Pricey, long queues, pushing and shoving
PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN & WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is drawn to a pretty off-the-shoulder top at the 30 Baht Shop after opening the ``Confidence in Thailand: Good and Cheap Products for Thais'' market at Muang Thong Thani yesterday. |
NONTHABURI : People who packed the government-organised cheap goods fair in Bangkok yesterday say it failed to deliver on its promise of a bargain.
The four-day event, called "Confidence in Thailand: Good and Cheap Products for Thais," had been advertised as a place to shop for cheap goods, alternative energy services and unbeatable financial deals.
Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said the packed hall showed consumer purchasing power remained strong. He estimated the cash flow in the event to be well over three billion baht.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who presided over the fair at Muang Thong Thani, said the event would help people fight high living expenses, and boost spending.
He visited the 30 Baht Shop where goods are available at 30 baht apiece and which serves as a distribution channel for Thai producers.
But feedback from shoppers was far from welcoming.
It was chaos at the Krung Thai Bank booth at Impact Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani yesterday as people queued to apply for a special three-month savings account, which pays 6% interest on deposits of 100,000 baht to one million baht, available only at the four-day event. |
Many queued for hours for goods or services, only to be disappointed with what they were offered.
Prani Siangsuekchart, 51, said: "The people on loudspeakers went on about the 30 Baht Shop so I went to check it out.
"Most items on sale there ought to belong in gift shops. They're not consumer goods."
She said the Krung Thai Bank's "inflation-fighting savings account" is more a marketing drive than a tool for promoting long-term savings.
If the government was serious about encouraging people to save, it should make sure other branches of the bank offered the same account.
Many people waited over two hours to apply for the special three-month savings account, which pays 6% interest on deposits of 100,000 baht to one million baht.
The offer is available only at the event and limited to one account per person.
A retired government official said he changed his mind after learning about the short saving period.
"It is not worth the trouble," he said.
Another long queue, snaking through the hall, formed outside the PTT booth, which offers installation of natural gas for vehicles (NGV) conversion kits at a discount.
But the offer is limited to 1,000 vehicles.
Kanyarat Nantakaset, 49, said: "The queue is so long and it's for filling raffle tickets for a lucky draw."
People also stopped at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's (Egat) booth, where 50,000 incandescent light bulbs were given away.
People pushed and shoved outside the Thai Eggs Producers and Exporters booth where one million eggs are being sold each day at two baht each.
Food sold at the fair was not as cheap as many thought.
"It's so pricey. Six small gui chai (vegetable-filled dumplings) go for 30 baht. I can get bigger dumplings elsewhere at the same price. Nothing is special here," said Tim, a 49-year-old Nonthaburi resident.
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