Buyer Beware!

[tartempion]

Wife sees a pack of refills in promotion, you know these 4 plastic bags of dish soap or washing machine soap or similar packed into one promotion pack?

They must end up cheaper than their container equivalent isn't?

Wait a moment, I tell her and firstly try to figure out what's the content of one plastic bag, good luck in turning the 4pack around in all directions, you might be lucky to discover 1 bag contains 320ml of the stuff. Then if you're smart you check the contents and price of the container, which might hold 3800ml, compare that with the price of 4x320ml. Problem eh?

Try to figure out the price for 1 liter of the container stuff and then the 4 pack promotion.

The end result might well be the container come cheaper or equally the promotion pack.

Anyway I doubt any Thai would go through the exercise of finding out, even with a calculating machine in hand and a universtity grade it will be a too difficult exercise, even for a farang

Take a 6 pack of coke in promotion, chance is they will be cheaper than buying a 24 pack plateau but you can't be sure unless you check.

Years ago LUX started a shower cream at 99B, contents 750ml.

Soon after the contents was reduced to 700ml.

The the price went up to 105, 113, and now a days 133 whilst the content went down to 550ml, thus costing 242B/liter against the initial cost of 132B/liter.

They don't get my business any more, I buy shower gel in my favorite French supermarket 2x year at 1 euro for 250ml and often they have promotion clearly marked in big letters on the pack: 300ml.

Take a big shop flier promoting fridges and show me the contents in liters or measures of the thing, all you see is the price

I think Thai businesses don't care to inform the customer, in many ways these are scams also.

I wonder if many farangs open their eyes when they go shopping?

Edit: let me add ALL shops in France show the price per liter/kilo, no need for a computer or a brain

[bkkjames]

Yep, two things I noticed was the downsizing + same price on many products. As for the buying bulk = cheaper, one would think so but apparently not.

[Mario2008]

That is a "scam" played all over the world. Always check what a refil costs per liter or kilo and be very suspicious af a new design of the packing of a product. Often it means you now get less.

[ukrules]

They don't get my business any more, I buy shower gel in my favorite French supermarket 2x year at 1 euro for 250ml and often they have promotion clearly marked in big letters on the pack: 300ml.

So what are you saying here; you go shopping twice per year and each time buy 1 250ml (occasionally 300ml !) sized container of shower gel ?

What I want to know is how often do you take a shower ?

[PattayaParent]

I've sometimes noticed that there a special offers of 2 items bundled together that are more expensive than 2 singles.

Also some items have a 'free' extra % or xx grams which are more expensive than the regular size.

But as someone has already pointed out this is a supermakedt marketing ploy the world over and aren't the major supermarkets here Farang ones (Carrefour, Tesco).

[007]

As for me, I've frequently noticed that things you buy in larger sizes here in Thailand are sometimes more expensive, relatively speaking, than things that one buys in smaller sizes, e.g. 100 ml of product X cost 100 baht, but 200 ml of the same product cost 220 baht, etc., meaning that you actually get a discount for buying less!

[bkkjames]

As for me, I've frequently noticed that things you buy in larger sizes here in Thailand are sometimes more expensive, relatively speaking, than things that one buys in smaller sizes, e.g. 100 ml of product X cost 100 baht, but 200 ml of the same product cost 220 baht, etc., meaning that you actually get a discount for buying less!

I think the logic has to do with the fact that if you buy the big bulk items, you are less likely to return as soon, thus they are saving you time and money (taxi, gasoline etc) and you should pay extra for this.

Perhaps I am giving them a bit too much credit.

[harrry]

It seems that the size that is cheapest is almost allways the size mos people buy and this is rarely the largest one.

[007]

I think the logic has to do with the fact that if you buy the big bulk items, you are less likely to return as soon, thus they are saving you time and money (taxi, gasoline etc) and you should pay extra for this.

Perhaps I am giving them a bit too much credit.

[chiang mai]

And along the same lines, when is a discount really a discount. We see loads of signs in shop windows these days saying 40% discount, 50% and of late, 70% - given the trend I expect to see 90% discounts soon although it's a ll a bunch of knackers because the prices never really change and there's no underlying law to say they should. But it's interesting to see the way the locals are attracted by these signs.

[bkkjames]

And along the same lines, when is a discount really a discount. We see loads of signs in shop windows these days saying 40% discount, 50% and of late, 70% - given the trend I expect to see 90% discounts soon although it's a ll a bunch of knackers because the prices never really change and there's no underlying law to say they should. But it's interesting to see the way the locals are attracted by these signs.

Agree. Not sure if it is still up but the one at Gayso_n Plaza that said / says 70% off starting today! was / has been up for months.

[Lost in LOS]

special deal

[longstebe]

I remember something in the news back in the states about this. Especially the boxes of cereal.

Most of us have the option of a calculator on our cell phones.

[tartempion]

They don't get my business any more, I buy shower gel in my favorite French supermarket 2x year at 1 euro for 250ml and often they have promotion clearly marked in big letters on the pack: 300ml.

So what are you saying here; you go shopping twice per year and each time buy 1 250ml (occasionally 300ml !) sized container of shower gel ?

What I want to know is how often do you take a shower ?

Huuu

My luggage allowance is 40kgs, converted to 4 containers of 250ml equals 160 bottles, consumption equaling 2 containers/month (3xday 2 people) allows us to shower for 80 months.

Some people do ask weird questions, hope this answers that one?

At Swampy they X ray luggage now, wondering if I will run into problems with customs!

Next trip I will bring 40kgs of real chocolate (that won't last 80 months though)

[Penefattore]

As for me, I've frequently noticed that things you buy in larger sizes here in Thailand are sometimes more expensive, relatively speaking, than things that one buys in smaller sizes, e.g. 100 ml of product X cost 100 baht, but 200 ml of the same product cost 220 baht, etc., meaning that you actually get a discount for buying less!

I think the logic has to do with the fact that if you buy the big bulk items, you are less likely to return as soon, thus they are saving you time and money (taxi, gasoline etc) and you should pay extra for this.

Perhaps I am giving them a bit too much credit.

You definitively are.

What prevents the "stocking" buyer from buying 2 100ml pieces instead of the "time saving" 200ml one ?

[Penefattore]

special deal

well,at least it does say "buy 2 for the price of 3"

[Donnyboy]

Take a big shop flier promoting fridges and show me the contents in liters or measures of the thing, all you see is the price

I think Thai businesses don't care to inform the customer, in many ways these are scams also.

all you need to do is look

I havent checked the fliers, but if you wanted to check prices with content volume/weight you can see it online, but most ppl couldnt be bothered

and regarding bringing liquid soap from overseas, i would rather use my luggage space for something else worthwhile, especially from France.

Big C flyer

[MJP]

Yep, two things I noticed was the downsizing + same price on many products. As for the buying bulk = cheaper, one would think so but apparently not.

Bulk buying you need to get drums of stuff rather than the resale packets. Got 5 gallon of fabric conditioner the other day, 325 Baht . . . under orders!

I asked the old woman whether it was any good. She reckons it smells like a wet dog.

[Donnyboy]

volume amount clearly labelled(in thai), got the picture?

[MJP]

volume amount clearly labelled(in thai), got the picture?

Oh jolly good, Nivea Total Whitening is down again!

[Donnyboy]

Oh jolly good, Nivea Total Whitening is down again!

50ml

[MJP]

Oh jolly good, Nivea Total Whitening is down again!

50ml

Nope the 400ml pack. Paid 220 last time.

(It's not for me by the way)

[Donnyboy]

Oh jolly good, Nivea Total Whitening is down again!

50ml

Nope the 400ml pack. Paid 220 last time.

(It's not for me by the way)

my reply was a cheeky swipe @ the OP for saying there were no volumes/weights on the fliers

[MJP]

Oh jolly good, Nivea Total Whitening is down again!

50ml

Nope the 400ml pack. Paid 220 last time.

(It's not for me by the way)

my reply was a cheeky swipe @ the OP for saying there were no volumes/weights on the fliers

I know dude.