PERSPECTIVE: Where does 1 THB still buy something?

Hey everyone, what's up?

Perspective

Where does 1 THB still buy something?

I used to think the days of buying anything for 1 baht were long gone, maybe something you could do back when dinosaurs roamed 7-Elevens. But then came Shopee Thailand, and suddenly, I found myself ordering items for just 1 THB. Yes, one single baht, less than the price of air at some parking lots.

At first, I thought it was a gimmick. A cheap keychain, maybe? Or some useless plastic thing that would break in 10 seconds? But no, real, usable items showed up: phone accessories, skincare samples, cute notebooks, and kitchen tools. Some even came with free shipping. It felt like a glitch in the matrix. How could this be real?

And it wasn’t just a one-time fluke. Day after day, Shopee offered new “flash deals” or vouchers that brought the price down to 1 THB. I started checking daily like it was part of my morning routine: tissue, check 1-THB deals. It became a small thrill, a kind of game: what cool thing can I score today for the price of a single coin?

But after the excitement, I started thinking more deeply. How is this possible? Who’s paying the cost? Clearly, sellers can’t profit from these prices. In fact, many of these “1 THB” deals are likely funded by the platform itself, Shopee burning cash to keep users hooked, to dominate the market, to gather data, or to stay ahead of rivals like Lazada and TikTok Shop.

And then there’s the supply chain. Many of these cheap items are imported in bulk from China, mass-produced at such low cost it makes you question everything you’ve ever paid full price for. Shopee just connects the dots: factories, warehouses, logistics, marketing, and us tap, order, delivered.

The whole thing made me reflect on how advanced Thailand’s e-commerce system has become. From payments to deliveries, everything is seamless. Compare that to other countries in the region, where online shopping is still catching up, or cash-on-delivery is still the norm. In Thailand, I can place an order in 10 seconds and have it arrive in two days, sometimes faster than I get laundry done.

It’s a strange but fascinating feeling. On one hand, you’re grateful for the access and convenience. On the other, you wonder what’s lost in the race for ultra-cheap, ultra-fast everything. Local shops struggle to compete. The environment takes a hit from excess packaging and transport. And people (myself included) start buying more than they need, just because it’s there and it’s cheap.

But despite the questions, I can’t lie, it’s fun. And for many Thais, especially students or lower-income users, these 1 THB deals offer access to things they might not otherwise afford. That’s a kind of empowerment too.

In the end, my 1 THB Shopee adventure reminded me that value isn’t always about money. Sometimes it’s about access, curiosity, and the strange joy of opening a tiny package and thinking, Wow, this cost less than a bus ride. 🧡

Thailand’s digital economy is clearly racing ahead. The question now is can it do so sustainably and without leaving local businesses in the dust? Until then, I’ll keep browsing and maybe set a budget for my 1-baht addiction. Just maybe.

Warm regards :b