[AdipexAdipex]

In reply to "The Right to Choose" on www.thai-blogs.com

Hold the chicken pot pie folks!

JUST MY OPINION folks, so please if you're gona throw something at me, throw sticky rice and som tom with a T-Bone! (all this talk is making me hungry).

First off I'm %100 Thai. Funny thing is most Thai people irritated the crud outta-me! Why? I have my reasons, yet after reading Richard's blog that's just more fuel for the fire.

Ok, here's my niave question, "Why would a 'developing nation' have 2 prices depending on your nationality?" Hopefully, it isn't supported by the Thai government...Isn't this like the "white" and a "black" water fountains of old?

Picture this.....I'm Thai...I look Thai....I'm visiting Thailand with my American Readneck 'Farang' wife. I point to the sign "100 Baht" (without opening my mouth, cuz that would give me away). I get into the kick-boxing match. My wife without saying a word is directed to another sign, "200 baht". Well, that's an insult to me and to my wife.

Don't get me wrong, cuz price gouging based on the color of your skin happens all over the place right??????????? What? The further your away from being a natural Thai the more you have to shuck out for goods and services? Come-on folks, this is the 21st Century!!!!

Ok, I've said enough for now. Nonetheless, I respect their way of life.....and "NO" to the Right to Choose bologna - there should be (1) price.

[TainuibeFaimb]

(without opening my mouth, cuz that would give me away) This is the important point. Although you are racially Thai, given your parentage, unless you hold a Thai passport, the exception does not apply to you. Hence your comment about keeping your mouth shut. Most farang are guests in the kingdom, no matter how long they stay. If a farang has applied for and received Thai nationality, the exception would apply and he or she would pay the Thai price. Other than some surface judgments made on the part of those collecting the money, race really doesn't play a major part in the decision. Such assumptions are no different than assuming every old farang with a Thai wife is married to a former bar girl, or that a man with an earring must be gay. Sometimes these assumptions are true, and sometimes they are not. The point is that Thailand makes money from tourism, and the idea is that tourists can afford it if they want the experience.

[pageup85]

The same type of thing happened to my boyfriend- he visits Thailand quite often since he moved to America a couple years ago, and one trip him and his friends (not all of them were Thai) went shopping. When they were buying something, the seller and his coworker were discussing together in Thai how much they should charge him for the item (since him and a his friends obviously looked a little different from the other 20-something yr olds there)...after a minute my boyfriend got kind of impatient and just came out as politely as possible in Thai, something to the extent of "I know what you are saying- I do understand Thai".
They ended up giving him the Thai price....


visionchaser makes a great point- they may see it as a tourist being able to afford the higher price...but I can see how that would anger a Thai person visiting their own country, despite the kind of crowd they bring with them.

[dittygari]

They have stopped duel pricing in China now. The don't have duel pricing in Australia, because discrimination is against the law, and if some one took legal action against you, it could mean closing down your business, if a class action of litigation occurred, it could in other words financially cripple the business.
This is the 21st century, Thailand needs to move forward with the times as it is not a 3rd world country any more, Thailand should be setting an example, not setting a disgraceful discriminative practice, or it will become boycotted by tourists and by first world Governments.

[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

[gogFloark]

i am not completly against dual prices. It work too in Russia where i have noticed that foreigners pay 5 or 10 more their museum tickets for example.

i think it is not a bad idea for dual prices into areas who promote culture or leisure. Citizens should access to their culture easier and foreigners with a better buy power by paying more, finance the culture budget

About shop goods, it's the law of ask and offer. Sure that foreigners need to have a better skill of negociation but you are free to go to another shop

In which other fields dual prices do exist in Thailand? As my knowledge in Thailand are weak, i have never noticed others kind of dual prices. Does a foreigner will have to pay a different price for the buy of a car for example or if a price is fixed by the governement?

[PriernPayorse]

I agree with atalderic. To me, dual-pricing at cultural places like museums, old temples and ruins, are simply a form of subsidy, that allows Thai people to afford to visit, while simultaneously generating the needed revenue for things like maintenance, renovation etc. I am always mildly amused when people make such a big deal of this. I am by no means wealthy (probably one of the poorest Americans to ever visit Thailand, 555!), but I have never considered the price of admission to pose a financial hardship to me.
My question those who so principally oppose this policy is this: Should they raise the prices for Thais (possibly "pricing them out") or lower it for foreigners (possibly hurting quality of the place)?
As for paying too much in the markets... All I can say is learn to speak a little Thai, and get used to bargaining. Thai people can get ripped off too! Also, this happens everywhere in the world where prices are not clearly posted.

-mike

[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.

[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!

[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?

[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.

[u2ZQGC6b]

I have never noticed dual pricing...

I am neither complaining about nor defending dual pricing, merely giving an example.

Safari World in Bangkok adult ticket for a Thai 390 Baht:-


Safari World in Bangkok adult ticket for a Farang 700 Baht:-


I will add that our taxi driver was allowed in for free and therefore on average for the three of us we paid less than the Thai price.

David

[WebDocMan]

you do not have to be in thailand to be charged more than a thai....im a farang my wife is thai.....when we went to the thai temple near us on a sunday morning to
bai tom boon....after i looked around and saw someone selling thai music cds....i walked over myself and asked the price 15 dollars...sent my wife over herself and guess what down to 10 dollars...

[gogFloark]

As long as the smile of the thais will be gratis, even for farangs, it will be a pleasure to spend my money in Thailand.

Here, in south of France, farang or not you pay double price and smile is not include.

[CorpoRasion]

Altaderic, that was a cool one!

Lets take the case of bargaining. Even though in markets its not controlled by policy most vendors on seeing a farang would seek a higher price first as compared to what they may ask a local. Would one need to get angry with them? I don't think so. We all agree that it is the right for every business man to make money - if he can. We may even respect them. No?

Now, if the cost to the farang people is really high and not affordable - the first nation that would be hurt is Thailand. I am not sure its still the case yet? And if it is than surely farangs will begin to walk away.

I am not sure how important is the revenue from this dual pricing. But suppose it was removed the authorities maybe forced to increase price on the local people too to achieve targetted revenues for maintenance etc.? And maybe considering the earnings of the local people that may not be justified?

Is their any official explanation by Thai authorities on this subject?

Also what happens if a local person is with you. And buys the tickets at local price for a foreigner. Would that ticket be valid?

[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..

[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.

[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?

[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?

[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