Seatran Ferry Ripoff

[farang62]

In the last few weeks I have had to take many trips to Surat. I have noticed that the staff at the consessions on the ferry are overcharging the Tourists and any one else they can. There are no prices posted or have been taken down by the staff during the trip.

I was charged 30 baht for Nescafe on one trip, 20 baht on the return and when I asked how much the coffee was I was told 15 baht.( just one of many examples)

I noticed this on 6 trips in the last 2 weeks. It really is bad for our guests to the island, most tourists know they are getting overcharged but say nothing as they are not sure. Is there no control over what the ferry charges? And isn't there supposed to be price list conspicuously posted. Who ever checks on the freey operations is not doing thier job.

It use to be very well run operation and prices were posted, now it is a rip off and definately not the way to great the tourists to Samui.

The management of the ferry should look into the practice by observation on a few trips, if the staff are asked they will deny everything.

Lets keep the first impression the tourists a good one , at least until they get off the boat, after that is another story for another time.

[taxexile]

Lets keep the first impression the tourists a good one , at least until they get off the boat

why wait until they get off the boat , the staff have got a bunch of naive tourists captive for a couple of hours on the boat , its a perfect opportunity for them to perfect their overcharging skills .

its probably a government run initiative.

[mafaso]

Have had the coffee ripoff done to me many times. I bought a cup for 20 baht and then when I was getting off I asked how much for a cup of coffee and she said 15 baht and I said why did you charge me 20. She just rolled her eyes and handed me 5 baht without saying anything like I was inconveniencing her. They truly, truly, truly think it is ok and the right thing to do. This kind of staff has to be taught to them in their upbringing. Maybe it is passed down generation to generation that the only way to get ahead and to take advantage of people when you can, get what you can now and don't worry about the future.

[sbk]

I suggest you contact the Seatrans office with your complaints. Mention that people are complaining --can't say it will help but it sure can't hurt

[highdiver]

Have had the coffee ripoff done to me many times. I bought a cup for 20 baht and then when I was getting off I asked how much for a cup of coffee and she said 15 baht and I said why did you charge me 20. She just rolled her eyes and handed me 5 baht without saying anything like I was inconveniencing her. They truly, truly, truly think it is ok and the right thing to do. This kind of staff has to be taught to them in their upbringing. Maybe it is passed down generation to generation that the only way to get ahead and to take advantage of people when you can, get what you can now and don't worry about the future.

You are truly, truly, truly right.

unforunatley it happens also in most other countries even the west "civilised" ones.

The texi scams made by London texi drivers of putting up night Tarifs in day time so you pay much more.

or the wondefull street vendours in Amsterdam who forget to hand you the right change, the wonderfull street fare in Rome where if you dont speak italian then you get the "special price". the waiters in Cafe de Paris who give you a small beer but charge the big one. my personal favorite are the French... they are so welcoming to tourists and they realy do think "it is ok and the right thing to do" when they overcharge or rip you off. just see how they react when you catch them or complain.

Its amazing how many others countries share the same "upbringing".

I only wonder why we complain so much about the Thai.. are our countries any better???

[t.s]

In the last few weeks I have had to take many trips to Surat. I have noticed that the staff at the consessions on the ferry are overcharging the Tourists and any one else they can. There are no prices posted or have been taken down by the staff during the trip.

I was charged 30 baht for Nescafe on one trip, 20 baht on the return and when I asked how much the coffee was I was told 15 baht.( just one of many examples)

I noticed this on 6 trips in the last 2 weeks. It really is bad for our guests to the island, most tourists know they are getting overcharged but say nothing as they are not sure. Is there no control over what the ferry charges? And isn't there supposed to be price list conspicuously posted. Who ever checks on the freey operations is not doing thier job.

It use to be very well run operation and prices were posted, now it is a rip off and definately not the way to great the tourists to Samui.

The management of the ferry should look into the practice by observation on a few trips, if the staff are asked they will deny everything.

Lets keep the first impression the tourists a good one , at least until they get off the boat, after that is another story for another time.

interestingly, i took the seatran ferry sunday and asked for a heineken. i was promptly told 70 baht in thai, and as i got my hundred baht out to pay the man, a woman behind the bar said to him in thai, it was 60, and i was returned 40 change. i have no idea what the actual price is. it was reasonable at both prices quoted

That said, the seatran is well better than the lompraya cat o' death and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

in addition, if you know the prices, there is no need to ask them, rather just pay them the correct amount.

as i see it 30 baht for a cup of coffee is not unreasonable, and i highly doubt that ANY tourist would even blink at the price. oh, and you had best avoid the apoplexy you would be sure to expreience should you visit a national park.

i pick my battles in thailand, and 10 baht on a cup of coffee is just not worth the fight.

[limbos]

Whatever you pay, double check your change.

[taxexile]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

[womble]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

Having a bad day Tax?

[Mid]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

Word ......................

[jasreeve17]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

Word ......................

"Word" ??? What word? What does that mean?

Taxexile - Good point, firmly put. Stealing, dishonesty, etc is obviously bad and should be discouraged at home (UK for me) and here (three years but still not my home...).

If somebody deliberately overcharged me at home (not unusual at the local cornershop in Southgate) then I'd take them to task.

If somebody deliberately overcharges me here, I do the same.

But, in my opinion Thais overcharging Thais is equally as common as Thais overcharging the guests to their country. It's seems to be one of the negatives of "developing" nations.

[Mid]

"Word" ??? What word? What does that mean?

100% Agreement .............Hear Hear , my word old boy

[girlx]

the seatran is well better than the lompraya cat o' death

why do you say that? i take the lomprayah every time and feel it is pretty safe, they seem to keep it up better than the seatran boats!

[pumpuiman]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

A close friend of mine, a wealthy Thai, examines every check bin he gets for mistakes. I used to find this embarrasing until I noticed nearly 50% of check bin's were incorrect (overcharged)

I have now picked up his habit.

[jasreeve17]

"Word" ??? What word? What does that mean?

100% Agreement .............Hear Hear , my word old boy

Thank you. I thought that I may be that, but the type of individual that I imagine using this terminology doesn't really fit with the image I have of other Thaivisa users.... (my ignorance, no doubt.)

[Mid]

books 'n covers .......................

a change of advitar can alter perception also .....................................

[taxexile]

Having a bad day Tax?

not at all womble !

but when someone posts an arseful of <deleted> like

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

then i believe a firm challenge is called for.

[Rooo]

Having a bad day Tax?

not at all womble !

but when someone posts an arseful of <deleted> like

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

then i believe a firm challenge is called for.

Good on you Tax , I agree with you on this one.Now don't go all funny on me .

[Insight]

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

Tax, this was a dreadfully harsh post. "idiots like yourself" ?

I *hate* paying over the odds, but if I seen somebody debating what the cost of something was behind the counter to the tone of 10 baht (and was aware of it), I'd probably pay whatever fee that was demanded then refuse to go there again, just like the rest of us.

To call somebody an idiot for this is a bit steep. What would you do yourself in that situation?

[t.s]

the seatran is well better than the lompraya cat o' death

why do you say that? i take the lomprayah every time and feel it is pretty safe, they seem to keep it up better than the seatran boats!

the lompraya is a harbour boat designed for flat water. It is quite unstable in higher seas. The seatran is designed for the waters it plies.

[t.s]

and truth be told i really couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

so its perfectly ok for the staff at he drinks counter to add on 10 or 20 baht to the regular prices of food and drinks depending on the perceived naivety of the customer , and for the staff to pocket that money.

its nothing to do with 10 or 15 baht , but with honesty and respect for tourists and customers.

it's idiots like yourself , t.s. , that should avoid travel , because all you and your ilk achieve by allowing yourselves to be milked so easily of your money by passively condoning this theft is the perpetuation of the belief held by many thais that it is ok to fleece foriegn tourists and you bring down the derision of the staff on yourself for being such an easy and uncomplaining victim.

in being such a simple , sheepish and compliant victim , you only make it harder for others to get a fair deal in this country.

it is most certainly yourself that should stay home.

it seems i have hit a nerve.

"arseful of <deleted>", idiot, sheepish, compliant" etc.. well argued tax, very well argued

If me and "my ilk" choose to become irate at something it is the the blatant theivery of places like kingpower duty free which is more expensive than in town, the koh samui taxi mafia who chare 300 baht +++ to go from the airport to bophut village, and bangkok air's monopoly which charges me prime money for service it need not deliver due to it stranglehold on air transport in the area. you want to talk about lack of respect for tourists lets start there.

Simply put, a 150 baht a day worker who makes multiple trips between chumporn and bang rak over the course of the day ekeing out an extra 100 baht by padding the bill on a few coffees does not in my opinion constitute fleecing. but hey, if you feel that strongly about it, take them to task by all means.

In addition, I am not the problem here. If i know the price I pay it, and not a baht more. All i said was that if a price seems reasonable to my experience of thailand, i pay it, if i find out it was less later, i make a note and an do not overpay again. This is unlike a previous poster who paid 3 different prices for a cup of coffee over three trips.

As for staying home, both kpg and bangkok are home to me and have been for many years now. so i will take your advice there.

look at that i answered and i managed to do it without calling you a cheap miserable <deleted>

Edited January 17, 2007 by t.s

[womble]

Having a bad day Tax?

not at all womble !

but when someone posts an arseful of <deleted> like

and truth be told i reaslly couldn't care less what they charge for their drinks.

perhaps if 10 to 15 baht on the price of a beverage affects you so adversely, travel is an expense best avoided altogether.

then i believe a firm challenge is called for.

Fair Enough.........

I do agree with you, maybe a tad harsh, but we should never stand for overcharging of any sort any where.

[girlx]

QUOTE(girlx @ 2007-01-13 19:17:02)

QUOTE

the seatran is well better than the lompraya cat o' death

why do you say that? i take the lomprayah every time and feel it is pretty safe, they seem to keep it up better than the seatran boats!

the lompraya is a harbour boat designed for flat water. It is quite unstable in higher seas. The seatran is designed for the waters it plies.

i hope you're right because i have to choose one or the other tomorrow and am going with seatran express. i am terrified of the ferries.

[Rooo]

QUOTE(girlx @ 2007-01-13 19:17:02)

QUOTE

the seatran is well better than the lompraya cat o' death

why do you say that? i take the lomprayah every time and feel it is pretty safe, they seem to keep it up better than the seatran boats!

the lompraya is a harbour boat designed for flat water. It is quite unstable in higher seas. The seatran is designed for the waters it plies.

i hope you're right because i have to choose one or the other tomorrow and am going with seatran express. i am terrified of the ferries.

Well the sea looked better today.Went fishing yesterday 2 Meter swell.Big boat no worries Girl X.

[sbk]

Seatrans express and Lomprayah run only between Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao. The Seatrans car ferry runs between Samui and Don Sak (still hasn't started the Phangan-Don Sak run). Raja Ferry runs between Phangan and Don Sak.

So, if you are going to Samui then you don't have the option of a car ferry anyway. There is always good old SongSerm, the boat that is older than god, sank once and is still running. Apparently, the Songserm boat used to run the Chao Praya. Some 20+ years ago.

[mafaso]

Had it happen again last night:

Went to a little Thai food joint, ordered one dish take away, the menu said 50 baht. The old lady running the joint brings it to me and mumbles something...sounded like 50 baht so I gave her 60 and sat for a second waiting for my 10 back (I don't tip on take aways). She went to her desk and just hung there.

I went over to her and she said "Yes, what you want?" I said 10 baht and she pretended she had know idea it was 50 baht and not 60 baht even though it's her restaurant and she's been there for a long time. Incredible. She said "Sorry" and just kept moving along. "Oh well, didn't get this farang, I'll get the next one."

I wanted to punch her in the face.

I know they are never going to change but also I will never get used to it either.

[ParadiseLost]

I have been living on KP for 3 years now, so of course I have to use the ferries frequently. Reading the posts, I felt the need to register and add my two baht worth...

Some people are being more than a little naive - you can be ripped off anywhere in the world; its the amount that should matter.

I have just returned from 'Fortress EU', with the distinct feeling of being raped (as opposed to ripped off) . Take a taxi from Schipol airport to a city no more than 30km away - 100 Euros! Compare that to a taxi ripoff in Samui and suddenly it seems rather petty to complain.

Prices of coffee, beer, etc on Thai ferries are remarkably low considering the normal excessive charges on most public transport anywhere in the world. A 200ml bottle of water in Dusseldorf airport - 3 Euros. A cup of coffee in Schipol - 3.2 Euros. Buy something on a ferry leaving Hong Kong for Macau! I won't even go near in-flight charges...

I do not accept overcharging in general, but what would you prefer - fixed prices at so called 'First World' country levels? I am sorry but I don't mind being ripped off a few pennies by someone who is earning a miserly wage, I just don't take it personally. I take the time to find out what I should be paying and don't argue unless it is a significant amount.

But - there are far bigger problems here than the price of coffee. I am more terrified of the shocking condition of the Raja ferries, the amount of cargo carried on night boats and the general lack of safety measures shown by all operators. Anyone take into account the 40kg backpacks when counting the number of people a boat is registered to carry? How about the state of the 'pier' the Hadrin Queen uses in Big Buddha? That is the biggest rip off of all - you pay them to provide safe passage, it's anything but...

Its a pity the discussion on these forums almost always turns into puerile flaming - you can only imagine what kind of cowardly idiots hide behind their anonymity to slag others off. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; if you don't agree then offer an opposing argument, or did your 'First World' education teach you nothing?

[taxexile]

I do not accept overcharging

but I don't mind being ripped off a few pennies

make your mind up.

what is a miserly wage to a westerner is a standard wage here in thailand.

once again the ease with which some people allow themselves to be overcharged just encourages this kind of low level dishonesty , which no doubt leads to higher levels of dishonesty against foriegners should the opportunities arise.

your philanthropy is doing nobody any favours and only encourages sleazy dishonesty , aggravates tourists and lowers the respect thais have for foriegners and foriegners have for thais.

european prices are high , but they are transparently high and overcharging is frowned upon and punished.

and it is the the ease with which thais can resort to dishonest practices and get away with them that goes a long way to accounting for boat overloading (with few checks) and lack of safety regulation enforcement.

its dishonesty , and its rarely challenged here in thailand. in fact some people even condone and make excuses for it.

[Mid]

hey tax ,

head nail hit

[mafaso]

Good one Tax.

ParadiseLost, you are comparing apples and oranges. Just because things are "cheaper" here than in the west doesn't mean we should accept it when someone steals from us. And that is exactly what they are doing, stealing. Same as reaching in our pockets and taking the money.

And since you obviously don't mind ("well the coffee is still cheap even though I just paid 30% more than I should have") and let them get away with it then they'll just keep doing it and doing it causing all kinds of problems.