Local massage vendors in Phuket protest over foreign investors allegedly operating shops at much lower prices

[webfact]

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Phuket – About 80 local massage vendors in Phuket protested at the Phuket City Hall complaining about massage shops which were allegedly being invested in by foreigners operating with much lower prices, hurting their business.

 

The protest Friday morning (August 19th) was led by Mr. Tansiwit Klaichaem from local massage vendors associations. They filed a letter to the Phuket Governor.

 

Mr. Tansiwit told The Phuket Express, “There is a massage shop chain which has been invested in by foreigners but operated by Thais. They have many shops in Phuket, all essentially a copy of each other.

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/08/20/local-massage-vendors-in-phuket-protest-over-foreign-investors-allegedly-operating-shops-at-much-lower-prices/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-08-22

 

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[itsari]

Then lower your prices . Compete with these foreign investors 

[khunpa]

5 minutes ago, itsari said:

Then lower your prices . Compete with these foreign investors 

Exactly! 

[Tracyb]

Anyone see a problem after reading this:

 

“Normally, the price for a massage in Phuket as agreed upon by local massage associations is about 300 baht.”

[realfunster]

Switch massage chain for convenience store and you have the same situation with CP.

But they are Thai and amongst the anointed ones, so no protests there…

 

I would have thought pricing for a product or service was broadly subject to the open market ? Perhaps not, on mafia island. Maybe, they should look at their own pricing structures and strategies in more detail. I guess they have a cosy agreement on a fixed price structure across all shops, likely doesn’t help the end consumer - see Phuket taxis as a good example.

 

 

 

 

[DezLez]

Maybe the people going to the foreign owned massage parlours think they are getting a bad rub and blown away with the soapy bubbles at the locally owned ones!

????

[Ralf001]

Hmmmm, cheap rub and tugs in Phuket..... Might have to go for a drive down this weekend !!

[redwood1]

Heck in Pattaya plenty of shops only ask 100 baht  so I think 150 is about right...

[Excel]

They are probably more concerned not about the actual charges for the massage which are coming under pressure from these alleged foreign investors, but more to do with the charges for "extras" where the real money is made.

[OneMoreFarang]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

They have many shops in Phuket, all essentially a copy of each other.

And I thought that is the idea of a chain. Same, same - not much different.

 

And if they trained massage properly, i.e. in Wat Pho, then it will also be same same all the time. People are trained to follow many steps one after the other.

[khunjeff]

“There is a massage shop chain which has been invested in by foreigners but operated by Thais. They have many shops in Phuket, all essentially a copy of each other."

 

I believe that is basically the definition of a " chain"... 

 

"Normally, the price for a massage in Phuket as agreed upon by local massage associations is about 300 baht but this shops massage fee is only 150 baht....[]This chain does not participate in local associations and has refused to listen to us."

 

We want to fix prices via our cartel, and they won't go along with us! Boo-hoo ????

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, itsari said:

Then lower your prices . Compete with these foreign investors 

You are being logical! This is Thailand!????

[smedly]

welcome to the world of business

 

I assume the real complaint here is that they would not co-operate with your price fixing collective

[itsari]

4 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

You are being logical! This is Thailand!????

Point taken . Yet some principles apply where ever you are.

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, Tracyb said:

Anyone see a problem after reading this:

 

“Normally, the price for a massage in Phuket as agreed upon by local massage associations is about 300 baht.”

Rub and tug, well thats cheap as chips.....

[hansnl]

Foreign?

As in.......

[Songkhla Sam]

43 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Rub and tug, well thats cheap as chips.....

100,150200or 300 baht for an hour is not the issue it’s the money lost on the extras and I have it on good first “hand” authority that none of those lovely ladies working for the local massage mafia or the foreign chain is shaking hands with the bishop for any less than 500 baht (extra) there in lies the rub… (all the above strictly tongue in cheek).

[Olmate]

23 minutes ago, Songkhla Sam said:

100,150200or 300 baht for an hour is not the issue it’s the money lost on the extras and I have it on good first “hand” authority that none of those lovely ladies working for the local massage mafia or the foreign chain is shaking hands with the bishop for any less than 500 baht (extra) there in lies the rub… (all the above strictly tongue in cheek).

Tongue in cheek a tad.more I reckon! 

[BE88]

The Phuket hen no longer gives me golden eggs, I protest????

[stoner]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

“There is a massage shop chain which has been invested in by foreigners but operated by Thais. They have many shops in Phuket, all essentially a copy of each other.

hahaha operated by thais. sweet sweet music right there.

 

if your business model sucks you'll go out of business. good luck losers.

[Myran]

Hilarious. "They refuse to be a part of our cartell. Arrest them, please."

[Elkski]

So Thai people need to 

 learn what a loss leader is?

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

“There is a massage shop chain which has been invested in by foreigners but operated by Thais. They have many shops in Phuket, all essentially a copy of each other.

I'ts called competition... and we all know how much that is disliked.

[itsari]

6 hours ago, Tracyb said:

Anyone see a problem after reading this:

 

“Normally, the price for a massage in Phuket as agreed upon by local massage associations is about 300 baht.”

Agree , the Thai businesses are upset by the foreign investors infringing on there patch.

Nothing stays the same .

[Bday Prang]

6 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Heck in Pattaya plenty of shops only ask 100 baht  so I think 150 is about right...

i would say that in that case 100 bt is "about right"

[PETERTHEEATER]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

.......massage shops which were allegedly being invested in by foreigners operating with much lower prices,......

They rub you short time.

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

They rub you short time.

So they only get the job half done........

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

i would say that in that case 100 bt is "about right"

 So 50bht for owner/girl is "about right"?? 

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So they only get the job half done........

Come again?

[wwest5829]

8 hours ago, Tracyb said:

Anyone see a problem after reading this:

 

“Normally, the price for a massage in Phuket as agreed upon by local massage associations is about 300 baht.”

Samui as well, we did find a shop at 250. Usual here in Chiang Mai 200 -250. when dad scan Kaew was still open we went to the 3rd floor were the shops charged 150 per hour.