The story is about how I came to the Latex Pillow Factory in Chalong for gifts for my grandmother, and left with three pillows, two mattresses and the feeling that I had been slightly deceived... but not much.
When we were planning a trip to Phuket, one of our friends said,
"Be sure to go to the latex factory. It's cheap and high-quality there. Especially the pillows!
Good. We arrive at the village of Cha Long, where we are greeted by a smiling guide (or manager, or just a person with a "Welcome" sign) and immediately escorted to a small exhibition hall. Everything is clean, cozy, and smells pleasant - I think it was the smell of natural latex or very expensive chemicals.
They tell us how latex pillows are made, why they are useful for the neck, spine and generally all your karma. Then there's a demonstration: they put a pillow on the table, press it down, and it recovers. No lumps, no creaking. It looks cooler than the test drive of the new iPhone.
Then they show the price tags. And that's where the real game begins.
You realize that this is more like a show than a real purchase. But we've already hit it. We've already touched it, we've already decided that we can't do without it at home. I bought a couple of pillows, a smaller mattress, and even a travel kit.
A couple of days later, we ended up in Patong, and there, in one of the shopping malls, I saw exactly the same pillows ... only a third cheaper. Identical quality.
But it's worth praising the guys, because the products are really high quality. :
The material is natural, without chemical odor.
The pillows are comfortable, soft, and support your head as if they were made for you personally.
The service is excellent — they will show you everything, tell you, and check the quality before selling.
You can order delivery, although I didn't risk it — I decided to take it with me.
But the price is the very place where you understand: You pay not only for the goods, but also for the atmosphere, the tour, and the opportunity to tell your friends.:
— I was in a real latex factory!
If you are a tourist and you are interested in seeing how latex products are made, feel free to go. It's almost like a winery, but instead of wine, there are pillows. But if you want to buy really profitably, go to Patong or look for local markets. There's some good stuff there too, but without the brilliant presentations and free coffee.