H&M clothing in Thailand vs. Europe / North America

[Jingthing]

I see H&M is making a splash in Thailand. I understand it's about selling fashionable clothing at mass market low prices. But this is branded stuff, not factory rejects, so stuff like that is always more expensive in Thailand compared to Europe / North America.

So that's my question to those who have shopped this store in Thailand and also in the west.

How much more expensive are their clothes in Thailand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%26M

Edited June 10, 2015 by Jingthing

[NeverSure]

Many people in the US wait for a sale because there is a culture of sales. Two for the price of one is common. Here is a link to US website and another to a Thai one showing prices.

US in dollars

Thailand in baht

[Jingthing]

OK. maybe roughly 50 percent more in Thailand on non-sale prices?

That's not as bad as I expected.

[NeverSure]

I don't know that the US has a free trade agreement with the EEA (European Economic Area) including Sweden. I keep reading that one is being negotiated. Sweden is definitely not a major clothing exporter even though it is a big exporter of other things for its size. H&M is an anomaly for Sweden which actually outsources manufacturing to other countries, mostly in Asia. Import duties if any would definitely be less in the US than in Thailand and that might be the price difference.

H&M is an incredibly successful designer and retailer, not a manufacturer and it also sells/makes other brands. It has thousands of stores all over the world.

Your nice new shirt might well be imported from Cambodia or China and that's how they keep prices down.

PS Disclaimer - yes I own their stock as I do other fast growing retailers. I love that segment which has been very good to me.

PPS My take is that they have very good design and presentation sense which allows them to charge more for what would otherwise be the same thing at the same price that Walmart sells. They are still very affordable in the "designer" area and are conquering that niche IMHO.

Edited June 10, 2015 by NeverSure

[Jingthing]

That's the irony.

Yes quite likely the products you are paying more for here and made in S..E. Asia.

[NeverSure]

JT, Walmart was my best investment through the last recession. While people struggled they switched to shopping at Walmart to save money.

H&M also did relatively well during that time due to affordable prices for what they offer. I consider that kind of company "recession proof". Even if they stumble during a serious recession they should be first out of the gate during a recovery. H&M is growing in a stagnant world economy and I'm standing pat on their stock. I'm unable to tell whether it's a good buy today but it sure is at what I paid.

Cheers.

[Jingthing]

Well good luck with your investments.

Question ... are the sizes here sized to the THAI size market or do they use the same sizes internationally?

I'm assuming the sizing is localized, but just asking.

[hanuman2543]

I was in several HM stores in Germany last month. They sell different fashion and what's the same like in Th is cheaper in Germany. Additionally you can get your money back if you return the clothes max 30 days after purchase.

[farang000999]

Name brand clothing made in SEA is hilariously less expensive in the USA than Thailand, not to mention super liberal return policies.

[YeahSiam]

Well good luck with your investments.

Question ... are the sizes here sized to the THAI size market or do they use the same sizes internationally?

I'm assuming the sizing is localized, but just asking.

No it's not. Their labeling features

EU, US, China, UK and other sizes.

Can't say whether or not stuff's

cheaper because I never went into

one of their shops in the UK

[dageurreotype]

OK. maybe roughly 50 percent more in Thailand on non-sale prices?

That's not as bad as I expected.

I bought a bunch of stuff a couple of days ago and can tell you H&M do far better quality at significantly lower prices than that which Thai clothing stores offer. Now M&S, that's a way different matter ..

[Jingthing]

OK. maybe roughly 50 percent more in Thailand on non-sale prices?

That's not as bad as I expected.

I bought a bunch of stuff a couple of days ago and can tell you H&M do far better quality at significantly lower prices than that which Thai clothing stores offer. Now M&S, that's a way different matter ..

Yes, that appears to be so ... but I'm still thinking of sticking with my usual tactic to avoid buying clothes in Thailand and buy great clothes really cheap back on my rare U.S. trips.

[stephannie]

Name brand clothing made in SEA is hilariously less expensive in the USA than Thailand, not to mention super liberal return policies.

Wow..Brands

[bamnutsak]

How much more expensive are their clothes in Thailand?

You could get a feel for prices here: http://www.hm.com/th/ and here: http://www.uniqlo.com/th/ then compare to similar stores in your target countries, or even H&M/UNI QLO stores in your interested countries.

UNI QLO has made a bigger splash here, with many ( ~ 23 ? vs. ~ 10 for H&M) large stores in many malls, while H&M is still building out in the same malls.

Just saw NeverSure's post, sorry.

The Thai websites probably already have VAT included, while some states in the U.S. may have sales tax (which might not be on the web-site?), so with say a 5% sales tax, the skinny, low jeans are 1,400 THB (in the U.S.) vs. 1,799 THB here?

Edited June 18, 2015 by bamnutsak

[Kaalle]

A some what unrelated question but does anybody know if you can buy giftcards in H&M in Thailand? Im not in Thailand at the moment so cant go and check myself.

[crazygreg44]

clothes H&M offer and other brands, are cheaper in Europe than in Thailand. You can also order T-shirts and underwear online at a much cheaper price than in Thailand, and much better quality. Doesn't matter where it is from, the brand names are regarding the qualitiy issue as a top on their list.

I don't buy cothes in Thailand. Quickly sewn, loose buttons, Quality is low , stuff falls apart after 5 laundry cycles.

Even the brands in the Central Malls are lacking of designer glamour and qualitiy of make, with prices being ridiculous

[RP26]

I haven't shopped at H&M back home but I know with certainty that the quality of branded clothes differ even under the same brand/same item. In Europe, their clothes tend to be made in turkey/northern Europe, in my experience of better quality. Zara and Mango in Asia usually, and decreasingly, sell clothes made in Vietnam, China, Bangladesh...etc and often of inferior quality.

[Nick167]

I find it hilarious that people here consider H&M as name brand clothing......in actual reality....brands like Forever 21, H&M, Uniqlo, MNG are considered as fast fashion products and are really for the ghetto people while pret-a prter lines includes brand like Guess, Armani Exchange, etc and the couture brands are names like Giogio Armani, Dolce and Gababa, Zegna etc.Some couture labels have a second tier couture like like emporio Armani. Quality of fash fashion items are really rotten and do not last for long.

[Jingthing]

Not sure what you're on about. That's right -- H and M, "fast" fashion, cheap option, who said anything else!?!

[tigerfish]

just wait until Primark makes it's entrance !