Vitamin E, Why So Expensive?

[cheshiremusicman]

I bought 60 vitamin E (500mg) capsules a month or two ago and they cost me the staggering amount of 932B.

Can anybody explain why they should be so expensive here in Thailand and are there any alternative ways of buying it cheaper? The only way I can think of is to import them, but how much duty will they charge?

[Boksida]

In Chiangmai at least, vitamins are cheaper at Makro than at pharmacies. Even the pharmacies admit this and say Makro is selling at wholesale prices. Another strange thing is that you can always bargain the price down on all products at chemist shops, sometimes by quite a large amount.

[cheshiremusicman]

In Chiangmai at least, vitamins are cheaper at Makro than at pharmacies. Even the pharmacies admit this and say Makro is selling at wholesale prices. Another strange thing is that you can always bargain the price down on all products at chemist shops, sometimes by quite a large amount.

Thanks 'Boksida' I will try and bargain at a few of the pharmacies here in Hua-Hin, but maybe not having a Makro here will put a block on that! It's worth a try though. It would be interesting to know what you would have to pay at Makro if you are in there sometime - the Vit E that I bought were Australian import.

[Boksida]

In Chiangmai at least, vitamins are cheaper at Makro than at pharmacies. Even the pharmacies admit this and say Makro is selling at wholesale prices. Another strange thing is that you can always bargain the price down on all products at chemist shops, sometimes by quite a large amount.

Thanks 'Boksida' I will try and bargain at a few of the pharmacies here in Hua-Hin, but maybe not having a Makro here will put a block on that! It's worth a try though. It would be interesting to know what you would have to pay at Makro if you are in there sometime - the Vit E that I bought were Australian import.

Fortunately the Minister of Home Affairs just found an old Makro receipt: Blackmores (Australian) 60 x 500mg 629 baht. No name ones are in the 400-500 baht range.

[cheshiremusicman]

In Chiangmai at least, vitamins are cheaper at Makro than at pharmacies. Even the pharmacies admit this and say Makro is selling at wholesale prices. Another strange thing is that you can always bargain the price down on all products at chemist shops, sometimes by quite a large amount.

Thanks 'Boksida' I will try and bargain at a few of the pharmacies here in Hua-Hin, but maybe not having a Makro here will put a block on that! It's worth a try though. It would be interesting to know what you would have to pay at Makro if you are in there sometime - the Vit E that I bought were Australian import.

Fortunately the Minister of Home Affairs just found an old Makro receipt: Blackmores (Australian) 60 x 500mg 629 baht. No name ones are in the 400-500 baht range.

Thanks for that - the one's that I purchased were the 'Blackmores' so 50% markup here in HH.Think that I will have to take a trip to BKK and do a bulk purchase as I suppose that they must be competitively priced there!

[Tung_Thaid]

I bought 60 vitamin E (500mg) capsules a month or two ago and they cost me the staggering amount of 932B.

Can anybody explain why they should be so expensive here in Thailand and are there any alternative ways of buying it cheaper? The only way I can think of is to import them, but how much duty will they charge?

The recommended retail price for Blackmores BIO E500 Vitamin E (60 capsules) appears to be 932 baht.

But I regularly find somewhere in Chiang Mai that does better than the RRP. By at least 30%.

That would appear also to be the experience of Boksida paying 629 baht from Makro.

Much the same thing happens in Australia with Blackmores - pay the full price or shop around.

In Chiang Mai I can find Blackmores at a discounted price at Lotus Tesco - and FAMA chain drug stores.

I guess its a matter of how much competition is around in Hua Hin. Find some more stockists. Check with Blackmores in Bangkok as to some more outlets in your area.

Their Bangkok contact details: http://blackmores.com.au/ContactUs.aspx

[cheshiremusicman]

I bought 60 vitamin E (500mg) capsules a month or two ago and they cost me the staggering amount of 932B.

Can anybody explain why they should be so expensive here in Thailand and are there any alternative ways of buying it cheaper? The only way I can think of is to import them, but how much duty will they charge?

The recommended retail price for Blackmores BIO E500 Vitamin E (60 capsules) appears to be 932 baht.

But I regularly find somewhere in Chiang Mai that does better than the RRP. By at least 30%.

That would appear also to be the experience of Boksida paying 629 baht from Makro.

Much the same thing happens in Australia with Blackmores - pay the full price or shop around.

In Chiang Mai I can find Blackmores at a discounted price at Lotus Tesco - and FAMA chain drug stores.

I guess its a matter of how much competition is around in Hua Hin. Find some more stockists. Check with Blackmores in Bangkok as to some more outlets in your area.

Their Bangkok contact details: http://blackmores.com.au/ContactUs.aspx

Thank you for that advice and details 'Tung_Thaid' I will contact them.

[Boksida]

Have just been back to Makro. Blackmores were out of stock but they had a German brand 100 x 400mg at 469 baht.

[whimsy]

Have just been back to Makro. Blackmores were out of stock but they had a German brand 100 x 400mg at 469 baht.

While shopping around, check Boots Pharmacy if there is one in your area. They stock the Boots house brand, Blackmores and others. Last month I bought some Blackmores multi-vitamins there and they were on sale at about 40% off.

[Payboy]

Why So Expensive?

it is not possile to extract vitamin e synthetically because it can only be found in natural oil form - that's the reason it is so expensive compared to other vitamins. even in vitamin e there are different versions - the most expensive is the ones being those sold as capsules containing it in gel form.

[cheshiremusicman]

Why So Expensive?

it is not possile to extract vitamin e synthetically because it can only be found in natural oil form - that's the reason it is so expensive compared to other vitamins. even in vitamin e there are different versions - the most expensive is the ones being those sold as capsules containing it in gel form.

Thanks 'Payboy'. That at least explains the cost versus other vitamin tablets. Guess I will just have to shop around until I can get some friends to ship some over for me.

[Steve2UK]

Have to say, I've been wondering for some time what the deal is with Blackmore's in Thailand......... just how have they managed to get a near monopoly here - or, more to the point, how much are they paying to achieve it? All this while UK (and EU) prices for vitamin supplements have been plummeting for the last couple of years.

[geevlus]

Take a tablespoon of wheatgerm once a day. This contains ample vitamin e and other nutrients that help your system absorb it. Recent reliable studies in the West have come to some very disturbing conclusions about synthetic vitamin e supplementation, especially in the higher dose caps (500 iu and above). It's even been linked to premature death.

[cheshiremusicman]

Take a tablespoon of wheatgerm once a day. This contains ample vitamin e and other nutrients that help your system absorb it. Recent reliable studies in the West have come to some very disturbing conclusions about synthetic vitamin e supplementation, especially in the higher dose caps (500 iu and above). It's even been linked to premature death.

Many thanks 'geevlus' for that advice.

I've been taking vit E, after my Mother was diagnosed with 'pre-dementure'. The specialist who used to come and check on my Mums mental abilities every 4 months told me that ALL the staff, who worked for this department, were now taking Vit E every day, as it has been proven that it helps ward off PD and Alzheimers.

I presume from what you say that the 'wheatgerm' just comes in liquid form - not capsules ( much easier to carry if you are travelling ).

[tracker]

vitamines in pill form can be set on the shelves, next to most pharmaceutical products which cost 1 baht to produce, 20 baht to promote and 479 baht to take as profit.

Read up about this things. Most lab-tests indicate some good properties about a certain isolated chemical on some kind of life-form and next thing you know you can buy it in pill/capsule form. never any testing on what is does in combination.

Stick to nature. Sunflowerseeds are loaded with vit E and a lot cheaper too...

[Boksida]

now taking Vit E every day, as it has been proven that it helps ward off PD and Alzheimers.

I don't think it is working for me.

[cheshiremusicman]

Take a tablespoon of wheatgerm once a day. This contains ample vitamin e and other nutrients that help your system absorb it. Recent reliable studies in the West have come to some very disturbing conclusions about synthetic vitamin e supplementation, especially in the higher dose caps (500 iu and above). It's even been linked to premature death.

Stupid Me,

Just realised that the 'wheatgerm' is in granular form. I asked the wife to have a look for it when she went shopping and she came back with the granular one from Tescos - thanks again for the help.