[Cyncceply]

I was lucky enough to work in Bangkok for 3 years from 2000 - 2003.
Most of my workmates were university educated Thais and paid 10,000 - 13,000 baht.
Westerners in Bangkok at the time earned considerably more.

Relative to their income, most westerners do very well in Thailand.
English teachers can expect up to 30,000, which is almost triple the wage of an educated Thai person. Most Westerns have a much better life in Thailand, than the one led in their country, so I see little reason for complaint.

I speak Thai, so am able to get lower prices than a non-Thai speaker.
However, When I came back to the UK, a Thai friend firstly went to buy me
a plane ticket and was charged 18,000 bt. I went to the same agent myself
1 hour later and got the ticket for 13,000 bt. 5,000 cheaper than 'Thai Price'.

Ultimately, I believe that all inter-personal interaction depends on the 2 people invloved. If the vendor takes to you, then you will likely get a cheaper price. If not, then you probably won't. And speaking Thai can certainly help build more of a rapport.

SW

[Broker15015]

The reason two different prices for locals and foreigners, because most of the places are supported by local taxes for up keeping other places that not funded by GOV. meant they just want to take advantage of you. It is happened any places of the world.

There is no different here in America local students pay one price for the college fee, foreigners pay almost double of the locals.

So please don't cry ! it makes me sad. ha,ha,ha

[u2ZQGC6b]

I only have a problem with charging Farang different price if it isn't upfront. I have only one experience of this.

Last week in southern Buriram province we made our plans to travel back to Bangkok by VIP 'rot dtuu' minibus and called in to the booking office and was told it was 400 Baht each. Two days later we called in again to check the timings seeing the same lady. A further two days later we called and again saw this same person to give them our Bangkok address (it was door-to-door service).

The next evening after picking us up the minibus called by the office in the town and the same lady we had spoken to 3 times refused to let the driver continue to Bangkok until I paid a 800 Baht (200%) supplement because I was a Farang AND the same for Ubonwan because she was 'mia-Farang'.

We had no problems with the cost it brought the trip to, it was cheaper than the way we came down (taxi hotel to station/ 1st class sleeper train/ taxi Buriram city to home) *but* it left a bad feeling that we had been seen by this woman three times previously and she had every opportunity to charge us the higher price. Instead she chose to put us on the spot and make a descicion to travel or not.

David

[RotsLoado]

After reading everyones POV and other posts on this topic,I made up my POV on the subject. It is how you think about it.
If it bothers you, you will think negatively about it. If you attempt to show a form of residence or shop first buy later, you are doing the round about.
If it viewed as discrimination,it possibly is . Refusing service or opportunity because of the way you look to someone is definitley negative discrimination.
To walk away ,as a personal choice, because prices are not acceptable after a good round of Thai style bargaining is all part of the game.

Talking about it in the forums or anywhere will not change a thing, except help fuel the fire or help in making a sense of understanding when someone agrees with our POV.

So the choice is yours. Pay with a smile. Pay with a sneer.Walk away and do something else.

[ChrisGoldstein]

OK, I have seen parks and zoos that were govt and they had one price for locals and one for foreigners,,but that happens in America as well, but when I showed them my Thai license and that I did in fact live in Thailand, I was charged the locals price..

[KahiroSamo]

It helps if you can read Thai and are familiar with Thai numerals as often menu's are written in Thai and displayed on the wall with the price.Then when you are overcharged it is easy to refer to the displayed price.

[trorseIrripsy]

Well, I've also experienced the same thing this summer, at "Dream World" in Bangkok. My wife is a thai citizen, our "log krung" kids are thai (and swedish citizens) but I'm 100% farang (swedish).

In 1989, when I visited Thailand the first time, I got mad when I had to pay more then the thais, I got irritated when I had to stand up during the "Kings song" at the movies, etcetera.....

Nowadays I think like 'Sabai'. I'm a guest in Thailand, I have more money than most thais, and I'm happy to pay a bit more money so that the thais can get a better life.

My advice - accept the situation with a smile - say 'mai bpen rai' (no worries) and enjoy your stay.

Over and out

/Janne :-)

[exschke]

even with the farang price, Thailand is one of the cheapest developing countries in the world.
and compare it to Vietnam, where you cannot get a train ticket at the local price, you must pay double whatever trick you try.
compare it to Bali, where tourists are not allowed (!!) to take local buses, must pay 8 times for minibuses.
compare it to England, where entry to the Westminster Abbey as a foreigner with a student card cost me a pile of money that covers a day's accommodation and food in Thailand.
sometimes I just don't understand what we are talking about. even given my current situation, i.e., the salary I get is not enough to pay for all the inflated prices I need to pay at the moment (especially for rent - I'll have to ask Thai friends or my boss to help me). but who cares??? I don't have to pay for the sunshine and the nice people, and I DON'T CARE because it's the best thing that has ever happened to me that I can be here. I wouldn't be overcharged back home, but I would end up paying more, let alone all the other negative things. so?

[StethyEntinic]

"Thai people can get ripped off too! Also, this happens everywhere in the world where prices are not clearly posted." I'm Thai and I feel good to be ripped off from my own people. Those people have to earn their living. As you guys know they can't afford $1,000 plus taxes ticket since "we" are the tourists who can: why can't we split a few bucks to help Thai economy.
"200 baht" is only $5; you pay tips at the restaurant more than that in America plus poor service as you go.
"I'm Thai...I look Thai....I'm visiting Thailand with my American Redneck 'Faring' wife. " please check your pay-check & see how much uncle Same "take away” your money not 200 bath, isn't it?

[largonioulurI]

I'm Australian and don't mind paying more for Tourist type things, Theme parks, tourist rides etc especially if they couldn't operate if they charged what a local could only afford to pay, it's my choice if I feel it's too expensive and it would be a luxury.

It would annoy me to find I pay more for food/drink as I have no choice, just because we are tourist doesn't mean we are rich!

[KahiroSamo]

The Menu's which I have seen did not have Thai numerals so that they could overcharge the foreigner,they were merely written in Thai numerals as Thai people use both thai numerals and Arabic.
Many people in Thailand have not had an education as they have had to work to support their family from an early age,this is why some people can not read.
To learn thai numerals,you can look at Thai money which has both Thai and Arabic.You only have to learn 0-9 so a bit of perseverence pays off.

[ChicasCams]

As I remember that a few days ago there was a topic about double pricing:
http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7899

[ChrisGoldstein]

I have never noticed dual pricing, but of coarse I live upcountry and am fairly well known in my towns and village, so maybe thats the reason.
When we shop in stores the prices are marked, and even registered in the computer cash registers.

[medifastwoman]

I'm from Europe so I'm not really bothered by that. Many places here with a lot of tourist visitors do the same.

My wife is a Thai and it pisses her off. Many times in Thailand when we go shopping, she asks me to wait in the car or just outside the shop because otherwise SHE will have to pay more as well. Just for being married to a Farang.

[Hrennilasi]

It's not so much paying the "tourist price" at the Grand Palace, Ancient City, museams, etc. as the humor that my Fan or my friends in tow get when I get stuck with the Farang price. I'm just a working class slob here in the States but I make in one day what my wife's father makes in a month, in one month I make about the average yearly Thai income ( Lonely Planet 2004). All "outside" shopping experiences are subject to barganing and you can almost always find the item at some other place. You can always go to the Tesco/ lotus stores and pay the marked price. I participate in the barganing more to develop the skill than save the $0.25-$0.50 on a lot of the items or services. Anyway being a White Ango Saxon (Ex) Protasant American male I just chalk it up to my collective cultural, race Kamma! :-)

[exschke]

never seen a menu with Thai numbers, personally. it's enough to write the names of dishes in Thai if the point is to overcharge. many times the farang menus come without prices even at simple nightmarket foodstalls, then I get a Thai one. I have learnt to read the names of food quite well.
but about two weeks ago I had a surprising incident. I wasn't sure about how to pronounce the name of a dish I wanted to order, so I just pointed at it on the menu written on the wall. the guy got embarrassed and called a fellow waiter to find out what I want. apparently, he couldn't read Thai.
by the way, I just cannot learn the Thai numerals, they escape me completely, no idea how to stop them running away from me.

[ChicasCams]

Dual pricing, an interesting subject. That is a reason I don't buy by myself so much in Thailand. First I look with the wife, show her what I want to have and later she come back and buy it for me.
In hotels/apartment my wife rent the room and I will come some later. Save me a lot of money.
I told it in some other topics about this subject, for me it is dicrimination and a little bit apartheid. My wife has a Dutch pasport, but never had to show it. They look what race you are, so my wife pay allways Thai price.
At the long term it is not good for Thailand.

[nasxbrtyol]

I am not sure about many of the others, but I am not thai and I usually get the thai pricing, all I have to do is simply ask for it, in thai of course. It helps to be a student too. I think the system is unfair but then again, do you make .50 cents and hour? no. It helps the thai economy, and for the locals its usually not a big deal because like I said they can get thai prices if they just ask nicely.

Just my 1/2 of two cents =P

Sean

[CorpoRasion]

I am thinking again...

It probably is discriminating in a way. Because when I think of it, in my last post, I have put all foreigners in one bracket. But if as a farang travels, one travels as one single person, hoping to find friends and welcome with everyone you meet. You want to equate equally. openly with all and vice-versa. You want a choice in being who you are and not be associated with any particular region, race - the least by some policy or law. And then of course, you aim to co-operate with the stress and motivation of all you connect with - and support, if required by your capacity and choice. And feel a full human - together with the rest of the world.

If I think on the above lines the dual system is wrong.

But its hard to solve the paradox between economic pulls and individual freedom?

[u2ZQGC6b]

even with the farang price, Thailand is one of the cheapest developing countries in the world.
and compare it to Vietnam, where you cannot get a train ticket at the local price, you must pay double whatever trick you try.

I thought Vietnam abolished the dual pricing system a number of years back? When I was there a few years back train travel was extremely cheap, I paid US$8 for a 12 hour sleeper journey, next month a sleeper train from Bangkok to Buri Ram (shorter journey) is costing me US$15. Both these fares are for 2nd class lower berth.

Now the problem I had in Vietnam with rail travel was that as I didn't book in advance I was just put in any compartment that had a space in a lower berth which often turned out to be a female compartment...

David