Should I order a hardware wallet from Thailand or from abroad?

Many people who are considering buying a Hardware Wallet might still be unsure where to buy it. Should they order directly from an overseas manufacturer or buy through a local distributor in Thailand?

There are many distributors in Thailand to choose from, depending on your convenience and comfort. These include official distributors and unofficial resellers. Which one should you choose?

Bitcast is an official distributor of OneKey and Keystone Hardware Wallets in Thailand. You can check the list of official distributors on the manufacturers' official websites.

In this article, the author will compare the pros, cons, and prices of both purchasing methods to help you decide where to buy your Hardware Wallet.

Ordering a Hardware Wallet from overseas

Ordering a Hardware Wallet from overseas, via direct order, means purchasing the Hardware Wallet directly from the manufacturer's website, such as from OneKey, Keystone, or Trezor directly. All shipments will be from abroad.

Advantages of buying a Hardware Wallet via Direct Order

1. Reliability

Purchasing directly from the manufacturer's official website ensures that you receive a genuine Hardware Wallet.

2. Pre-order new Hardware Wallet models earlier

You can order new Hardware Wallet models earlier without waiting for Thai distributors to import them. Pre-ordering from the manufacturer may result in receiving the Hardware Wallet sooner.

3. Fast and accurate news and information updates

If there are any feature updates or important news, the manufacturer will announce them first and also provide a variety of learning resources for the Hardware Wallet.

Disadvantages of buying a Hardware Wallet via Direct Order

1. Long contact time

If you have questions about usage, the manufacturer may take a long time to respond because they have a larger customer base than distributors, leading to a high volume of inquiries. Contact may take some time, for example, a response within 72 hours.

2. Additional costs

Many people may not have calculated or may not be aware that imported electronic devices are subject to a 10% import duty and an additional 7% VAT, which can lead to increased costs and thus a higher price for the Hardware Wallet. You can see a comparison table of Hardware Wallet prices at the end of the article.

3. Long Hardware Wallet replacement time

If the Hardware Wallet has problems, is damaged, or is not in perfect condition, you will have to handle the replacement with the manufacturer yourself, which may be inconvenient for communication and may take a long time. This is because you will need to send the Hardware Wallet to the manufacturer abroad for inspection of the issue, and once inspected, the manufacturer will then ship a new one to you, which may take approximately 1-2 weeks for the process.

4. Long delivery time

Because Hardware Wallets are shipped from overseas, it may take longer than domestic shipping in Thailand, resulting in a delayed receipt of your order compared to buying from within Thailand.

Buying a Hardware Wallet in Thailand

Purchasing Hardware Wallets in Thailand can be done through both official distributors and unofficial sellers. Official distributors are formally appointed by the manufacturer, and there can be multiple in each country, depending on the agreement between the distributor and the manufacturer.

Thai distributors receive Hardware Wallets directly from the manufacturer, ensuring that you receive a genuine Hardware Wallet and firmware, and that it is not susceptible to Supply Chain Attacks through firmware alteration, thus guaranteeing security. You can verify the list of official distributors on the manufacturer's website.

Purchasing a Hardware Wallet through an official distributor

Advantages
1. Sells 100% genuine Hardware Wallets

Bitcast is an official distributor for various Hardware Wallet brands, offering 100% genuine products. You can verify OneKey and Keystone distributors on the manufacturer's website.

2. Convenience and speed

Buying from a distributor in Thailand, such as Bitcast, means you can receive your Hardware Wallet within a few days. If you need it urgently, it can be delivered via Messenger within 2-3 hours, without having to wait for international shipping, which might take several days.

3. No additional import duties or international shipping fees

Buying from a distributor in Thailand helps reduce the cost of a 10% import tax on electronic goods and about 600 baht in international shipping fees, which might make buying from a Thai distributor cheaper than ordering from abroad.

4. Diverse payment channels

When purchasing from a distributor in Thailand, you can choose from various payment channels, such as bank transfers, credit card payments, or PromptPay transfers, all of which are familiar and make purchasing a Hardware Wallet easy and convenient.

5. Warranty and after-sales service

• Usage advice

There are detailed instructional videos in Thai. If you encounter any usage problems, you can quickly contact support and ask questions in Thai.

• Fast Hardware Wallet replacement

If the Hardware Wallet has any operational issues, it can be quickly sent back to the Thai distributor for a replacement.

6. Promotions and special offers

Sometimes, Thai distributors may have interesting promotions or special offers. Currently, Bitcast offers a 10% discount if you sign up via email, which might make the price cheaper than ordering from overseas.

Disadvantages

1. Pre-orders might take longer

If the supply of Hardware Wallets cannot meet demand, pre-orders might take considerably longer than ordering directly from the manufacturer's website.

2. Variety of Hardware Wallets

Distributors may not have as wide a variety of Hardware Wallets as the manufacturers, and some models might not be imported for sale.

Purchasing a Hardware Wallet through an unofficial distributor

It is not always dangerous to buy from an unofficial distributor. The first thing to consider should be the security of the Hardware Wallet, as there is a risk of Supply Chain Attacks through firmware modification, which could compromise the safety of your Hardware Wallet. However, if you assess the distributor's reliability and find them to be trustworthy and knowledgeable about Hardware Wallets, you can still purchase from them.

Price comparison between ordering directly from the manufacturer and through a distributor

The table below compares the prices, including import taxes and shipping costs, from official websites and official distributors to provide an overview of pricing for your purchase decision.

Model	Website price (Dollar)	Price (Baht)	Import tax 10%	International shipping cost	Directly from manufacturer	Through a Thai distributor
OneKey Mini	58	2,112	211	600	2,923	2,400
Onekey Classic	89	3,241	3,566	600	4,166	3,560 - 3,990
OneKey Touch	249	9,069	9,975	600	10,575	10,700 - 11,400
Keystone 3 Pro	129	4,698	5,168	600	5,768	5,391 - 5,990

*Prices are subject to change based on website promotions and exchange rates, where 1 USD = 36.42 THB.

Conclusion

Choosing to buy a Hardware Wallet directly from an overseas manufacturer or from an official or unofficial distributor has different pros and cons.

If you prioritize convenience and speed, both in terms of delivery and replacing a problematic Hardware Wallet, purchasing through an official distributor in Thailand, such as Bitcast, is a good option.

If you need a Hardware Wallet model that isn't available through a Thai distributor, ordering from the manufacturer's website can help you get the Hardware Wallet faster than waiting for a distributor to import it. And if you feel uncomfortable purchasing from a domestic distributor, you can also order directly from the manufacturer.

You can choose to buy a Hardware Wallet based on your convenience and comfort. Regardless of where you buy your Hardware Wallet, the important thing is to check the reliability of the Hardware Wallet seller, whether they are an official distributor, and ensure that the Hardware Wallet is in perfect condition with no signs of tampering. Finally, and most importantly, you should use your Hardware Wallet correctly to keep your cryptocurrency safe.