My workmates and I have been planning to go to Thailand for about a year now. We’re finally doing it in two months and we’re doing our individual research about the place and the culture in preparation. I saw in one of the blogs I’ve read that vendors in tourist spots can be quite pushy on what they are selling, and that they had a pretty bad experience with them when they went there for an asian matchmaking tour.

How do we turn them down without insulting them or appearing too harsh? The least thing we want to happen is to cause some trouble while in there. What do we do if saying “no thanks” won’t make them back off?

How to politely turn down sellers?

Easy..... Learn 3 words,mai mee tang, they soon go away, leave you alone.

Mai mee tang,  English, got no money.

You and every other foreigner are doing them a great favour by even setting foot in their country. There is absolutely no need for any of us to worry about being polite. When I am on the beach, I close my eyes when I see them coming. Anywhere else, say nothing. Of course they don't understand any foreign language. If you say anything at all, they take it as an expression of interest in whatever they are selling. 

1 minute ago, allane said:

When I am on the beach, I close my eyes when I see them coming.

 

Then get your wallet nicked while you are "sleeping" :)

Most of the time,  I just ignore them,Sometimes say  MI OW  ( dont want)

I know may not seem polite, but i did not ask them to ask me, so why respond...

Say I  don't have time.

 

May mee welAR.

2 hours ago, allane said:

You and every other foreigner are doing them a great favour by even setting foot in their country. There is absolutely no need for any of us to worry about being polite. When I am on the beach, I close my eyes when I see them coming. Anywhere else, say nothing. Of course they don't understand any foreign language. If you say anything at all, they take it as an expression of interest in whatever they are selling. 

I like the way you think. It was a great help. Thanks!

1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

Most of the time,  I just ignore them,Sometimes say  MI OW  ( dont want)

I know may not seem polite, but i did not ask them to ask me, so why respond...

Well, i'm more of a passive aggressive type of person. Sometimes I can't ignore someone if they annoy me too much :/

I just say Mai Khrap and smile.  No thank you seems to work.  The idea is just to be polite and say no thank you.

7 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

I just say Mai Khrap and smile.  

Avoid all eye contact, pretend they don't exist ........ works far better.

Being polite shows weakness in Thailand.

Any seller who is pushy, grabs my arm, steps in the street to block my path etc is not polite and not deserving of a polite response, I simply ignore them and walk on (these are usually the Tailors etc).

 

On a beach, I just say 'Mai Ow' and if they are persistent and blocking my view... 'No!' a little more firmly *(these are usually the sarong sellers & henna tattoo guys).

 

In a regular market, people are usually less pushy and its our choice to be there, if you make eye contact a smile and small shake of the head is fine. 

 

 

I don't worry about being polite, but I don't like to be impolite, in the situation where someone has forced me to become someone I don't like to be I am not too worried about my response just so long as it's not one which allows a minor situation to escalate. 

Edited February 20, 20188 yr by richard_smith237

I recommend using international sign language.

 

For me what works is to show how much money I have, I say very loudly in English I have money very small, I use one hand or two to indicate what a short distance is.

 

This usually works for me, everyone understands if you're money is too short to go along way.

 

Then thank everyone with a big smile and be in your way.

 

While they are still a few metres from you (you from them) let them know that they are invisible.

 

 

It's good opportunity to practise your Thai

 

- Mai au, krap (I don't want, thank you)

- Farang mai mee tang, krap (Foreigner doesn't have money)

- Mee läo, krap (I have already)

 

Remember to smile and you'll get a smile back before the seller moves on.

 

1 minute ago, manchega said:

I recommend using international sign language.

 

For me what works is to show how much money I have, I say very loudly in English I have money very small, I use one hand or two to indicate what a short distance is.

 

This usually works for me, everyone understands if you're money is too short to go along way.

 

Then thank everyone with a big smile and be in your way.

 

Having to go through that routine every 5 meters may wear thin.... 

 

Tourists can often be seen being ever so polite to someone who's simply trying too hard to sell them something... It's nice to see someone making effort to be polite, however, the persistence of the sellers often wears thin... that's when you see those who've been here any length of time simply ignore them and anyone else trying to vie for their attention.... 

6 minutes ago, oilinki said:

It's good opportunity to practise your Thai

 

- Mai au, krap (I don't want, thank you)

- Farang mai mee tang, krap (Foreigner doesn't have money)

- Mee läo, krap (I have already)

 

Remember to smile and you'll get a smile back before the seller moves on.

 

If you want to use Thai "Chern by" .... "invite them to leave"

They are being rude by hassling you , just dont acknowledge them and dont even look at what they are selling .

   They are pests

52 minutes ago, oilinki said:

It's good opportunity to practise your Thai

 

- Mai au, krap (I don't want, thank you)

- Farang mai mee tang, krap (Foreigner doesn't have money)

- Mee läo, krap (I have already)

 

Remember to smile and you'll get a smile back before the seller moves on.

 

 

This is the only answer I would recommend.

I just smile and wave my hand to say not interested.   

One of the first things I learnt, how to say, no thank you. Mai Khrap, then treat them like they do not exist. You have been polite and they get the message loud and clear.

perhaps it does wear thin, but after one or two sellers see the body language they tend to ignore you?

Indian tailors are the best value.  Find one close to your hotel that you will pass by at least twice a day on your daily travels.  Day 1, you will be accosted so feign interest and tell him you'll come back later.  See how excited he is on the return journey, same agin, tell him you're in a hurry but will see him in the morning.  Usually takes about 4 days before he ignores you.  

In Pattaya, just say Nyet and scowl.

thai sellers are not over persistant. just say no or look the other way. its simple, they go away...

Simple thai like someone else suggested "mai ow" or "mai ow khrap" gives the impression you didn't get off the boat yesterday and you've heard and seen all this before.  They tend to back off sooner.  It's easy and tells them you don't want what they're offering.  Smiling is optional, but truth is if they're a pushy $&#*@ there's no reason to be polite, and it won't matter to them.  

Miow crap ( my spelling). "I not want, thank you", shake head from side to side and smile......just like you might do back home really?

simple,- Just a little smile and show with your hand that you are not interested

8 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

Most of the time,  I just ignore them,Sometimes say  MI OW  ( dont want)

I know may not seem polite, but i did not ask them to ask me, so why respond...

 

Just smile and end it with "Kahp." That's polite and they get the message.

 

Phonetically:  May ow, kahp

No eye contact and a small shake of the head. Yours not the sellers?

just ignore them, keep walking and dont look at them, they dont exist

What I always say is "Mai ow krab, kob khun krab". Krab alone does not mean thank you.