wump

1 hour ago, cracker1 said:

I drink Archer Beer (made by Thai Beverage Co (Chang) but the bar I drink it at does not return the bottles, and says the company will not take them, which I find explainable ?

There was a big discussion about this on Facebook. Many people said they won't get refilled but many Thai people told me they will (after all, they get about double for a box of the same empty bottles than they do for mixed cartons). I know for a fact that some bottles are getting refilled. Have a look at the San Miguel Light bottles. Most of them say PROPERTY OF SAN MIGUEL BREWERIES or something and some show clear signs of wear.

1 hour ago, HogRidr60 said:

Interesting. I visited Chiang Mai a few months ago and have HULU, FIRESTICK, and AMAZON PRIME. Brought everything with me to see what would work in Thailand. Results: from my IPad, nothing worked. All brought up a nag stating that due to international blah, blah, blah I was using an IP address that was not in the 

USA. I do not have NETFLIX but would expect it to have the same problem.

Of couse Hulu and Amazon don't work as they are not available (as is marketed) in Thailand. But Netflix is available in every country in the world (I think except for China and North Korea).

2 hours ago, robblok said:

However netflix discovers new VPNs all the time and blocks them.

There is now dedicated services (mostly DNS services) for Netflix that will always work.

AI.

Please quote me on this in 2027. That is, if the slaughterbots haven't already got you.

On 11/9/2018 at 1:37 PM, KhunHeineken said:

Thanks.  Good question.  I have found my visit most interesting and have learned a lot about what is happening here and what the Chinese are getting up to here.  I have spoken to educated and mature Khmer people and have learned a lot from them, along with my observations.  I have not interacted with any Chinese people here, but I have confirmed the information I have received with a Chinese friend, however they do not live here.  My friend confirmed the information I have received is accurate when talking about Chinese gambling culture and their mindset and how they fund their gambling and move money around.  I am not saying I know everything about Sihanoukville but I think I can now speak about it with some knowledge.

 

I would never recommend this place as a holiday destination to anyone and I would certainly never stay a long time here now, let alone live here. 

 

I am off to the airport tomorrow morning and when I have more time I will post my thoughts and opinion on things here.

 

I don't wish to offend anyone and I am speaking generally, but as Thailand attracted millions of sex tourists, which caused thousand of bars to open, the Chinese are attracted by gambling, which is causing hundreds of casinos to open.

Could you elaborate a bit more? Sounds like all the gambling investment or the gambling itself is funded by mafia money or black money?

2 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

I wouldnt exactly call a link to the Microsoft Store "full of adds". If windows was free then yes it probably would be "full of adds".

 

As for your $150 dollar laptops running windows, I will order 100 right now. OEM copies of windows are cheaper because the OEM supports windows, have a problem with windows on a dell laptop and you call dell for help not microsoft.

I counted 6 tiles out of 25 in my start menu which are more or less ads where MS gets money when I click them or buy something there.

As for you doubting there is $150 Win 10 laptops available... this is from a German price comparison website. Subtract the 19% VAT and the cost of compulsory 2 year EU dealer warranty and you're pretty much there:

8 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Each time I was able to register the new O/S with MS and get regular updates from MS. 

Same as you do with secondhand licences for a tiny fraction of the cost. You ever wondered how much manufacturers pay for Win 10 licence fees on a $150 laptop? 

I don't get why people are defending MS demanding $99 for Windows. Now that it's full of ads for their services (in the lock screen and in the start menu for their store where they make big $$$ from third-party software) it should be free anyway.

A tourist visa @1000 Baht is actually cheaper than extending an exempt entry for 1900 Baht. Plus, you'll have less hassle getting in and won't have to waste time at immigration after one month. Any required documents can be easily obtained by booking fully-refundable return tickets. If you don't wanna spend the money on tickets first, some agents can put flights on hold for you and cancel them straight after the printout.

Edit: I just noticed you're only staying for 6 weeks. So you already have your ticket. Get a tourist visa.

On 11/10/2018 at 4:26 PM, Testacall said:

Ok let's not zzzzzzz 

Anyone have any idea what happened to Red horse beer in Thailand ? 

Available online from Big C, not available with Tesco Lotus currently. I don't think it's discontinued. It's quite a popular brand from San Miguel and in my opinion it's the best tasting mainstream locally brewed beer.

Just get a tourist visa and show 20k in cash. You should be fine.

There is legit second-hand licences going around for around 15 euros in Europe. So 480 Baht sounds okay.

Obviously a can from Cambodia. With beer being less than half price over there, I always wondered why it is not smuggled more.

I kind of agree with your last paragraph, but keep in mind that there is only three major breweries in Thailand so there might be a bit of collusion and not just high taxes... just sayin

5 hours ago, Time Traveller said:

Again, let me say your knowledge of economics for beginners is the reason you don't understand. The real world is different from your theoretical textbook economics.

 

Let me give you an example that's more obvious for you to understand real world economics. In Venezuela, the average daily income of a worker is the same as the cost for a cup of coffee. (source:https://panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2018/01/04/new-monthly-minimum-wage-in-venezuela-barely-enough-to-buy-daily-cup-of-coffee/?cn-reloaded=1)

 

Let that sink in. The coffee shop does not sell the coffee at a price the customers can pay. They sell it at a price to cover their costs. Just as the Electricity company sells their electricity at a price to cover their costs, and just like the Fuel station sells their gasoline at a price to cover their costs. Even if buyers can not afford to buy it, they will not sell it below their cost to produce because that would mean they will go out of business. 

The costs are how everything is priced. End of story.

 

 

What you are describing is a planned economy (or call it communism) and it is very telling that you used Venezuela as an example. Fuel stations don't price their gasoline based on cost but based on location an other factors. Sometimes they sell for less than cost so they can attract people to spend money in the shop. Or sometimes they charge grossly inflated prices like on German motorways.

Cost is a rather small factor in the end price. Also consider:

Location (ever spend $15 on a beer in a night club?)

Brand (why would a coffee in Starbucks for 130 Baht have 4 times of the cost of a local shop?)

Convenience

Reputation (People happily pay some 100% more for electronic brands they trust)

Turnover (why most retail shops have a markup of 30-200%, there is discount shops that live on a very small margin but still make their profits via their high turnover).

22 hours ago, Time Traveller said:

You're being stupid. Of course a sale doesn't go through unless some buyer is willing to pay for it. I'm saying things get priced to sell based upon costs.

Yeah right. And the new iPhone really has a cost base that justifies a sale price of $1300. This is not pure greed and capitalism at work at all. I am sure Apple would go bankrupt if it sold it for half the price (which would still be wayyy over manufacturing cost).

You ever heard of the supply demand curve? If there is still demand, there is absolutely no reason at all for the seller to base his price on cost and charge a lower price. He charges the highest price possible which is the one where supply and demand meet.

3 hours ago, Time Traveller said:

No they are not. They are priced according to the costs.

 

I think you need to look up the definition of capitalism. "Products are sold for a price which people will pay for." is exactly that. Many products have >500% markup.

7 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Is there anything blocking the setup of micro brewers in Thailand, in an attempt to break the monopolies/oligopolies?

 

Actually, there is. Has been many times on this forum. It's very hard to get a licence if you're small. Also, who owns the distribution networks? Very hard for a new player to get into. 

Maybe first time internet users should get some leaflet that

- the Nigerian prince didn't leave his $25 million inheritance to random people around the world for a $500 fee

- they are not the 2,000,000th visitor on Google

- they didn't just win an iPhone

- their computer isn't really infected with a super-virus

People have common sense. They wouldn't give 20,000 Baht for some bullshit story from a motobike taxi driver. Why do they do it on the internet? 

I can't believe how badly these document fakes were done. You can literally see the cut&paste was done in MS Paint. It's unbelievable people fall for this shit.

On a side note, it seems the e-ticket number in the flight ticket wasn't altered. So if the ticket didn't just come from Google picture search the police might actually be able to find the perpetrator.

Pub St (Golden Lion Plaza) has been dead for a long time. Or are you talking about the bar street in Victory Hill? The last time I was there that place was 80% dead but with all other girly places pretty much gone you would think that place must flourish by now? What happened to all the freelancers in Dolphin and that other beach bar?

It can't have changed that much, can it? I am in the Facebook group and the current beach pictures of Southern Ocheuteal are looking pretty nice, along with most parts of Otres. Also Hun Sen Beach near the harbour looks beautiful and you'd have the place mostly to yourself.

I doubt they knocked down all the eateries, there was just so many of them. My favorite was always Nyam. Awesome cuisine and IMO better than Thai food at $3 a plate. Just check current reports on Tripadvisor for which places are still there.

For renting bikes I can recommend the guy outside of Coolabah Resort. My buddy and me never had any problem.

Have you already booked your room? I would stay far, far away from downtown. From the pictures of the construction, the flooding, the pollution and the terrible roads it looks like an absolute warzone. Better stay in Ocheuteal or Otres.

Anyway, would be nice to hear a report from you. Last time I was there some 2.5 years ago and back then it wasn't bad at all. I remember Khmers outnumbering Barangs and apart from a few buses not a Chinese in sight.

Last year most customers paying for items with more than 100 Baht got shortchanged 20 Baht in a certain 7-11 in Khao San Road. Check your change so you can identify the bad shop locations. It's not about losing 60 cents but it's just principle. Such behavior shouldn't be encouraged.

4 hours ago, VYCM said:

Im amazed, the thief's (motorbike taxi's ) wouldn't even start their bike up for 10 baht here in pattaya. 

Silly comparison. You also wouldn't get a Pattaya taxi to start for under 100 Baht whereas in Bangkok 50 Baht gives you a 3 kilometre ride.

Minimum charge for a m/c taxi in Pattaya is 30, although they almost always insist on 40 if there is a farang involved.