Consumer electronic specialist retailers enter online territory
Internet retailing in 2015 included both websites of chained consumer electronic specialist retailers and independent generalist internet retailers, like www.lazada.co.th. Independent internet retailer will contact manufacturers directly to make a deal regarding selling products via their channel, and will provide logistics when products require delivery tocustomers. Customers have to contact manufacturers directly for after-sales service, including warranties, product information and instructions. Most consumer electronic specialist retailers will take customer orders via the internet and then will use branches near the customers’ homes to deliver the products. An example of a consumer electronics specialist retailer with an online shop is Power Buy (www.powerbuy.co.th), which has more than 70 branches in the country.
The independent consumer electronics retailers which are present in the market are mostly found upcountry or are located in the outskirts of Bangkok. One such independent retailer in Bangkok is Akihabara (http://www.akibkk.com/). The store opened over 40 years ago, with a location at Surawong road. Well known independent retailers in the upcountry region include Niyom Phanich (http://www.niyomlampang.com/) and Saha panich (www.sahapanich.com). Most retailers have official websites to present the products that they sell.