Overcharged For A Haircut In Udon

[plachon]

Been living in Thailand for a number of years and normally pay the going rate for a haircut.

However, just recently been ripped off twice and wonder if this is part of a wider trend. First time was in Bangkok about a month ago. 140 Baht for a cut, when the price should have been 70 B or so. Didn't make a scene, as the cut was ok and the place was struggling with few customers just before Songkran. Let it go as a sort of New Year's gift to the old boy who cut my hair, but knew I would never be going back there again.

Next time was a few days ago in Udon Thani. Never had a problem in Isaan so was really surprised when the young lad who cut my hair said "100 B", even though there is a big sign in the window saying haircuts are "40 - 60 B" . I question the lad and he looks at the boss sitting nearby and says, "yes, 100 B for farangs". So "there are two prices I ask?". "Yes" was the reply. I say, rather angrily, but without losing my temper, that it will be his loss when I tell my friends and never go back myself and shove the money over to the lad. Who incidentally had done a crap job of cutting my hair and must have been on work experience.

The location of the barber is on the right up Watthananuwong street from Central and Centara Hotel, about two blocks, just past Adulyadet street intersection. Didn't note the name, but if you're in the area and need a trim but don't want to pay double local prices, give it a big miss.

Anybody else been ripped off recently at the barbers? I've noticed that Thai barbers have taken to asking the price of a cut in UK, so maybe word has got round that it is at least a fiver (ie. 250 so it's OK to rip off farangs for double local prices. Luckily there is still more supply than demand, so the ones that try it on, will soon lose business to their more honest rivals. If it happens a third time, I won't be so understanding as the first two times and will make a big fuss before slinging down the correct local price. Works sometimes.

[gotlost]

Shampoo, hair cut, manicure, pedicure 300 baht.

[samuibeachcomber]

you maybe right about double pricing.In pattaya its around 150-200 baht,wash and cut.Holywood off south pataya road you can get for 60 baht,but like everything you get what you pay for.On Samui i found a thai lady in plai lem to do it for 60 baht used a shaver,not scissors,was n't worth going for the price on this occasion.Average price on Samui is 150-200 baht.I pay 200 and get a great haircut.

[mettadoc]

I always get them to confirm the price before services are rendered. Never had any problems of that sort.

[kandahar]

I see there is more to appreciate living here in Chiang Rai than I thought. I get a quality haircut and a shave for 50 baht.

[Junglejumbo]

Are haircuts really still a fiver in the UK? That's what I paid 18 years ago the last time I had it cut there......must be those cheap Chinese goods and the Internet resulting in no inflation as Alan Greenspan noted once.

In Bangkok I usually pay 250 baht and give 50 baht tip if it's particularly good. I go to a couple of places in Saladaeng. Prices clearly displayed on the window.

[samuibeachcomber]

I see there is more to appreciate living here in Chiang Rai than I thought. I get a quality haircut and a shave for 50 baht.

Well there has to be 1 good reason to live there! only joking,have been there and loved it.

[Gary A]

Yes, I have problems too. The village barber went from 25 to 30 baht. I always gave him 40 baht and still give him 40 baht.

[samuibeachcomber]

Yes, I have problems too. The village barber went from 25 to 30 baht. I always gave him 40 baht and still give him 40 baht.

you be careful,throwing money around like that!

[Pushit]

Yes, I have problems too. The village barber went from 25 to 30 baht. I always gave him 40 baht and still give him 40 baht.

you be careful,throwing money around like that!

Yeah: change you barber to someone who is not trying to steal your fortune!

[apetley]

My local 'hairstylist' has recently reduced her price from 45 to 40 bht.

Now she gets a 10 bht tip instead of 5.

[dave2]

junglejumbo

re .... Are haircuts really still a fiver in the UK? That's what I paid 18 years ago the last time I had it cut there

i had a 5 minite haircut in portishead , bristol just before i left the uk in april 05 and it cost me 7 pound 50

here in chiang mai ive paid the same barber in soi two 60 baht ( about one pound twenty @ todays pound : ( ... ) to cut my hair for about four years .

hes happy .... and im very happy : ) ... dave2

[thrilled]

I agree with mettadic, I always ask what the price is before hand.I bet if you had asked the price and they would have said 100 baht,and you had pointed to the sign they would have cut your hair for the 60 or 80 baht,whatever it was.

Most businesses know that many farangs will give some sort of tip.

[Thongkorn]

I have had my hair cut many times, usually its 50/60baht. I always get charged a100baht, when I ask why , they say because you falang. So I bought a hair trimmer and I do it myself. Not because of Thailand because I was being charged £7 in England. I just take my Trimmer on holiday with me now. I sleep well at night knowing I have saved 100baht,

Edited May 10, 2010 by Thongkorn

[basjke]

Not sure how much my haircut costs me but previously it was 280 Baht for a set of 4.

Recently the price went up to 310 Baht so since then I cut my hair only every other day anymore

[Thongkorn]

Not sure how much my haircut costs me but previously it was 280 Baht for a set of 4.

Recently the price went up to 310 Baht so since then I cut my hair only every other day anymore

Go Electric I have had mine for two years have saved a lot of time and I always look Hansum man now,

[basjke]

Not sure how much my haircut costs me but previously it was 280 Baht for a set of 4.

Recently the price went up to 310 Baht so since then I cut my hair only every other day anymore

Go Electric I have had mine for two years have saved a lot of time and I always look Hansum man now,

No thanks I like shiny hair,can't get that with electric

[Thongkorn]

Not sure how much my haircut costs me but previously it was 280 Baht for a set of 4.

Recently the price went up to 310 Baht so since then I cut my hair only every other day anymore

Go Electric I have had mine for two years have saved a lot of time and I always look Hansum man now,

No thanks I like shiny hair,can't get that with electric

Yes you are right , you cannot shave your legs with an Electric trimmer

[snuggzzz]

junglejumbo

re .... Are haircuts really still a fiver in the UK? That's what I paid 18 years ago the last time I had it cut there

i had a 5 minite haircut in portishead , bristol just before i left the uk in april 05 and it cost me 7 pound 50

here in chiang mai ive paid the same barber in soi two 60 baht ( about one pound twenty @ todays pound : ( ... ) to cut my hair for about four years .

hes happy .... and im very happy : ) ... dave2

Marvellous photo, well here in Blighty (Sidcup) it's about £9 for simple haircut, any wash etc extra..............

[coolhandjoe]

They charged me 400bht for my son and i to have a grade 2, 5 min job .

I,ve gone and bought some clippers now, should save us about 5000bht per annum.

Their loss

[clip]

140 baht a haircut ?? sorry i just dont see what the big deal of paying that little bit of money is all about , you need to get a life man!!! 140 baht i say ( what a deal)

[Dave the Dude]

60b & 20b tip. I can cope with that.

NO LIP OFF'S HERE!

[bergen]

I get a great haircut and shave for free - missus do the hair and I do the shave.

It used to be 20 baht in the village, but probably more today.

[Ulysses G.]

I pay 120 with a 20 baht tip, but it is probably one of the most expensive places in Chiang Mai and is just around the corner from work and air con. I can't be bothered looking for a boiling hot 60 baht barbershop in this heat and tend to stick with the same place once I go there a few times.

[Bottlerocket]

even though there is a big sign in the window saying haircuts are "40 - 60 B" . I question the lad and he looks at the boss sitting nearby and says, "yes, 100 B for farangs".

You should have given him B60 and if he complained just called the cops. They'd have been peeved with him. If the sign says B60, then the price is B60. It's a haircut, not a national park.

[TongueThaied]

As for the guy with the special price for farang, you let him do it. Next time there is a sign but a special price for you, just hand him the 60 baht and walk out (and don't go back if you value your hair). He can't do a dam_n thing about it. Respect for culture is one thing, Bending over is another.

I don't get worked up about the two tier price system. Most foreigners have more and the Thais know it. but if they post a sign, they dam_n well better post both prices or they won't get the extra from me. You've got to have some balls sometimes.

[plachon]

even though there is a big sign in the window saying haircuts are "40 - 60 B" . I question the lad and he looks at the boss sitting nearby and says, "yes, 100 B for farangs".

You should have given him B60 and if he complained just called the cops. They'd have been peeved with him. If the sign says B60, then the price is B60. It's a haircut, not a national park.

That was my immediate reaction, but it was one of those situations where they probably wouldn't have called the cops but probably got aggressive if I'd made a scene. There were 3 barbers waiting for customers and the lad who savaged my hair in the shop and no back-up in sight. Don't forget this is Udon, home of Kwanchai Pornpanna and Redshirt mobs who are infamous for violence. It's not worth getting het up with a Thai barber's gang of rip-off artists over 40 B, was my second reaction. Just made it clear to them in Thai that I was not pleased and would make sure I let other people know to avoid their poxy shop, so they can be sitting around on their arse earning nowt all day in future.

That was another thought that struck me too. Given it's location near to the "farang centre" of Udon, they probably get a lot of farangs who don't know the correct price and just pay up the 100 B without a second thought (a few seem to have posted already). But for those of us who live here and don't enjoy double pricing or standards, whether its a bottle of pop or a ticket into a national park, then paying a single price for a standard service is a matter of principle. That's why I wondered if it is the general experience of Udon expats to be ripped off over getting your barnet cut, or is it just the location of the barber that determined they were going to double charge? How about places further out of town or in the districts? Do they charge "laa-kaa farang"? I've never come across it myself in over a decade in Isaan, so wondered if this is a new trend emerging.

[chuckd]

I pay the local price (40 baht) in my little village, 80 kilometers west of Udorn. I do give a 20 baht tip since I am rich farang.

I look like crap but that isn't the barber's fault.

[parryhandy]

40 baht here in Khon Kaen but always give 20 baht tip because he does it just the way I like it.

[up-country_sinclair]

It seems as if nearly everyone on this thread is tipping their barber.

I don't consider myself to be cheap, but I don't even think about tipping the barber here, because my understanding is that it's not the custom.

Maybe I need to reconsider.