Siam Ocean World

[Heng]

When was it concluded that it was a division between tax payers and non-tax payers?

[Heng]

Underwater World in Pattaya definitely has two prices.... I don't recall two prices at Siam Ocean World though.

[jumnien]

Lots of international students in the United States pay far more taxes than US citizens. The reason they are made to pay far more for tuition and other fees is that they are locals. Students from other states may pay far more taxes in California than most California residents. Again, the reason they are made to pay far more in tuition and fees is that they are not locals. Same same, its just easier to get around most of the higher prices here in the Land of Smiles.

[NoSpeakIt]

the US has a double pricing system known as taxes. I get to help pay for all the bums and welfare recipients food, medical and education.

[teej]

(except when my gf is with me and she reams then a 2nd A$$HOLE when they try to charge me double).

Cringe-worthy.

Nothing more un-attractive and garish than a Thai GF making a scene with her Farang BF in tow... chuck in a NEastern accent and you've got a puke-fest on your hands.

These people collecting money for the park/venue/whatever are just doing their job, no amount of yelling is going to change that fact. It's like shooting the messenger. Yelling at them about the unfair double-pricing scheme is an exercise in futility and doesn't get you anything but cringes from the surrounding folk. Take it up with some Minister of Tourism if you want, or just pay the extra <deleted> 200 baht and have a good day (incidentally, even more off-putting than the above scene is listening to some dude complain about it for the rest of the day).

I go often to Kao Yai and Koh Samet with my gf. While I have the ever-advantageous half-breed Thai ID , she's as Scandinavian as they come -- Pure Nordic Beauty sticking out like a sore thumb -- yet I can always get her in at the Thai price with just a little bit of nice talk and a bunch of "na krup"s.

Remember that for every scene made about this "evil double-pricing scheme", there's a queue of people behind you frowning/laughing at this display of poor taste.

[DP25]

While double pricing is more widespread and shameless in Thailand it does exist in the USA. For example college tuition fees for residents, non residents and then international students. How is this different?

Because, the example you gave is of a government run institution, supported by the tax payer, while the case we are talking about in this thread is a private business run for profit. I don't have a problem with Thai universities charging foreigners more, or even national parks (although most are a rip off at 'farang' prices). This is a private business that is deliberately engaging in deceit in order to charge certain classes of people different prices. It's like if a McDonalds in the US charged everyone who looked Japanese twice as much for their Big Mac, or a store charged higher rates to someone because they're black. In the West this is illegal. The only reason they can get away with it here is because 99% of farang can not read Thai, and do not know they're being ripped off.

[Jimjim]

(except when my gf is with me and she reams then a 2nd A$$HOLE when they try to charge me double).

Cringe-worthy.

Nothing more un-attractive and garish than a Thai GF making a scene with her Farang BF in tow... chuck in a NEastern accent and you've got a puke-fest on your hands.

I was going to say good to see you've assimilated Thai racism but see you're half-Thai. I guess it's just in you naturally.

As for Siam Ocean World, when it opened the price as around 400 for everyone. Can anyone actually confirm going there and having to pay 850 just to get inside? That's outrageous if so. That's the kind of price you'd pay in the West for such an attraction. It does say "Big Bonus Package." This whole thread started from what is seen on the website but I haven't seen anyone say they've had to pay that price to get inside. If it's just the normal price for foreigners then that's double what you used to have to pay just two years ago. Ridiculous if true.

[Moonrakers]

While double pricing is more widespread and shameless in Thailand it does exist in the USA. For example college tuition fees for residents, non residents and then international students. How is this different?

Because, the example you gave is of a government run institution, supported by the tax payer, while the case we are talking about in this thread is a private business run for profit. I don't have a problem with Thai universities charging foreigners more, or even national parks (although most are a rip off at 'farang' prices). This is a private business that is deliberately engaging in deceit in order to charge certain classes of people different prices. It's like if a McDonalds in the US charged everyone who looked Japanese twice as much for their Big Mac, or a store charged higher rates to someone because they're black. In the West this is illegal. The only reason they can get away with it here is because 99% of farang can not read Thai, and do not know they're being ripped off.

What he said.

And also they are clearly being deceitful by trying to hide the double pricing (Thai numerals are un-neccessary). We are all aware of double-pricing and can choose whether or not to give our money, yet the Siam aquarium are deliberately misleading us farangs into thinking that it the same charge for all.

[Moonrakers]

(except when my gf is with me and she reams then a 2nd A$HOLE when they try to charge me double).

Cringe-worthy.

Nothing more un-attractive and garish than a Thai GF making a scene with her Farang BF in tow... chuck in a NEastern accent and you've got a puke-fest on your hands.

I was going to say good to see you've assimilated Thai racism but see you're half-Thai. I guess it's just in you naturally.

As for Siam Ocean World, when it opened the price as around 400 for everyone. Can anyone actually confirm going there and having to pay 850 just to get inside? That's outrageous if so. That's the kind of price you'd pay in the West for such an attraction. It does say "Big Bonus Package." This whole thread started from what is seen on the website but I haven't seen anyone say they've had to pay that price to get inside. If it's just the normal price for foreigners then that's double what you used to have to pay just two years ago. Ridiculous if true.

I remember a couple of months or so ago having a look on their site and it was around 400 baht. This must be a realtively new change.

It'll be interesting to know whatthis "Bonus package" entails and how it differs from the Thai package. And would I be allowed to forfeit the "Bonus package" for the Thai price?

[Jimjim]

As I mentioned before, this thread could be taken more seriously if someone actually reported paying the 850 to enter not having a cheaper option as 850 is advertised as "Big Bonus Package."

[Rinrada]

Are you talking about Siam Ocean World in Paragorn in Bangkok? Many had suspected they would use double pricing there but I never heard it confirmed. I had asked Thai friends before when it was opened and they always said they thought it was 400 baht for everyone because they didn't see any sign in Thai and said their friends told them they had aid 400 baht. Maybe double pricing started just recently?

when i was there, it was definately same price for all.. must be a new thing

found it be OK too.. very similar to 'The Deep' in Hull, UK

Checked the Entrances prices for the Deep in "ull

The Deep is open daily between 10am and 6pm. (last admission 5pm)

Admission Prices

Adult (16+) - £8.75

Children - £6.75

Under 3's - Free

Student - £7.25

Senior - £7.25

Family of 4 - £28.00

Family of 5 - £33.25

Students must bring valid NUS card.

Thai and foreign Tourists-£35.00

Thai Family of 4 -£140.00

Thai Family of 4 -£175.00

(no discounts even if you live in Angrit land and pay National insurance,Taxes or own a football team)

[boiledegg]

Expensive at the Thai price for 2 adults and 2 kids, and as its about 40GBP for 2 farang adults and 2 farang kids i wouldnt go anyway as you can only spend about 30 minutes in them kind of places until youve seen everything.

[DP25]

uhh...what? Where did you see those prices? The web page I'm looking at for that aquarium shows no difference in prices based on nationality. Prices are the same for everyone according to this. You can order tickets online and it doesn't ask for any nationality.

http://www.thedeep.co.uk/plan-your-visit/tickets-booking.php

[Goshawk]

Are you talking about Siam Ocean World in Paragorn in Bangkok? Many had suspected they would use double pricing there but I never heard it confirmed. I had asked Thai friends before when it was opened and they always said they thought it was 400 baht for everyone because they didn't see any sign in Thai and said their friends told them they had aid 400 baht. Maybe double pricing started just recently?

when i was there, it was definately same price for all.. must be a new thing

found it be OK too.. very similar to 'The Deep' in Hull, UK

Checked the Entrances prices for the Deep in "ull

The Deep is open daily between 10am and 6pm. (last admission 5pm)

Admission Prices

Adult (16+) - £8.75

Children - £6.75

Under 3's - Free

Student - £7.25

Senior - £7.25

Family of 4 - £28.00

Family of 5 - £33.25

Students must bring valid NUS card.

Thai and foreign Tourists-£35.00

Thai Family of 4 -£140.00

Thai Family of 4 -£175.00

(no discounts even if you live in Angrit land and pay National insurance,Taxes or own a football team)

must say though that i went to 'The Deep' on its very first opening day and got in for free !!!

[boiledegg]

uhh...what? Where did you see those prices? The web page I'm looking at for that aquarium shows no difference in prices based on nationality. Prices are the same for everyone according to this. You can order tickets online and it doesn't ask for any nationality.

http://www.thedeep.co.uk/plan-your-visit/tickets-booking.php

hes winding you up

[DP25]

hes winding you up

Yeah, I guess I've been had.

[Jimjim]

Funny.

If those Hull prices are correct than 850 baht is severely overpriced considering difference in cost of living. Hope someone can confirm or deny.

[tw25rw]

Phuket Aquarium does it too.

Personally, I'm not bothered. I live in a city with many tourists and am often inconvenienced by them. I see nothing wrong in screwing money out of them if it's done legally and they have a choice. It's why they're there.

Unfortunately, in the UK we can't hide behind a language and system of numerals that no one else understands.

[jumnien]

Charging a Thai day labourer or even middle-class family man the same price as a tourist is criminal and should be prosecuted. There is no excuse for these same-same pricing charades. There is no policy of paying people the same around the world, why should there be a policy in pricing the world over!

[Brigante7]

Personally, I wouldn't go to a place that charged Thais and those of us with Thai ID the same price as foreign tourist with an extremely large carbon footprint on their karma.

Extremely large carbon footprint.........................LOL, another gullible sucker who has fallen for this carbon footprint scam and all the tax's that go with it.

[Goshawk]

Unfortunately, in the UK we can't hide behind a language and system of numerals that no one else understands.

unless of course you come from Sarf Landan, Barnsley up norf or you're a geordie.. then rest assured, your mysterious twangs will be preserved somewhere for future proper english speaking generations to enjoy and/or decipher..

[petitechevre]

hmm i went there during high season

the sign said around 800 baht for me

and 350 baht for my thai gf

They are pretty open about the double pricing, the retarded cashier had just enough english to explain that to me

[TheDon]

i will go there, i will even give them a tip

[leftcross]

siam ocean world has operated double pricing since the first day it opened.

however, if you have a thai driving licence they will let you in for thai price.

walked near ''ripleys beleive it or not'' in patters a few weeks back, a thai woman dressed as a witch showed me a card with the prices on asking if i wanted to go in. it said 780 baht in english and when i flipped it over there was thai script and the witch said ''same same''. but i read it and it said 580 in thai, so i asked her in thai why she was cheating me. strangely, she lost the ability to speak, even when i repeated it in front of my wife (who was coming up the escalor behind me).

[boiledegg]

Charging a Thai day labourer or even middle-class family man the same price as a tourist is criminal and should be prosecuted. There is no excuse for these same-same pricing charades. There is no policy of paying people the same around the world, why should there be a policy in pricing the world over!

Comrade i agree that a UK doctor who studies for 9 yrs should be paid the same as a dustman in Cambodia as their communities couldnt live without them, this would enable same-same pricing the world over, oh how im glad our paths have finally met.

Until this time of equal pay arrives can you come and explain to my local Porsche dealership about the current unfair same-same pricing policy he is running, as ive been trying to put this point across for ages that someone such as my good self shouldnt pay as much as Ibramovich (Chelsea Billionaire) but the heartless capitalist will have none of it, we will put this capitalist pig in kennels in our new socialist Utopia.

I hope you get this message when your carbon neutral electricity supply, supplies powers to your recycled computer.

Edited July 13, 2008 by boiledegg

[boiledegg]

siam ocean world has operated double pricing since the first day it opened.

however, if you have a thai driving licence they will let you in for thai price.

Which breakfast cereal am i most likely to find one of these documents?

[Old Man River]

I have sent an email, asking the management their reasons for employing the policy.......will be interesting to see what their reply is....if anything at all. I doubt it will be the old...'if you don't like it go home.......'

Just curious whether you received a response.

[samran]

Well, you can go to their website post them a question. If you feel strongly enough about it, like I just did.

Anyhoo, seems that Siam Ocean World is somehow part of an Australian group of companies. Interesting that it is ultimately an Australian company who are pulling this trick.

[Jimjim]

I swear it was actually around 400 or 500 baht for foreigners when it opened, wasn't it?

[guava]

And those department stores that offer tourist discounts and VAT rebates.... Shameful. If I was a Thai I would leave immediately and go somewhere cold and wet. All Thai's should leave. Except my maid. And hot chicks. And my wife I guess.

*firmly removes tongue from cheek*

Personally I find it very hard to get worked up about double pricing, especially for national parks which are funded by the Thai government predominantly through taxes paid by Thais. I do realise Siam Ocean World is not state owned of course. And the occassional non-Thai pays tax etc etc.

Don't sweat the little stuff. Chances are you pay more than a Thai for many things.