curtklay

Check out the new Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5. Most of the bells and whistles of the top models at a cost under $300.

I just got a J5 with screen protector and case for 7000 baht.

Or (if you can afford real quality) the S6....the J5 and 7 is just a 'poor man's' S6, for those who dream of having a top smart phone, but cannot afford it, or are too tight to buy one...haha, sorry, only kidding....true though.

I'm assuming the S6 market price here typically exceeds 20,000, whereas the J7 is usually under 9000 and the J5 under 8000.

So to me, the first question is, does the S6 do so much more for me as a phone, for the things I do with my phone, that warrants spending an extra 12,000 or more than double the price. For me, the answer is no.

The second question is, if I choose the J7 as the lower priced smartphone, is it going to meet my needs for what I want from a smartphone -- today, and for the foreseeable future. The answer to that is yes.

Then the last question is, given that, do I have other/different things I can spend the 12,000 baht I saved on to make my life more enjoyable compared to if I only bought the S6. For me, the answer to that is yes.

That's why I'd buy a J7 instead of an S6 or anything else similar in the current market of smartphones costing double or more the price.

But that's also why I wouldn't and didn't buy a J5, because it had lesser features (mainly only 8 GB of internal storage vs 16 GB in the J7) that weren't going to fully meet my needs moving forward.

However, both of those J models DO have removable/replaceable batteries and SD card slots, which are features I like and ones increasingly not found on a lot of the higher end smartphones, including on the S6 and the S6 Edge.

Totally agree with you, but I chose the J5 because the J7 is just too large to carry in my pocket. It came with a free 32GB SD card solving the storage issue. They also threw in a screen protector and silicone case. After a bit of negotiating, the total price was 6,990 baht. I couldn't refuse.

Considering this is the first phone I have bought since my 9 year old Motorola flip phone, there are more than enough features to keep me satisfied.

the great Thai AIS telephone robbery.

Lazada has it.

http://www.lazada.co.th/doctors-best-msm-1000-mg-joint-health-180-capsules-740731.html

Check out the new Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5. Most of the bells and whistles of the top models at a cost under $300.

I just got a J5 with screen protector and case for 7000 baht.

I have bought all 3 varieties, white, wheat, and 12 grain at Big C and Tesco.

Unfortunately, I'm not overly impressed with it.

Tonto has never been to Kansas.

I have shopped at Makro in Lampang and Chiang Mai. Both carry blocks of US made cheddar cheese that is far better than Big C's offering. Makro bread is not bad; a world apart from Farmhouse . They also carry some decent Doi brand coffee. Their produce and meat departments beat the pants off Big C. In these pre-opening months, I have noticed Big C is more aware of Western shoppers, carrying ground beef, and more German imports. Neither company is stupid, and are certainly aware of the growing population of foreigners. I think we will see more attempts by both stores to lure the farang business, and I welcome it.

FlorC: you really need to move somewhere with a kitchen and fridge!

Makro= yes

Big C= sometimes.

I signed.

As noted in my posts, I am opposed to dual pricing as it is discriminatory and offensive.

But I must say, I think you dealt with the situation in the worst way imaginable.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

Yeah...like Chiang Mai is Heaven on Earth!

The charge here is per person for foreigners, and in some cases, an extra charge for the car. 200 baht X 6 people in a car is 1200 baht. Divide that by the current exchange rate of 35, and you get $34 per car. And higher using the usual exchange rate of 32 baht per dollar. It's not "peanuts", "a few pennies", or "a dollar or two".

After 11 pages of this, the bottom line is, dual pricing based on nationality is discrimination...period. If you're happy with that...fine. But you can't expect everyone to be.

That said, I will be going to a National Park this weekend where the fee is 200 baht per person for foreigners. I won't whine...I'll just bend over and take it. But I won't like it.

And I'm very sure you'll find more Thais driving the Mercedes' and BMWs than non Thais.

So if you want to "judge" people by their ability to pay, the whole 2 tier system based on nationality goes down the toilet, where it should be.

Thanks for posting that message, Joe.

It helps to know that they are "so ashamed" of their system, and if I "wanna" use it I should "go to some country and come back in again".

Nothing like a good laugh to make me feel all better.

Thank God for the mail in procedure.

Joe: I appreciate your diligence to supply answers.

If the system only works for those who have entered Thailand within the last 3 years, they should post a notice about that on the instruction page. It would surely save the majority of us old timers a lot of grief.

I like how 400-500 baht is now being calculated as a "few pennies" and "a dollar or two".

WOW...the exchange rate sure went to hell when I wasn't looking.

The OP mentions a price difference of 80 baht.

Read through the 10 pages of this thread, and you will find several references to National Park fees of 400-500 baht for non Thais.

Well then - they're probably not what people are referring to when they say 'a dollar or two', are they?

Exchange rates. They're not rocket surgery.

Well then-what are they referring to? The topic is National Park dual pricing.

OK, I'll explain it; they are exaggerating about the price difference, and I'm being sarcastic about the exchange rate.

And what the heck is "rocket surgery"?

but once you get the hang of it...works.

No it doesn't.

I get the same result as wayned (for months), as are countless others, and I'm not clicking anything wrong.

No problem, I can continue to mail it in as advised by the IO officer with the "mai pen rai attitude".

But I do feel sorry for the many who have to travel long distances, or wait for hours to file in person. They should either allow mail in for all offices, or fix the f***ing system.

I like how 400-500 baht is now being calculated as a "few pennies" and "a dollar or two".

WOW...the exchange rate sure went to hell when I wasn't looking.

The OP mentions a price difference of 80 baht.

Read through the 10 pages of this thread, and you will find several references to National Park fees of 400-500 baht for non Thais.

I like how 400-500 baht is now being calculated as a "few pennies" and "a dollar or two".

WOW...the exchange rate sure went to hell when I wasn't looking.

Or she did some couch casting with the judges.

Jeez, man...a 17 year old kid from a dirt poor background wins some obscure beauty contest, and you automatically assume she's banging the judges.

TVF cynicism at it's best.

Give her a break.

Speaking of K-Pop...how about "Sistar"?

I don't even know if they can sing.

Once a discussion has declined to the point where all you can say is "if you don't like it, go back where you came from", then there truly is nothing left to say.

Ghosts and lottery numbers. Just more of the many ridiculous beliefs you encounter here. Eventually, you stop looking for explanations and just shake your head.

In 2012 the entry fees to some of Thailand's most popular parks rose by 25% for foreigners and 150% for Thais.

Yes, but the prior Thai fee was 40 baht while the foreigner fee was 400 baht. That gives a more accurate perspective than the percentages.

Sorry, but no matter how you rationalize it, charging non-Thais 10 times more is just plain offensive.

Almost all foreign food gets "Americanized" in the states. It's a good thing, since many of the original recipes don't appeal to the Western palate. The best Thai food I've eaten was in California.