This time the Thai wife did not join us on a feeding-the-monkeys trip to the temple. The boy excited, he ran to the kart to collect the usual small basket of over-ripened bananas. As I approached, the old lady put 4 on the counter…200thb. I said only one please. She insisted. I said one. Took two away, 100thb. One please, I said. Begrudgingly she took one away…50thb. (Usually we pay 20 per basket, wife leading the way of course). Understanding the farang price routine, I handed her 3x20. She put two extra rotten bananas in the basket…60thb. That’s ok, I said. 
The monkeys were nowhere to be seen. Usually hundreds playing around near the temple and near the banana kart. We walked 5 mins…no monkeys. I said to the boy looks like the monkeys have been moved son…sorry. He understood, we walked back to the monkey lady (ML)…no monkeys. She replied yes have monkeys just keep walking. No way I said. Here’s your basket (intact)…give me the 60. She insisted that we walk further hesitating to refund. It was a hot day, did not want to walk too far.

Out comes the phone, Line video to wife, handed the phone to ML, two mins later, 60thb back in my pocket we went back to the car park stopping briefly at the temple placed the 20x3 in the donation box. We got on the bike rode past her, the evil eye staring at us. 
Along the route further down (about 10mins walk from ML) we saw some monkeys. The boy got excited… but no bananas. I’m not going back to her…no way. I did a U-turn riding back, passed ML, stopped at the food market near the temple. Big bunches of nice looking bananas 20thb…yes I said. Grabbed a bunch (more bananas than in a basket from ML). Rode back passing ML. Had a feeling she realized what we were up to… hope she did!!!
Obviously it’s not about the money. In fact if the ML had told me a BS story such as her husband is sick etc I probably would have bought the 4 basket for 200. 
All in all it turned out to be a fun father-son trip. He fed the monkeys, I got a kick out of the ML interaction, mum got a couple of hours of me-time and a good laugh re what happened after ML video chat. 
Sometimes we win…well let’s say don’t lose!!!

 

Yeah, that banana lady was probably really hot that day which sounds like you’re really cheap Charlie give the lady a few extra coins

He wasn't going to pay 10x the Thai price.   I support him.  

Rather a sad and depressing story about human nature.

 

Not about the "monkey lady", of course,  but more about the OP.

 

Not sure what kind of world he inhabits and not a good role

model for the little boy.

 

I would be too ashamed to post a story like this.

Ridiculous over charging ! Bananas are only about 8 baht in 7-11. 

Good on you for not accepting that cr@p

1 hour ago, allanos said:

Not sure what kind of world he inhabits and not a good role

model for the little boy.

Maybe a good education for the young boy?

"Don't get ripped off son" ?

Let me get this correct.  You insisted on a refund for your bananas because you couldn't find any monkeys to feed?

 

Jeez!!

2 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Let me get this correct.  You insisted on a refund for your bananas because you couldn't find any monkeys to feed?

 

Jeez!!

I did. Not because of money as explained. The bad taste she left in my mouth almost forcing me to take her offer rather than giving me what I wanted in the first place. Im sure she wouldn’t do that to the locals. The moral of the story was why should we take <deleted> from the locals because they think they can get away with it. She EXPECTED compliance and acceptance from me. Not this time!!!

Life all about monkey business hahaha???? Dang, I hope the humidity doesn't get to me in this way and I end uo with a similar form of jungle fever. Only been here full-time for 3 years ... OMG ???? !!!!

The words of the wife, in Thai, spoken to the banana vendor:

 

"Yes, that's what he's like.......a real tight fisted, petty minded ****, please just let him have his poxy 60bt back........I promise I'll make a donation at the temple in your name......think yourself lucky you don't have to put up with his.....well you know.......like I do.  I just lie back and think of the will.  Please accept my sincerest apologies for his boorishness".

 

 

Oh dear ! Life in Thailand must be a constant challenge for you. My advice, for what it is worth, is take care of your money generally but don't get over-exercised by issues involving small change.

2 hours ago, allanos said:

Rather a sad and depressing story about human nature.

 

Not about the "monkey lady", of course,  but more about the OP.

 

Not sure what kind of world he inhabits and not a good role

model for the little boy.

 

I would be too ashamed to post a story like this.

Yes, you buy something, and then expect to be able to rescind on the deal, very strange. And why not bring your own monkey food from home or elsewhere? And why feed the monkeys in the first place? I don't understand anything in this story. Like feeding stray soi dogs, what's the end purpose?

1 hour ago, AustinRacing said:

I did. Not because of money as explained. The bad taste she left in my mouth almost forcing me to take her offer rather than giving me what I wanted in the first place. Im sure she wouldn’t do that to the locals. The moral of the story was why should we take <deleted> from the locals because they think they can get away with it. She EXPECTED compliance and acceptance from me. Not this time!!!

The cry of the cheapskate "It's not the money. It's the principal of the thing."

4 minutes ago, AlQaholic said:

Yes, you buy something, and then expect to be able to rescind on the deal, very strange. And why not bring your own monkey food from home or elsewhere? And why feed the monkeys in the first place? I don't understand anything in this story. Like feeding stray soi dogs, what's the end purpose?

Geez so many questions. Let me try:

rescind-you buy a ticket to watch a movie in a cinema. Go inside the theater but no movie showing. 
own food-can and do so sometimes. On a bike it’s less convenient. Also helping out the temple. 
why feed monkeys?-they are one of the main attractions of the temple. They care for them and visitors support them. 
hope you learned something. Nothing wrong with feeding stray dogs although the analogy is not relevant here. It’s called helping. 

Just now, cdemundo said:

The cry of the cheapskate "It's not the money. It's the principal of the thing."

I wish I was a cheapskate. I’d own 4 houses instead of two. Lol My wife keeps hassling about spending too much. 

15 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Geez so many questions. Let me try:

rescind-you buy a ticket to watch a movie in a cinema. Go inside the theater but no movie showing. 
own food-can and do so sometimes. On a bike it’s less convenient. Also helping out the temple. 
why feed monkeys?-they are one of the main attractions of the temple. They care for them and visitors support them. 
hope you learned something. Nothing wrong with feeding stray dogs although the analogy is not relevant here. It’s called helping. 

Have to dusagree with this, the Cinema is responsible for the movies shown. I doubt the banana lady owns or controls the Monkeys whereabouts, its not a Zoo. ????

I disagree with the overchargibg part but think it wasnt fair to ask for refund as she is not responsible for wild Monkeys and where they hang out.

OP, you know that God (or whatever power created us) is watching all that you do in this world, right?

 

Now, please compare your income, your wealth, your home(s) to this poor old lady's life and income, etc.

 

Do you feel good about asking for that refund now? 

 

PERHAPS you have ensured that her family may not eat tonight, while you dine on steak etc.

 

Grow up, stop stealing from poor people, and THANK GOD that you have much more than them, and try to share JUST A LITTLE BIT of what you have, with others less fortunate.

11 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Line video to wife, handed the phone to ML, two mins later, 60thb back in my pocket

Knowing how thai ladies settle these types of (farang) disagreements your wife very likely apologized for you and agreed to give ML 100 baht next time she sees her. 

 

2 hours ago, Black Ops said:

Have to dusagree with this, the Cinema is responsible for the movies shown. I doubt the banana lady owns or controls the Monkeys whereabouts, its not a Zoo. ????

I disagree with the overchargibg part but think it wasnt fair to ask for refund as she is not responsible for wild Monkeys and where they hang out.

She was selling them inside the temple’s boundary. It’s part of their income. If the monkeys were moved 10mins away there could be a sign indicating that. She would have moved the kart near the monkeys. This is common practice elsewhere. But 1) she was too lazy to move 2) charging ridiculously more this time 3) all monkeys are tattooed and vet checked so not wild or random. 
usually we see a few people nearby. This time it was only us indicating others not being bothered because they couldn’t see them in the vicinity. She saw us as suckers and perhaps charging extra would compensate the lack business. Why me?

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

OP, you know that God (or whatever power created us) is watching all that you do in this world, right?

 

Now, please compare your income, your wealth, your home(s) to this poor old lady's life and income, etc.

 

Do you feel good about asking for that refund now? 

 

PERHAPS you have ensured that her family may not eat tonight, while you dine on steak etc.

 

Grow up, stop stealing from poor people, and THANK GOD that you have much more than them, and try to share JUST A LITTLE BIT of what you have, with others less fortunate.

I get what you’re saying and agree. I usually handout money and big tips with wife complaining “why too much?”

It was her demeanor, the semi-aggressive and entitled attitude that got under my skin. I felt targeted and taken advantage of. Desperate and needy people don’t behave like this (usually). 

What I got from the story was who is the really Monkey!  ????

Wow you come off like a total <deleted>. I'm actually embarrassed for you.

 

Not the least because you needed your wife to deal with it.

 

This woman makes serious money sitting on her ass all day and selling worthless fruit. Moreover, horrible, sour disposition.

 

Good for you. Sometimes they deserve the confrontation.

5 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

She EXPECTED compliance and acceptance from me. Not this time!!!

Er, yes, she did get compliance from you...you bought the bananas from her.   You didn't force the refund, your wife did.

13 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Obviously it’s not about the money.

It is for her... she is not some rich lady who lives in a PH apartment... and she may have to pay to be there which is part of the price of bananas... it is an opportunity cost... what would people do w/o her? 

 

 

5 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Ridiculous over charging ! Bananas are only about 8 baht in 7-11. 

Come on...he wasn't at a 7-11, he was at a commercial attraction, i.e. for profit, at a temple where everyone knows 7-11 prices do not apply.  He got three bananas for his B60 and, while I agree that overcharging is ridiculous as a practice, B60 is hardly "ridiculous overcharging"!

57 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

I felt targeted and taken advantage of. Desperate and needy people don’t behave like this (usually). 

By a poor banana seller? You weren't getting mugged in a NYC subway...  and it was your choice to buy from her and not in the market...

Yup... as expected all the posts calling out the Op for being petty etc... 

 

The reality is the ‘poor banana seller’ was trying to rip-off the Op.... Whether someone feels sympathetic to her plight, working hard in the hot sun etc etc...  is kind of beside the point somewhat...  

 

... She saw a foreigner and tried to rip him off - her behaviour was wrong. 

 

The Op was of course petty for demanding a refund instead of just walking away in the first place, and then posting a story about such an insignificant issue on this forum and expecting anything other than distain from people who are attracted to posits such as this to for a chance to blame the Op. 

 

IF the Op charged a Thai 10x for some Bananas the same posters would be blaming him for ripping off a Thai.... In short, those same characters blaming the Op have somehow ‘gone native’ and accept unequal treatment as normal.... it shouldn’t be tolerated, but neither is it really a major point of contention worthy of an online complaint.... 

 

My point here is more against those who think there is nothing wrong with this lady attempting to rip off the Op just because he’s a foreigner. 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Enoon said:

The words of the wife, in Thai, spoken to the banana vendor:

 

"Yes, that's what he's like.......a real tight fisted, petty minded ****, please just let him have his poxy 60bt back........I promise I'll make a donation at the temple in your name......think yourself lucky you don't have to put up with his.....well you know.......like I do.  I just lie back and think of the will.  Please accept my sincerest apologies for his boorishness".

 

 

That's the post of the thread.

   Concise, funny, and spot-on.