List Price or Higher - Why is everything so expensive?

[TonyClifton]

I wanted to buy a high-end Bluetooth speaker.  What I found, was that 99 percent of the stores all charged the same price with no discount from the list price.  In some cases, some items cost more than the MSP or manufacturer's suggested price.  I bought a Harmon Kardon Go + Play for 12,900b.  It's a superb speaker.  It was even suggested by one scumbag seller that his price was a "sale" price and a very good bargain.  

 

When it comes to goods, I rarely see what one would call a "bargain."  

 

In the box was a small note from TechData concerning the warranty.  TechData is a wholesaler that I have used as a computer consultant/reseller for buying a product to sell or provide to clients.  The margin at list price or MSP is quite good so I know already the store was buying at a hefty discount but not passing along any of it to the consumer.

 

1.  Are we the only ones who know that we are being ripped off daily by retailers?

2.  Do the Thais know they are being taken to the cleaners?

3.  Do they care?

Edited May 6, 2017 by TonyClifton
I'm old. I'm cranky. I equivocate.

[Stradavarius37]

Use lazada

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[TonyClifton]

Just now, Stradavarius37 said:

Use lazada

Sent from my SM-N920C using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Lazada had a seller selling the identical item at 12,200b.  It's not much, but 700b is a good meal for my son and me.  However, although Lazada accepted my USA credit card, and put a hold on the amount on the card, they canceled my order the next day.  

 

The reason given was that they don't accept credit cards outside of Thailand.  

 

Buying with my credit card affords me protection as well as increasing the warranty period.

 

It was not an option.

[Panda13]

I buy all my stuff from Lazada C.O.D.

[bigtrouble]

Big c on line and Ali express as well as lazada

[TonyClifton]

8 minutes ago, bigtrouble said:

Big c on line and Ali express as well as lazada

Have you had customs get involved with Ali Express purchases?

[bigtrouble]

No probably because they don't use a courier service. Usually 20 day delivery.
But always go with a 5 star reviews. These Chinese like to slip in the odd fake

[ukrules]

55 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

Lazada had a seller selling the identical item at 12,200b.  It's not much, but 700b is a good meal for my son and me.  However, although Lazada accepted my USA credit card, and put a hold on the amount on the card, they canceled my order the next day.  

 

The reason given was that they don't accept credit cards outside of Thailand.  

 

Buying with my credit card affords me protection as well as increasing the warranty period.

 

It was not an option.

 

You were lucky there, I always use COD with Lazada as it is one way to avoid most problems.

[TonyClifton]

Just now, ukrules said:

 

You were lucky there, I always use COD with Lazada as it is one way to avoid most problems.

 

Why was I lucky?  They put a hold on the card.  Then they canceled.  So they can take a USA credit card but chose not to.  It showed on my online card information as a hold.  I called Chase and they said the purchase was approved; all Lazada had to do was accept the payment.  

 

Again, why was I lucky?  I'm protected by my credit card on all purchases.

[ukrules]

7 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

Why was I lucky?  They put a hold on the card.  Then they canceled.  So they can take a USA credit card but chose not to.  It showed on my online card information as a hold.  I called Chase and they said the purchase was approved; all Lazada had to do was accept the payment.  

 

Again, why was I lucky?  I'm protected by my credit card on all purchases.

Many people had problems, me included over the years with items sold by various people on the Lazada marketplace when paying in advance.

 

They sent out the wrong goods or nothing at all in some cases and it happened so often that people realised the place is full of scammers, the only way to beat them is to order COD . This is why you were lucky.

 

Edited May 6, 2017 by ukrules

[TonyClifton]

3 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Many people had problems, me included over the years with items sold by various people on the Lazada marketplace when paying in advance.

 

They sent out the wrong goods or nothing at all in some cases and it happened to often that people realised the place is full of scammers, the only way to beat them is to order COD . This is why you were lucky.

 

 

It's a good point.  Unless you open the package with the driver witnessing, you can still get scammed.  Lazada seems to be working hard to provide good customer service.

[grollies]

To coin a phrase ''it's the economy, stupid''.

[TonyClifton]

1 minute ago, grollies said:

To coin a phrase ''it's the economy, stupid''.

To coin another phrase: "it's the early bird who gets the worm."

 

With that said, my phrase had nothing to do with the topic.  How about yours?

[grollies]

27 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

To coin another phrase: "it's the early bird who gets the worm."

 

With that said, my phrase had nothing to do with the topic.  How about yours?

The IHS Materials Price Index dropped 10% the other day due mainly to slow Chinese economic growth. This directly impacts the price I get for my rubber, still at around 29THB/kg for kee yang.

 

Haven't noticed an equivalent drop in the cost for a new car tire, nor will it likely happen.

 

Someone, somewhere is making a packet on the low cost of commodities. My guess is the manufacturers and retailers at the expense of the suppliers like me, and the customer like you.

 

You say all retailers are charging the same price for your particular item. Price fixing is nothing new and not restricted to Thailand.

 

I think my previous post was salient to your topic. IMHO.

[TonyClifton]

1 minute ago, grollies said:

The IHS Materials Price Index dropped 10% the other day due mainly to slow Chinese economic growth. This directly impacts the price I get for my rubber, still at around 29THB/kg for kee yang.

 

Haven't noticed an equivalent drop in the cost for a new car tire, nor will it likely happen.

 

Someone, somewhere is making a packet on the low cost of commodities. My guess is the manufacturers and retailers at the expense of the suppliers like me, and the customer like you.

 

You say all retailers are charging the same price for your particular item. Price fixing is nothing new and not restricted to Thailand.

 

I think my previous post was salient to your topic. IMHO.

 

lesson.  I asked why the high prices are tolerated.  What can you buy here that is quality that you don't pay full price, or above the full price?  Who is pocketing all this profit? Resellers or distributors?

[grollies]

2 minutes ago, TonyClifton said:

lesson.  I asked why the high prices are tolerated.  What can you buy here that is quality that you don't pay full price, or above the full price?  Who is pocketing all this profit? Resellers or distributors?

You don't have to tolerate high prices, just get off the consumerist bandwagon and live a simple life. Our last luxury purchase was a second-hand rototiller wifey bought me as a wedding anniversary gift. OK, I got this phone but it's a cheap Oppo job. I got a TV, fridge, cooker, washing machine, etc., but they're all pretty ancient. F*%k the Joneses.

[TonyClifton]

4 minutes ago, grollies said:

You don't have to tolerate high prices, just get off the consumerist bandwagon and live a simple life. Our last luxury purchase was a second-hand rototiller wifey bought me as a wedding anniversary gift. OK, I got this phone but it's a cheap Oppo job. I got a TV, fridge, cooker, washing machine, etc., but they're all pretty ancient. F*%k the Joneses.

 

That was an amazing example of a non-responsive sermon.  I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I'm ready to join the priesthood.

[grollies]

Er, OK.

 

1.  Are we the only ones who know that we are being ripped off daily by retailers?

 

Who is 'we', I assume you mean farang?

 

2.  Do the Thais know they are being taken to the cleaners?

 

Most Thais I know earn around THB350 per day and wouldn't spend 12.9K on a speaker.

 

3.  Do they care?

 

Based on 2., no.

[JaseTheBass]

lesson.  I asked why the high prices are tolerated.  What can you buy here that is quality that you don't pay full price, or above the full price?  Who is pocketing all this profit? Resellers or distributors?

Taxes are high on everything not made locally. It's been like that for ages here to protect the uncompetitive local businesses/ workforce.

Sent from my Cray II supercomputer

[TonyClifton]

Taxes are high on everything not made locally. It's been like that for ages here to protect the uncompetitive local businesses/ workforce.

Sent from my Cray II supercomputer

What I bought isn't​ made here.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[TonyClifton]

Er, OK.
 

1.  Are we the only ones who know that we are being ripped off daily by retailers?

 

Who is 'we', I assume you mean farang?

 

2.  Do the Thais know they are being taken to the cleaners?

 

Most Thais I know earn around THB350 per day and wouldn't spend 12.9K on a speaker.

 

3.  Do they care?

 

Based on 2., no.

Take a walk in Central malls. Full of Thais.

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[KittenKong]

4 hours ago, JaseTheBass said:

Taxes are high on everything not made locally.

 

Even locally made things can cost more here than they would in the UK where VAT is 20% and not 7%. Hard drives, for example.

 

What gets me here is the terrible lack of choice of just about every product you can possibly imagine. Here you are lucky if they have one type whereas in the west you would probably have a choice of 50 different ones. Even the most basic stuff like groceries: no choice and high prices. Cooking oil and hot sauce are two good examples.

[JaseTheBass]

What I bought isn't​ made here.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Eggzackerly!

Sent from my Cray II supercomputer

[yankee99]

8 hours ago, JaseTheBass said:

 

Taxes are high on everything not made locally. It's been like that for ages here to protect the uncompetitive local businesses/ workforce.

Sent from my Cray II supercomputer
 

 

Wrong

[TonyClifton]

1 hour ago, yankee99 said:

Wrong

I also agree that this is a not an answer.  It's an answer but not to my question.

 

Perhaps I asked a higher level question than most here are able to absorb and answer.  

 

Who takes all the profit?  Is it the government?  The retailers?  The distributors?  Isn't it odd that all retailers sell at the MSP and not below?

Edited May 7, 2017 by TonyClifton
I change my mind a lot.

[petermik]

You would have been much better off buying B&W

[TonyClifton]

7 minutes ago, petermik said:

You would have been much better off buying B&W

You'll have to elaborate further, what is B&W?

[abab]

21 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

Lazada had a seller selling the identical item at 12,200b.  It's not much, but 700b is a good meal for my son and me.  However, although Lazada accepted my USA credit card, and put a hold on the amount on the card, they canceled my order the next day.  

 

The reason given was that they don't accept credit cards outside of Thailand.  

 

Buying with my credit card affords me protection as well as increasing the warranty period.

 

It was not an option.

 

 

This is why they don't accept USA credit cards, they exactly know that you can make a chargeback for any ridiculous reason with just a phone call or email.

 

 

 

[TonyClifton]

3 minutes ago, abab said:

 

 

This is why they don't accept USA credit cards, they exactly know that you can make a chargeback for any ridiculous reason with just a phone call or email.

 

 

 

 

 

Nonsense.  Visa in Thailand is no different than Visa in America.  It's the same company.  Stop spreading old wives tails.  I use my American Visa all over the place.  I won't buy from Lazada again.

 

You forget to contest a charge online. Add that to your list.

Edited May 7, 2017 by TonyClifton

[JaseTheBass]

Wrong

OK, excise is high.

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