@Greg *******

I only used those Item’s as examples not the de facto products to buy

You live here I get it…you’re the anomaly not the norm

People come to shop on their vacations/holidays some for tax free advantage some for spur of the moment purchases

Items which can be carried out are the best for the VAT refund

But of course you’re stuck in your ways and don’t get the full breadth of the situation due to your personalized tunnel vision

@Greg *******

I will disagree with you

Apple MacBooks and products lare competitively priced to the USA price with the exchange rate…so if you’re buying a MacBook, iPhone etc that’s a big ticket item so getting back the 7.5% minus the ฿500 is worth it

Those things are mobile

Watches Rolex Breitling Tissot etc are mobile and worth the refund

Plus other luxury items or items in the big ticket category…plus you can combine all your receipts into 1 refund

But to each their own…not everyone lives in Thailand full time so people come to shop on their holidays

It’s definitely not one size shoe fits all

@Greg *******

it depends on how much money you spent on items

I do it for big ticket items ฿100k++ this way I can get back ฿7k or more depending on the purchase amounts… this is obviously minus the ฿500 processing charge

But IMHO anything below ฿20k it’s a a hassle for ฿1,000

@Shane ****

none at all as far as I know

But you do get 7.5% back minus a ฿500 processing fee

You get it inspected prior to check in

In bkk it’s at the far end past all the gates

Go in turn right go all the way to the end

Then after immigration you find the VAT office to collect your money

The line is hit or miss…it’s usually packed with Indians and Chinese with massive amounts of receipts

If you want your money you need to make sure you get there 3-3.5 hours early just for all the waiting (cat office prior to check in, check in, security, immigration, air side vat office)