gerry1011

'Mr Bean' has no enemies on TV. He made his fortune honestly.

Uhm.... That could mean that "others" who made a fortune do indeed have enemies on TV... Interesting.

It's the crusade of the TV members (at least some) against the dirty ugly stinky rich (and the Thailand Elite members).

The only nice and honest wealthy guys are Mr Bean, Ronaldo and Tom Cruise

It is only in the imagination of the Elite card holders among the TV members, that there is a crusade going on against them.

In reality this thread only points out that the Elite card organisation is a scam.

Yes you might be right.

"Crusade" was probably slightly too strong to use when speaking about the feelings of TV members regarding the TE program and the TE members (and related subject about where the wealthier spend their money).

My apologies to have come up with the word "crusade".

But understand that I must be a bit creative to keep this thread going on.

I did bet with a fellow TE member that I would make this TE thread the longest ever

'Mr Bean' has no enemies on TV. He made his fortune honestly.

Uhm.... That could mean that "others" who made a fortune do indeed have enemies on TV... Interesting.

It's the crusade of the TV members (at least some) against the dirty ugly stinky rich (and the Thailand Elite members).

The only nice and honest wealthy guys are Mr Bean, Ronaldo and Tom Cruise

So before it was 1 million baht life time membership with no yearly fee and unlimited golf and spar.. and it DIDN'T sell. nOw 2 million baht and only 20 years with 20k a year fee and only 24 golf and spa... winner:lol:

This is great I can not wait I will buy two to help Thailand All you Thai lover should do the same

Just to make you loose face I will also buy two more, then I will have three in total. I win !!!

Haha, simple Mr. Bean psychology...

I don't know about the psychology, but this kind of (basic I must admit) humor made the real Mr Bean rich

Ouch ! I said "rich". Now even Mr Bean has enemies on Thai forum. Sorry

To be honest, I find the people that heap vile abuse on their fellows more unpleasant than the whingers.

When it comes to amount of insults and vile abuses, I find the whiners to be the winners. By far.

It is unpleasant indeed...

So before it was 1 million baht life time membership with no yearly fee and unlimited golf and spar.. and it DIDN'T sell. nOw 2 million baht and only 20 years with 20k a year fee and only 24 golf and spa... winner

This is great I can not wait I will buy two to help Thailand All you Thai lover should do the same

Just to make you loose face I will also buy two more, then I will have three in total. I win !!!

You pay a fee and you get (among other things) an easy visa...

But then, if you think that it would be a good idea for you to get that kind of visa for 100.000b, you agree with the system of "buying an easy visa", which is something that seems to enrage many people on this forum.

I am totally on your side though: I do love the idea of buying myself an easy visa

I think you are taking things out of it's context Gerry. Nobody on this forum is enraged about paying a fee for an easy visa, but paying 1 million for an easy visa is an amount that is way too high for the benefits of a visa only,as the massages and golf trips will suit only certain people, so 2 million with a yearly fee will also not .

Anyone with a bit of mayonaise in his head can have an " easy " visa in Thailand for a fraction of that price.

Hi jbrain.

I missed you

We all have our own context.

But I am also on your side concerning the "mayonaise thing".

You know, if you really miss me, you can always sent me a plane ticket and I fly right over to Chiangrai to have a chat .

Actually I am now in Phuket. Was planing to leave to Malaysia tomorrow, but the weather is getting bad.

I might as well go up north.

I buy you a beer if you come (a quality beer, not a local cheap beer, of course )

You pay a fee and you get (among other things) an easy visa...

But then, if you think that it would be a good idea for you to get that kind of visa for 100.000b, you agree with the system of "buying an easy visa", which is something that seems to enrage many people on this forum.

I am totally on your side though: I do love the idea of buying myself an easy visa

I think you are taking things out of it's context Gerry. Nobody on this forum is enraged about paying a fee for an easy visa, but paying 1 million for an easy visa is an amount that is way too high for the benefits of a visa only,as the massages and golf trips will suit only certain people, so 2 million with a yearly fee will also not .

Anyone with a bit of mayonaise in his head can have an " easy " visa in Thailand for a fraction of that price.

Hi jbrain.

I missed you

We all have our own context.

But I am also on your side concerning the "mayonaise thing".

Or perhaps, since the current administration is avowedly against Thai Elites, rename it 'Thailand Wow', instead ?

I myself remain convinced that, had the original package been better-designed/targeted, this scheme could indeed have been a success.

Had the lifetime-fee been B100k instead of a Million, for an automatic paperwork-free 5-year Visa-On-Arrival, and the right to own a couple of rai of land in your own name, then there might well have been a lot of people interested in paying-up. The green-fees & massage was always an irrelevant add-on IMO.

Then there might later have been an upgraded 'Thailand Platinum Elite Card', for all the people who wanted an 'in' with the government, for their proposed inward-investments.

But then again, who'd want people like us, in their elite-club ?

I am sure they - Thailand Elite and the members - would love to have you in the club. At least you are one of the only ones on this thread (and the previous ones) who does not insult anyone. It's kind of refreshing

But 100.000 for these privileges is a bit on the "cheap side", in my opinion. But who am I to judge what is cheap or not.

There could be a "card", an "Elite card" and, as you suggest, a "Platinum Elite card"... Could work. Why not.

Don't forget that the biggest group of members are the Koreans. They do not need a visa but come for the golf privileges. So, there must be a bit for everyone.

But attention !!! Danger! Danger!

Even with only a "card" at 100.000 you would immediately and automatically become the target of the "will never be members" (even at that price).

So, be very careful !

Ah... Uhm... No, sorry, why should anyone give a toss about Thaivisa haters' opinion

I love Thailand Elite

Thanks, there's no need to insult anybody, to make a valid point, is there ? We're all just fellow farangs chatting together on TV !

Since the actual up-front cost of the card, a piece of plastic with your name/number printed on it, can't be more than a hundred baht or so, then B100k would still be very profitable to the Thai state, especially if it did attract the ordinary average long-term guest like me. You could build a lot of new infrastructure, with a few hundred thousand new members @ B100k each, why borrow trillions over 50-years !

Then add-in the cost-savings at Immigration, all of us long-stay people clogging-up the system with our annual-extensions & reporting & so-on, every little bit helps !

But the logic of double-the-price and fewer benefits, for something which already failed in-the-marketplace, typical Thai marketing strikes (and will fail !) yet again !

funnily enough the original card I got (which I still have somewhere) was made from pure gold ( or so they said) not sure of the value , maybe I should take it to a gold shop and see what they say!

Yes, you're right. The first cards had indeed a value. Pure gold.

But not very practical, it was heavy

Or perhaps, since the current administration is avowedly against Thai Elites, rename it 'Thailand Wow', instead ?

I myself remain convinced that, had the original package been better-designed/targeted, this scheme could indeed have been a success.

Had the lifetime-fee been B100k instead of a Million, for an automatic paperwork-free 5-year Visa-On-Arrival, and the right to own a couple of rai of land in your own name, then there might well have been a lot of people interested in paying-up. The green-fees & massage was always an irrelevant add-on IMO.

Then there might later have been an upgraded 'Thailand Platinum Elite Card', for all the people who wanted an 'in' with the government, for their proposed inward-investments.

But then again, who'd want people like us, in their elite-club ?

I am sure they - Thailand Elite and the members - would love to have you in the club. At least you are one of the only ones on this thread (and the previous ones) who does not insult anyone. It's kind of refreshing

But 100.000 for these privileges is a bit on the "cheap side", in my opinion. But who am I to judge what is cheap or not.

There could be a "card", an "Elite card" and, as you suggest, a "Platinum Elite card"... Could work. Why not.

Don't forget that the biggest group of members are the Koreans. They do not need a visa but come for the golf privileges. So, there must be a bit for everyone.

But attention !!! Danger! Danger!

Even with only a "card" at 100.000 you would immediately and automatically become the target of the "will never be members" (even at that price).

So, be very careful !

Ah... Uhm... No, sorry, why should anyone give a toss about Thaivisa haters' opinion

I love Thailand Elite

Since the actual up-front cost of the card, a piece of plastic with your name/number printed on it, can't be more than a hundred baht or so, then B100k would still be very profitable to the Thai state, especially if it did attract the ordinary average long-term guest like me. You could build a lot of new infrastructure, with a few hundred thousand new members @ B100k each, why borrow trillions over 50-years !

Then add-in the cost-savings at Immigration, all of us long-stay people clogging-up the system with our annual-extensions & reporting & so-on, every little bit helps !

But the logic of double-the-price and fewer benefits, for something which already failed in-the-marketplace, typical Thai marketing strikes (and will fail !) yet again !

Well, I am convinced that you realize that price you pay to become a member is not related to the manufacturing costs of the cards themselves.

I very much agree with you that any system of "a fee in exchange of an easy long term visa" is beneficial to both sides. That is what Thailand Elite is about. You pay a fee and you get (among other things) an easy visa...

But then, if you think that it would be a good idea for you to get that kind of visa for 100.000b, you agree with the system of "buying an easy visa", which is something that seems to enrage many people on this forum.

I am totally on your side though: I do love the idea of buying myself an easy visa

Now, what value are we ready to put on such an easy visa?

You put the value of the visa (+ other privileges) at 100.000b.

Other posters in previous threads did put that value at 10.000b (!?!).

Some posters must already hate you for having put the value at 10 times what they would be prepared to pay Soon someone will say that you are are bragging about your wealth

Personally, I think that 1.000.000 was a very good value.

That price has now been doubled. Indeed.

But what a great visa: 1 year stay per stamp. No reporting. Change your visa only when you renew your passport... That cannot be cheap...

One of the axioms of living here successfully is to NEVER pay for anything in advance.

I won't be purchasing the elite card.

Well... I do not do business (here), but after reading this forum it is certainly what I would do

Next time I buy a plane ticket I will ask to pay at destination. Just to be sure I don't get ripped off

I hope my neighbour who has 2 red plate Lamborghinis has paid full price. I mean really, 2? Either he is a dealer or a massive show off. Does hage trouble with the speed bumps though lol

Instead of a massive show off, he might as well be very successful in his business, a super cars' lover... and a very nice guy.

Since he is your neighbor you might want to know him a bit more...

Or perhaps, since the current administration is avowedly against Thai Elites, rename it 'Thailand Wow', instead ?

I myself remain convinced that, had the original package been better-designed/targeted, this scheme could indeed have been a success.

Had the lifetime-fee been B100k instead of a Million, for an automatic paperwork-free 5-year Visa-On-Arrival, and the right to own a couple of rai of land in your own name, then there might well have been a lot of people interested in paying-up. The green-fees & massage was always an irrelevant add-on IMO.

Then there might later have been an upgraded 'Thailand Platinum Elite Card', for all the people who wanted an 'in' with the government, for their proposed inward-investments.

But then again, who'd want people like us, in their elite-club ?

I am sure they - Thailand Elite and the members - would love to have you in the club. At least you are one of the only ones on this thread (and the previous ones) who does not insult anyone. It's kind of refreshing

But 100.000 for these privileges is a bit on the "cheap side", in my opinion. But who am I to judge what is cheap or not.

There could be a "card", an "Elite card" and, as you suggest, a "Platinum Elite card"... Could work. Why not.

Don't forget that the biggest group of members are the Koreans. They do not need a visa but come for the golf privileges. So, there must be a bit for everyone.

But attention !!! Danger! Danger!

Even with only a "card" at 100.000 you would immediately and automatically become the target of the "will never be members" (even at that price).

So, be very careful !

Ah... Uhm... No, sorry, why should anyone give a toss about Thaivisa haters' opinion

I love Thailand Elite

It's ok, a substantial number of the cards were given away free, so basically it's skim for the ad spend via agencies, combined with gifts to allies of the government for free.

Everyone wins.

Except the tax payer. But there are only 6m of us paying income tax, so that's ok.

Yes, I posted something along these lines a few pages back.

Nobody's interested amongst TV posters. They need to argue over the minutiae of whether getting an Elite card is better than getting a yearly retirement extension. Totally missing the point.

Thank you, Steve, for your sensible post.

Sensible indeed.

However, even if most of the posters on this forum refuse to consider it, there is also the other side of the coin... The pretty side.

As you know I am an early member. What I can tell you is that without the card, trust me on this, I would never had stayed in Thailand.

Before the haters jump on the "suckers" who bought the card (for the 100th time): I am too young for a retirement visa, don't want to have a fake business, don't need to have a real one or even work, have no plan to marry with a Thai girl, obviously don't want to do visa runs, etc... And I also don't care about any other "cheap" option. It's a question of lifestyle.

As I always say, I came to Thailand by coincidence, but I stayed here because of only two things: My friends and the Thailand Elite program.

Because I could stay with a convenient Thailand Elite visa, I began to spend (here) the money that I was spending elsewhere before.

It would not be appropriate to say more on this forum, but what I can tell you is that what I brought into the Thai economy (because I could stay long periods of time with the long term visa) is much much more than you might think. That includes a substantial amount of local taxes on "items" (such as cars taxed 200%), but also other things that give jobs to many people, revenues to others, and even help the society.

Rest assured that only my own membership brought more money into the Thai economy than what most farang tax payers moaning on this forum would contribute in their lifetime.

And I am only one of the members...

So, if you look at the real value of the members and what they bring to the economy you might realize that giving some of them a card for free was still a very good deal for the country.

first, there is nothing uglier than bragging about money. personally i don't do it.

second, you are a good example of how easily a fool is parted from his money.

third, nobody said selling these cards isn't good for thailand. we get that. we get that if some idiot with more money than sense wants to pay 1 or 2 million for a visa and then come and splurge in thailand to show off to make up for his deep and sad insecurities etc etc....then thats good for thailand...we get that.

the point is it doesn't offer much to the buyer, especially ones with enough common sense to just get visas the ordinary way, for small change.

i mean, a starbucks coffee costs, what, 150 baht? so why pay 10,000? get the point, rich boy?

Thanks for your constructive post.

Very interesting. Really. Super cool

You seem like a nice guy with lots of vocabulary.

I especially like the "boy" in "rich boy". It makes me younger

Keep on posting !!! It's posts like yours that keep this thread alive

I wonder that the card holders did not get there own airplane with a private pilot!

Smile

Who knows, some may have indeed. Probably with two pilots rather than one

It's ok, a substantial number of the cards were given away free, so basically it's skim for the ad spend via agencies, combined with gifts to allies of the government for free.

Everyone wins.

Except the tax payer. But there are only 6m of us paying income tax, so that's ok.

Yes, I posted something along these lines a few pages back.

Nobody's interested amongst TV posters. They need to argue over the minutiae of whether getting an Elite card is better than getting a yearly retirement extension. Totally missing the point.

Thank you, Steve, for your sensible post.

Sensible indeed.

However, even if most of the posters on this forum refuse to consider it, there is also the other side of the coin... The pretty side.

As you know I am an early member. What I can tell you is that without the card, trust me on this, I would never had stayed in Thailand.

Before the haters jump on the "suckers" who bought the card (for the 100th time): I am too young for a retirement visa, don't want to have a fake business, don't need to have a real one or even work, have no plan to marry with a Thai girl, obviously don't want to do visa runs, etc... And I also don't care about any other "cheap" option. It's a question of lifestyle.

As I always say, I came to Thailand by coincidence, but I stayed here because of only two things: My friends and the Thailand Elite program.

Because I could stay with a convenient Thailand Elite visa, I began to spend (here) the money that I was spending elsewhere before.

It would not be appropriate to say more on this forum, but what I can tell you is that what I brought into the Thai economy (because I could stay long periods of time with the long term visa) is much much more than you might think. That includes a substantial amount of local taxes on "items" (such as cars taxed 200%), but also other things that give jobs to many people, revenues to others, and even help the society.

Rest assured that only my own membership brought more money into the Thai economy than what most farang tax payers moaning on this forum would contribute in their lifetime.

And I am only one of the members...

So, if you look at the real value of the members and what they bring to the economy you might realize that giving some of them a card for free was still a very good deal for the country.

The country is losing its cultural values, its good food, its beautiful beaches, the air the water, have never been so polluted, corruption is at its highest, freedom of speech is long gone, Thai start to hate farangs and prefer richer chinese and we should say amen???

No. You should just leave. The sooner the better.

Take some of your friends with you

It's getting crowded with so many moaners in Thailand...

Thats the Raffle Prize !!

Would be nice, but... not sure the prizes will be that big

Anyway... here are a few details: 8 teams for the league / one team from Bangkok, one team from Phuket and 6 teams from Chiangrai / 8 "VIP" teams / Each team who participate must present a charity project that they want to support / All prizes will be doubled, with 50% for the team and 50% for the charity they want to support / Two super cash prizes for the two best teams, also going to the charity they want to support / Opening ceremony on 15th December, 11am, with 30 supercars, mainly Lamborghinis...

Are they burning one instead of fireworks at the end

Would be an idea. The fashion has started already

Op - I started a similar thread a while ago and asked many of the same questions. I concluded that the negativity in some of the replies to my post as well as the negativity towards many things "Thai" that we see here on TV or hear from Falang that we meet, is what you would probably expect from those same individuals in any country in the world, on any subject imaginable.

TV members seem to use the phrase "grumpy old men", or "grumpy git" to describe this subset of Falang on TV and those at large in Thailand. Where I come from we have a more definitive term - "sad prick".

It's because of who they are (personality type) as opposed to where they are. Trying to unwind their attitude to have some sort of balanced perspective is pointless and will only depress you. I suggest that you don't even bother (on TV) to argue with anybody who has a negative view - much better to post either a more positive experience that you've personally had, or maybe offer balanced critique if the situation is applicable.

Good Luck to you....( I may need some as well!)

"Sad prick." That's good. And I'd say that's a pretty accurate description of the serial Thai-haters that pollute these forums.

I agree. And it's a real pity.

It makes so that it is nearly impossible to have interesting conversations on here. Any thread is systematically, and very quickly, brought down by the Sad Pricks and their "bad this / bad that / bad guy / bad everything" depressing comments.

Don't even bother to post anything positive, it won't work.

I don't dislike Thais. My complaints run to the government and its policies, and to corruption, cheating, outrageous driving, litter, and things that are apparent to me and which I'd like to see change.

I think it's entirely possible to like Thais, and dislike a lot of things around me.

But you don't like the Thai politicians making the policies (and probably also the Thais who like these policies), the Thai corrupt government officials, the cheating Thai businessmen, plenty of Thai drivers, the dirty Thais who litter, and also the Thais who don't see the things you would like to see changed...

I hope there are some Thais left for you to like...

There seems to be a bit of noise at the moment concerning "luxury cars", so I thought it was maybe an interesting time to annouce a great event which will be happening at the Chiangrai Hills Stadium at the end of the year...

Just shows how even a feel good article about recognizing a few people that do give, regardless of the amount, can degenerate into muck by some of the misfits that post on Thai Visa.

I also thought it was a nice article to read, drinking my coffee after a good night' sleep.

I should not have bothered to read the comments.

Some on here are sooooooooooo obsessed by Thai politics, it's unbelievable.

Speak about charity... They feel obliged to bring their hatred for Thaksin in the thread, one way or the other. And it is like that for every other thread.

How boring.

5 year visa, really ?

so you mean you land in bkk and get stamped in for approved to stay 5 year in Thailand and only have to do 90 day reporting or is there some painful extension at immigration every 90 day + a painful visa run out of country every 90 day ?

The whole visa argument is a complete joke, I feel sorry for the fools who got scamed into this "notso elite" card, I mean you get worse conditions than a cheap charlie staying on ED or retirement visa

Wow ! You are better than everyone ! We should give you a prize !

You not only criticize the Thailand Elite members, but also the cheap Charlies !!!

I don't remember having seen such a "complete" post in hundreds of posts regarding Thailand Elite... Very valuable contribution, thanks. Really

By the way, no visa run needed for the Thailand Elite 5 years visa (of course).

soi41, on 03 Jun 2013 - 12:46, said:

MikeO wrote: "The 5 year visa in an unfounded rumour, as it requires substantial legal changes"

So you are telling me, that the 3 visas I have in my passports (5 years, 3 years, passport expired, new passport=another 5 years), they only exists in my imagination?

Several other cardholders on this thread, who also have posted about their 5 year visas, they are all lying??

To get down to a level, where even the haters here can understand it: Most of you guys drink and smoke? Spend at least 200 baht/day on those vices (probably a lot more), meaning that over the 10 years, I had my card, you have wasted 700k on nothing! Whereas at least some cardholders have got value for their money!

And that is really the whole point, whoever bought the card, did it with their money. You can choose to think, they made a bad decission. But up to them!

Whenever I see you guys sitting outside seven/11 with the stonetable full with beerbottles, I feel sorry for you, but again your money, your life and you have the freedom to make your own choices without having to criticised by anyone!

Same goes for the cardholders!!

I am sure you are right about all of the above. And since you seem to know alot about the other card holders as well, could you perhaps let me know if any of you guys have managed to buy land in your own name so far? :-)

Edit: I am asking of course as you told me I didn't know what I was talking about, when I posted earlier that it wasn't possible, so I assume you know something I do not, and if you are right (which I hope you are), then I think it will be breaking news.

As a card holder I can confirm you (and at the same time make you happy) that I also did not manage to buy land in my own name.

However, I must also say that I never tried to acquire any land in my own name.

There was an initial plan of allowing the members to acquire 1 rai of land.

But honestly... I don't know about you, but personally I could not do anything with such a small land. Or maybe a parking for my cars...

So, 1 rai? No way. I would not lose my time for such a small thing. Or maybe I would build a 40 floors building on it

If nothing else, this article goes to show that...

There is absolutely no correlation between WEALTH, INTELLIGENCE and COMMON SENSE in Thailand.

I rest my case

Comment on this forum tend to show that there seems to be a correlation between Cheap farangs, envy and bitterness in Thailand...