spambot

can you get streetview to point straight at the door that would help.

This is the best available - It gives the doorway (without the main front door as a distraction) - This shows just the actual doorway - For clarification - It is left of the advertising hoarding and under the purple cathedral looking window . https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d100.517128!3d13.662293!2m2!1f270!2f113.65!4f75!2m10!1e1!2m5!1sXHPdF-1qCGbKeSMjPFZ2iQ!2e0!5sSoi+Suk+Sawat+54!9m1!6sSuk+Sawat+54+Alley!5m2!1sXHPdF-1qCGbKeSMjPFZ2iQ!2e0&fid=5

Obviously the Google camera van just passed by the cinema on the main road and didn't go down the side alley and hence all views need to be from the road.

street view wait for it to load. zoom out and look around http://goo.gl/maps/7kpGk

then use the "directions" tab to get bus routes from where you are.

When I was there yesterday for some reason there was no way into the front of cinema as seen here - Which is actually ok - since you really need to go around this entrance and enter on a second entrance to the right (you can just see the entrance on the right of this image behind the dark truck) - Then go 50 meters on same level and there on the right - This where you need to be.

One of the stupid reasons I quit living in the kingdom for.

Taking a picture with my wife every year for 12 years did it for me.

Wonder what civil servant, a brilliant one came up with this 90 day crap. I never did it for 12 long long years.

Yup - I know!

What some first thought was charming innocence of Thailand can quickly turn into grinding resentment when it effects your day to day living - when you feel like you are the alien on a string.

However for most (but I really mean me here) - It still feel like its the nearest place so far to being in a paradise - And the payment to be made to follow the rules of a mad hatters tea party is still just about worth it for the pleasure this place gives.

Seems that the Google map link only works relevant to my browser for my personal map id - hence you will not get what I see.

Therefore enter into Google maps the following:

From - Tha Rot Sai 503 Sanamluang, Thailand

To - Soi Suk Sawat 54, Khwaeng Rat Burana, Khet Rat Burana, Krungthep Mahanakorn 10140, Thailand.

Note : The starting point is not shown correctly on the maps - The maps info actually shows the next stop after the place of origin (but Google will not accept the origin / as the a valid point - it will ask you to walk to the point shown on its map if I gave the actual point as the start point) - You do not have to walk to where it is show on Google maps if you do not wish - Just follow my directions in the post to find the origin of where the bus actually sets off from.

And as identified before - When you look at the destination of where you get off on Google maps - It says you need to walk 0.4 miles and do this off an adjacent road - You do not need to do this - Google maps is wrong. Follow the instructions in the post and you will get there directly without any need to figure out when and what to do when on the bus.

Today I used the alternative to Chaengwattana - and went to new alternative Major Hollywood - Suksawat.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/691692-additional-offices-for-90-day-reporting-in-bangkok/?utm_source=newsletter-20131225-1446&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=featured

For those that have been using Chaengwattana - prior to this new alternative (That has been available from 2nd Jan 2014) then this will be a breath of fresh air.

No longer is there a feeling of tired, unwelcoming distance, but rather here there is surprisingly a feeling of caring through helpful officers that actually smile and want to help if you have a difficulty in understanding something.

I went today and I really liked the experience (can you ever say that from Chaengwattana) - I was the only 90 day reporting extension OA - Everyone else was Cambodians, Lao's and Myamees (since this has been their normal reporting office for a long time prior to the new OA availability for extension reporting).

I was over owed by the extra attention given when I arrived - I went in and I was immediately helped to a window that was exclusively for Visa OA's extensions - It was as if this was the first time that this had happened (ok it is new to this office and it might not happen every time - since the newness is bout to wear off) there were 2 excited people behind me that were calling out to people at the windows as I was arriving towards - I doubt that this would this happen in Chaengwattana.

So I was able to get straight to the point for being there. The interchange was a human - Pleasant and nice.

The process took 2/3 minutes.

BUT there are some takeaways you might get caught out by:

Do not use Google maps from the address - to find how to get there - IT IS WRONG - I know this because i use the maps info on the previous day and found myself 50 mins (by Taxi) distance from the correct address. You actually need to take (if you follow my route) a bus no 82 (from grand palace) - Direction: Walk along Prah Ahtit and then you will see steps for Pinklao bridge on right hand side - Immediately on left hand side the road turns left - 30 meters up this road the no 82 is stationed here - It is waiting to set off at its due time - Hence no nervousness thinking that you are the wrong stop waiting for the bus that might never arrive - So get on this - It is 6.5 Baht and 1 hr 30 mins latter you will arrive at your destination.: https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!4m36!3m30!1m5!1ssamsen+soi+2%2C+Baan+Pan+thom%2CPhranakorn%2C%2C+Bangkok+10200%2C+Thailand!2s0x30e299133dc3e033%3A0x3bd89c862d927024!3m2!3d13.757518!4d100.499668!1m4!3m2!3d13.6623136!4d100.5170626!6e2!2e3!3m8!1m3!1d71386!2d100.5187002!3d13.708607!3m2!1i662!2i442!4f13.1!4i11!6m4!1m3!1e4!2e2!3j1389092280!8m2!1e1!2b1!7m4!11m3!1m1!1e1!2b1!6m1!1e1&fid=0i1

And YES - even this is wrong in Google maps - If you follow the directions given in Google maps for using bus no 82 - It identifies you should get off the bus at the place (indicated in the link) and it says you need to walk 0.4 KM - This is not true - The no 82 goes directly to the door (OK opposite side of the road and about 70 meters past, but pretty close) -

Here is a check to know that you are getting near: Just look out for the Toyota sign (big oval sign high above the normal buildings in height and is very very prominent - this is on your right hand side) and then after this and about 100 meters down from this sign - The road just simply opens up into multiple crossings, bridges and turn offs ect and it does look confusing when you approach this - However the bus goes straight ahead (so no need to understand the complex turn off's) and at this point for about 40 secs of travelling you can see the Cinema on the right hand side - Major Hollywood - It is clear and Bold - you will not miss this (it is not subtle or difficult or hidden - if you are looking right - its is absolutely obvious) . Get off the bus at the next stop and walk back about 70 meters.

When you enter the cinema (swing right around the building by following the path and then enter the cinema at its front entrance) - Do not go to the first floor (Yes it says yo should do this on the instructions from Immigration, but don't do this) - Walk from the entrance straight ahead and then after 50 meters you will see the immigration on the right hand side.

When reporting - There was a surprise (not sure if this is happening at Chaengwattana (please post your experience) :

The TM.47 form that you always need to fill in (with the same information every time) has now changed - Once you hand in your completed TM 47 you now get back (not the normal slip that identifies the next date you need to register your address), but you are given a form that has (as before) the next date of reporting, plus all the information that you gave handwritten on your TM 47 form.

So now you do not need to complete the the form as you normally are required with the same info - It is now in their database and it is printed into a TM 47 each time you report given back to you. And you just have to sign this to confirm everything is the same as last time of reporting

Typical sensationalist, biased report. I now for a fact that there are at least 2-3 pommie retirees that aren't drunk perverts.

Agreed........ they wanted to shock a little.

Interviewing some guy drunk in a bar and one sad person who has mental problems is hardly a good evaluation or cross section of retired Expats living in and around Pattaya.

A visit to one or both of the Expats Clubs might have presented an alternative view..... but they didn't want to do that.

Retired Expats come from all over the Western world, a large contingent of Australians for example.

The UK is failing it's elder generation..... they are often forced to live meagre lonely lives in many circumstances.

If they don't have a good circle of supporting offspring and relatives, they will have a miserable existence.

The retired Expats in Pattaya are mostly a lot happier here than they would be sitting alone in a cold little house in Sheffield with only a TV for company.

The sun shines today on Pattaya.....Thailand has allowed me to feel warm today and generally have a good life, and I haven't even had a drink yet.

I liked the last part of this - Good emotions in your post and very true for many when they think about where they are now vs what is the other alternatives.

Unfortunately news is only seen by most of the networks as being about reporting the extremes. Its not the intent or capability for most reporters to become producers of a documentary (style or content) so as a viewer might then weigh up the evidence.

If 1% of the subject has an extreme angle available then that is enough to get on the radar as being newsworthy.

I have never seen them look at previous extension paperwork when I do mine.

Well they must do some checking between receiving the application and returning the passport because some people have been told they would need a new photograph for the application because Immigrations found they used the same photo last year.

Mnnnn....Actually that's a good point!

I have never seen them look at previous extension paperwork when I do mine.

Yup I know - I only noted this on my last time - I was trying to make a mental note of everything that happened in the process to remember this for the next time.

It happened to me after all the paperwork I submitted and I passed this step of paperwork presented - At the very end just before handing me back the passport and making his stamp in the passport (to be signed) - He looked via computer screen at all my previous applications - Looked like they had them scanned in as an image - I have to say there could be margin for doubt on this since I am about 85% sure that these were previous TM7's I were looking at - I was sat at the furthest corner of the desk away from the screen (opposite site of desk to immigration officer) - so I had an angle of view to what he was searching onscreen. This process of search lasted between 80 - 90 secs and he kept stopping and reading other notes that were not on my TM7's. It felt like a thorough evaluation of the information he was looking at rather than just a quick skim.

I wouldn't worry about the paper you signed at immigration when you do your next extension.

Really! - But since the previous extensions TM 7's are viewed as part of 1st stage (prior to 2nd stage signature) - It will come up as a question - Any thoughts on using a suitable response?

You will not get a multiple entry non-o visa based upon retirement from any nearby location. From latest reports the ability to get one in the UK now is small. Why are wanting to stop getting extensions?

Thanks ubonjoe - Glad to see you were online for this question - See a lot of good solid responses on this stuff from you on the Visa questions.

The main reason to consider this route is to limit my exposure to currency fluctuations with a deposit of 800K (I want to bring money into Thailand when I see the most favorably rates and not try to guess the rates well into the future by bringing in a single lump sum, but rather adapt the funds I need depending upon my situation and rates at the time)

I normally am OK for doing the UK Embassy letter for earnings and Bank book with letter form Thai bank funds, but this time I got pushed into signing a commitment statement to never extend via this method again in the future and the only option now for the OA Visa is the Bank deposit for the full 800k

The full thread here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/685676-i-had-my-british-embassy-income-letter-rejected-by-immigration-for-my-annual-extension-of-stay-ban/

I was trying figure out a way to do an alternative visa for a year and then go back to the OA visa application (doing a conversion) after this - So I could claim that the amount of time has passed and the way I have been getting visa has changed - So I should be considered as a fresh applicant - Not the one that made the commitment statement on the bottom of my tm 7 form.

I know that this is not a water tight approach, but it would add some extra doubt to the existing requirement.

The other consideration is to do what is required by the statement for next extension by depositing the 800k funds in Thai bank and then claim I did what was required (for next time of extension) and argue the point about the requirement being forever for all subsequent extensions (since the statement was dictated to me and I wrote something near what was requested, but not exactly as requested and this could / might be interpreted in a different way to being a requirement as "forever").

Background

I am currently over 50 yrs old – I currently have a retirement OA visa that I have extend this a number of times at Bangkok immigration.

I want to explore my options for my next time for extension

- I know that there is an option for an Edu visa, but I do not want to go the Edu Visa route.

- If I was married to a Thai lady I would have the option for a Non Immi O multiple entry visa you can get one in KL Malaysia or Savannakhet Laos. But I am not married to a Thai lady

Questions:

1. Is there an equivalent of the Non immi O multiple (or worst case just single) for being over 50 type visa you can get from KL Malaysia or Savannakhet Laos (similar to the case for being married to a Thai lady).

2. And for complete clarity (since I am assuming that the answer to previous question is – NO there is no such option for an over 50, not married to Thai lady to have Non immi O multiple) – My only option to have a Non immi O multiple would be to get that from my home country (UK) and I would need to make the trip home at the end of my current extension and then do the same again every 15 months for the Non immi O multiple visa. Is this correct?

Nice piece of work.

Its difficult to generalize and I am sure that there are certain aspect of bias from a mindset that has 'settled' - into somewhere unhealthy.

However there are also those that see the headline and contribute - Not because they are 'settled', but rather they are active in a thought and the subject is real and happening to them right now or they are fearful that it might happen to them or even worse It has happened to them.

Everyday on this forum we all see subjects that talk to us directly that are real: rejected visa (or related), problems with our Thai girlfriends , cheating, dual pricing and scam etc.

I am not sure that all the conflict and reasons used for reading one type of a particular subject is just about a poorly constructed or an unhealthy bias, but rather it might be because of hurt and fear and then respond within anxiety in the pursuit of real change. It is probable that some people on this forum select their subjects and write their words not because they have become damaged, but more because they are human and care enough to figure this thing out to ensure they can keep on taking the chances they do.

If you bought a ticket online via an online agency - Make contact with them - On their ticketing system they will be able to tell you if the seat was used and hence you will know if she arrived in UK or not. Other options open to ticket holder named on the ticket is that the ticket may have some options for changes (different passenger or location) and this information will be available to be known what activity has taken place on the ticket.

To establish contact - Possibly set up a temp new id new social media account - Set the profile to someone you believe might fit someone she might like to friend or connect with online. Send her a friend request and see if the request gets seen i.e accepted or rejected. Obviously if its accepted you can work out the next moves as she will be communicating with you online, but she thinks is someone else - hence location identity or even phone call will be up to powers of online persuasions.

Sorry to hear your tale - And good luck.

Plenty of Condos coming up on Diamond Island with financing available. I am pretty sure they are ridiculously expensive though.

I just read about the development and this is a copy quote: "Prices range from US$270,000 to US$900,000 and each has their own elevator."

Land is also ridiculously overpriced considering it's a proper third world country.

Yes, if buying in the cities it is ridiculously expensive. Head out into the boonies and its ridiculously cheap! I recently bought an acre of land for $4000, 30 minute drive from Phnom Penh.

Interesting!

1. Did you buy this land as a non Cambodian without the restrictions of needing another Cambodian National having some stake in the land ownership?

2. If you did - Is this land also intended for a property build and hence will then need to involve a Cambodian national in (via one of the above methods) in order for the build to progress?

I wonder what part of the actual pepper spray makes it illegal - The pepper or the spray?

Since if simply carrying pepper that could be thrown into the face manually would not (hopefully) not be an illegal offence - Obviously not as fast or accurate, but it is still pepper in the eyes - And so then you just need to find a container that can hold the pepper and transfer it without spraying - That can't be right?

I say give the girls the right to carry and use pepper spray !

If you get sprayed ,you probably deserved it !

All you narrow minded knockers out there have probably got a knife,baseball bat or some other self defence weapon strategicly placed around your home or on you....

Legalize it for woman !!!!

Does the right include same for LadyBoys?

@spambot and aTomsLife

you are both (implicitly) making a very good point that there is a potential market inefficiency from asymmetric information (for example when prices not clearly stated) which is not good

ironically, if the vendors made the dual pricing more clear, it would undoubtedly make more people upset but would actually be closer to an inefficient market and fairer outcome for all market participants (including those paying more)

but anyway, as you also both imply, we are all irrational and emotional humans and i understand why you dismiss the logic of economics (and why dual pricing upsets you) as we do not live life our lives in theory

i do hope you will understand though that the force of the invisible hand of the market is so powerful that it is best just to live with it as it is (and try to maximize your benefit / utility from it)

EDIT > although obviously nothing wrong (especially if it gives you pleasure by releasing some anger) with posting your thoughts on this forum, even if that means redirecting your anger onto me (or the anonymous forum member / avatar that i control)

I like your logic because it shows your education - I like your anger because it shows you are human - And most of all I like this post because it shows your potency for caring.

So don't stop any of these - Keep your beating heart and roar with delight at your capacity to remain vital. 8+)

You accepted the price,so that is the price.3 months!bit slow on the uptake mate.

Love the ending to your comment 'Mate' - Your a Brit right?

Reminds me of being home in UK and being in the pub and hearing the banter - Everyone was 'mate' - Hey your round mate - Game of darts mate - No offence mate etc

@spambot

obviously it would be more economically efficient (optimal in fact) if all businesses had a portable brain scanner to check all customers' willingness to pay, and x-ray vision goggles to scan wallets to check all customers ability to pay

but as most businesses (including some thai street noodle vendors) do not have both of these devices, they group customers into groups with each group willing to pay a different average price - this is still more economically efficient than a one price system

as the average westerners has an income many times more than the average thai, it is logical to assume the average price they can pay will also be higher - that logic is not undermined by the existence of poor westerners and rich thais, just as there are some rich kids / students / discount coupon collectors / etc

i agree that judging people based on their skin colour has negative connotations and it would be bad if the noodle vendors refused to serve white people (or spat in their noodles) but double pricing is good (even if it does not benefit you personally)

I do have some sympathy for your argument - Since it would be any easy decision to make for pricing decision non Thai are richer and have the means since Thai nationals generally do not have the same economic ability to pay.

Living myself few hundred yards from near Khao san Rd - On my soi it is a mix of four star hotels and 150 Baht per night hostels for the backpackers all very close together - In the centre area there are noodle carts that can see where the people come from since the frond door of one of the four star hotels is facing the carts and to the side of them about 10 metres is two hostels with a pathway that makes the decision fairly easy to identify where their customer is from.

There are a great many Thai nationals that tend to stay in the four star hotel (4,000 Baht per night) mostly on business so they are richer than most and strangers to the area, but importantly they are Thai national - They pay a lesser price than the backpackers coming from their 150 Baht per night hostel who are less able to pay for the same goods.

This is not an economic decision being made by these vendors when they set the price of their goods and has nothing to do with an ability to pay.

of course setting their price is an economic decision - whether they are consciously calculating price elasticity of demand for different groups, drawing charts to determine the optimal price, etc is doubtful - but whether its through copying the pricing models of their most profitable friends/ family/ competitors, or that they have learnt through their own trial an error, they are setting prices to maximize profits, which (in the context of a free market where everyone has access to information on prices and is able to choose between different suppliers, etc) is good

I love each of your counter arguments - They are all strong and have valve and shows that you clearly understand the economic models in play. I especially like your observations that you make when you cite an indicator of a segmentation and ability to pay - Each of them made me think about my own arguing position - Since what you say make a lot of sense.

However I am not on the same page as your thinking.

In the end like many things in life there is no absolute answer - You believe that this is an economics issue and so all sellers should be allowed to optimise and maximise profits whenever they find the opportunity. And the opposite to this I think this economic model for optimisation should not be at the heart of this question for premium prices since non Thais are mostly never offered the same price as a Thai national and so they are unable to decide what is fair or unfair pricing.

@spambot

obviously it would be more economically efficient (optimal in fact) if all businesses had a portable brain scanner to check all customers' willingness to pay, and x-ray vision goggles to scan wallets to check all customers ability to pay

but as most businesses (including some thai street noodle vendors) do not have both of these devices, they group customers into groups with each group willing to pay a different average price - this is still more economically efficient than a one price system

as the average westerners has an income many times more than the average thai, it is logical to assume the average price they can pay will also be higher - that logic is not undermined by the existence of poor westerners and rich thais, just as there are some rich kids / students / discount coupon collectors / etc

i agree that judging people based on their skin colour has negative connotations and it would be bad if the noodle vendors refused to serve white people (or spat in their noodles) but double pricing is good (even if it does not benefit you personally)

I do have some sympathy for your argument - Since it would be any easy decision to make for pricing decision non Thai are richer and have the means since Thai nationals generally do not have the same economic ability to pay.

Living myself few hundred yards from near Khao san Rd - On my soi it is a mix of four star hotels and 150 Baht per night hostels for the backpackers all very close together - In the centre area there are noodle carts that can see where the people come from since the frond door of one of the four star hotels is facing the carts and to the side of them about 10 metres is two hostels with a pathway that makes the decision fairly easy to identify where their customer is from.

There are a great many Thai nationals that tend to stay in the four star hotel (4,000 Baht per night) mostly on business so they are richer than most and strangers to the area, but importantly they are Thai national - They pay a lesser price than the backpackers coming from their 150 Baht per night hostel who are less able to pay for the same goods.

This is not an economic decision being made by these vendors when they set the price of their goods and has nothing to do with an ability to pay.

Ignore this post screwed up with a mouse click 8+( Anyone know how to delete posts? - I can not find an option - only option is to edit

This part is good

I think that you make a reasonable point. And your economic argument is based in sound economic principles that are well defined and accepted universally as being correct.

Also I accept that market segmentation and promotional pricing is very much part of economic theory. These models do normally work for the greater good for those that take utility from this form of pricing model, but it also depends upon not upsetting those that are not given access to such a promotion. This type of model is set within a transparent pricing market, where both parties have equal access to the information.

However the Thai pricing is not really about offering promotional pricing it is more about prejudicial pricing since an excess is being charged not a promotion provided.

This needs Caution when applied

This model completely depends upon lack of transparency. When the transparency is found the target that is being prejudicially charged a premium would rightly want to know the argument, whether it’s an economic argument or something other.

If the argument for the premium was based upon ability to pay this would include rich Thai nationals. While the argument might be reasoned that the premium is based upon the markets lack of knowledge and an opportunity is being exploited, while not a great argument it is however one that might be considered appropriate by some. But if this argument would need to support the situation when the knowledge is known. And when it is know the pricing would change to the ones that know. Hence any Thai not unfamiliar with the seller would be charged the same as a non Tai. Also when the two pricing model is identified and confronted 99% of the time it doesn’t normally alter the price for a non-Thai.

This is not about Economics

The argument is not an economic one – It is a judgement about where you were born – It is racial judgement that is being made.

It is clear that racial prejudice is badly received by anyone that is subject to it. It is accepted to be a very sensitive subjective that can lead to anger.

So for the casual tourist here for a short time they might get utility from the price they agree to pay and go away happy in their economic transaction. But I would guess they would be much less happy if they knew that they were being charged more because of their race.

A racial judgement is being made about the buyer here and when any consumer is charged at a premium only because of their race – This is no longer an economics principle - it’s a moral issue that everyone should be asking why this should exist.

You wrote, "The argument is not an economic one – It is a judgement about where you were born – It is racial judgement that is being made. A racial judgement is being made about the buyer here and when any consumer is charged at a premium only because of their race – This is no longer an economics principle - it’s a moral issue that everyone should be asking why this should exist."

Totally wrong. Thailand is not a race. You can point to no document or course or educated person that will suggest Thailand is a race of people.

I will of course admit my error if you find a source that will confirm your outlandish and completely false claim that Thailand is a race.

You are right and I apologise for my error - I did not know that.

However my argument is less about the actual definition it more about a state of mind - And belonging to Thailand and being Thai is a state of mind - The word race is being used here to define this state of mind nothing more - The principles are the issue and I am sure that you do understand what I am trying to say even though a definition I gave might have been cited by a wrong name.

Children and the elderly get discounts which is the complete opposite of overcharging, really don't see your point at all.

Overweight people are charged more for clothing here because more material is required; there are higher costs involved. Just as there are higher costs associated with insuring their health, so there is justification to make them pay more. What Thais do is look to exploit people because of how they look or what language they speak. There is no fundamental reason to charge them more. It's a morally bankrupt practice. Rationalize it however you want, but your arguments are illogical.

Sent from my GT-S5360B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If you don't like it, don't buy it. it's just as simple as that. Even if you get charged more than the locals, it probably is still a lot cheaper than what you would pay in your country, I suppose. The concept of double pricing is applied to every foreigners, it does not apply to just one particular race. I just dislike when people turn this into racism when there isn't.

When they call foreigners falang, they're being charged as racist, when they charge foreigners more than locals for product/service, they're being considered racist. Can Thai people do anything without being call racist?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Children and the elderly get discounts which is the complete opposite of overcharging, really don't see your point at all.

Overweight people are charged more for clothing here because more material is required; there are higher costs involved. Just as there are higher costs associated with insuring their health, so there is justification to make them pay more. What Thais do is look to exploit people because of how they look or what language they speak. There is no fundamental reason to charge them more. It's a morally bankrupt practice. Rationalize it however you want, but your arguments are illogical.

Sent from my GT-S5360B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

whether you call it a discount for one group or a higher price for another group, is completely irrelevant (for some businesses the thai customers are in the minority) - it is still justified by the same perfectly logical economic concept - i.e. price discrimination as explained in all high school economic textbooks (or google if you studied music instead)

this is not exploitation (and to use that word is quite bizarre) - nobody is being forced to buy goods / services - they only do so if the utility they gain from the good / service is worth as much / more to them than the cash they need to give in exchange - i.e. they gain a benefit from the transaction - there is nothing unfair about that

obviously i can understand why some people do not like this (jealousy / self-interest is human nature) and i also understand why some thai people think its unfair that any westerner can show up with nothing more than a white face and find employment with a salary much higher than the average thai (although as with dual pricing there are logical economic reasons / market forces that explain this)

This part is good

I think that you make a reasonable point. And your economic argument is based in sound economic principles that are well defined and accepted universally as being correct.

Also I accept that market segmentation and promotional pricing is very much part of economic theory. These models do normally work for the greater good for those that take utility from this form of pricing model, but it also depends upon not upsetting those that are not given access to such a promotion. This type of model is set within a transparent pricing market, where both parties have equal access to the information.

However the Thai pricing is not really about offering promotional pricing it is more about prejudicial pricing since an excess is being charged not a promotion provided.

This needs Caution when applied

But for the above to work - There also need a completed economic reasoning on dealing with other economic only principles must be answered or economics alone is not the sole answer to the question of why two pricing models exist.

Transparency has to exist in a rounded model to work - Or else when the transparency is found the target that is being prejudicially charged a premium would rightly want to know the argument, whether it’s an economic argument or something other. Just like we are asking here on this forum.

If the argument for the premium was based upon ability to pay this would include rich Thai nationals. While the argument might be reasoned that the premium is based upon the markets lack of knowledge and an opportunity is being exploited, while not a great argument it is one that might be considered appropriate by some. But if this argument to be robust it would also need to support any situations when the knowledge is known in order to not upset that segment of the market. Hence any Thai not unfamiliar with the seller would then be charged the same as a non Thai. When the two pricing model is identified by a non Thai it is reasonable then if using this argument that the price would change, but 99% of the time this price does not change for a non-Thai buyer.

This is not about Economics

The argument is not an economic one – It is a judgement about where you were born (being outside Thailand) – It is racial judgement that is being made.

It is clear that racial prejudice is badly received by anyone that is subject to it. It is accepted to be a very sensitive subjective that can lead to anger.

So for the casual tourist here for a short time they might get utility from the price they agree and go away happy in their economic transaction. But I would guess they would be much less happy if they knew that they were being charged more because of their race.

A racial judgement is being made about the buyer here and when any consumer is charged at a premium only because of their race – This is no longer an economics principle - it’s a moral issue that everyone should be asking why this should exist.

i doubt the same people who moan about dual-pricing in thailand would be willing to swap their assets / income / opportunities / access to public services / financial security of their family back home, for that of the average thai in return for being eligible for a 10 baht discount on their noodles

i rarely pay (or notice that i pay) more than locals for anything but when i do it only reminds me how lucky i am to be a westerner - i am not offended by dual pricing as it is simply indicative of the vendor's accurate assumption of my superior luck and the solid economic logic that follows from charging different prices to different consumer groups depending on differences in their average willingness / ability to pay

Good point, but its not really about being asked to make the choice (to swap) - Its a good question and I think your conclusion is the right one - few of us would make the choice to go back to our home country (or we would probably have done this already), but this will not solve the problem - if your choice is to stay.

Being happy with paying more has its own tax - The future belongs to what wrongs are accepted today.