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Plus 1

While not a Trump supporter, I do agree with this. Trump lost 3 elections in a row. After foiling his party's chance to take over congress in the last mid term election, Republicans were sick of him. No one was showing up at his rallys. He was down in the Republican primary polls. If Democrats and the media turned their backs on him and ignored him he'd be another Al Gore or John Kerry. But instead they started dragging him into court on questionable cases. He deserved arrest over classified documents, but not Biden. He screamed unequal justice and rejuvenated his campaign. And the more court battles he wins; SCOTUS unanimously overturning the Colorado court, NY appellate court so far partially overturning the NYC court ruling, the more his claims look justified and the more his poll numbers increase. Democrats and the media should have turned their backs on him and let him wither on the vine of inattention.

I know fees can be avoided. My point is that handling cash is more expensive for banks than handling cashless transactions. I can see a day when they are therefore more expensive than cashless transactions and wonder how many would pay extra to continue using cash.

I can envision a time when one must pay for the privilege of using cash. Where does one get cash? At ATM's or branch offices, both of which cost banks money to maintain. There could come a time where there is a 5% fee in order the receive cash from an ATM or branch office. I know someone in the US running a business that generates a lot of cash, and his bank charges "excess cash deposit" fees on business account due to the extra expense of handling large quantities of cash. I wonder how many advocates of cash usage will continue to resist cashless payments if paying via cash costs more.

Same as all of the markets I've mentioned except Thepprasit, which is about 80% Thai. The tourists usually don't have Thai bank accounts so usually don't use the QR/Prompt Pay system which is designed for Thais doing shopping. But that may change soon, as Asian nations are discussing a QR payment system which will work across the region, so Asian tourists will likely use it too in the future

My wife reports that markets in Lat Yao and Phetchabun, regions less advanced than Chaing Rai, also accept QR payments. In my experience establishmets catering to tourists are less likely to use QR/Prompt Pay payments than establishments catering to Thais. Have you enquired about accepting cashless payments at your local market or are you just assuming they're not accepted because you're not interested in paying that way?

At the day markets I frequent (700 Rai Sattahip, Che Junction Bang Saray, Thepprasit Night Market and more) every vendor either has a QR code hanging at their stall, or will produce a Prompt Pay number or a QR code on their phone if you request one. In the past year I have never encountered a vendor who won't accept a cashless payment.

I agree with pretty much everything in this and your other posts, but on this aspect; I have a sister who is 1000% a technophobe and scared to death of any form of digital transactions. In contrast I've been using every form of digital technology since my US bank first offered ATM's in the 1980's and on line payments in the 1990's. Before retiring last year I ran 2 US based small businesses remotely from Thailand, something I'd never have been able to do without the internet and cashless payments. Meanwhile my sister uses postal service and checks for any payment she can't make with cash, and has been warning me for more that 4 decades, "wait until you get hacked". Ironically, a few months ago 2 of her payment checks were stolen from a mailbox and deposited into a thief's account. It took her more than a month to get reimbursed for the theft. I have yet to be defrauded in any significant way due to monitoring accounts and processing payments electronically as often as possible

I use QR electronic payments for all transactions at the 700 rai Sattahip market. 100 baht remains 100 baht with QR payments too

Maybe where you live, but not in Thailand. While in Thailand I do 95% of payments with the QR/Promp Pay system. I have never incurred a charge, and the receiver is never charged. The day fees are charged to QR/Prompt Pay payments is the day Thais will revert back to cash

Significant rise in shoplifting, significant decrease in pickpocketing

If you do something so offensive that the government freezes your assets, where are you going to get your cash?

I love QR payments. I use them all the time and have my app logged in and ready to scan when the cashier is ready to accept payment. Takes a matter of seconds for the payment to process. I'm frustrated waiting behind someone digging through pockets of change to make thier cash payments, and hate walking around with a wad of bills and pocket full of coins. I also avoid 7-11 because they're the one major retailer I know of who won't accept QR payments. Whatever electronic payment system they accept is ridiculously slow and consequently they always have long check out times. My wife pays cash at 7-11 and uses thier app to collect "points". Waiting for her to dig out her coins to make a cash payment, and then coax their app to life results in the consistently longest checkout time possible IMO. Fortunately Tops Daily and Mini Big C accept QR payments and checkout time is always faster

I heard of this same issue at least 10 years ago when first looking into long term visas in Thailand, it's not anything new. I personally walked into both KTB and BKB offices in downtown Pattaya and had no problem opening accounts in either bank holding a Non-O visa. Both printed and completed a US Government form upon activation of the account, and where seemingly very knowledgeable about dealing with US citizens. This was 5 and 3 years ago respectively, but a friend of mine used a visa agent in Pattaya to assist with his retirement extension. They offered a lower cost to do that if he had an account with a certain bank, and accompanied him to the bank branch to set up the account. This was only a few months ago. My suggestion would be to go to Bangkok or Pattaya, where there are more foreigners living and they're more familiar with the additional regulations. It's possibly easier to open an account in those locations. Or ask a visa agency for assistance.

Exactly. Current Model 3 price China = 245,900 or 1.24M baht. Import duty currently waived on Teslas in Thailand, price 1.6M baht. If they lower the Thai price to China levels I'll buy one. Otherwise my next car is an MG or BYD EV.

But don't bother trying to incentivize visits from the west (90 day tourist visas for all visa exempt countries)? Only Chinese tourism matters.

Some pretty convoluted logic there. My export oriented customers absolutely thrived when the baht was weak vs the USD, and their prices lower in the markets they exported to.

Exactly. PT traded away their future for a few years on top. The future is orange. My wife is discarding all her red clothes and buys anything orange she sees.

The Chinese Yuan (or Indian Rupee) can never become dominant reserve currencies unless they are allowed to be freely bought and sold internationally. I don't see that ever happening in my lifetime, making the whole BRICS concept irrelevant. I BRICS currency can only be used for a limited amount of trade between members. As soon as one of them sees more currency flowing out of their borders than in they'll slam on the brakes negating any agreement they've made.

Don't leave out Vermont. https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/travel/michelin-guide-road-trip-vermont-cheese-trail