We all know that with the current economy, the prices of goods have significantly skyrocketed, and many Malaysians are now struggling to make ends meet each month.
However, one thing we can't resist is snacking or having drinks to accompany our daily activities. Malaysians are known for jumping on the hype train, whether it's food or fashion. Despite this, we need to pause and consider: is what we're buying really worth the money?
Mother Shocked To Spend RM144 On Drinks & Chocolate At Vending Machine
Perhhh budak2 zaman sekarang air botol macam tu je rm80 ? 🤦🏻♂️ ape ke menatang air PRIME yang mahal sangat tu. Beli kt mesin mamak je pulak tu 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Rl9aQChms3
— mhmmdhsm (@mhmmdhsm) July 4, 2024
Recently, a mother was left stunned when she discovered that her son's purchase of beverages and chocolates from a vending machine had cost RM144. She found the price outrageous. This particular vending machine sold drinks at RM89 for two bottles and chocolates at RM55 per pack, leaving the mother in disbelief, although she still allowed her son to proceed with the purchase.
In the video, her son was clearly excited to buy the drink and chocolates. At the time, there was a buy one, get one free promotion for the drink, but the second bottle got stuck. The mother had to get an employee to assist in retrieving it.
The mother was baffled and puzzled, questioning why her son and other children were so eager to buy these branded products. When her video went viral, many netizens commented that the products were highly overpriced, noting that the drink is often on sale overseas and the chocolate is usually cheaper, sold in packs of 10.
Here’s some of the comments:
Rasanya kalau minum seteguk ni tak haus sepanjang hari😔
— balqis | learnmandarin🍊 (@nurblqsss) July 4, 2024
Dekat SG baru berapa, rasa dalam $3.50 padahal patut barang dekat SG yang kena mahal😅
— 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝐿𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑌𝑜𝑢 (@Yourbabyispunk) July 4, 2024
Zoomers...🗿
— Rutiv (@Rutiv35) July 4, 2024
Mahal sebab direct shipping dari US plus tax etc. Tunggu je setahun dua kalau Logan nak expand ke SEA, saing2 harga gatorade jugak nanti 😂
Sama la dengan coklat dubai tu kemain mahalnye last² rasa cadbury jugak 😂😂 yang parent pun takleh control anak ke sibuk persoalkan anak nak itu ini ko mak kot, no is no 🤪
— لينا لينا (@liyanaliyana) July 4, 2024
Nothing special. Janganlah beli dengan harga mengarut. Kat UK ni, beli 6 botol baru £2 (RM12) waktu promotion. Normal price £2/bottle. Rasa mcm air manis biasa je. Baik ko beli 'slurpee' kat 7e..atau kopi ais kat mamak +roti canai banjir.
— Kent (@Kent230518) July 4, 2024
What Exactly Is PRIME and Feastables?
If you don't frequently browse YouTube, you might still recognize these names: KSI, Logan Paul, and Mr. Beast. These popular YouTubers have ventured into creating their own products.
The chocolate bar, launched by American YouTuber Mr. Beast in January 2022, offers a variety of flavours. Given Mr. Beast's immense popularity, his chocolate bar quickly gained traction for being one of the more tasty chocolates in stores. It generated over $10 million in sales within just a few months of its launch.
Feastables launch in Australia 🥰 pic.twitter.com/CMENLgnZHS
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) June 26, 2024
As for PRIME, it is an energy drink brand founded by British-American YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI in January 2022. Marketed as an energy drink with multiple flavours, PRIME aims to compete with other sports drinks. Leveraging the popularity of both founders, the brand has since released various special flavours and secured sponsorship deals with notable athletes and sports teams. This includes Manchester City's Erling Haaland, as well as serving as the official sports drink for Arsenal, FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich, and more recently WWE, where Logan Paul performs as a wrestler. KSI’s influence and passion for football have also played a significant role in these endorsements.
Regarding the hype, it's safe to say that the drink has become somewhat outdated in the US, often found on clearance for as low as $1.80 (~RM8.48). In Singapore, the drinks are available for as low as 3.50 SGD (~RM12.21), which raises questions about the vending machine pricing. At one point, the drinks were also available at certain Jaya Grocer outlets in Malaysia, priced at RM25.90 per bottle.
While it's exciting to try products that are rare in Malaysia, we must remember that paying exorbitant prices is essentially daylight robbery. It's wise to research the actual cost of these items overseas.
We may not always have easy access to them here, but knowing their true value can help us make informed decisions. By considering the import costs, especially when buying in bulk from overseas, we can avoid overpaying and make smarter purchases.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media & various cross-references for context.
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