Gaccha

Yes

You didn't follow the procedure. You should have instantly initiated a wrong item refund process. The seller has several days to respond and then if they require you return the item then do that, and so on. Was the seller you picked a flagship store or a 90%+ rated store? A store with dodgy methods won't have customers for long.

Then you should serve your time.

There's a life lesson here. Always stay and defend yourself. Rape charges are often on the fairly flimsy evidence of false accusations, but if you flee and they hold it in your absence, you are screwed.

I see a lot of complaints against Lazada on this forum over transactions going awry. I've consistently defended them. But the one area which seems to bug forum members the most is the refunds procedure. But I like it even more than I did three years back when I first used it. If you follow their straightforward refund procedure then you're more than likely to get the refund; I've never had a refund denied. But they outperformed expectations today: They refunded before I had walked out of the Flash Express where I had just handed over, via a free postage return, the wrong items. I think by the way they did this their system is clearly using an algorithm to determine good/loyal customers. If you use cash on delivery, you're a 'bad' customer, since it creates unnecessary headaches. If your complaints are without merit ("the item was bigger/smaller than I was expecting") then you get a mark against your name. If you don't follow the procedures, or you complain or obstruct the procedures, then you get a mark against your name. My advice: -choose stores with 90%+ ratings -choose items with high numbers of high satisfaction reviews -if item received is wrong, instantly appeal -if item received is faulty, immediately enter the 3rd party review process -always pre-pay -follow the simple rules (Don't send messages. Don't telephone them.). The procedure is automated even down to the return address label; there is no need for any human contact. -If your problem is too complicated for the system, then you caused a a friction in the system and you'll get a mark against your name until you start obeying the procedure -Obey. Consume. Enjoy

It's worth pointing out that BBB+ is designated as near junk bond status. Certainly not something I'd characterize as 'reasonably safe', although a lot turns on the meaning of 'reasonable'. At that level of risk, then equity is likely more appropriate. Generally, laymen investing in bonds are deeply risk averse.

The only goverment place still offering free vaccinations for walk-ins (as far as I know) in Bangkok is the Bang Rak Medical Center (sic), near BTS Saint Louis.

A perfect example here. A 1 baht weight of gold from Aurora on Lazada right now. That's a 3%~ price uplift.

This is interesting to compare with the simple, tiny 0.5g gold "flake" giftcards that Aurora etc sell on Lazada. These gift prizes don't vary much so it's interesting to see the rip-off margin.

Thanks! That's 15.244 grams. Very handy to know.

The research papers indicate very poor results for all the anti-cold, nasal sprays you can find in Boots and so on. The only genuinely innovative spray designed against COVID is the expensive, Canadian-Israeli VirX (Enovid, Sanotize), which is sold in Boots and online. ...But its research data has similar problems to this Thai "innovation". although at least it sounds less like cargo cult pagan ritual magic and more like something scientically founded. Obviously, all these academic papers can be found online if you're struggling to get to sleep. I've used VirX since it arrived in Thailand and so far so good. But obviously they need far more research even if their foundational hypothesis is sound.

The quoted gold price right now in Thailand looks like this. So for gold at 96.5% purity right now, Intergold will buy at 29,960 baht off you. ... what isn't clear to me is how much is that. My guess is 10 grams of gold but I can't find any mention, even after looking at several exchanges. Simple question, but what is the answer?

To be fair, it is considerably preferable to American-rules sportsball ("football"), American-rules rounders ("baseball"), American-rules netball ("basketball").

The situation is bizarre for me. Although, like everyone, I'm required to re-register, at the time I originally signed up they had already strengthened their KYC process, so they already have all my required documents. They are right there in front of their faces but "the computer says no".

I never have. The fast-track is not especially privileged. Any old people, any business class, any monks, any pregnant, and on and on, and then anyone prepared to pay around 1,000 baht to the various companies offering a VIP service. But if the queues ever again returned to the terrible levels of 2018 (?) when they reached the frontpages then I would consider it. But even at their worst, it was only at certain times (my memory is mid-afternoon was worst). I went through the all-new standard Immigration a couple of weeks back and it was remarkable. I think it was 3 minutes of waiting and processing. The fingerprinting has made the ID check extremely quick and certain. The computerisation of visas has removed paperwork and removed unnecessary dithering. ...So the system can now focus on dodgy tourists and problem arrivals. Those re-entering with 1 year visa extensions can now easily be waved through. The next step would be for Immigration to allow anyone with a re-entry permit to enter via the "Thai Only" gates as is the case in Japan (with foreigners entering under "Japanese Only" points of entry).

Are there documented cases of people fined when they have submitted online on time, only to be stuck in "pending-hell"? I know from bitter experience that they are not flexible with fines, but surely a proof that the documents were submitted on time should cause the fine to be waived...

This is a low-information voter response. Whilst it's true that some remarkable vaccines do prevent transmission, most don't. The Covid vaccine is doing what you'd expect it to do. Well. I'm aware that in America, politicians and other hype machines made extravagant claims, but then why would you expect politicians to stick to the truth? Such a strange position to take. Without getting too epistemological here, somebody is not lying if they knew you wouldn't believe them before they spoke; it can only be a lie if it was expected to be true. So... you only fooled yourself by expecting what they said to be true.

Thai opticians will not provide you with the prescription in order to force you to remain a customer. The best thing to do is to visit the large Rutnin Eye Hospital, pay the 700 (?) baht for the eye test, then take the prescription and order from Zenni online (download their App). Zenni is very cheap and very high quality; I've used them for years now. I think they are an American company who manufactures in China. This is a no-brainer.

Two words: 5 baht.

Sure. We are referring to the fabricated culture created in the 1950s, by the political elite in Bangkok, to "civilize" Thailand in the eyes of the West. I hope that helps.

I'll answer in one sentence: In a country with poor mental healthcare, with the highest levels of genital attack by women in the World, and with a culture that teaches women via Channel 7 dramas that acting hysterical is appropriate behaviour, you should never give your apartment keys to any woman unless you are prepared to abandon that apartment in a night-escape wearing only your undies.

Over the years, I've tried every method to get to immigration. I've done: -taxi -riverboat + taxi -riverboat + walk + old skool train + taxi -mrt + bts + songthaew -river ferry+ bus + bus + songthaew -bus+bus And on and on. They vary in costs (the old train costs around 5 baht) and in time. And none are ideal. But now the BTS extension makes a big difference. I'm interested in the redline trains and the new MRT line being built next to Immigration.

You'll really struggle as an American and as an Expat. Thai banks are groaningly bad for foreigners to invest in ETFs. But as an American you have it even harder. But recent years have been very kind to Expats with the explosion in FinTech ETF companies. Within Asia, these are mostly located in Hong Kong and Singapore. ...but they are now entering Thailand. The well-known "Stashaway" opened a branch in Bangkok. Download their App and see if they take an American in the registration process. If they don't allow you to register, that's a sign you're going to really struggle. You might have to send your money back to the USA and stick it in a fund there.

A good choice would be White Zinfandel. If you ordered it at a good bar, they'd probably smile, fall to their knees, choking back tears and offer you a free wine of your choice. The young ladies would enjoy it since the sugar propping up its flavour goes well in their still immature taste buds. Also, you'll find ants stay away from it, and it also acts as a general surfactant. Presumably, it would get through Thai customs without paying the wine duty because on a metaphysical level, certainly the German Idealist period of Fichte, it could not be construed as a wine, as such.

The big red flags: -restaurants mostly catering to Farang tourists who are seeking the 'authentic' Thai food -a lack of rats, cockroaches, sewage, suggesting too much time spent cleaning and not enough time cooking -a menu written in English (a giant grand prix red flag if the English menu has no prices) -staff who speak suspiciously good English, or who ask how spicey -places mentioned in ThaiVisa by aspirational Bangkok residents Likely overpriced places: -places listed in the Michelin guide (without a star)