Serviced Apartment - Monthly Rates

[Adelita]

At Emporium Suites, they gave a room type at rental rate 120,000 baht per month.

However, today a messenger put a lease renewal contract for the unit next door under my door, and it says they are paying 100,000 baht per month for the same room type, same duration of stay.

Why is this?

[Boater]

depends on the length of contract, also there ' haggling ' skills

never take the first rate they give you, always haggle down

[trogers]

If you are staying long term (12 months or more) you can get rent a condo inside Soi 24 for half of what you are paying, inclusive of cleaning and laundry, utilities and internet.

[DP25]

They figure you have money to burn. You should be honored to have the higher rate.

[Adelita]

So where is the excess going? To the hotel, or to Mr Sophanpanich (Bangkok Bank and Emporium Suites owner)?

Why don't they just give a straight rate? Or why would they give a higher rate to a student that presumes an honest rate, and that people are straight and honest in the world, and a lower rate to a businessman or professional just because he knows to and how to negotiate?

[EvilDrSomkid]

Wait.

Let me get this straight. You are a student, you are paying a whopping 120k (iso a measly 100k) a month for a service apartment AND you expect honesty in Thailand?

You are in the wrong part of the world.

[DP25]

A student paying 120k per month? Lucky you dude, I wish I had that kind of cash when I was a student. Most foreign students are paying about 10-20k per month in Bkk.

[lazygourmet]

Maybe upon presentation of your student id card, you might be able to negociate a discount.

[rgs2001uk]

I feel sure the poor students pater can afford it.

[think_too_mut]

Who in their right mind would pay 120K at the Emporium? 3 times bigger place cand be had in the area or even 50m away for half the price.

It's most likely company paying and nobody cares.

[phetaroi]

So where is the excess going? To the hotel, or to Mr Sophanpanich (Bangkok Bank and Emporium Suites owner)?

Why don't they just give a straight rate? Or why would they give a higher rate to a student that presumes an honest rate, and that people are straight and honest in the world, and a lower rate to a businessman or professional just because he knows to and how to negotiate?

Cultures are different. You're in Thailand.

[Adelita]

But there are absolute ethics too. The rules of honesty and fair value in business apply everywhere.

So I have an allowance from my parents. But I would still be happy paying a fair price, and saving or using the extra 15% each month on other things.

[MrHammer]

Why bother studyng at all when your parents can pay that kind of dosh?

[phetaroi]

But there are absolute ethics too. The rules of honesty and fair value in business apply everywhere.

So I have an allowance from my parents. But I would still be happy paying a fair price, and saving or using the extra 15% each month on other things.

I'm not so sure I agree that the "rule" of "fair value" applies everywhere. In fact, I think that the rule that applies in such things may very well be "what the traffic will bear". Let me give you an example. There's a stomach medication that I sometimes have to take. In Thailand each pill is about 50 cents. In America each pill is about $2. Same medicine, same company. Fair? Or what the traffic will bear?

Now, in regard to absolute ethics, let me ask this. Ethically, shouldn't you pay a fair price and return the extra 15% to your parents? Or, maybe absolute ethics are not so absolute?

[new2bangkok]

Who in their right mind would pay 120K at the Emporium? 3 times bigger place cand be had in the area or even 50m away for half the price.

It's most likely company paying and nobody cares.

With the same high standards? Same security etc.?

[DP25]

Who in their right mind would pay 120K at the Emporium? 3 times bigger place cand be had in the area or even 50m away for half the price.

It's most likely company paying and nobody cares.

With the same high standards? Same security etc.?

Yes. The apartments at the Emporium are for people who are too afraid to go outside (Bangkok is scary), or don't care about price because their company is paying for everything anyways. The OP could spend one day looking around at local apartments and find better ones at half the price if he wanted to.

[Carmine6]

So where is the excess going? To the hotel, or to Mr Sophanpanich (Bangkok Bank and Emporium Suites owner)?

Why don't they just give a straight rate? Or why would they give a higher rate to a student that presumes an honest rate, and that people are straight and honest in the world, and a lower rate to a businessman or professional just because he knows to and how to negotiate?

What's an "honest" rate? Did they promise one figure and load up extra charges? Did you end up with a rate completely different than implied? Sounds like they gave a rate, you accepted. I'm not sure where you're from, but I can't imagine the hotels in your home country just charge one rate absolutely.

The entire hospitality industry is subject to discounting. Tours, hotels, airlines, etc. Do you turn down student discounts because others are paying full price?

[Adelita]

Because wanted to study here, and prefer my own apartment rather than live with my family here.

And because I have a set allowance, I chose this place, and can keep whatever extra is not spent.

I did also see other places in the area and serviced apartments, and chose this one.

None of the other ones look that great, or on standard with comfortable apartments in the US.

They did give that rate, but the sales person asked in advance what rate I had been told, and sounded a bit overenthusiastic when I told her the rate.

A fair price would be the value of the property and time period of rental, NOT marking up for certain people or marking below for those who know how to negotiate. Such negotiation is not expected in the US, especially for set rate monthly rentals. Fair price is true value, not inflated value. Didn't we learn that already in the west?

[ubonjoe]

Off topic and improper reply deleted.

[MJo]

Because wanted to study here, and prefer my own apartment rather than live with my family here.

And because I have a set allowance, I chose this place, and can keep whatever extra is not spent.

I did also see other places in the area and serviced apartments, and chose this one.

None of the other ones look that great, or on standard with comfortable apartments in the US.

They did give that rate, but the sales person asked in advance what rate I had been told, and sounded a bit overenthusiastic when I told her the rate.

A fair price would be the value of the property and time period of rental, NOT marking up for certain people or marking below for those who know how to negotiate. Such negotiation is not expected in the US, especially for set rate monthly rentals. Fair price is true value, not inflated value. Didn't we learn that already in the west?

Let me guess, your studying economics or MBA

You are staying in a hotel basicly. As hotels do they publish several different rates for same rooms. You most likely got the "list price" or accepted the price before they had opportunity to tell you about their promotions. Also it is possible that your neighbour has been staying longer and still get's "old" rate from last year or whatever. Here as in US or Europe, service providers will try to get the best possible price and that means that someone pays more and someone pays less. Simply its just basic demand and supply...

So your parents have the money and you don't have problem spending it so it's ok. Personally i would rent nice penthouse pad in Soi 24 from one of the new buildings instead of Emporium hotel serviced apartment. You could get better service and security and use the rest for something else usefull, say nice rental BMW with driver. That would come handy when going drinking in Ekamai with your buddies

I don't know much about ethics and fair prices in US but the way world spins around means you need to take care of yourself, you can not assume others (family, state or companies) are taking care it for you and protecting your best interests.

Take a look Thaivisa classifieds to get an idea what are the asking prices of apartments here and if you deal with agents do not answer their first question which will be "what is your budget?" just tell them what area, size and standard you are interested in and take it from there.

[orchis]

Because wanted to study here, and prefer my own apartment rather than live with my family here.

And because I have a set allowance, I chose this place, and can keep whatever extra is not spent.

I did also see other places in the area and serviced apartments, and chose this one.

None of the other ones look that great, or on standard with comfortable apartments in the US.

They did give that rate, but the sales person asked in advance what rate I had been told, and sounded a bit overenthusiastic when I told her the rate.

A fair price would be the value of the property and time period of rental, NOT marking up for certain people or marking below for those who know how to negotiate. Such negotiation is not expected in the US, especially for set rate monthly rentals. Fair price is true value, not inflated value. Didn't we learn that already in the west?

Well, Toto , you're in the east now. Everything's negotiable here.

[phetaroi]

A fair price would be the value of the property and time period of rental, NOT marking up for certain people or marking below for those who know how to negotiate. Such negotiation is not expected in the US, especially for set rate monthly rentals. Fair price is true value, not inflated value. Didn't we learn that already in the west?

YOU'RE NOT IN THE WEST! YOU'RE NOT IS THE U.S.!

[Adelita]

Yeah well, this whole continent is building based on the Western model of capitalism. They can't just pick and choose which rules to apply. They can build a better model of society, but they can't build one and keep the old wooden planks of archaism.

[Carmine6]

Yeah well, this whole continent is building based on the Western model of capitalism. They can't just pick and choose which rules to apply. They can build a better model of society, but they can't build one and keep the old wooden planks of archaism.

Ok, you're from the US. Hate to burst your bubble, but you're mistaken that rates aren't negotiable in the US. Daily rates not so much, but monthly, definitely. People kind of outsource their negotiating to companies like Priceline.com or even AAA.

Even for a stay longer than a week you can often talk them down in the US. More commonly, you can get upgrades. It's not car lot negotiating, lots of times all it takes is asking.

In Thailand, just start asking. I'm the worst negotiator in the world and I get discounts all the time.

[sunsetlover]

At Emporium Suites, they gave a room type at rental rate 120,000 baht per month.

However, today a messenger put a lease renewal contract for the unit next door under my door, and it says they are paying 100,000 baht per month for the same room type, same duration of stay.

Why is this?

What kind of rent is that, 120,000/month?! You're not in Manhattan! Adelita, when someone in Thailand asks 120,000 bht from you, you say 40,000, and negotiate from there

Btw, check out Oakwood across the street on soi 24.

[phetaroi]

Yeah well, this whole continent is building based on the Western model of capitalism. They can't just pick and choose which rules to apply. They can build a better model of society, but they can't build one and keep the old wooden planks of archaism.

Oh my goodness! There's a rule book??? I've lived all my life and not known there was such a book.

[Mario2008]

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