CWMcMurray

Agree completely that "Charging different price for different colour is STUPID!"

It's also STUPID to not understand the difference between charging for citizenship and charging for skin color.

Thai citizens of ANY skin color pay the local price, foreigners of ANY skin color pay a different price.

I think you are arguing it was not meant to be racist, but in practice it actually is racist.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and I think you completely mis understand the systems in countries in the west... they are specifically designed to remove any and all requirements of citizenship/nationality/race from everything. All of the requirements are based on a generic set of requirements for residency.

Anyone can fulfill these requirements regardless of there nationality and US citizens can also be excluded if they do not meet the requirements:

Examples:

1. A Thai person goes to live in the US in the State he plans study. He lives there for one year and becomes resident (this does not have anything to do with visa status, it just means you can prove you lived there for a year)

He then applys for University showing proof that he has lived in the State for at least one year before applying for University - he will get charged the resident rate.

2. My daughter, a US citizen, finishes high school in Thailand and wishes to study in the US. She applys for Universty and is accepted. She would be declared an international student and pay the international rate because she is NOT A RESIDENT

You pay the exact same amount and have to meet the exact same residency requirements as my US Citizen daughter. The only reason you pay more than the average US citizen is because the average US citizen lives in the US.

You would also pay the same amount more compared to Thai citizens who have lived in the US for a year before they applied to University (even if they were living in the US illegally for one year on a 3 month tourist visa).

.... whereas I have to pay $20,000+ more than US citizens to study at a US university.

No you don't... You have to pay $20,000+ more than a resident and again if that is for a State University then US citizens from other state are paying it as well (out of State tuition). Also, you can become a resident and then you can pay 20,000 less (shouldn't be too hard there are millions of illegal immigrants that can qualify for resident rates).

The terms of resident and citizen are not interchangeable, you do not need to be a citizen to be a resident.

If you just want to say... Hey life isn't fair, then fine; but if you want to compare it to policies in the west and say its equally fair then that is a different issue.

(but if your best argument is that life isn't fair, your not going to convince anyone that you position is the correct one)

I realize that many things in life aren't fair and I am honestly ok with that. I am just not ok with being told that something is fair when it isn't.

I am continuing to post on this topic because I think many of the arguments that are being given are faulty and the comparisons being used are not accurate, not because of the additional 200 or 300 baht. I am sill waiting for someone to convince me that I am wrong...

post='2096779' date='2008-07-20 08:13:45']Part of the problem is that Thailand is one of the cheapest nice countries to stay in the world and consequently attracts some of the world's cheapest Westerners demanding to be housed and fed and entertained for the same price as a Thai labourer.

Or pephaps the problem is the fact that these cheap indviduals are demanding to be entertained for the same price as a Thai Billionaire...

The thing is that in both cases dual pricing is there to give the local population a discount to encourage them to visit the places as much as possible.

One more post and then I will shut up and let you respond...

If the pupose of local pricing is to encourage them to visit as much as possible then local foreigners should also receive the same rates. This would encourage them to visit more frequently as well. As it stands now, the current policy actually discourages local foreigners from going to these places...

Dual pricing is just as common in tourist places in the west as in Thailand it's just done in different ways. Some offer a yearly pass slightly more expensive than a one time entry, a one time tourist would not buy this but the local resident would benefit greatly from this. Some offer discount cards for locals. Very often there will be no evidence of these discount schemes so the normal tourist will not be aware that dual pricing exists.

The reason for doing it this way is that in the west it is often impossible to tell if someone is a foreigner or not, there are not many places with national ID cards and you normally don't carry a passport around.

In Thailand it is done in a different way as it's fairy easy to tell if someone is a foreigner just by looking at them and if there is any doubt all Thai have to carry their ID card at all times so citizenship can always be easily verified.

In a way I can understand that some people confuses this with racism as in Thailand often tourists and locals happens to be different races, while in the west most are pretty much the same race.

The thing is that in both cases dual pricing is there to give the local population a discount to encourage them to visit the places as much as possible.

But the key thing is that locals...all locals can take advantage of local prices. It is not based on race or citizenship. Would you consider a person of western nationality who has lived in Thailand for 20 years a local or a tourist?

Even tourists can purchase them, I knew someone who was spending a summer in the US by my Home and bought a season pass to Six Flags. They were not Americans, they were tourists who were only spending three months in the US...

One other point, a tourist going to the Grand Canyon from New York and from Thailand would face the same ticket prices and would also be able to buy the same season pass if they wanted to.

My experience:

Is there anything wrong with them charging more Foreigners? I don't think so...

I recall an american friend that told me Disney Florida charges less for Florida residents... This things happen all over the world...

Cheers!

Again you are missing the point... Florida resident (not race/nationality based, even illegal immigrants from Cuba qualify for this discount) anyone with a utility bill is a Florida Resident.

If all foreigners needed was a UBC, or telephone bill to prove residency I don't think they would be complaining.

Yosemite Park Entrance fees:

Normal fee: $20

Other Passes

Yosemite Pass (annual pass): $40

America the Beautiful–National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass: $80

This is an annual admission pass covering admission and standard amenity fees. This replaces the National Parks Pass and Golden Eagle Pass.

Access Pass: Free

This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities.

Senior Pass: $10

This is a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older.

As you can see there are several passes restricted to US citizens only.

The annual pass is a very common way to give the local residents a good discount.

If you take a closer look at your own post, I think you will agree that it only re-enforces the posts from previous posters.

If you take a look at the rates you quoted above, there is only 1 normal pass, good for all nationalities. There is only one season pass, good for all nationalities.

This means that foreigners could buy the season pass for the same price as US citizens.

The only exceptions are for seniors and for the disabled and even these passes are not restricted to only US Citizens... it can also be purchased by permanent residents.

I would also bet that if any over 62 or permanently disabled people were able to show a valid US drivers license or non drivers ID, they would be able to get the US Permanant resident price.

I would venture even if you had PR in Thailand you would still face the higher price based on your skin Tone.

The invoice should also be sent at the time of shipping as well, it will be needed for customs purposes.

Ah, so you are suggesting that 2 copies of the invoice should then be sent?

And also, now you are talking about shipping goods in and out of Thailand, right?

Some of this will depend upon what your payment terms are with your customers. In the previous post they mentioned ship and then send your invoice for payment. You would do this if you offer payment terms, 30 days or 90 days.

In many cases customers will need to prepay before shipping, in that case you will need to send them an invoice so that they can give it to their accounting department to process payment.

This can be sent via email, the original is usually put in the consol pouch during shipping. This will then be used for customs purposes and then delivered to the consignee with the goods.

Edited to answer the second question:

Yes, this would be for either exporting from or importing into Thailand, for Domestic shipments there is no need to clear customs.

Braided Nylon Cord // Nylon Cord ??

Thanks, that Looks like it, at least some of the smaller ones.

Bambina, did you get these pictures from a supplier's website here in Thailand? I'm looking for a local supplier...

The invoice should also be sent at the time of shipping as well, it will be needed for customs purposes.

I am trying to find the translation for a specific type of yarn which is called ่เชือกร่ม in Thai.

Thank you for your help.

I would give the following advice...

Come on over it sounds like you have some good ideas... At 32 years young you haven't been in the service long enough to get a retirement pension and to get that amount from the VA you must be considered 100% disabled (or have a dozen kids running around). You will loose your free health care if you come over here, but if you are just a bit stiff in the morning you should be ok and you can always go back if you need to.

Second if you are receiving disability and you have 2 years of college, why not apply for university over here and apply for vocational rehab through the VA. Full tuition reimbursement plus another 666 USD a month as a stipend (did this, I'm 50% through the VA). If you want to study International Business, the University I went to has already been approved by the VA and so has the international business major (I already did the paperwork to get the university and program approved, so you won't have to)

This would give you over 3000 USD a month while you finish your degree and get your "Thailand Legs" and about the time you finish your degree you may have all of your other ideas set up and ready to roll.

PM me if you want any more details about the VA or University stuff...

Just to clarify my above post, that doesn't mean I spend my time enlessly criticizing Thailand or anyone else... but I do reserve the right to

When in Rome do what the Romans do or "get out of dodge." I am here because I CHOOSE to live here, no one is forcing me to and I assume that no one is forcing you either, so for all of you whiners, please tone it down since it reflects (negatively) on the rest of us.

I vote yes... I live here because I choose to and if I were to live in the US or the UK or Korea or France or any other country it would also be because I chose to. Would that also prohibit me from criticizing any of those countries if I chose to live in them?

In today's world many of us can live where ever we chose to, one may even be able to make the argument that those who live in their "home" countries remain there only by choice.

or

Are you trying to say that the only country you are allowed to criticize is the one you were born in? Does that go for states or provinces and cities and towns? What about other people, can you only critcize those who hold the same citizenship or nationality or religion?

When am I allowed to think and reason and when must I shut it off and put the blinders on?

I believe all people are welcome to express their beliefs and criticize anyone or any government or company or organization they feel is doing wrong. (yes that includes me and the country I was born in as well).

If their aruments are foolish then they will appear foolish as well, but if their arguments have merit, some may listen.

Double A came to the university trying to recruit new graduates. The University let them give their presentation in classes for 4th year business students.

They were offering 18000 THB per month base salary with steps up depending on GPA. One for +3.0 and another for +3.5. For someone with a 3.5 or higher they were offering 27,000THB per month along with free housing. The catch was that they had to be 'willing' to live and work up-country.

Just had a look at what positions Double A are offering and they are mostly senior management or expert operator positions asking for degree, minimum work experience within field & fluency in English language.

From Double A website.

All jobs appeared to be in the management and operations side of their power plant business and taking the critical nature of that type of industry, you would actually expect better payment packages than what are being offered.

I always wonder when I see numbers like these...Are you sure these wages are current?

I don't know any of the people who graduated from the University I went to here making this little. The lowest salary I have heard any of my Thai friends received at their first job was 15,000.

Most of them were able to find a job making 20,000-30,000; granted they needed to do a good search to find the jobs in this range. From my conversations with them, if they were willing to take a job in the 15,000 to 20,000 range it seemed like the jobs were a dime a dozen.

I think you are mixing apples with oranges.

Of course any sort of management position or professional position will pay substancially more than ordinary labour or basic technical positions.

I will list some examples of companies that pay minimum (or close to) wages and definately don't produce peanuts.

Toyota Chacherngsao - 189B per day (guaranteed according to their local recruitment billboards )

7/11 - Usually not much more than the particular jungwat's minimum wage (and the staff member has to provide a cash guarantor)

Cheers,

Soundman.

Soundman I agree with you, we are talking about two different things. I was replying not to your original post, but to a post by someone else. It was my error for not quoting it in my post.

Please see the wages given by another poster below. These wages for management positions seemed lower than for entry level positions that people I know have been offered.

Installation Manager - 20,000 Baht

Admin Manager - 20,000 Baht

Technical Manager (Lighting) - 18,000 Baht

Team Leader - 12,000 Baht

Junior Engineer - 8,000 Baht

Trainee - 7,5000 Baht

Edited after looking at Double A website:

Didn't see anything like the positions offered at the presentation on the website. What they were offering when they came to the university sounded more like a management training program

I am sure you are right in most cases, but I can give one case where these wages are possible in the provinces.

Double A came to the university trying to recruit new graduates. The University let them give their presentation in classes for 4th year business students.

They were offering 18000 THB per month base salary with steps up depending on GPA. One for +3.0 and another for +3.5. For someone with a 3.5 or higher they were offering 27,000THB per month along with free housing. The catch was that they had to be 'willing' to live and work up-country.

So I am guessing that if they recruit graduates/employees from BKK they pay BKK wages (expats from BKK) but if they hire locally they pay less.

I want to thank everyone for their advice and help. I have found some one to help me with the design of the website, a TV member and we are following most of the advice given on this thread, so thank you all again.

My wife and I would like invest a noodle shop at The Mall Bangkapi (a small space in Foodcourt area), but the problem is we dont even know which department of The Mall we should contact with (None information on office website of The Mall). Plz friends, If you knew any information about this, plz tell me!! and if you had any experience in doing this, plz tell us!!Thanks

Mark

The head office is on the 9th Floor of the Mall. Feel free to PM me for more information, we have a store at the Mall Bangkapi.

There is much much more going on then one might think , there are things

which nobody talks about and many people do not know either , what will make

are mouths fall open . So I would say stop speculating , cause most of us are all wrong anyway !

So don't keep us all in suspense... if you are in the know, an anonomous internet forumn seems like a safe enough place to spread the word.

I would like to thank everyone for their advice and I would welcome more as well.

I would like to add that I am not looking for a get rich scheme and am hoping to use this website to complement an existing business and would not expect random websearchers to account for a large portion of new business.

Yes, this would be put on a business card and would be given to prospective clients. It would also be used as a tool for existing clients to make purchases.

I have some friends from various parts of the world who have expressed interest in working together and they believe our products would do well in their countries. I would ask for their help in Translating into their language and let them use it as a tool once they return home.

I will definately take your advice as to ensuring that the domain in in my name and check for hosting companies directly. I will also make sure that open source software is used in constructing the website.

Has anyone used any good webhosting companies here in Thailand? Does the webhosting need to be done here or can it be done anywhere?

When I buy a domain, are there any differences between: .com, .org, .net, .biz, .eu, ect...

Is it only that the .coms are pretty muched all taken,or are there other legal or other implications depending on which you chose?

13,000 THB per month detached ranch style house

3 Bedroom

2 Bathroom

Very Large Kitchen

3 Air conditioners

Fully Furnished

Was so nice I walked away from a 30,000 THB deposit at my old place without a single regret.

Based on our current situation, having her change her status on either of those would not be possible (Related to her work).

You have peeked my interest, what type of job would prohibit her from declaring that she is married or change her name?

Nothing nefarious intended, just genuinely curious.

it does not concern me personally but those affected by a further depreciation of the USD have no real alternative as the currencies of other "third world" countries would appreciate too.

Aren't there still a few 3rd world countries out there that have their currency pegged top the USD?

If I am not mistaken Cambodia is one of them, so some may not have all that far to move if they choose to do so.

My wife has a small business that is doing well locally. We have discussed it and believe that it is time to create a website.

I am now trying to find someone to hire to do this for me. I have done an initial search of companies offering these services but I would like to hear if anyone on this site has any recomendations of companies they have used in the past and how much they paid for these services.

I would also like some advice as to what questions I should be asking when talk to these companies or pit falls that I should try and avoid.

Requirements:

1. Doesn't need to be overly fancy but should look professional (not home-made)

2. Would include approximately 100-200 pictures of products

3. Would include a online purchasing tool

4. Primary target is English speakers, but depending on the cost Thai and other Languages may be added as well.

5. Search Engine Optimization (although from what I have read this may have to wait 3 months before it can be done)

I always wonder when I see numbers like these...Are you sure these wages are current?

I don't know any of the people who graduated from the University I went to here making this little. The lowest salary I have heard any of my Thai friends received at their first job was 15,000.

Most of them were able to find a job making 20,000-30,000; granted they needed to do a good search to find the jobs in this range. From my conversations with them, if they were willing to take a job in the 15,000 to 20,000 range it seemed like the jobs were a dime a dozen.

I would begin to wonder if TV posters are offering wages lower than the true market value; if so, that may be why many are not happy with their staff.

I would like to borrow a quote I have seen used by many of those teaching English in Thailand, "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys..."