On the increasingly rare occasions I have visited Makro it has been noticeable that product selection has been reduced significantly.

Initially I had the thought that the business was in some sort of decline or that for reason unknown there has been a disruption in supply.

Curiosity demanded an internet search for an explanation.

I found it but my computer capacity using a Chromebook inhibits my ability to post it here.

It seems that a new strategy is to focus diversity in favor of home brands.

IMHO that will not work well with historical customer base. Not only has product diversity been reduced but the emphasis appears to be on bulk purchase packaged items as well.

While Makro has always presented as a wholesale outlet it historically maintained a reasonable competitive range.

Now the range seems minimal and up priced which strikes me as contradictory to marketing announcements.

Perhaps early days but for products I have usually gone there for specifically that are no more I am less than impressed.

I go to Makro pretty often and it seems like they have more stuff than ever.

Thais don't have money.

Fereng think Thais have money.

The great example is Tops Club that opened accross Central Rama 2 that was supposed to be Thai Costco. Many Kirkland products, good quality beef (their cafeteria served a beef salad that I could actually eat for the first time in Thailand). Beautiful well stocked imported stuff... quite possibly a lot of money invested into this venture.... and what happened? 98% of thai were buying Mama Noodled and bottled water. The shop was closed within 1 year.

Thais are BROKE

Always depends in which city as one branch in a specific city could be awful and another in a different town could be great. But what remains universal is that the consumer wants top brands, supply and quality..at rock bottom crashed prices. This should not be to difficult, considering that many products cost more then abroad, despite that the rents and wages are far less in Thailand. Yes there is Tax, but that the easy excuse. When you see the billionnaires who own the retail outlet chains and how they are buying up other large outlet retail stores in different cities in UK, Europe etc....obviously it's not crisis for all in Thailand.

5 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Always depends in which city as one branch in a specific city could be awful and another in a different town could be great. But what remains universal is that the consumer wants top brands, supply and quality..at rock bottom crashed prices. This should not be to difficult, considering that many products cost more then abroad, despite that the rents and wages are far less in Thailand. Yes there is Tax, but that the easy excuse. When you see the billionnaires who own the retail outlet chains and how they are buying up other large outlet retail stores in different cities in UK, Europe etc....obviously it's not crisis for all in Thailand.

When were you last 'abroad'?

Most of the prices I see are cheaper than the UK.

Times have changed, inflation is serious in the west.

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

When were you last 'abroad'?

Most of the prices I see are cheaper than the UK.

Times have changed, inflation is serious in the west.

I was in the US twice last year, and most stuff here was way cheaper. Not everything, but most.

Since the purchase by CP I think the quality of the fresh produce at Makro has improved, although there are now fewer of the Aro Makro own brand products, as I guess they have to purchase them from the original, European Makro company?

But I have no noticed a big difference in the range of products between different Makro stores.

We have a huge Makro Club store close by that has a lot of nicer stuff and a giant frozen food department.

9 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Since the purchase by CP I think the quality of the fresh produce at Makro has improved, although there are now fewer of the Aro Makro own brand products, as I guess they have to purchase them from the original, European Makro company?

But I have no noticed a big difference in the range of products between different Makro stores.

I am referencing the closest Makro outlet to my rural address ( 98 kms ) which is in Buriram.

It is possible that my perceptions are due to localized branches.

A specific item is dishwasher detergent. There previously were four brands in bulk containers of 20 liters. Now there are two of only 10 liters at higher prices. Similarly the range of bench top detergent bottles has been reduced and the remaining products are twice the price of the cheapest original selection. For those wondering we buy for a restaurant.

You mention observing fewer Aro brand products which is contradictory to the restructuring plans that have been promoted.

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

When were you last 'abroad'?

Most of the prices I see are cheaper than the UK.

Times have changed, inflation is serious in the west.

I am not comparing Western prices. I am mentioning CP Makro/ Lotus inflationary restructuring impact.

10 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Always depends in which city as one branch in a specific city could be awful and another in a different town could be great. But what remains universal is that the consumer wants top brands, supply and quality..at rock bottom crashed prices. This should not be to difficult, considering that many products cost more then abroad, despite that the rents and wages are far less in Thailand. Yes there is Tax, but that the easy excuse. When you see the billionnaires who own the retail outlet chains and how they are buying up other large outlet retail stores in different cities in UK, Europe etc....obviously it's not crisis for all in Thailand.

Exactly that !. VAT is likely to be raised in Thailand soon adding to the cost burden .

I try to remain cognizant of factors inside Thailand because " Western" references are irrelevant to the immediate impact on the average Thai consumer.

When were you last 'abroad'?

Most of the prices I see are cheaper than the UK.

Times have changed, inflation is serious in the west.

You don't have to hop on a plane to price shop. I found this thing called the internet, where I compare prices on Amazon, EBay and even my local Walmart and Academy in Galveston. Some (not all) pricing in Asia is out of line, especially western centric products.

17 minutes ago, impulse said:

Some (not all) pricing in Asia is out of line, especially western centric products.

That would be expected, since imported. Even if USA or UK/EU brand made in SEA. I peek at Walmart (USA) pricing occasionally, and basic whole foods are about the same +/-, sometimes. TH usually cheaper, across the board, but to be expected, due to labor, taxes, utility costs.

Chicken & pork, seafood are easy to compare (TH/cheaper), though beef is difficult, due to quality difference. Both silly priced for high quality, which may also reflect the vendor's silly pricing. Villa, Tops & Gourmet market's meats are silly price, but nice presentation 🙄 Along with some of the individually wrapped fruits & veggies.

Some (not all) pricing in Asia is out of line, especially western centric products.

That would be expected, since imported. Even if USA or UK/EU brand made in SEA. I peek at Walmart (USA) pricing occasionally, and basic whole foods are about the same +/-, sometimes. TH usually cheaper, across the board, but to be expected, due to labor, taxes, utility costs.

Mostly, I price hard goods as opposed to food. I expect to get bent over the table in Thailand if I want sweet pickle relish or good baked beans.

Even some items that are made in Thailand are cheaper when bought in the USA. (Some) Cameras and some hard drives, for example. Other items that are imported from 3rd countries are much more expensive in LOS. They seem to have caught onto the "all the market will bear" concept of pricing goodies that expats miss from back home.

46 minutes ago, impulse said:

You don't have to hop on a plane to price shop. I found this thing called the internet, where I compare prices on Amazon, EBay and even my locaalmart and Academy in Galveston. Some (not all) pricing in Asia is out of line, especially western centric products.

Give us the prices for chicken breasts, pork loin and live jumbo shrimp in Texas.

44 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Give us the prices for chicken breasts, pork loin and live jumbo shrimp in Texas.

C breast silly price & (USA / Walmart, Corpus Cristi).

Thighs ฿126 / kg vs ~฿97 Makro ?

Pork Loin ฿138 kg vs ฿128 Makro

Shrimp ... varies too much to compare

2 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

I am referencing the closest Makro outlet to my rural address ( 98 kms ) which is in Buriram.

It is possible that my perceptions are due to localized branches.

A specific item is dishwasher detergent. There previously were four brands in bulk containers of 20 liters. Now there are two of only 10 liters at higher prices. Similarly the range of bench top detergent bottles has been reduced and the remaining products are twice the price of the cheapest original selection. For those wondering we buy for a restaurant.

You mention observing fewer Aro brand products which is contradictory to the restructuring plans that have been promoted.

I think it may be your local branch. I travel a lot for work, and we head to the nearest Makro to our events to stock up on essentials for workshops. In some branches we can't find the items we need, whereas in others we're spoilt for choice.

14 hours ago, Celsius said:

Thais don't have money.

Fereng think Thais have money.

The great example is Tops Club that opened accross Central Rama 2 that was supposed to be Thai Costco. Many Kirkland products, good quality beef (their cafeteria served a beef salad that I could actually eat for the first time in Thailand). Beautiful well stocked imported stuff... quite possibly a lot of money invested into this venture.... and what happened? 98% of thai were buying Mama Noodled and bottled water. The shop was closed within 1 year.

Thais are BROKE

And yet the all- you- can- eat places for 299 Baht are crowded.

3 minutes ago, Gecko said:

And yet the all- you- can- eat places for 299 Baht are crowded.

I was at the Landmark's Sunday Brunch buffet a few weeks ago. It was about B6,000 for three of us (with promotion) as I remember, and it was packed.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Mostly, I price hard goods as opposed to food. I expect to get bent over the table in Thailand if I want sweet pickle relish or good baked beans.

Even some items that are made in Thailand are cheaper when bought in the USA. (Some) Cameras and some hard drives, for example. Other items that are imported from 3rd countries are much more expensive in LOS. They seem to have caught onto the "all the market will bear" concept of pricing goodies that expats miss from back home.

I recently bought a Marshall speaker at Costco for $100. Here in Thailand they for over 10,000 baht.

14 hours ago, Celsius said:

Thais don't have money.

Thais are BROKE

Maybe the very few Thais you've encountered don't have money, but there's a huge middle class here, that have way more money than you.

Malls are packed, restaurants, western fast food vendors & coffee shops are packed, domestic tourist locations are packed on the weekends. Roads are congested with SUVs & 4x4s.

My daughter, only a few years out of Uni, has house & condo they rent out, new Atto 3, and just came back from JP. Went to CN the year before that.

12 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I recently bought a Marshall speaker at Costco for $100. Here in Thailand they for over 10,000 baht.

Which model? This one is $20

Still waiting for you to give us the prices for chicken breasts, pork loin and live jumbo shrimp in Texas. I buy a lot more groceries than I buy speakers

51 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Maybe the very few Thais you've encountered don't have money, but there's a huge middle class here, that have way more money than you.

My wife has more money than you and I mean that literally

I think like all businesses Makro stocks items that sell and make them a profit.

No point is one or two farangs showing up once a month to buy Branston Pickle or Aunt Jemima's syrup.

5 minutes ago, Celsius said:

My wife has more money than you and I mean that literally

How could you possibly know that?

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

How could you possibly know that?

That's because he knows I give everything to my wife. I'm only allowed some pocket money, and that's only a few ฿100k at present.

In a pinch, I can always borrow some from the dog

53 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Which model? This one is $20

Still waiting for you to give us the prices for chicken breasts, pork loin and live jumbo shrimp in Texas. I buy a lot more groceries than I buy speakers

Killborn II model

25 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's because he knows I give everything to my wife. I'm only allowed some pocket money, and that's only a few ฿100k at present.

In a pinch, I can always borrow some from the dog

@Celsius

Phom jon mak mak, good thing I have a dog ...

25 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Killborn II model

That's a great price, it's $228.61 on Amazon, and it's out of stock at Costco.

In any event, I'm still waiting for you to give us the prices for chicken breasts, pork loin and live jumbo shrimp in Texas. I buy a lot more groceries than I buy speakers

The Makro I use is still with a perfect variety of both own and local brands, as well as foreign imported goods; generally high quality and reasonable prices, some products even way cheaper – also as single units or small packages – than same brand in other retail shops.