Why are electronic items so expensive in Thailand?

[buksida]

I've always presumed that the government treats them as luxury items and slaps a massive tax on them but that may not be the case. Anyone have any solid reasons why items such as cameras, computers, tablets, phones, etc are so damn expensive here?

Examples
GoPro Hero 3 Black
Thailand = 19,990 THB,
US = $399 (11,700 THB)
Japan = Y39,000 (12,500 THB)

Nikon D5100 kit (this is actually made in Thailand)
Thailand = 25,900 THB
UK = 549 (24,300 THB)

Apple iPhone 5
Thailand = 22,900 THB (with contract)
US = $199 (5,840 THB) (with contract)

Kindle Fire
Thailand = 9,900 THB
Amazon = $159 (4,670 THB)

Samsung Galaxy S3
Thailand = 17,500 THB
Australia = $370 (11,360 THB)

Google Nexus 7
Thailand = 10,900 THB
US = $199 (5,840 THB)

It drives me nuts ....

[GLCQuantum]

I've always presumed that the government treats them as luxury items and slaps a massive tax on them but that may not be the case.

Probably is the case. They know that the majority of their people are disgustingly rich and wealthy (they don't class the folks up north as 'their people' ). All of these people more than happy to splash the cash and show off. The more expensive it is the better.

[STEVE G]

Yes, I think it's the same as with air fares in that normal people can't afford to buy these things and those that can are wealthy enough to not be price conscious and as mentioned above, some actually want things to be expensive.
In the West a large middle class who want everything, don't have unlimited resources and are savvy enough to shop around tend to drive down prices.

[Big Boy]

Are you sure that it's Thailand, and not just certain parts of Thailand? A recent example of this is mobile phones. Friends of mine were here, and wanted new phones - checked out Market Village, and walked away. Went to the phone shop next door to Coffee Blossom coffee shop in Bang Saphan, and prices were less than half the Market Village price for Samsung phones.

[STEVE G]

I think a lot of that is down to still having many independent retailers who're not following any pricing structure and just charging what they think they can get away with and customers who don't know the market. In Europe you can't get away with that sort of price difference as everyone knows exactly what the going rate for a specific model of mobile phone is and they might pay 10 euros more to get the thing locally but a shop would rapidly go bust with a 100% mark up.

[buksida]

Those prices I found from online stores in Thailand, sure tourist spots will be a little more expensive but overall there is still a huge markup on electronics here compared to other countries. You can usually find brand new identical items on eBay stores for a fraction of the Thai price. The problem then becomes one of getting it shipped here without the Thai customs department getting their thieving little hands on it.

[blue05]

you should also take into account what the manufacturers are charging the retailers here

[Big Boy]

In fairness, the likes of eBay and Amazon often undercut the standard retail prices regardless of what country you are in.

[buksida]

Still doesn't explain why a camera made in Thailand costs more here than in a store in the UK.

Or why the GoPro is almost double the price than the official retailer, even in the Philippines they're closer to the real price.

[pharvey]

Apple iPhone 5
Thailand = 22,900 THB (with contract)
US = $199 (5,840 THB) (with contract):

Just as a matter of interest, what costs are you talking "contract-wise" in Thailand? Contract costs for mobile phones in China are far lower than that in the UK for example, which can make a significant difference to the overall cost over a 12 or 18 month contract.

[JimmyGreaves]

Buksi, your damn right. Got a couple of friends looking for computer laptops and are disgusted at the prices here.

I was looking for a pair of addidas spikeless golf shoes (trainers) in BKK a week ago cost 4400Baht same shoes in the UK 2200 baht. Bloody getting expensive here.

Someone said 'in the pub' that an asiana agreement of 40% tax that is being applied has been scrapped but the retailers are not actioning it yet! I had a few so didn't get the full jist :-)

[Big Boy]

Still doesn't explain why a camera made in Thailand costs more here than in a store in the UK.

Or why the GoPro is almost double the price than the official retailer, even in the Philippines they're closer to the real price.

I can't disagree that specific items might be more expensive. However, my point was generally the likes of eBay will generally knock spots off retail outlets. I don't remember an electronic item that I bought (excluding my laptop, which was heavily discounted anyway) in my last 5 years in the UK that didn't come from eBay or Amazon.

There will always be exceptions.

A better comparison would be to compare Thai prices against retail outlet prices in another country.

[buksida]

A better comparison would be to compare Thai prices against retail outlet prices in another country.

Not sure what your argument is - that is exactly what I have done with all the examples given - none of those prices are eBay ones.

The GoPro for example is 20k in Thailand, 400 bucks direct from the official retailer, iPhone is similar.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes, I think it's the same as with air fares in that normal people can't afford to buy these things and those that can are wealthy enough to not be price conscious and as mentioned above, some actually want things to be expensive.
In the West a large middle class who want everything, don't have unlimited resources and are savvy enough to shop around tend to drive down prices.

I think this is likely to be the closest reason. Plus the import taxes slapped on the same goods to have then shipped into Thailand simply aims to have the same end effect.
There may well be the same goods available at small Thai retailers, but no way of knowing if they have fallen off the back of a lorry.
There was a recent thread about the cost of buying a basic mobile phone in the LOS as opposed to buying one in the States, and to be honest you can get one in the UK for less than in the LOS now.
It wasn't always like that with phones for sure, and something certainly has changed, Last time I browsed the second hand phone shops in HuaHin the prices were way over what I would expect to pay for second hand in the UK. But supply and demand is a strange thing Buksi, and can be controlled.
Maybe the most important difference is that in the UK most people who have top of the range phones and other mobile devices are buying on contract, so in effect they end up paying over the odds anyway for the handset. They do it that way because they can't afford to buy the handset outright (or don't even realise that they can.) Unlike HiSo Thais who actually want to be seen paying out cash regardless.
That still doesn't explain the price differences with goods like cameras, but using Amazon as an example - they will be buying, or have access to retailers who buy, in bulk, and who are free to pass those savings on. Does Thailand have that same freedom?
I do remember about 12 years ago looking at cameras in HH Shopping Mall, where Olympus MjU's were twice the price I had paid for mine in the UK, so maybe this is nothing new.

[Big Boy]

A better comparison would be to compare Thai prices against retail outlet prices in another country.

Not sure what your argument is - that is exactly what I have done with all the examples given - none of those prices are eBay ones.

The GoPro for example is 20k in Thailand, 400 bucks direct from the official retailer, iPhone is similar.

You can usually find brand new identical items on eBay stores for a fraction of the Thai price.

Sorry, I was reading what you had said in the 2nd quote. In the OP you never actually quoted your source. I was using the information available.