A Thailand property developer has been forced to issue an apology after a ‘Buy House, Get Free Wife’ advertisement for its latest housing estate in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked anger among social media users.
A number of media outlets reported that Boonma Imwiset of the Starwell Company, which owns the housing project being advertised, said that the message in the ad was “misunderstood”.
He explained: “If you buy from this project, there will be a discount in cash, so you can use that money as a dowry for your girlfriend and organise a wedding. You will also have a home you can live together.
“After you are married, your girlfriend will become a wife, that’s the message we want to convey.”
Boonma said some prospective customers asked if they could really get free wives, but the company insisted that this is not something it provides.
Other Thai media quoted Jadet Chaowilai, Director of Women and Men Progressive Movement, as saying: “It’s not funny. It’s madness. They shouldn’t use sensitive subject like human lives as marketing campaign that seeks profit like this.”
Starwell Company has three active projects in Korat under the brand ‘The Icon’, with prices for single detached houses starting from THB3.9 million. The company expects to sell at least 70 units by the end of this year.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru Group, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
