THAILAND Privilege Card Co (TPC), issuer of the Thailand Elite Card, is preparing to launch new products to attract more
By SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION
PHUKET

 

 

10% GROWTH IN MEMBERS, REVENUE TARGETED THIS YEAR

 

BANGKOK: -- Company president Pruet Boobphakam said the products would be introduced early next month.

 

Japanese are among the company’s top spenders, but TPC has secured only 103 members from that country. Meanwhile the female market has high potential for purchase of luxury products such as beauty and wellness items. 

 

“TPC expects business to grow by 10 per cent this year in terms of membership and revenue,” he said.

 

In 2016, four products were introduced to fulfil various needs of families. The trial period for these opened in August and had a good response.

 

Since the company resumed operations in 2013, TPC had accumulated a membership of 4,037 as of December 26 last year. Of that number, 2,508 had already become members before 2013 with lifetime free benefits and 1,529 joined between 2013 and last year.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/EconomyAndTourism/30303762

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-01-10

That's OK we didn't want to know what the upcoming products will be or even what the current ones are. We know that details are tricky and unnecessary.

lol this thread should be fun.

 

Who owns TPC?

 

Curious who's pockets are being lined. 

So when will they achieve their launch-target of a million members, then ?

 

The term Flogging a dead horse comes to mind every time I read an article

that has to do with resurrecting this card from the dead again and again....

they should really change the name to the Lazarus card....

Meh.. complain all you like.. 500k for 5 years no hassle visa and a bunch of potential perks is a decent enough sell.. 

 

If I wasnt covered by a long stay option I would get one.. 3 mates also have various ones (the lifetime deal for most IIRC) even tho are married. 

 

Some people dont need the hassle factor of worrying about visas for just over 8k a month.. Add a couple of airport rides in a limo and its more than half paid back. 

must admit I am shocked to discover that this card is operated by a private company, I always thought it was a government scheme

 

how are they able to offer visa as a private company - I would also like to know who owns this outfit

 

weird

41 minutes ago, dcnx said:

Who owns TPC?

 

Curious who's pockets are being lined. 

 

Are you sure they are actually making money? Previous cards lost in excess of a billion baht.

45 minutes ago, dcnx said:

Who owns TPC?

 

Curious who's pockets are being lined. 

 

  From the original news article:

 

 "Established in 2003 during the administration of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, TPC now is a privatised firm owned 100 per cent by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with registered capital of Bt1 billion." 

 

and

 

  "For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, TPC reported a profit of more than Bt195.07 million, up by more than 82 per cent year on year. Members generated more than Bt1.7 billion in revenue for the economy, in addition to their membership fees." 

The term Flogging a dead horse comes to mind every time I read an article that has to do with resurrecting this card from the dead again and again

Not sure about it being a dead horse.  This dead horse gave me a decent welcome at Swampy when I did a visa run from Myanmar.  As a lowly teacher, I enjoyed being met at the gate, transferred to the fast track immigration counter by golf buggy, then whisked away in quite a decent limousine to my temporary 'love-nest' on soi 4 Nana 

 

37 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Some people dont need the hassle factor of worrying about visas for just over 8k a month.. Add a couple of airport rides in a limo and its more than half paid back. 

Yeah, it is called moving to Cambodia and spending time in Malaysia.  Flights between the two countries are as low as B1000 each way.  These cards are for people who are just not very adventuresome and have not explored the options. 

I  might get the 20 year option if  immigration piss me about this year its just 50k a year at that rate assuming they dont abandon it.....always a risk

5 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Yeah, it is called moving to Cambodia and spending time in Malaysia.  Flights between the two countries are as low as B1000 each way.  These cards are for people who are just not very adventuresome and have not explored the options. 

 

 

Nonsense.. Most of the guys I know with them have been in asia half of thier lives.. Working in the region.. We have all done time in other countries but Thailand is more developed / fun / whatever.. Most of them have girlfriends, homes, etc.. 

 

Who wants all that questioning from grumpy immigration officers ??? How many times you visited this year ?? Prove your not working here ?? the risk of having red stamps and being told 'enough get a visa' when thats not possible with rotation work.. <deleted> off, just ride the VIP car and get wai'ed at the fast track on the route to the limo. 

 

Some people need to understand not everyone is price comparison checking the budget airlines for the cheapest flight to the nearest cheap (not hong kong or singapore.. God no !!) hop they can do. Nothing to do with adventure, or exploring the option, more some people dont have any. 

They should introduce a "Bogan Card" aka Sexpat Delight.

 

-free STD tests 

-free user guide how to be a cheap Charlie 

-pidgin English guide 

-how to squirm out of sin sod guide 

18 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

 

 

Nonsense.. Most of the guys I know with them have been in asia half of thier lives.. Working in the region.. We have all done time in other countries but Thailand is more developed / fun / whatever.. Most of them have girlfriends, homes, etc.. 

 

Who wants all that questioning from grumpy immigration officers ??? How many times you visited this year ?? Prove your not working here ?? the risk of having red stamps and being told 'enough get a visa' when thats not possible with rotation work.. <deleted> off, just ride the VIP car and get wai'ed at the fast track on the route to the limo. 

 

Some people need to understand not everyone is price comparison checking the budget airlines for the cheapest flight to the nearest cheap (not hong kong or singapore.. God no !!) hop they can do. Nothing to do with adventure, or exploring the option, more some people dont have any. 

Thailand is more developed than Malaysia and it is a crime to save money on an hour flight ?   Ever compared train travel between Malaysia and Thailand ?  

Avoiding Thailand means avoiding ill tempered immigration .   Many of us chose to avoid Thailand due to what you just pointed out, poor business opportunities and what you see in the news everyday.  Not going reward Thailand for its bad behavior and less than welcoming attitude, while neighboring countries act the opposite, regardless of their lack of limo service.  Still go to Thailand, but do so as little as possible.

1 hour ago, Diplomatico said:

 

  From the original news article:

 

 "Established in 2003 during the administration of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, TPC now is a privatised firm owned 100 per cent by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with registered capital of Bt1 billion." 

 

and

 

  "For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, TPC reported a profit of more than Bt195.07 million, up by more than 82 per cent year on year. Members generated more than Bt1.7 billion in revenue for the economy, in addition to their membership fees." 

maybe I am missing something , but if this company is owned by TAT then they are owned by the government - so in effect they are not private at all, perhaps for reasons that I am not missing - it was set up this way so that this (private company) could manage its own finances salaries bonuses etc - in other words something just doesn't sit right, a good look into their accounts would be rather interesting I think

14 minutes ago, smedly said:

maybe I am missing something , but if this company is owned by TAT then they are owned by the government - so in effect they are not private at all, perhaps for reasons that I am not missing - it was set up this way so that this (private company) could manage its own finances salaries bonuses etc - in other words something just doesn't sit right, a good look into their accounts would be rather interesting I think

 

  "Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes tourism in Thailand. The company provides information and data on tourist areas to the public, publicizes Thailand so as to encourage Thai and international tourists to travel in Thailand, conducts studies to set development plans for tourist areas, and co-operates with and supports the production and development of personnel in the field of tourism. The company was founded in 1960 and is based in Bangkok, Thailand."

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=22726313

36 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

Thailand is more developed than Malaysia and it is a crime to save money on an hour flight ?   Ever compared train travel between Malaysia and Thailand ?  

Avoiding Thailand means avoiding ill tempered immigration .   Many of us chose to avoid Thailand due to what you just pointed out, poor business opportunities and what you see in the news everyday.  Not going reward Thailand for its bad behavior and less than welcoming attitude, while neighboring countries act the opposite, regardless of their lack of limo service.  Still go to Thailand, but do so as little as possible.

yeah then dont buy one.. 

 

But theres loads of guys who live her, under 50, homes, vehicles, girlfriends, dogs, and responsibilities for whom the 100k annual cost is a day or two of working offshore.  And they dont want any grief when coming back tired from work.. A fast track, a no questions visa entry, and a limo is actually a hell of a deal. 

 

I dont get the hate.. Its a visa to appeal to people who dont mind paying for luxury,.. So you do ?? Fine then spend the next hour price checking tiger air v air asia v whoever to fly out to Phnom Penh for 5 bucks cheaper than the other, pack the check in baggage carefully on the bathroom scales and wear your heavy clothes to save another 200b.. 

14 minutes ago, Diplomatico said:

 

  "Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes tourism in Thailand. The company provides information and data on tourist areas to the public, publicizes Thailand so as to encourage Thai and international tourists to travel in Thailand, conducts studies to set development plans for tourist areas, and co-operates with and supports the production and development of personnel in the field of tourism. The company was founded in 1960 and is based in Bangkok, Thailand."

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=22726313

 

 

What you mean federal express inst... Wait.. what.. 

 

 

Very mixed messages!

I have one and love it ( 5 year version). If you can't afford it then don't get it. Its not for everyone. If you don't mind the hassles dealing with Immigration, or it doesn't bother you, then don't get it.

 

I'm interested to see what their new products will be.

 

I like when they open a lane for me when I get to immigration, even in the fast track, so I don't have to wait. They gather my bags while I wait in the Elite lounge and them whisk me off to a limo waiting to take me to my destination.

 

I have worked hard all my life, and when I'm returning to Thailand I don't want any hassle, and I'm willing to pay for it. If your not, I understand, but I am.

 

On the other hand I would prefer they made the 'Normal' Visa processing (with out the Elite Membership) easier, removed all the inconsistencies, and the 90 day reporting. Even with the Elite membership you have to do 90-day report.

 

Edited January 10, 20179 yr by reallybigken
clairify

5 minutes ago, reallybigken said:

On the other hand I would prefer they made the Visa processing easier, removed all the inconsistencies, and the 90 day reporting.

 

90 day is legal but what issues were there with processing ?? 

 

Mates reported it being pretty easy but the system keeps changing (lifetime, 20 year, 5 year, annual fees). 

1 minute ago, LivinLOS said:

 

90 day is legal but what issues were there with processing ?? 

 

Mates reported it being pretty easy but the system keeps changing (lifetime, 20 year, 5 year, annual fees). 

I was referring to the 'normal' Visa processing without the Elite membership. (did I answer your question?)

OK gotcha.. 

 

I thought it was an issue with the elite card systems, you mean you wish thailand in general would improve those.. Agreed.. 

Yes, those benefits for the Thai economy could be generated/exceeded more-easily, by relaxing/simplifying the Immigration controls, as I believe many of us would like to see.

 

The original scheme might well have worked IMO, had the price been set at say-B100k, rather than a million. It's still not too late to do that, if anyone in authority is listening !

 

And one of the prime benefits, the right to own a patch of Thai land in your own name, that was quickly dropped but was IMO a very attractive benefit.

The numbers are sad.  There are only "lifetime" benefits as long as they are in business, and with those numbers, I hope there are only 3 employees.

They need a one year Elite Card option, renewable yearly. 

 

Loads of new customers would signup if they could pay 100k yearly, but they dont want to pay 5 years of fees in advance under the current program.

 

They will see there sales skyrocket if they do it have a yearly option. Its a "no brainer".

...obvious question....where has the money been going???

27 minutes ago, Redline said:

The numbers are sad.  There are only "lifetime" benefits as long as they are in business, and with those numbers, I hope there are only 3 employees.

 

That was the same principle with California Fitness's lifetime membership and we know what happened to them.