetkasem Road, competition started to heat up in Hat Yai among the big superstores which ultimately can only be good for consumers. Among the locals, Carrefour is regarded as being a bit more upmarket but for a lot of items (not all) I have found Tesco to be cheaper.

Comments: There are quite a few shops in Hat Yai that cater purely to Malaysian tourists. They tend to be a little out of town (where real estate is cheaper) and they don't even bother trying to attract local customers.

Malaysians, like most Asians, travel in large groups. They arrive on tour buses and go everywhere together on the same tour buses. Presumably the Thai businesses wanting Malaysian customers do some kind of deal with the tour companies and subsequently large groups of Malaysians turn up in tour buses.

Cashew nuts and dried food/fruit are popular with Chinese Malaysian tourists, and there are plenty of large shops selling that stuff.

This shop goes after the same customer base but it is a little different. It sells honey, pollen, royal jelly, and all manner of bee products.

The staff working in the places that deal with Chinese Malaysian customers speak Chinese, naturally. When I've been in there it's not like being in Thailand and I can't understand a word.

Comments: This place is a similar concept to Nora Plaza except that it just sells food products, whereas Nora sells other things. If you look on Map 2 (bottom right) it's almost opposite the Acoustic Pub.

Thai Lee Seng is a standard part of the Malaysian package-tourist trail in Hat Yai and Malaysian tourists arrive in their coach loads. The shop has a large parking area which can accommodate four full-size coaches but even that isn't big enough at times. I've seen as many as eight coaches and this can cause quite big traffic jams.

It's run by Chinese Thais and offers all kinds of food that the Chinese are fond of. They can buy bags of cashew nuts, all manner of dried fruit and seafood products. The attraction is that the prices are cheap, especially compared to Malaysia.

When 300 Chinese Malaysians suddenly descend it can get quite busy. This shop's popularity with Chinese Malaysians is very well known among the locals so Thai food vendors set up their stalls outside the shop hoping to sell fresh fruit or whatever.

Comments: Vichusin is located on Phetkasem Road on the same side as the clock tower. If you walk from the clock tower, it is on the left just before the big roundabout.

Vichusin Centre is a large electronics and electrical appliances store with everything from computers, Walkmans and digital cameras to Bt100,000 American-style refrigerators and large, flat-screen plasma and LCD TVs. There is quite a wide selection of goods and prices are competitive. They also run a photo lab where you can get digital images printed cheaply.