High Season Prices

[Bournville]

Dealing with living in Thailand for the past 4 years has been full of twists and turns. 

 

This latest one has me gob smacked. I'm being hit with "high season prices" here in Krabi! So let me get this straight... Me and a couple of other guys visited you for the past 3 months in low season.... Cocktails for 100 and a tall Leo was also 100. Not cheap.. But heck.. It's in a bamboo hit on the beach. Cool. 

 

Prices for me..  A local guy .. Are now 150 and 130 for those drinks! High season prices I'm told. Are you <deleted> ING having me on?! 

 

Is this done elsewhere in Thailand? I've never experienced this in Chiang Mai.. Or Bangkok. I think it's disgusting. 

 

Fir my loyalty.. Higher prices! Idiots! Voted with my feet. 

 

 

[CNXexpat]

I have never seen that a bar or restaurant in Chiang Mai increasing the prices for the high season. 

 

If you are a regular customer of the bar, the owner shouldn´t increase the price for you because you also come in the much longer low season. But that´s Thai - looking for the money they can earn (perhaps) now, never thinking about the near future.

[4evermaat]

@Bournville

Is this price increase just at one bar, or are several bars you frequent all raised the price?

[neeray]

Two easy solutions:

> Think about high-season pricing as regular pricing. Low-season pricing can then be viewed as a discount. Bonus.

> Become an abstainer (soft drink prices don't vary with the seasons).

[Puchaiyank]

If it is any consolation, the price for a 16-pack of bottled drinking water went from 49 baht to 100 baht in one day...????

[gk10002000]

Loyalty is generally non-existent in my opinion.  As for high season prices, well, habits die hard.  And then there is the somewhat common Thai mentality "business slow, so must raise prices to compensate"

[PatOngo]

The price of green tea has remained the same....give it a try!

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

The price of green tea has remained the same....give it a try!

I don't think they jack up the price of weed either.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[bkk6060]

Is your goal to get a good buzz, or just nurse a few beers?

If buzz is your goal, then bring a flask and gulp it in the toilet.

Nurse one beer instead of 2 or 3 there you go; you saved your 2 buck increase.

Edited November 2, 2019 by bkk6060

[Bournville]

6 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

@Bournville

Is this price increase just at one bar, or are several bars you frequent all raised the price?

Several! All food and drink. They just don't care about long term anything! 555. "Long term customer". What's that they are thinking. Madness 

[sillyfool]

5 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

If it is any consolation, the price for a 16-pack of bottled drinking water went from 49 baht to 100 baht in one day...????

where ?

[thaibeachlovers]

7 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

I have never seen that a bar or restaurant in Chiang Mai increasing the prices for the high season. 

 

If you are a regular customer of the bar, the owner shouldn´t increase the price for you because you also come in the much longer low season. But that´s Thai - looking for the money they can earn (perhaps) now, never thinking about the near future.

Every tourist place in the world makes most of their money in high season, as the rest of the year there are few customers. Thailand is no different. In case one hasn't noticed, there is a general downturn in visitor numbers, so even more reason to up prices in high season.

 

Chiang Mai is different in that it's a year round destination.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Bournville said:

Several! All food and drink. They just don't care about long term anything! 555. "Long term customer". What's that they are thinking. Madness 

Sorry, but do you consider yourself "different" because you are a long term customer? You ain't. Like most farangs, you are only there till you aren't. You are also not their friend.

 

[ChipButty]

Ive never seen that happen here in Phuket but it is common knowledge for places to jack up their prices when they are not busy, One thing I did see some years ago now a Thai restaurant had 2 menus's one in Thai and one in English and the English one was 20 baht more expensive on everything I was onto it right away needless to say the place didn't last long obviously other people twigged on to them

The owner was a Farang with his Thai wife

Edited November 3, 2019 by ChipButty

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

Ive never seen that happen here in Phuket but it is common knowledge for places to jack up their prices when they are not busy, One thing I did see some years ago now a Thai restaurant had 2 menus's one in Thai and one in English and the English one was 20 more expensive on everything I was onto it right away needless to say the place didn't last long obviously other people twigged on to them

The owner was a Farang with his Thai wife

That's capitalism in action. So many people think business people should treat them differently because ( fill in relevant reason ).

Every person that thinks they are special because they are a long term customer should ask themselves if they'd help out the owner if they were in financial difficulties, and if not, why should the owner of the business give them a special price? Should I expect the local supermarket to give me a discount because I shop there all the time?

Thailand is a capitalist country. If one disagrees with the prices- DON'T GO THERE.

[bkk6060]

12 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Ive never seen that happen here in Phuket but it is common knowledge for places to jack up their prices when they are not busy, One thing I did see some years ago now a Thai restaurant had 2 menus's one in Thai and one in English and the English one was 20 baht more expensive on everything I was onto it right away needless to say the place didn't last long obviously other people twigged on to them

The owner was a Farang with his Thai wife

20 b?

Still cheaper then having a Thai girl tag along translating the menu. ????

[Ventenio]

There is a solution, but you do need some blls.  i have lots of thai "friends" and they told me to video the increase in price and make sure the owner sees you documenting the rise in price, and YOU MUST SPEAK THAI.  Do it with a smile, and just tell them you are doing a good video for your thai friends.  this happened to me over some rice.   10 baht, i told them i'm leaving the city the next day because a few months there was enough, and it immediately went to 20 because "new menu prices".  of course i didn't care, but my thai friends went crazy and started calling the business to ask about the increase in cost.  LOL.  trust me, many Thais know one business can hurt all businesses because the farang leaves and quits spending money in that city.  

 

dude, he's not asking for a discount.   just to be treated fairly.

if it's high season prices for everyone, then OK.  but i have a feeling he's getting ripped off.  and drinks do not have a seasonal supply problem.  

Edited November 3, 2019 by Ventenio

[Ventenio]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's capitalism in action. So many people think business people should treat them differently because ( fill in relevant reason ).

Every person that thinks they are special because they are a long term customer should ask themselves if they'd help out the owner if they were in financial difficulties, and if not, why should the owner of the business give them a special price? Should I expect the local supermarket to give me a discount because I shop there all the time?

Thailand is a capitalist country. If one disagrees with the prices- DON'T GO THERE.

you're comparing a local mom and pop shop with a local supermarket??  dude, margins aren't the same.  loyalty doesn't matter as much.  

 

and, yes, 711 has given me free stuff because i shop there a lot, and discounts for being a loyal customer.  they have stuff they need to sell and i'll get two bags of chips for 10 baht instead of 40 and that price isn't advertised.   i don't care, but your analogy isn't exactly correct.  

 

why do bars sometimes give free drinks to people???  apples and oranges to a local supermarket.  

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

you're comparing a local mom and pop shop with a local supermarket??  dude, margins aren't the same.  loyalty doesn't matter as much.  

 

and, yes, 711 has given me free stuff because i shop there a lot, and discounts for being a loyal customer.  they have stuff they need to sell and i'll get two bags of chips for 10 baht instead of 40 and that price isn't advertised.   i don't care, but your analogy isn't exactly correct.  

 

why do bars sometimes give free drinks to people???  apples and oranges to a local supermarket.  

It does happen in 7/11 I got 2 kit-kats cheap the other day 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

you're comparing a local mom and pop shop with a local supermarket??  dude, margins aren't the same.  loyalty doesn't matter as much.  

 

and, yes, 711 has given me free stuff because i shop there a lot, and discounts for being a loyal customer.  they have stuff they need to sell and i'll get two bags of chips for 10 baht instead of 40 and that price isn't advertised.   i don't care, but your analogy isn't exactly correct.  

 

why do bars sometimes give free drinks to people???  apples and oranges to a local supermarket.  

Business is business, however it comes, in a capitalist country.

I doubt 7 11 gives you a discount unless it's for everyone. If the checkout person likes you they might, but that's not the same thing.

If I buy 2 of something in a supermarket it often comes with a discount, but that's for everyone.

 

Bars don't give free drinks unless it's a promotion like a pork BBQ for an opening, but the bartender might because he likes you. Perhaps the bar staff in the OP just don't like him.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

16 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

There is a solution, but you do need some blls.  i have lots of thai "friends" and they told me to video the increase in price and make sure the owner sees you documenting the rise in price, and YOU MUST SPEAK THAI.  Do it with a smile, and just tell them you are doing a good video for your thai friends.  this happened to me over some rice.   10 baht, i told them i'm leaving the city the next day because a few months there was enough, and it immediately went to 20 because "new menu prices".  of course i didn't care, but my thai friends went crazy and started calling the business to ask about the increase in cost.  LOL.  trust me, many Thais know one business can hurt all businesses because the farang leaves and quits spending money in that city.  

 

dude, he's not asking for a discount.   just to be treated fairly.

if it's high season prices for everyone, then OK.  but i have a feeling he's getting ripped off.  and drinks do not have a seasonal supply problem.  

If I actually cared about 10 baht, I'd either not buy it at that place, or I'd buy a rice cooker and cook my own.

Good grief, we pay thousands of baht to fly to LOS, and then quibble over some loose change that would get left in a drawer.

We buy stuff way cheaper than it would be at home, and expect to live like kings all the while ignoring that the people in LOS that make the stuff we buy are living in poverty- then bitch because we had to pay 20 baht extra in high season so the owners can make a profit to live on and employ people. 

[Puchaiyank]

1 hour ago, sillyfool said:

where ?

A convenience store in Udon Thani...I know it sounds preposterous but believe me...it is true...

 

My reaction without thinking was: "Are you crazy?"  The girl just smiled!   ????

[Skallywag]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In case one hasn't noticed, there is a general downturn in visitor numbers, so even more reason to up prices in high season.

 

That is Thai backwards thinking. Less customers, so better charge more. 

Not the way economics works.

I have a Thai woman friend who runs a small juice bar / fruit shake place.  She invested in a beer bar with a thai friend on Soi made in thailand.  In low season when other bars were jacking up their price, they were advertising 60 baht bottled beer all night.  They got more business than any other bar near by from what I saw

The bar on the corner of sai song and soi MIT used to have a great band and decent prices.  Now they want 100 baht for a bottle of chang and changed the band.  No customers. 

[HuskerDo]

7 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

If it is any consolation, the price for a 16-pack of bottled drinking water went from 49 baht to 100 baht in one day...????

So the price of SIXTEEN bottles of water going from 49 baht to 100 baht is causing you stress? I don't know how large the bottles are but you are talking about an increase of approx $1.50 (US) for water that will last you several days if not more. Take that out to an entire year and it's only $75 dollars or so. WHY even comment on it as it's such a menial amount of money? The doubling of price is surprising but it's a small amount of money. Not worth the time complaining about it. 

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

It does happen in 7/11 I got 2 kit-kats cheap the other day 

Yeah my 7-11 girls are always pushing me to buy stuff, like totally wheedling and whining and when they have filled my bag with 100 baht worth of junk food, they give me a 20 baht discount.

[Bournville]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If I actually cared about 10 baht, I'd either not buy it at that place, or I'd buy a rice cooker and cook my own.

Good grief, we pay thousands of baht to fly to LOS, and then quibble over some loose change that would get left in a drawer.

We buy stuff way cheaper than it would be at home, and expect to live like kings all the while ignoring that the people in LOS that make the stuff we buy are living in poverty- then bitch because we had to pay 20 baht extra in high season so the owners can make a profit to live on and employ people. 

Your reading skills are sadly lacking. I'm a long term resident. 4 years. I'm talking about a 50 percent price increase! So as for you comment .. "cheaper than home" Thailand is my home. Unlike yours. Right? I also never implied that I'm ignoring the poverty in Thailand. However I do sense your sky high nose in the air attitude 555. 

Edited November 3, 2019 by Bournville

[CNXexpat]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Chiang Mai is different in that it's a year round destination.

No, here are different tourist seasons too. It's never empty of tourists but there are many more from November to February.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed.

[Isaanbiker]

It's easy to understand. You have to pay more because they have less customers but their bills don't change. 

 

    Also called business. Foreigners on a three week holiday wouldn't feel the difference, we do.