Airalee

I used these guys and was happy.  Had quite a few nice cars there when I dropped my car off so I assume they have a pretty good reputation.

https://www.tsmotor.co.th

4 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

This "pregnant panhandler" story seems  credible, although I don't understand why it wasn't followed up on by the TV station, and by the cops for the threatened assault.

 

@CharlieH - I guess the begging man with the million pound mansion could have happened also as you described in which case my comment was wrong and your post was correct and wrongly criticized by me.

I would like to read more about it if anyone comes across the story.

(I tried a search for it but couldn't find it).

 

I hope all realize that these are "one offs".

Unfortunately too many people like to generalize and suddenly in their mind everyone on the street begging is getting rich and they use that as a universal excuse to never extend any help.

 

 

Just wanted to say that I don’t disagree with your original post.  I think that many people read these stories in the news (I’ve only known of a few) and somehow internalize them and then, like you say, go online and say “I gave to a beggar once and saw them drive off in a Benz”.  I’m not pointing any fingers at anybody here but like you, I’ve seen it mentioned enough that it makes me wonder how so many people know the same scammer. ????

12 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Link?

Any sort of proof?

 

In the USA, there are people begging standing at freeway on and off ramps.

 

Some have signs and sometimes the sign says "Will work for food".

 

It's amazing how many people - on forums or in person - have the same story - "A friend of mine in his car said to the guy "I have work for you" and the guy with the sign turned him down".

 

Yet not one of these storytellers ever had it happen to them.

 

I'm sure this probably happened to someone somewhere.

But the story is always related as if it is the norm.

 

Urban legend.

 

[PS - CharlieH - I think it's very good that you give food/water.

 

But "Mercedes"/"million dollar home" while begging - I call bs].

https://abc7.com/pregnant-panhandler-rich-fake-beggar-mercedes-benz/391377/
 

There was another story in NYC that made the news back in the 90’s if I remember correctly where the couple were allegedly bringing in $250,000 annually. 

Just now, Jingthing said:

No.

My policy on such things is that ten others must do first, then I will do.

Up to you

58 minutes ago, dj230 said:

The whole point of staking is in itself a ponzi

Yeah.  I’ve never understood the whole “staking” thing (other than it being completely unsustainable).

The forum crypto king (no need to name names) talks about 100% returns.  What on earth is the company doing in order to get returns of over 100% being they need to make a profit above that 100% in order to pay out those sky high returns?
 

I once knew a guy who in early 2021 was telling me he was buying Bitcoin and lending it out (I assume that is what “staking” means) and that he was promised 35% returns.  He tried to explain the mechanics of it by saying that the company would take his half a coin, combine it with another persons half a coin and then turn around and sell the whole coin.  I asked him how the whole coin could be worth 35% more than the sum of the two parts?  
 

He couldn’t answer of course.  

When I tried to run the numbers, he and his Thai girlfriend became quite angry and barked out “change the subject!!!”.

Another guy told me he was getting 2% daily one time.  Even after the scheme unraveled and he lost all the money put into it, he still couldn’t admit that he was suckered by a con.  Strangely enough, the same conman (UK based) is still active and not in jail.

It’s really simple math and I don’t understand how people fall for it.

On 4/3/2022 at 10:04 PM, Bkk Brian said:

I'll leave you with your famous last words and check back in 6 weeks time when the effects of the sanctions kick in and the economy is crippled. In the meantime feel free to buy the top...????

 

Russia’s Central Bank has just jacked up interest rates to 20%

Just checking in once again.

As you were.

Odd that you can hear them walking in a concrete structure.  I’ve never known a Thai to not take their shoes off when entering their home.

30 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

There are also sites where woman do reports on Foreign boyfriends they have had

Yeah…I remember you telling me about those sites.

Hope all is well,

Sardines and almonds.

6 hours ago, nikmar said:

I sometimes wonder, if there was a forum for Thai wives of ex-pats, what would they say / ask about us.

 

There is.  A friend turned me on to it about 10 years ago.  It used to be a forum/website called Ladyinter.  Now it is just a Facebook page.  And they talk about everything.  They will even know the ins and outs of every countries wages, social security system, divorce laws….you name it.

2 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

you seem to be hung up on the cost of BTC transfers. that ship sailed a long time ago. there are plenty of other blockchains that process transactions for pennies. BSC being a notable example. last BEP20 transfer I did get from Beyoncé to Trust Wallet only cost me fifty cent.

But the values of those “tokens” or “coins” have both fallen around 80% YTD.  So if bought them in January and then used them to transfer funds today, you would have lost 80% of your purchasing power.

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Why don't you and I start our own crypto currency... we can sell it for $1000 a piece and call it "Itsy Bitsy Bit Coin"  and our catch phrase for advertising will be - - you won't believe its not bitcoin.. 

Hands on is the way to go.  You’ll never know the quality unless you see it in person.

Go to the different places around town to get an idea regarding prices and quality.

KVIK

IKEA

Homepro

Boonthavorn

11 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Just read this, the US is finished - 

 

I think BtC is the only safe asset in the future. 

 

 

Best reply to KimDotCom…

7 hours ago, skatewash said:

I agree that the non-OA visa was ruined with the addition of the health insurance requirement, but don't think it's going away in September.  Quite the opposite, it's being raised from $400k (USD) in patient, $40k outpatient coverage to $3 million coverage after September.  The only thing that may be an improvement is that apparently it will be slightly easier to use foreign, non-Thai immigration department approved insurance companies.

In my opinion the Non-O visa is the better way to go as there is no insurance requirement, but you do have to be willing to keep the 800k baht in a Thai bank. 

It was never $400k USD inpatient coverage or $40k outpatient.  Those numbers are correct but the currency was in Baht.  
 

The raise coming in September certainly wouldn’t be $3 million (over ฿100,000,000) but is ฿3,000,000

I know a handful of people who did well in crypto.  Some buying as early as 2012 at $5 and selling for large profits well before it hit $1000..  Others bought at $3k and sold around $50k.

What is the common denominator of all these people?

After getting out, they were out for good.

I also knew someone who was pumping money into Bitcoin early 2021 and was lending it out in high interest schemes that made no mathematical, logical nor investment sense.  Haven’t seen him in over a year.  I wonder how he’s doing now.

I see so many people who say…

”Buy Blue Chip dividend paying stocks and hold”

well…let’s look at some from the past

GE

Eastman Kodak

Xerox

Nokia

AT&T

US Steel

Freddie Mac

Fannie Mae

Sears

The list goes on and on and on.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Not at all.  RE is actually my thing.  20 yrs in USA, and 20 yrs here.  They'll get their price, though may take them another year or 2.  If reasonably priced, then it will sell, and not a bubble.  20+ yrs and RE prices haven't receded.

 

Most sell for 3 - 5X the assessed value.  Some more, but others of course, pay way too much.  They'll be the people who sell at a loss, and blame it on the market.

 

 

https://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Talk+One's+Book

27 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

5 yr old land purchase, and up 500 %

Sounds like a bubble.  Let’s see what happens when interest rates rise.

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

My thinking also, if knowing you'll be there.   At worse, sell for cost, and you've lived rent free, which is one of most folks', largest monthly expense.  ????????  If making a profit, well then, all the better.

Selling “for cost” is no guarantee.  The person I bought from lost close to ฿2,000,000.

I am under no illusion that I will make a profit and wouldn’t be surprised to sell at a loss.

Being that expats pay cash, there is no such thing as “living rent free” as one must also consider the opportunity cost of the funds invested.

It’s always a gamble.  You pay your money and you take your chances.