Land Price Doubled

[thailand_tom]

my wife and i were going to buy some land 2 years ago..my wifes friend told us about it ..she is a school teacher and the other women is also..the women had been trying to sell this land for a few years and no buyers..my wifes friend told us the price..and so we all went to meet her..as soon as she seen me..she told us the price was double..to what she had been trying to sell it for before..and what she had told her teacher friend..i had this happen 2 other times in a short period..my wife had told me if we were going to buy land i needed to stay home so no one would see my face..but i need to go to make sure about papers..deeds..no money owed on land..size of land..my money i want to know. has anyone else had this happen.

[Johpa]

my wife and i were going to buy some land 2 years ago..my wifes friend told us about it ..she is a school teacher and the other women is also..the women had been trying to sell this land for a few years and no buyers..my wifes friend told us the price..and so we all went to meet her..as soon as she seen me..she told us the price was double..to what she had been trying to sell it for before..and what she had told her teacher friend..i had this happen 2 other times in a short period..my wife had told me if we were going to buy land i needed to stay home so no one would see my face..but i need to go to make sure about papers..deeds..no money owed on land..size of land..my money i want to know. has anyone else had this happen.

Yes, it happened to me years ago. Long ago I realized that I must stay behind the scenes, whether it is purchasing land or buying materials to build a home. That doesn't mean I am ignorant of what is going on or that I am totally out of the plans, just that my active involvement stays behind the scene. It is just a quirk of living as a minority in Thailand. Don't take it personally.

On the other hand, when we hire people to do work such as build the house, I pay a little bit more and buy a few more meals and drinks and that generally leads to getting decent work done and also leads to making new Thai friends, friendships that often pay dividends down the road.

[mikethevigoman]

my wife and i were going to buy some land 2 years ago..my wifes friend told us about it ..she is a school teacher and the other women is also..the women had been trying to sell this land for a few years and no buyers..my wifes friend told us the price..and so we all went to meet her..as soon as she seen me..she told us the price was double..to what she had been trying to sell it for before..and what she had told her teacher friend..i had this happen 2 other times in a short period..my wife had told me if we were going to buy land i needed to stay home so no one would see my face..but i need to go to make sure about papers..deeds..no money owed on land..size of land..my money i want to know. has anyone else had this happen.

Yes on all sorts of things from houses to t shirts,.a friend of mine was given a price on a house, he did a bit of hard haggling and didnt get his way so agreed at the full price and was refused, it turned out the thai seller didnt like him and his mannerism.funny old lot,.

[BigSnake]

Yes sad but in many cases so true. Guess it best to let the wife and an uncle or cousin go an make the deal first.

[Galong]

It is just a quirk of living as a minority in Thailand. Don't take it personally.

So racism is a 'quirk'??? The only people where I come from who act like that are scum... and presidents.

Yep, just accept the fact that there are blatantly racists prick in this backwards country. Ignore the fact that this is part of what's keeping this county from becoming a great place to live. Ignore the fact that you are seen as a walking wallet.

I guarantee that if this same thing happened to a Thai in my homeland, the S*&^t would hit the fan big-time.

[madjbs]

Yep, just accept the fact that there are blatantly racists prick in this backwards country. Ignore the fact that this is part of what's keeping this county from becoming a great place to live. Ignore the fact that you are seen as a walking wallet.

yaaaawnn.....

[burman]

Were a Thai to turn up in a Ferrari you can bet the price would have gone up as well.

[Fantasteak]

Is it bcoz I is black?

[Maigo6]

Yep, just accept the fact that there are blatantly racists prick in this backwards country. Ignore the fact that this is part of what's keeping this county from becoming a great place to live. Ignore the fact that you are seen as a walking wallet.

And you choose to live where exactly ?

Surely not in the place you describe..........

Edited April 6, 2008 by Maigo6

[Dakhar]

Were a Thai to turn up in a Ferrari you can bet the price would have gone up as well.

That is if a farmer knew what Ferrari was...

But I do agree with you & if it were a Falang living in Thailand attempting to sell off some of the wife's land he would do the same to another falang etc.

It is just plain human nature to try to get ahead.

So I let the wife do the bardering, and even then I do not pretend to believe we still got the best price, you just have to accept some loss it is going to happen, that is the nature of business.

In the past when a gouge has been attempted I just walk away.... it is them that need the money not me. They are the ones that are ultimatley falling on their own spear.

Edited April 6, 2008 by Dakhar

[GuestHouse]

Just pretend you are interested (even at the higher price), keep the pretense up for a few weeks and the seller will wind up loosing sleep making plans for the easy money the are going to have off you.

Edited April 6, 2008 by GuestHouse

[howtoescape]

Just pretend you are interested (even at the higher price), keep the pretense up for a few weeks and the seller will wind up loosing sleep making plans for the easy money the are going to have off you.

Wonderfully devious.

[Maigo6]

I bought some land in the village for 82000 Baht about 4 years ago, I had intended building on it, but then something else came up and I bought that, this land is available to my sister in law at 102,000 and a few beers cos I paid 20,000 to have it raised with din.

If a Farang comes to the Village and wants it, the price will be 200,000.

[PaddyThai]

When I started my business some 15 years ago, I charged everyone the same fee. Rich or poor got an equal price. I then found some rich people told me I couldn't be any good if I was charging so little. Poor people couldn't afford my price no matter how low it was. I now charge based on the perceived wealth of the individual. Rich people are charged more than poor people. And, I discovered the obvious, everyone else charges them more too.

Farangs are perceived of as being wealthy and so are charged more. Doesn't mean you have to pay though.

[MengWan]

It is just plain human nature to try to get ahead.

It is what YOU think of "human nature" !

Personally, I think it is a chunk of animal (predation) nature ...

There are different conceptions of what is "human" nature, apparently !

Edited April 6, 2008 by MengWan

[way2muchcoffee]

The folks who would knowingly charge a large premium to another foreigner or wealthy Thai really disappoint me. It speaks volumes about the character of some of the people here.

To sell something below market to a family member, or to a charity case is fine, but to add a 'perceived wealth' surcharge is opportunistic and disgusting.

Edited April 7, 2008 by way2muchcoffee

[PeaceBlondie]

If Bill Gates or Warren Buffet want to pay me or you double for something, will we sell it to them at that double price? Yes we will, and if some hundred-dollar bills fall out of their wallet, we might forget to tell them. The Romans said caveat emptor, and it's in lots of dictionaries now.

When quoted an obviously inflated price simply because of my blond hair, I smile, tell them it is worth even more than that to some other farang, wai, and leave.

[mellow1]

I suggest you take your time when making this kind of purchase, here you will get gouged for pretty much anything. The advise given about staying in the background is sound. Thais can spot a new Farang like you can see the sunrise in the morning. No need to put a target on your forehead. Do not rush into anything here.

[Beardog]

If you are planning to buy land , Best to have your girl do the talking....Make sure to go over all the fine points, #1 chinote-have copy & real chinote ready in hand.The price you are quoted WILL change net month. After I bout property in Bang Sare land priced trippled in asking price. If you find a deal you like don't hedge someone will take it & if you want it you will be finding yourself paying a ton more for it. Have your girl talk with small mouth(Thai word for being humble) if she comes off like her farang is soooo rich you are doomed. My gal is well liked & always gets fair to way less on just about all prices- because of her being a sincere humble person. I have seen it in action where I live out of 4 transactions 2 were sold fair market value (to the 2 gals that didn't talk like they were something special 1 was double inflated & the 4th person {his wife cannot resist bs'ing about how rich her man is Had to pay full fare + original price 700,000 baht for a rai 4 months later he paid 1.5 mill for the same land.

I do not think it is a matter if you are present on the land deal as much as it is with your gals ability to be humble.

When you buy have your wife or girlfriend take care of the planning commision land office & electricity as I found it makes a huge difference in money saved, They smell a farang & break out the gaffing hook...It's fishing time!

[binnsy]

It is even worse if Thai/chinese own land and you are farang.because they no that you want land in/near family village they can call all the shots

[Naam]

Yep, just accept the fact that there are blatantly racists prick in this backwards country. Ignore the fact that this is part of what's keeping this county from becoming a great place to live. Ignore the fact that you are seen as a walking wallet.

yaaaawnn.....

yawn² indeed that "racism" i have experienced in my home country Germany as well as in the United States. you call a handyman, a gardener or a painter who advertise their services at price "x" and after they have seen your home the price goes up. perhaps not double but considerably UP. the percentage of overcharging is in relation with the poverty level of a country.

calling people racists who are striving to make an additional buck or two because they think you can afford it is nothing but utter bullshit! i wonder whether farangs or tourists are called racists when they try to negotiate a price for goods or services Thais provide.

[Dakhar]

It is just plain human nature to try to get ahead.

It is what YOU think of "human nature" !

Personally, I think it is a chunk of animal (predation) nature ...

There are different conceptions of what is "human" nature, apparently !

Well I guess if you a tree hugging sort, socialist by nature, comunist at the core, yada yada yada.... it is not human nature to try to get ahead. For me, I try to get the most out of my investments.

But due to your obvious lack of ambition.... I have an employment oppertunity for you. I am willing to pay .25 stang an hour to cut my lawn with a pair of scissors.

[johna]

The price of an item is the price people are willing to pay and, has no relationship to its actual cost.

The price of a cup of coffee is 100 Baht not because that’s the cost of the ingredients or other overheads but, because there are no other coffee sellers in the neighborhood.

Price of cappuccino 100 Baht

Price people are willing to pay 90 Baht

Cups of cappuccino sold none

It’s the same rule for every thing on sale and has nothing to do with your being a falang, the seller sees a white face and thinks he can increase his profit, its simple business 101

Caveat emptor

[Dakhar]

The price of an item is the price people are willing to pay and, has no relationship to its actual cost.

The price of a cup of coffee is 100 Baht not because that’s the cost of the ingredients or other overheads but, because there are no other coffee sellers in the neighborhood.

Price of cappuccino 100 Baht

Price people are willing to pay 90 Baht

Cups of cappuccino sold none

It’s the same rule for every thing on sale and has nothing to do with your being a falang, the seller sees a white face and thinks he can increase his profit, its simple business 101

Caveat emptor

amen

[way2muchcoffee]

It’s the same rule for every thing on sale and has nothing to do with your being a falang, the seller sees a white face and thinks he can increase his profit, its simple business 101

Caveat emptor

And that's why I decided to use my brain to learn intellectually demanding subjects (physics and mathematics) and share this knowledge to earn a modest living. I am not interested in exploiting others.

Edited April 7, 2008 by way2muchcoffee

[Dakhar]

It’s the same rule for every thing on sale and has nothing to do with your being a falang, the seller sees a white face and thinks he can increase his profit, its simple business 101

Caveat emptor

And that's why I decided to use my brain to learn intellectually demanding subjects (physics and mathematics) and share this knowledge to earn a modest living. I am not interested in exploiting others.

Wow, now I feel so ashamed for earning above "modest." If only I could give it all back.... But, I would want my taxes back too.... Do you think the IRS would agree?

[hanibal7]

BEARDOG

I didnt know talk with small mouth was thai,sounds like english to me lol.

[wolfmanjack]

Face it. If you quote a price and then raise the price when you see the person it is 100% dishonest. If you want to play that game then quote higher prices and then give poor people a discount.

[way2muchcoffee]

It’s the same rule for every thing on sale and has nothing to do with your being a falang, the seller sees a white face and thinks he can increase his profit, its simple business 101

Caveat emptor

And that's why I decided to use my brain to learn intellectually demanding subjects (physics and mathematics) and share this knowledge to earn a modest living. I am not interested in exploiting others.

Wow, now I feel so ashamed for earning above "modest." If only I could give it all back.... But, I would want my taxes back too.... Do you think the IRS would agree?

I'm afraid your only avenue is to donate all of your dishonest monies to charity, followed by immediate self-immolation.

Edited April 7, 2008 by way2muchcoffee

[Dakhar]

Face it. If you quote a price and then raise the price when you see the person it is 100% dishonest. If you want to play that game then quote higher prices and then give poor people a discount.

Now in this situation I have to agree to some extent. If I quoted your wife a price on the phone, you show up in a BMW & all previous negotiations were made, no additions no subtractions to the conditions, then the price would obviously stay the same.

But if were the case, a person I have never met before showed up in his BMW, the price could fluctuate.

If a person showed up via public transportation the price could fluctuate...

It really depends on the item being sold, demand, competition, costs, knowledge needed to provide services rendered etc etc.