Camera Shopping in Bangkok.

“I really want to make sale. How much you p-a-a-y?” Said the saleswoman.

The item in question was a Sony HDR-TG5 High Definition Handycam, mine for THB12 500 (about R2 900). That seemed like a sweet deal.

I hadn’t really researched this model, but the specs were very impressive. Beneath the beautiful, slim exterior was state-of-the-art technology. The stills camera offered an impressive 16MP and it could shoot full HD video.

“I’ll take it.” I said. And she scampered off to fetch a fresh one from the back.

I called Wifie over to discuss our imminent purchase. We took a collective deep breath. And before long the saleswoman returned.

Inside the box’s pristine white interior was an elegant camera pouch, a wrist strap, a charger, an HD cable, an RCA cable and a slim, unbranded instruction manual.

It seemed too good to be true.

It was.