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.

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?

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.

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

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.

1 minute ago, Just Weird said:

How about normal metered rates!  Everywhere else in the country Illegal Uber's rates were near as dammit the same as metered taxis.

There is no metered rates in Pattaya! Why can you not comprehend this? I can't compare something with something that does not exist.

Now they talk about actually using their meters (as if) but want to charge a flagfall of 100 Baht. Back in Uber times most short trips in Pattaya were well under 80 Baht in total.

2 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

Geez...Illegal Uber cars were not being generous and offering cheap fares, you are comparing Uber's normal fares to the excessively jacked-up illegal non-metered taxi rates which were significantly more expensive!  Try comparing like to like!

Well until recently no-one ever saw a Pattaya cab using their meter so I don't have anything else to compare. What should I compare it with?!

30 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

I think that you've got that the wrong way around!  Taxis in Pattaya were overcharging massively, Uber were not significantly cheaper than the official taxi rates.  You make it sound as if Uber was some kind of special bargain.

It was. Soi Buakhao to Jomtien immigration 100 Baht in an Uber, 300 up in a mafia taxi. Hardly 'not significantly cheaper'.

2 hours ago, Just Weird said:

Bangkok's public taxis are not illegal neither are they expensive.  Illegal Uber cars were never significantly cheaper than metered taxis. 

In Bangkok, yes. In Pattaya Uber was 2-4 times cheaper than a regular (=mafia) taxi.

Exactly. There is plenty of German guys on 600-700 euro pensions in Pattaya and elsewhere. I don't think op will do too bad on his 920 euros pension.

6 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

some of those METV application requirements were a bit tough to satisfy as many asked for income or job information. 

A pension is income but in this case is not needed anyway. For a multiple-entry tourist visa from a Thai consulate in Germany you only need to show 5,000 euros in the bank, no proof of income or employer letter etc.

I would sort out my insurance though. For sure he will get an insurance policy with a precondition. Depending on what it is it will just be (significantly) more expensive. Ask the usual suspects (ADAC, Allianz, DKV, Ergo, Hanse-Merkur etc.).

You will be fine. If anything, they would give you a warning first. But I doubt they do that with you being 4 months out of the country.

On 6/14/2018 at 7:39 PM, swissie said:

PS: Expiration dates on milk are only meaningfull if the "refrigeration-chain" was never broken. Mind you, this is Thailand.

UHT milk cartons do not need to be refrigerated. A concept especially Americans don't seem to understand.

Same in Pattaya. Now they make you report your address first (even if just on visa exempt) instead of just issuing the thing with your proof of address. I had to come back the next day to get my certificate (and queue again). Pretty pointless exercise as a hotel business card, a handwritten bill and your phone number is not really proof of anything. Plus, I could just change the hotel the next day ...and the hotel should report my stay in the first place anyway. Waste of resources.

2 hours ago, Soneva said:

However, I suspect the reality is that it matters little. And IO shaking his or her head or not is “up to them” — they have no authority to really do anything upon departure anyway, especially if there has been no overstay.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. For sure they can flag you the system so you'll be bothered coming in next time.

18 hours ago, ebonykap said:

Add Aussie to that!

Aussie immigration is like the most laid-back immigration in the world. They are really anal about bringing in food though.