Well, retail prices go up every year. So, it's no surprise when you hear ppl say what they say.
Thing is you're not paying a premium.
It's just inflation.
Like Gloomis say, 15+ years ago, kopi o can be had for 30 sen and a bowl of mee is rm1.50.
Today, a cuppa is rm1.50 and a bowl of mee is 4.50... so you saying all of us paying premium for our cuppa and noodles?
15 years ago, forking out a couple of thousand for a watch is a hefty sum, today, any young professional can afford to drop a couple of thousand on a watch.
My grandpa used to tell me stories about how during his days, he sold char keow tiaw at 30sen... that's right... 30sen... rm1200 for a Rolex might sound cheap today but the value of rm1200 is hefty during those days.
I can imagine when my kids grow up, say in their 30s (hopefully I am still alive by then) and when I pass them some heirloom watches, say a Rolex gmtIIc... if they are into watches, they might ask me how much I paid for it back then? I would answer... rm24k... and he might say "damn!! These things go for 45k today!!, you got it cheap pops!!"
Cheap? Riiiiggghhhtttt.....