MBK sellers demand rent decrease, no customers from Coronavirus.
Sellers in MBK mall, Bangkok have come out to the public asking for the mall to decrease rent prices as Coronavirus has taken away customers. MBK is the most popular tourist mall in Thailand where people from all over the world come to enjoy shopping in Bangkok. Sellers ask for a 30% decrease in the rent. On 26 February 2020, the mall answered with an agreement to decrease rent by 10%-20% depending on the store for a period of 6 months starting from 1 March to 31 August 2020.
A Pantip.com user no. 5480307 posted on the Thai website with hopes to explain why the sellers are struggling with business in the famous mall. Since the Coronavirus situation took place, sellers are making less than the cost of rent per day. During the high season, small sellers will make up to 50,000 THB per day. Amarin TV interviewed a seller named Meya who revealed that she has been selling items in MBK for over 23 years. This is the worst that it ever has been for the sellers in the mall from the Coronavirus situation and the current economy.
Meya rents a 2-meter area in the mall for 4,000 THB per day or 120,000 THB per month. Before Coronavirus Meya made at least 10,000 THB per day and up to 50,000 THB on holidays. When 2020 arrived sales dropped drastically and now she makes about 3,000-4,000 THB per day, which is not even enough to pay the rent. The sellers are asking the mall to decrease at least 30% of the rent so they can survive the hard times. If the mall won’t decrease the rent then they will strike again.
If Meya can’t survive to sell items in the mall then she will have to find another job but it’s not what she wants to do, what she really hopes is for the mall to help her. At around 20.00 which is usually when the mall is very busy, but at these times all floors are almost empty. Most comments from netizens on the website state that every business has its up and downtimes and the sellers should be able to manage this appropriately. One comment asked if Meya paid her taxes when she made 50K per day. Some don’t feel anything for the sellers as many of the stores sell “farang” priced items and the taxi’s around the mall overcharge tourists.
FB Caption: During the high season small sellers will make up to 50,000 THB per day, but now they’re making 3,000-4,000 THB per day.
Source: Khaosod, Amarin TV, Pantip User 5480307
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