Farang /Thai Pricing System

[Cowtown Comedy]

I'm not going to waste too much space bitching about this, but i would like some opinions on this dual pricing system in LOS. For the most part, I laugh it off when Luk Sao says " Ma, tao rai baht latna moo farang"? I'm not so concernes with the extra 5 B for gooey teow or kaw phat gai. However, when I'm trying to conduct business here it does create some aggrevation for me. Essentially this puts all the pressure of procurement on my girlfriend/bus. partner's shoulders. I'm far from fluent in pasa thai, but i know "farang and price" should not be in the same sentence.
opinions, views..........Before you attack this post...Yes, i know this is Thailand and things are done different here. I'm just looking for opinions..

thanks

[Spitfire]

Know what you're talking about. For some reason( which I've never really worked out ), it's ingrained in their minds that it's socially acceptable to rip off farangs.
Nothing more than THEFT( blatant theft ).
They must think that we are just rich, stupid and unable to speak Thai.
Good examples as to how far this goes are everywhere. Price of entry to national parks, palaces etc( tuk-tuks another good example ). I Went to a national park and they wanted 200 baht from me but only 20 baht from the wife. Can you imagine in the UK at Buckingham Palace if Brits go in for free but Japanese etc pay 20 quid. Court would be looming for them very quickly.

Just discrimination and racism( both are alive and well ).

Suppose it's something you get used to on a personal operational level and learn to be watchful( like agreeing prices before you get in a tuk-tuk etc ).

Must be particularly annoying on a business level though. You must sometimes feel that it's against the law to make money through business here.

Sometimes I think that the only thing we are allowed to do here is retire, teach, spend money or assist a Thai wife to make money and become rich. Being a successful business man in your own right is off the menu of possibilities and they will make sure of it.

But these reasons, amongst others, contribute to there being over 60 baht in a pound, which is good for us.

If they totally sorted it out, then many would not be able to afford to live in a fun place like this.

Sorry for the length of reply.

[crazy88]

The dual pricing is difficult for those on holiday to get around but easy for expats who are more"in the know"

Know the price and pay it with a thank you in Thai plus tip where appropriate .Works 95% of the time .Noted exceptions are private modes of transport after dark in heavily touristed areas .Even the inflated prices for taxis off the street that will not use a meter in such areas will be cheaper than the hotel rates however and the drivers know it .Thats why they are there .

I once questioned a restaurant owner regarding charging 10bt more for farangs and they told me they gave bigger portions (rice only as it turned out) as farangs eat more

Crazy 88

[icebear]

We've been charged different prices for green fees at 'Majestic' two years ago and we've not played there since.

We believe one experience like this and we'll not go back..

We advise visitors/residents to stay away from place where they'll have a dual pricing system. Not much else to do as they would anyhow not listen to us.....

[buksida]

Agree that this is an insulting practice especially to those that live here and are on lower incomes however I agree with C88, know the price before hand and pay that and no more. Speaking Thai also helps!

[pfotoguy369]

We go out shopping see what we need Then I give the wife the Baht and I disapear.

[Cowtown Comedy]

thanks for the posts on this. I agree with what some of you said about "knowing the price". There are certain things I accept the dual pricing on. I have no problem paying more for entrance to national parks. ....nuff said, nothing will change so why yack about it...happy to have a heart beat...

[sandman67]

eeerrrrrmmm....ever been traveling in Russia mate - there you go anywhere you pay "tourist" rates whereas Russians pay less, especially in museums and national parks. The same system applies most everywhere I have travelled - SE Asia, Asia, Middle East, most of E Europe, S America, Cuba .... poor country + relatively rich tourists = dual pricing.

Even where my mates live in Spain this happens on a smaller "non official" level. Pete, who grew up there and speaks with an appropriate fluency and local dialect regularly pays less for stuff than if his missus does the shopping in the market.

Dont forget Thailand is really a third world country with a thin layer of developed nation sheen on it. People here are mostly poor, so you get to pay more, and thats just the way it is.

I know this must be hard on ex-pats who earn local rates of pay, but really you are a small blip in the numbers....most farangs are relatively rich tourists so you get lumped in with them.

[kendo]

When me and the wife built our house,the builder had no idea about farang money being involved,all the family were told to say nothing,hence good price,my wife also played one builders merchants off against the one across the road demanding discount on allmost everything.Nearing the end off the build i went to one of the builders merchents with my wife to settle the account and when the boss lady realised that i was involved her whole attitude changed towards my wife,she became a lot less helpfull and a bit rude.

[margaretcarnes]

Agreed that in business it must be a pain in the butt, but as others have pointed out farangs are just plain rich - aren't they?
I had 4 elderly visitors to HH one time and got us a big tuktuk outside City Beach for a short trip to the silk place. Driver quoted a ridiculously low price as he recognised me. I bartered him UP in Thai. He was non-plussed at first, then realised what I was doing, laughed, and said OK with a big smile. It was still very cheap for the visitors and everyone was happy

[Cowtown Comedy]

keep this thread going..I'm sure there are more stories... I got off the VIP bus in HH about 3 months ago, opposite the clock tower. The motorbike diva taxi driver said " where you go sir?" I said " just to the sport villa, how much?"...500 baht sir..then she realized she knew me from before and said "oh sorry..i confuse i mean 50 baht...uh huh..ya...

[Wanderlust]

I agree that on things like tuk tuks or restaurants it isn't right, but I actually think that all countries should have dual pricing on things like museums, national parks and the like; the residents of the country have paid for these things already in their taxes, whereas the tourists haven't, so why not charge extra to them?

[lindosfan1]

In Greece where I spend a lot of time there are two prices in the bars, the one shown on the menu and the one charged to the local. All holiday trade is seasonal. If you live here all the time it should be cheaper. Visitors should pay a little more but not be completely overcharged.
This seems to happen in all holiday resorts in different ways

[buksida]

I agree that on things like tuk tuks or restaurants it isn't right, but I actually think that all countries should have dual pricing on things like museums, national parks and the like; the residents of the country have paid for these things already in their taxes, whereas the tourists haven't, so why not charge extra to them?

Fair point but what about foreigners that live and work and pay taxes also - surely they are entitled to get in at the local price.

Not here it seems ... we're all the bloody same

[Cowtown Comedy]

Exactly, if an expat is paying taxes in this country, they should get the same benefits. If your on a tourist visa, yes i think you should pay more for government owned attractions.