Tell me what scam you have been in ?

[georgegeorgia]

I just watched a beautiful video "stupid tourist" YouTuber who purposely got a Tuk Tuk from the Grand Palace who said he will take him for 20 baht back to his hotel but first....he needs to stop at tailor shops , a fake temple etc 

 

He ended up buying nothing !

The tailors wanted 10 on for a Armani suit 

And the Tuk Tuk was not happy 

 

Anyway he is a American guy with "balls" , he still paid the guy his 20 baht 

How many of us have been through this scam ?

And let me add ,when he was outside the tailors , Tuk Tuk kept dropping off more n more farangs tk big suits who wanted the cheap Tuk Tuk rides but gave to look at suits first or Gem stores 

 

Why is thus still going on ?

 

 

[KannikaP]

It certainly isn't for me.

[JellyBabies]

This game is as old as the hills, oddly years ago one of the tailors I used in Bangkok was in on the tourist scam, never got charged the silly prices though as they knew I lived there

[PeterA]

I got the same scam 2 years ago. The tuk tuk driver was stationed in front of the hotel I was staying at. I said I needed a ride to such and such a place, not more than a few klms away. He gave me a price, then said can we stop at a tailors. I knew the tricks of the trade, as I 've been here a long time, but I had time on my hands. So off to the tailors. Nice place, all Middle Eastern people. A big shop as well, two stories, 10 or more salesmen wandering about. I thought about some silk for the wife. So he grabbed one 1st in line on the shelf and gave me a price. I liked the color, so we did a deal. I think it was 900 thb for  enough to make a dress. I know good Thai silk is not cheap.  So I finished my journey with the driver. 
When I gave my wife the silk, she was not impressed.  She told me it was not real Thai silk. Worth a hundred baht or two. 

The next time I stayed at the hotel, the tuk tuk driver waved remembering my face and asked if I needed a ride. I gave him my best "evil eye" and moved on. Lesson learned, again. 

[OneMoreFarang]

That is one of the reasons why I don't like to travel to places which I don't know.

I don't want to be one of those tourists who know nothing, and everybody only wants their money. 

[0ffshore360]

Many years back my Thai wife  and I accepted such a fare. It was early in the day and we had no urgent need to be anywhere. We were taken to a semi precious stone  jewelry outlet. All very  nice but too expensive to attract even my Thai spouse for items that were not GOLD !

We completed the circuit of the shop  and left.

Tuktuk driver honored the deal and we returned to hotel for 20 Baht.

 

What scam?

Can only be a scam if the driver does not announce conditions of transport. If so then walk away and seek a different driver !

People  need to differentiate  "scam" from  "negotiated " .

More than once I have videoed conversations with taxi drivers in total duration of journey and in two cases where gross dispute was attempted I made it clear I had evidence to provide.

 

[scubascuba3]

Back in 98 that was kinda normal, stop at tailors or gem shop and tuk tuk fare was less. I just said no, surprised it's still going.

 

Remember the orange juice scam? i.e sugar added, is that still going?

[jas007]

I guess this sort of qualifies as a "scam":   

 

The very first time I traveled to Thailand, 24 years ago, I stayed in Bangkok two nights and then headed to Phuket.  I didn't have any hotel reservations, just some names of some places I wanted to look at in Patong Beach.  At the Phuket airport, I decided to get a ride from some taxi driver that was standing around, waiting for a customer.  I forget what the fare was, but it seemed reasonable at the time,  Anyway, on the trip to Patong Beach, he asked me where I was staying and so on, and I made the mistake of telling him where I wanted to go and that I didn't have a reservation. A little bit later, on the way, he pulled into some little travel office, went inside, and then came out and told me that the hotels I wanted to go to were all "full."  That sounded fishy, because it was April.  But he had an alternative and refused to continue the trip unless I booked a room at the hotel he was recommending.   I'm sure he was getting a cut. I finally bought a few nights, just to get out of there. As it turned out, the place was OK, and I ended up staying there almost a month.

 

Back then, I didn't have a phone in Thailand, so I was trapped into the deal.  

 

Today, they have official taxis at the airport, or mini buses, so things are probably better.