Dual Pricing At Crocodile Farm (samut Prakan)

[stbkk]

Hi all,

sorry if this is alreaady covered, 'mong mai hen' as they say.

Just got back from the crocodile farm in Samut Prakan with the wife and kids (all Thai citizens).

Had the ususal conversation on trying to pay, and even waved my Thai dirving license, but still was forced to pay the farang price.

If it wasn't for the fact that the kids were excited about their day out, I'd have turned around and left.

This is the first time I've had this problem anywhere since I've had my DL, anybody else had the same problem?

[KhaoNiaw]

The Crocodile Farm will give you the Thai price if you speak Thai. Well, they used to but I haven't been for quite a few years. But if there were other farangs in the group, they'd want to speak to them all to check.

[Rionoir]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that (or just don't think 500 baht is worth listening to you ramble on and ruin their day) doesn't make it any different...

In the US many states have attractions which charge a higher rate for out-of-state or foreign residents... I don't know why so many farang think this is a Thai phenomenon or why they seem to think they should be above it. It seems a pretty normal practice to me.

[troy]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that

It has nothing to do with stupidity. They use it as a way to differentiate a resident from a tourist.

Most people are smart enough to realize that.

[longstebe]

Fair or not,you are still a farang to them. It's the same with the national parks from what I remember.

[Garry9999]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that (or just don't think 500 baht is worth listening to you ramble on and ruin their day) doesn't make it any different...

In the US many states have attractions which charge a higher rate for out-of-state or foreign residents... I don't know why so many farang think this is a Thai phenomenon or why they seem to think they should be above it. It seems a pretty normal practice to me.

I seem to remember in Australia national park pass's were cheaper for local residents then inter-state residents. However I don't remember any zoos that charge an extra fee for foreigners. And, I'm sure no hotel would dare have a two price policy.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Garry9999

[astral]

Next time let your wife buy the tickets and you stay in the background.

[webfact]

They have crocodiles at the ticket both too...

stay far away from that and let a Thai buy the tickets

But the crock farm is a different story...

[samran]

not good...

Went there a few months ago and got my wife the Thai price flashing her yellow tabieen baan

[bkkjames]

not good...

Went there a few months ago and got my wife the Thai price flashing her yellow tabieen baan

With all the crocodiles around the city, why go to the farm?

Back on topic, guess my feeling is that I don't have a huge problem with places charging a bit more for tourists, but when it is 5x the cost of locals (not sure if croc farm is btw), it's taking the perverbal pi double s.

[Rionoir]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that

It has nothing to do with stupidity. They use it as a way to differentiate a resident from a tourist.

Most people are smart enough to realize that.

I said citizen not resident.  No need to change my words and be rude.  It was my understanding that most places with signs like this say that Thai citizens get price A and everyone else gets price B.  

[kurnell]

Sadly, most of these places are crap and mistreat the animals to boot, so I have no desire to take my kids there. Problem is there ain't much of an alternative.

[Rionoir]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that (or just don't think 500 baht is worth listening to you ramble on and ruin their day) doesn't make it any different...

In the US many states have attractions which charge a higher rate for out-of-state or foreign residents... I don't know why so many farang think this is a Thai phenomenon or why they seem to think they should be above it. It seems a pretty normal practice to me.

I seem to remember in Australia national park pass's were cheaper for local residents then inter-state residents. However I don't remember any zoos that charge an extra fee for foreigners. And, I'm sure no hotel would dare have a two price policy.

The zoo nearest me in the US charges more for residents from outside of that county.  I just don't see this as very uncommon.

Furthermore... what's the alternative to charging Farang more?  They'd have to raise the cost for Thais to support the place.  So for this guy and his family, with all his bitching, it'd probably cost him MORE to take his family if they did that.  They sure as hel_l aren't going to lower the price for EVERYONE to the Thai level though.  So for someone with a large family I think this is a case of be careful what you wish for. LoL

[Garry9999]

Thai DL doesn't make you a Thai citizen... just cuz other places are too stupid to realize that (or just don't think 500 baht is worth listening to you ramble on and ruin their day) doesn't make it any different...

In the US many states have attractions which charge a higher rate for out-of-state or foreign residents... I don't know why so many farang think this is a Thai phenomenon or why they seem to think they should be above it. It seems a pretty normal practice to me.

I seem to remember in Australia national park pass's were cheaper for local residents then inter-state residents. However I don't remember any zoos that charge an extra fee for foreigners. And, I'm sure no hotel would dare have a two price policy.

The zoo nearest me in the US charges more for residents from outside of that county.  I just don't see this as very uncommon.

Furthermore... what's the alternative to charging Farang more?  They'd have to raise the cost for Thais to support the place.  So for this guy and his family, with all his bitching, it'd probably cost him MORE to take his family if they did that.  They sure as hel_l aren't going to lower the price for EVERYONE to the Thai level though.  So for someone with a large family I think this is a case of be careful what you wish for. LoL

That's a really good point.

[ff978472]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

[bkkjames]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

dont be so quick mate, for the past decade I have paid 30% per month to the government as well.

[DonJuanDemarco]

Its amazing how farang will go out of their way to try and rationalize why they should pay 10 times the amount Thais pay. Its quite strange really.

[rgs2001uk]

I have answered this before on previous topics concerning the crocodile farm.

Last time I visited the Thai price was 80 baht and farang price was 300 baht.

I went to the counter and asked in Thai the price for a farang and Thai ticket, the girl asked me a few questions

such as how long have you lived in Thailand where do you live etc etc, she then told me the price would be 160 baht, I handed her 200 and she gave me change of 40 baht which I told her to keep (bun khun).

Was never asked to show a drivers license, which after all is proof of living here.

[ff978472]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

dont be so quick mate, for the past decade I have paid 30% per month to the government as well.

Then carry your tax slip and show them to proof that you reside here and not a tourist

[DonJuanDemarco]

Then carry your tax slip and show them to proof that you reside here and not a tourist

oh really?

[lopburi3]

Duel pricing has a very long history at that place - I was charged double over 30 years ago and have never returned.

[bkkjames]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

dont be so quick mate, for the past decade I have paid 30% per month to the government as well.

Then carry your tax slip and show them to proof that you reside here and not a tourist

na, couldn't be bother to argue. then again i have never set foot in siam ocean world either. Interestingly, I do go to the zoo and get charged double i believe. 30 baht for the wife, 60 for me.

[stbkk]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

I didn't realise I was going to start up one of the 'Everything in Thailand is wonderful/terrible' threads, or I wouldn't have bothered.

I was just posting a warning, in case people might have not been aware of this, becasue as one of the other posters mentioned, the last time I went I was able to pay the 'normal' Thai price also by myself and wife explaining that I've lived and worked here for years.

Now just a few other comments to give some more information.

1. As touched on above I have lived and worked here (with a work permit) for over 7 years, speak decent enough Thai, and have paid a lot of tax over the years.

2. I am by no means the most well paid in my office, a fair number of the Thais earn the same and more than me, several much more. Why should I pay 5 times more to get in than they would?

3. Last time I went to a National park (6 months or so ago), my Thai driving license was regarded as enought proof that I am a tax paying citizen for them to let me pay the 'residents' price. As I understand it, National parks are paid for by the government taxes, but the crocodile farm is a privately-owned profit making organization. If they want to charge more for foreigners thats their commercial choice, but by not allowing local residents of any nationality to pay the 'local' price they cannot justify as anything other than a fleece the foreigner policy. To quote one of the posters above examples, would an 'out of state' Thai (from Chiang Mai perhaps), be asked to pay the foreigners rate also?

4. I just wanted to warn everybody that this is the only place I have been to that operates dual pricing that has not recognised my driving license as sufficient evidence that I am a local resident and under most (all?)rational and logical arguments should pay the local residents price.

5. In the UK (and I would guess a number of other countries) it is illegal to charge different prices for the same service.

[thaihome]

...

5. In the UK (and I would guess a number of other countries) it is illegal to charge different prices for the same service.

If I am selling a service what right does the government have to tell me what I can charge anyone?

TH

[stbkk]

...

5. In the UK (and I would guess a number of other countries) it is illegal to charge different prices for the same service.

If I am selling a service what right does the government have to tell me what I can charge anyone?

TH

They don't tell you what you can charge, just that you cannot charge different prices for the same thing to different people.

Of course, it pretty difficult to prove unless its something like an admission price to a footbal match. For a service you can always say that job was more difficult etc.

[Rionoir]

I am pretty sure I can charge whatever I want in the US, as long as it isn't based on race, gender, etc. But I can overcharge foreigners all I want. LoL

[Lancelot]

Of course, Thais pay their tax to the government but you don't.

Why you expect to pay the same price with the Thais?

I disagree.

The rich Thais pay most of the Income Tax in Thailand; the majority of the population only pay the 7% VAT, just like tourists and foreign residents do. So if Somchai is paying 7% of his 6,000 baht salary and Joe is paying 7% of his 65,000 baht pesnion (retirement income monthly minimum) just run the numbers and tell me who is paying tax. Expats working in Thailand are paying tax as well.

About differential admission pricing in the USA, if you are a local, you pay the local price. They don't insult you with "Hey, you're a chinaman, you pay 10 times the local price..."

My recent trip to the Ancient City couldn't have been more pleasant; I was admitted for the local price and told "Oh we consider you Thai people already." I've had mixed results in paying the local price and if staff is rude about it, I usually just smile while saying "mai pen rai" and walk away

FWIW, if admission for foreigners was 10 or 20% higher than the Thai citizen price, most of us would not bat an eye, pay up and enjoy the show. When its 5 or ten times higher, well...

[thaihome]

...

5. In the UK (and I would guess a number of other countries) it is illegal to charge different prices for the same service.

If I am selling a service what right does the government have to tell me what I can charge anyone?

TH

They don't tell you what you can charge, just that you cannot charge different prices for the same thing to different people.

Of course, it pretty difficult to prove unless its something like an admission price to a footbal match. For a service you can always say that job was more difficult etc.

Why can’t I charge somebody more then somebody else? That is exactly telling me what to charge. In the free market you can charge whatever the market will bear, regardless of race, gender or anything else. Telling me otherwise is socialist claptrap.

TH

[bkkjames]

...

5. In the UK (and I would guess a number of other countries) it is illegal to charge different prices for the same service.

If I am selling a service what right does the government have to tell me what I can charge anyone?

TH

They don't tell you what you can charge, just that you cannot charge different prices for the same thing to different people.

Of course, it pretty difficult to prove unless its something like an admission price to a footbal match. For a service you can always say that job was more difficult etc.

Why can’t I charge somebody more then somebody else? That is exactly telling me what to charge. In the free market you can charge whatever the market will bear, regardless of race, gender or anything else. Telling me otherwise is socialist claptrap.

TH

Perhaps another word would be discrimination?

[ff978472]

Of course, it pretty difficult to prove unless its something like an admission price to a footbal match. For a service you can always say that job was more difficult etc.

What if they claim that it's more difficult for them to operate their croc farm to accommodate farangs (they have to hire staffs who can speak a little bit of English etc)

Is that make sense?