Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

[phongsan]

I know Meguiar's products have to be shipped half way across the world to reach Thailand, but you will be surprised to know how much they are costed in the poor Kingdom of Thailand. For instance,
NXT Tech Wax US: $17.99
Thailand online: 1,280 THB ($42.67 -- 137%),
shelf: 1,800 THB ($60 -- 233.5%)
Ultimate Quik Wax US: $9.99
Thailand online: 700 THB ($23.33 -- 133.5%),
shelf: 1,000 THB ($33.33 -- 233.6%)

On average, the online prices from http://www.meguiars.co.th is about 130%-140% more expensive than that in the US, and the shelf prices in the mall is even more insane, at around 230%-240% more! That's the prices for the country that their average income is less than $400 a month! That's why when people heard about Meguiar's products, they often think of super-high-end top-of-the-world with golden-plated car care products that average people can only dream of.

Just to let you know how lucky you guys are in the states.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

phongsan, I know that autogeek ships internationally. Perhaps it is cheaper to order via autogeek where the prices are cheaper and pay for shipping?

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

I never really understood why prices fluctuate like that for products overseas. I understand taxes, and shipping costs, but come on, that's absolutely ridiculous!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

Unfortunately this happens with a lot of products, not just car care stuff, and it works in both directions as well. Autoblog.com recently had a story on how much more expensive European cars are in Australia compared to the same car in the US (the difference is enormous!). We've seen prices on some of our competitors products, especially a certain European maker of compounds and polishes, costing just about double in Australia and Asia compared to their US pricing.

Personally, I just picked up a front lip spoiler that is made in Spain for the Seat Cupra R hot hatch (it also fits a wide variety of Audi and VW models) and the price in the US is roughly $100~$120 depending on where you source it. Apparently, you can walk into any Seat dealer in Spain and pick one up for $24.

There are so many different factors involved in international pricing of goods, much of which is out of the hands of the manufacturer.

[Tafner]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

Here in Brazil is pretty much the same... NXT liquid is US$50,00.

[phongsan]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

Although Meguiar's prices here in Thailand are ridiculously high, but I can close one eye and say that there are a number of over heads to make the products appear on this side of the world, stuff like shipping, import taxes, and such. And definitely by no mean I meant to blame the manufacturer on their product prices overseas. There are a lot that they can't control. In fact, I actually admire that, with their lines of unbeatable quality products, they still manage to keep the price very low in their homeland.

One thing in automotive world that I can't wrap my head around is that, cars here in Thailand are extremely expensive and this got nothing to do with the shipping and import taxes and such because the major of the cars on the road here, built locally. Let me give you a perspective. Toyota Camry is popular in both the US and Bangkok and it's built in Thailand with almost 90% local parts and 100% local labors. And the Thailand built Camry even shipped abroad around the world, including Europe and the US. Where the US Camry (most likely built in Thailand), say the basic 2.5L model, costs around $20K, Camry 2.4L with less features in Thailand (again locally built) costs 1.45 million THB which is around $48K. That's a whopping 140% more expensive!

I mean, come on, the same car leaving the same factory in Thailand but it costs 140% more to sell within the country than shipping across the world to selling the US? Who thinks Thailand is a paradise, better think again.

[Drew Allen]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

Phongsan!

Thanks for your comments. They are very helpful. Will you be coming to the Bangkok Autoshow? If not, please try to stop by. I promise it will be an awesome time! Plus us Meguiar's guys will get to meet you!

Drew

[phongsan]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

Thanks Drew,

Like most guys in Thailand, I would like to go to the Bangkok Motor Show (25 Mar - 5 Apr) but the traffic and the parking at the show are always holding me back. It is known that at the show Meguiar's always sells their products at the lowest prices one can find in the country, although these are still almost *twice* as much as in the US. I actually got my first set of Meguiar's products there too. The guys there seems to be relatively knowledgeable, but still incomparable to many of you in this forum.

It would certainly be great to actually meet one of you here in person at the show.

Phongsan

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Meguiar's prices in Thailand is insane!

The guys there seems to be relatively knowledgeable, but still incomparable to many of you in this forum.

Seems like as good of a reason as any to just hire people from this forum to travel with the big rig across the world and give their advice!