Probe ordered into pricey audio system for new Thai Cabinet

[mike324]

You can find these for around $2300 retail price online. Assuming tax is around 30%, the 99,000 baht figure sold by another local supplier sounds right before they change the price to 199,000 baht probably due to intimidation by the government.

As for people questioning why its so expensive? Its not just a microphone, its basically a mini computer, you can view / share documents, videos, webcams and more. But is it needed? probably not as most politicians are either sleeping or watching porn during these meetings.

if you get the microphone by an online dealer, you will not get his signature on a legal contract with your conditions.

It`s only about the contract, that causes a different risk calculation for the dealer,

why you can`t compare the prices.

Warranty is the key issue.

If you are a dealer, selling this system to the government,

you want to make shure, that political motivated sabotage will not confront you with massive warranty claims,

so, it`s all about the contract and the conditions.

If they do purchase online, why can't they get warranty and a better deal if they email the local distributor directly? Just because the distributor operate a website doesn't mean there is no warranty, better discount, etc etc or no contract. Its not like they are purchasing just a single unit the distributor will just ask them to purchase online.

Don't really get your point, so distributors all should jack up the price just because they are selling to the government in order to protect themselves from warranty claims?

I understand there is a chance of political sabotage, but you are getting ahead of yourself now.

In retail, the middlemen / distributors usually sell for 2-4 times the price they purchase from, that is the general rule. On top of that they usually can claim warranty from the original manufacturer, and in this case its Bosch, the company that made the DCN Multimedia systems.

[sundrenched]

Love seeing the yellow Amart lovers trying to twist this one.

[ginjag]

Love seeing the yellow Amart lovers trying to twist this one.

Why do you post like this -why not say what you want to say-I did it was constructive criticism , get to the bottom of it sort of style. easy. All we need for Thai people is good governance. Nothing more nothing less, whether they are elected or not.

[rubl]

The man who assured yesterday that everything was above board is now announcing an investigation to prove it !

Well, only because you didn't want to believe him

[rubl]

Love seeing the yellow Amart lovers trying to twist this one.

Well, being able to twist and turn the microphone is only one of the many functions of the multi-media conference configuration with these wonderful stations people like to play with

http://www.boschsecurity.com/DCNmultimedia/

http://emea.boschsecurity.com/emea_product/02_products_18/st_bu_f_249864_emea_catalog_prod_emea/st_section_f_323268_emea_catalog_prod_emea/st_section_p_323268_emea_catalog_prod_emea_323268#section_12199520395

Of course some people have more fun to call this type of stuff 'expensive microphones'.

Next we'll offer our TVF members the chance to talk about "expensive firecrackers"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System

[brucec64]

Presumably a top-of-the-range cabinet room communication system is needed so that the boss can hear the chorus of agreement.

And probably was customized to take away the "No" button...

[Bangmod]

Had they gone to Phantip they both the load for the price of 1

[mok199]

the beat goes on.....sawadee ( no crap)

[AleG]

Love seeing the yellow Amart lovers trying to twist this one.

I went over the entire thread and didn't see any post that would fit your accusation, did you bother to read the thread at all?

[DisainaM]

You can find these for around $2300 retail price online. Assuming tax is around 30%, the 99,000 baht figure sold by another local supplier sounds right before they change the price to 199,000 baht probably due to intimidation by the government.

As for people questioning why its so expensive? Its not just a microphone, its basically a mini computer, you can view / share documents, videos, webcams and more. But is it needed? probably not as most politicians are either sleeping or watching porn during these meetings.

if you get the microphone by an online dealer, you will not get his signature on a legal contract with your conditions.

It`s only about the contract, that causes a different risk calculation for the dealer,

why you can`t compare the prices.

Warranty is the key issue.

If you are a dealer, selling this system to the government,

you want to make shure, that political motivated sabotage will not confront you with massive warranty claims,

so, it`s all about the contract and the conditions.

If they do purchase online, why can't they get warranty and a better deal if they email the local distributor directly? Just because the distributor operate a website doesn't mean there is no warranty, better discount, etc etc or no contract. Its not like they are purchasing just a single unit the distributor will just ask them to purchase online.

Don't really get your point, so distributors all should jack up the price just because they are selling to the government in order to protect themselves from warranty claims?

I understand there is a chance of political sabotage, but you are getting ahead of yourself now.

In retail, the middlemen / distributors usually sell for 2-4 times the price they purchase from, that is the general rule. On top of that they usually can claim warranty from the original manufacturer, and in this case its Bosch, the company that made the DCN Multimedia systems.

well, the government is not a normal customer, the dealer can`t reject warranty issues, without bringing himself on the top of public discussion, when things are getting hot.

Thinking about the tablet project, there was a massive warranty problem with tablets.

The main problem. not only on the country side, you have about 3 x power cut a month, but 20 x only 160 Volt without blackout,

so speaking about undervoltage problem, that cause a lot of damage in Thailand,

(thats why you need accurate protection with an avr automatic voltage regulator system)

its easy for the dealer, to reject warranty issues caused on unfulfilled system requirements, as long, as his client is not the government.

[Ricardo]

Love seeing the yellow Amart lovers trying to twist this one.

Great, when are they going to start ?

[mike324]

You can find these for around $2300 retail price online. Assuming tax is around 30%, the 99,000 baht figure sold by another local supplier sounds right before they change the price to 199,000 baht probably due to intimidation by the government.

As for people questioning why its so expensive? Its not just a microphone, its basically a mini computer, you can view / share documents, videos, webcams and more. But is it needed? probably not as most politicians are either sleeping or watching porn during these meetings.

if you get the microphone by an online dealer, you will not get his signature on a legal contract with your conditions.

It`s only about the contract, that causes a different risk calculation for the dealer,

why you can`t compare the prices.

Warranty is the key issue.

If you are a dealer, selling this system to the government,

you want to make shure, that political motivated sabotage will not confront you with massive warranty claims,

so, it`s all about the contract and the conditions.

If they do purchase online, why can't they get warranty and a better deal if they email the local distributor directly? Just because the distributor operate a website doesn't mean there is no warranty, better discount, etc etc or no contract. Its not like they are purchasing just a single unit the distributor will just ask them to purchase online.

Don't really get your point, so distributors all should jack up the price just because they are selling to the government in order to protect themselves from warranty claims?

I understand there is a chance of political sabotage, but you are getting ahead of yourself now.

In retail, the middlemen / distributors usually sell for 2-4 times the price they purchase from, that is the general rule. On top of that they usually can claim warranty from the original manufacturer, and in this case its Bosch, the company that made the DCN Multimedia systems.

well, the government is not a normal customer, the dealer can`t reject warranty issues, without bringing himself on the top of public discussion, when things are getting hot.

Thinking about the tablet project, there was a massive warranty problem with tablets.

The main problem. not only on the country side, you have about 3 x power cut a month, but 20 x only 160 Volt without blackout,

so speaking about undervoltage problem, that cause a lot of damage in Thailand,

(thats why you need accurate protection with an avr automatic voltage regulator system)

its easy for the dealer, to reject warranty issues caused on unfulfilled system requirements, as long, as his client is not the government.

Agree the government is not a normal customer, but based on how it works here. The government is mostly on the side of the seller in order to purchase overprice goods on purpose and receive a commission from the seller. So both are on the same boat and one would rarely rat the other one out unless their relationship turn sour.

As for the tablet, people who are up to date with electronics already know that the spec that the government was asking for is unlikely for the price point, not only that, they purchase through a tablet manufacturer that is not well known among the community. In the end the tablet manufacturer pulled out because they can't make the governments request for delivery dates, Chinese manufacturers are known to over promise and under deliver. The main issue is not the under voltage problem. Its just the whole thing is a piece of crap to begin with being manufacturer with substandard parts. On top of that majority of electronic come with 120/240v chargers, don't think under voltage is the issue here also.

I do agree many dealers in Thailand don't stand by the warranty they offer and tend to blame it on other issues.

Cheers

[fab4]

The man who assured yesterday that everything was above board is now announcing an investigation to prove it !

Well, only because you didn't want to believe him

Or possibly it's because the man is untrustworthy (Downtown Inn, Chiangmai refers).

[Suriya4]

Yingluck govyt purchase USD 80 for poor thai children ,yellow people say too expensive, useless, what is wrong with chalk and board?

Prayuth govt bough mic for cabinet at usd 5,000. Yellow people say it is cheap, needed because Obama also use it, cannot expect the honorable to talk louder, and want to keep meeting paper less (cheap usd 1,000 iPad cannot, Obama don't use ipad).

Panadda is good man, never cheat, never drive bmw or travel business class. But he deserve to use good communication equipment to communicate to the mass Thai people. He should not be investigated. We must not waste time here, but should investigate Yingluck on the tablet purchase instead.

Please remember No shin, no corruption ALREADY.

[DisainaM]

Agree the government is not a normal customer, but based on how it works here. The government is mostly on the side of the seller in order to purchase overprice goods on purpose and receive a commission from the seller. So both are on the same boat and one would rarely rat the other one out unless their relationship turn sour.

As for the tablet, people who are up to date with electronics already know that the spec that the government was asking for is unlikely for the price point, not only that, they purchase through a tablet manufacturer that is not well known among the community. In the end the tablet manufacturer pulled out because they can't make the governments request for delivery dates, Chinese manufacturers are known to over promise and under deliver. The main issue is not the under voltage problem. Its just the whole thing is a piece of crap to begin with being manufacturer with substandard parts. On top of that majority of electronic come with 120/240v chargers, don't think under voltage is the issue here also.

I do agree many dealers in Thailand don't stand by the warranty they offer and tend to blame it on other issues.

Cheers

May be, it`s starting on a way, where the seller and the government is thinking, that both are on the same boat,

so, the seller is starting, to install 89 microphone on a time, where you have no contract and not a fixed price.

In this time of installation, the press is starting to investigate,

and as a seller, you are saying, ok, my family and our name will start, to become part of a public discussion,

only, because of this deal.

At the same time, your contact person on the government side is asking for more exchange service,

informing you, that a group of lawyer is preparing a contract, with many pages with a lot of clauses of compensation cases,

so you know, that the whole deal is getting more an more expensive.

You know, that you can`t sign the contract on the normal price,

you told him "hey, this is not an airplane deal, it`s just about microphone,

but he said, - yes, but the deal is on public discussion, and we have to make shure, that it has nothing to do, with corruption.

First of all, you change the price of the microphone on your website,

second, you prepare your lawyer, to calculate the whole risc of this deal.

So, this is thailand, you started to install your products, without knowing the price.

The customer asked for more, but he has to pay for this additional service, so, the price is getting higher.

Edited September 10, 2014 by DisainaM

[Jim walker]

More like Room 101 now put it in the bin

[chotthee]

Yingluck govyt purchase USD 80 for poor thai children ,yellow people say too expensive, useless, what is wrong with chalk and board? Prayuth govt bough mic for cabinet at usd 5,000. Yellow people say it is cheap, needed because Obama also use it, cannot expect the honorable to talk louder, and want to keep meeting paper less (cheap usd 1,000 iPad cannot, Obama don't use ipad). Panadda is good man, never cheat, never drive bmw or travel business class. But he deserve to use good communication equipment to communicate to the mass Thai people. He should not be investigated. We must not waste time here, but should investigate Yingluck on the tablet purchase instead. Please remember No shin, no corruption ALREADY.

My eyes are rolling already.

No shin, no corruption HA.

[mike324]

Agree the government is not a normal customer, but based on how it works here. The government is mostly on the side of the seller in order to purchase overprice goods on purpose and receive a commission from the seller. So both are on the same boat and one would rarely rat the other one out unless their relationship turn sour.

As for the tablet, people who are up to date with electronics already know that the spec that the government was asking for is unlikely for the price point, not only that, they purchase through a tablet manufacturer that is not well known among the community. In the end the tablet manufacturer pulled out because they can't make the governments request for delivery dates, Chinese manufacturers are known to over promise and under deliver. The main issue is not the under voltage problem. Its just the whole thing is a piece of crap to begin with being manufacturer with substandard parts. On top of that majority of electronic come with 120/240v chargers, don't think under voltage is the issue here also.

I do agree many dealers in Thailand don't stand by the warranty they offer and tend to blame it on other issues.

Cheers

May be, it`s starting on a way, where the seller and the government is thinking, that both are on the same boat,

so, the seller is starting, to install 89 microphone on a time, where you have no contract and not a fixed price.

In this time of installation, the press is starting to investigate,

and as a seller, you are saying, ok, my family and our name will start, to become part of a public discussion,

only, because of this deal.

At the same time, your contact person on the government side is asking for more exchange service,

informing you, that a group of lawyer is preparing a contract, with many pages with a lot of clauses of compensation cases,

so you know, that the whole deal is getting more an more expensive.

You know, that you can`t sign the contract on the normal price,

you told him "hey, this is not an airplane deal, it`s just about microphone,

but he said, - yes, but the deal is on public discussion, and we have to make shure, that it has nothing to do, with corruption.

First of all, you change the price of the microphone on your website,

second, you prepare your lawyer, to calculate the whole risc of this deal.

So, this is thailand, you started to install your products, without knowing the price.

The customer asked for more, but he has to pay for this additional service, so, the price is getting higher.

You simply can't believe everything you read, there is more to it than its reported. There is a contract that is signed with the company The Asavasopon Co Ltd, but the government refuse to admit it because they are caught red handed in buying overprice products.

The other local supplier (Priceza) is selling it for 30% less online. The Asavasopon Co Ltd, is pressure to not release the contract, just like how the other supplier (Priceza) changed the price from 99,000 to 199,000 baht after users on Pantip Thai forum pointed it out and story broke out. Most likely the government pressue Priceza to change their price online.

Government is trying to cover their butts when they have been preaching about corruption and transparency. You must be gullible in thinking this is how Thais do business with the government, install first and talk price later. Your whole theory is wrong and does not make sense.

[DisainaM]

FOLLOWING a public and media outcry, the price of 89 microphones intended for communication in the Cabinet meeting room at Government House has been reduced by 35 per cent.

Monthon Sudprasert, director of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, who has been in charge of the renovation of Government House, said the department negotiated with the audio system supplier - Asavasopon Co - to lower the price of the microphones.

Bosch Thailand, the importer, had quoted their cost at Bt145,000 to Bt94,250 each. The Bosch system DCNM-NMD comes with LED screens at Bt300,000 each.

Monthon said after price negotiations, the whole system would now cost Bt53 million. Monthon said the department would help the state save some Bt14 million from the original price.

Monthon said renovation of Government House had to be carried out rapidly to be ready for the Prayuth Cabinet's first meeting.

The National Council for Peace and Order approved a proposal from the Secretariat of the PM to suspend all directives involved in procuring equipment and electronic materials during renovation of the building.

National Legislative Assembly member Maj-General Kolchai Suvanboon had said the NLA would look into the controversy after criticism went viral that there might be corruption in the acquisition of the microphones to be used at Cabinet meetings.

PM's Office Minister Panadda Diskul last week landed in hot water after showing reporters the audio system that had been installed in the meeting room.

The minister denied having any role in the procurement, saying that Monthon was in charge of the project.

Monthon earlier said the contract had yet to be signed. He also refuted media speculation that a 15-per-cent advance payment had been paid to the supplier. Bidding documents for the audio system were circulated to the media on Tuesday.

When asked by reporters if it was possible the procurement of the audio system could be dropped because of its high cost, Monthon said the reduced price was now suitable and acceptable for high-tech equipment of its kind, saying this system was used at the Nuclear Summit meeting in the Netherlands.

He stopped short of saying he would review the final price and would be ready to have the public check the planned procurement details.

The official also denied his department had procured LED light bulbs at over Bt100,000 each.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Price-of-Cabinet-audio-slashed-after-public-outcry-30243007.html