TotallyOz Posted January 22, 2019 Posted January 22, 2019 I have had 4 different friends use this service and say it was flawless. You order something from the USA and someone traveling to Thailand picks it up and brings to Thailand on their plane. They meet you and you get the merchandise and they get paid via their credit card. It is MUCH cheaper than Amazon and tariffs plus shipping. https://grabr.io Quote
reader Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 From Bloomberg News (29 Jan.) Central Group, which controls Thailand’s biggest shopping mall and department store operator, plans to invest $200 million in ride-hailing giant Grab, people familiar with the matter said. The deal seals a strategic partnership under which the conglomerate will help Grab expand its business in Thailand, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. Central Group will invest in Grab’s Thai unit, one of the people said. Grab and Central Group representatives declined to comment. With an empire that also includes hotels, supermarkets and restaurants, Central Group is counting on online growth to help drive sales. The company announced a $500 million joint venture with JD.com Inc. in 2017, teaming up with China’s second-largest e-commerce operator. Bloomberg first reported in September it was in talks to buy a significant minority stake in Grab’s local unit. Grab, which bought out Uber Technologies Inc.’s business in Southeast Asia, is expanding beyond its roots as a ride-hailing app by adding services such as food delivery, payments and logistics. GrabFood is now available in six major Southeast Asian countries and GrabExpress, its logistics and goods delivery service, in 150 cities, according to the company. The Singapore-based startup said this week it attracted more than $3 billion of investments in 2018 as part of its Series H funding round. Grab last year outlined ambitious fundraising plans and predicted that sales will double to $2 billion in 2019. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-30/thailand-s-central-group-is-said-to-invest-200-million-in-grab ggobkk 1 Quote
TotallyOz Posted January 31, 2019 Author Posted January 31, 2019 Sorry, there is a difference between Grabr and Grab Taxi. Quote
reader Posted January 31, 2019 Posted January 31, 2019 Just assumed (I know: never assume anything) that it was affiliated. In any case, Russian founder cleverly latched on to an established corporate brand name with a simple lower case letter. Perhaps she was influenced by Igor Grabar (a Russian post-impressionist painter, publisher, restorer and historian of art) but that may be another story. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” ― Oscar Wilde On another note, don't think I'd be eager (or Igor) to agree to take the package of a stranger across international borders. vinapu 1 Quote
