When you visit Thailand as a tourist, you will see that there is some excellent shopping available. There is a wide variety of products you can purchase while there, including designer fashion labels, high-quality cosmetics, electronics, and beautiful gold and silver jewellery. It sometimes seems there is a gold shop on every corner, and if you like silver jewellery, you are in for a treat. Many boutique stores are selling high-quality handmade silver jewellery, often at exceptional prices. If you are heading to Thailand on holiday and want to purchase silver jewellery, below are some tips for you to follow to get the best deal possible.
Shop Around
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to walk into the first silver jewellery shop you see and make a purchase without shopping around. People often look at the price of silver jewellery and immediately compare it with the prices at home, and as it is so much cheaper, they purchase it without hesitation. However, you may still be paying over the odds and not realise it, so you will want to shop around and compare the prices at the different stores you visit, which can enable you to get wholesale sterling silver prices.
Ask About The Purity
When you are purchasing silver jewellery or other objects in Thailand, you will want to ask about the purity before buying. You will want to ensure that the silver you buy is sterling silver, which means it is 92.5% pure. You will often find that silver objects will have this stamped on them in Thailand, rather than a traditional hallmark.
Remember To Negotiate On The Price
You can haggle on almost anything when you are in Thailand, so you will want to ensure you try negotiating the price of your silver before you buy it. There is a skill in the art of bartering, and you will need to ensure you do not start the negotiations too low. If you offend the seller, they may ignore you and will not budge on the listed price. Start at around 15-20% lower than their first asking price but be prepared to come up in price. Always be polite during negotiations and try not to be too aggressive. If you are happy and friendly, you can often achieve a much better price and ensure you get a bargain when buying silver in Thailand. For more tips on haggling in Thailand which you can use for almost any product, click here.