Survey probes the lives of bangkok consumers

Meanwhile, working people, in particular, are interested in companies' marketing activities that provide samples.

Oliver Kittipong Veerataecha, vice president for strategy and brand consultant of the company, said yesterday the company recently started a project to research people's attitudes, beliefs, interests and social concerns.

According to research in Bangkok conducted in April, about 73 per cent of respondents who are what is known as C grade - with monthly income of more than Bt35,000 per household - were satisfied with their current status. Meanwhile, 23 per cent of respondents described it as "fair" and 4 per cent expressed displeasure.

However, many respondents, 68 per cent, were worried about their routine lives. About 23 per cent of respondents were concerned over financial problems, including income deficits, uncertainty of salary, decreased salary and being in debt. About 19 per cent worried about their health and 18 per cent were concerned about the economy, social and political problems.

They also expressed worry about the increased cost of living and the government's management.

Oliver said the marketing activities which people in Bangkok have paid attention to are those with product samples, 69 per cent; followed by products demonstrated by professionals and experts, 60 per cent; discounts on product and service prices, 58 per cent; and participation in activities, 54 per cent. 

The research also discovered that if the samples were separated by age, those between 13 and 18 years were interested in online activities which accounted for 66 per cent of the total sample, while 62 per cent of people between 19 and 22 years paid attention to member privileges. Those between 30 and 59 years are interested in trial products.

For social matters, Oliver added that 53 per cent were interested in global warming, 43 per cent in oil prices, 22 per cent pay attention to currency exchange rates and others were interested in league football as well as the Olympic Games.