Overcharged For A Haircut In Udon

[barky]

When I first arrived in Thailand (about 10 years ago) I bought a Japanese brand of electric clippers from Big C for, from memory 289 baht. Since then I have been cutting my own hair when it is convenient for me . Lets see apart from the enormous saving in time/transport and the massive benefit of convenience I reckon I've saved about 100B x 12mths x 10 yrs = 12,000 baht in just hairdressers costs.

I know 12,000 baht in the scheme of things is not a lot ,but its money I can spend on something else and the CONVENIENCE is the big winner for me.

Edited May 11, 2010 by barky

[angiud]

Another happy DIY customer

[Lancelot]

Anybody else been ripped off recently at the barbers?

I'm a big fan of always asking the price before hand and having correct change to pay the bill.

I was on my way back from the gym and stopped my the barber shop around the corner from my apartment. The sign on the door said in Thai "Adults, B60." When the hair cut was finished, I paid with the only note I had, a crisp new B100. The barber said thanks and didn't offet to give any change. I kept my hand out and when it was obvious that he wasn't going to give change, I motioned to the sign on the door and said hair cut B60. He then became quite nervous and said hair cut pu yai (big man) B100. I just looked at him for a second and left.

I lived at that apartment for about 12 months and usually get a haircut once a month, so the shop could have grossed B800 from me (60+20 tip) Instead he got B100 today and lost B700 in the future.

Pretty advanced business model

[barky]

Anybody else been ripped off recently at the barbers?

I'm a big fan of always asking the price before hand and having correct change to pay the bill.

I was on my way back from the gym and stopped my the barber shop around the corner from my apartment. The sign on the door said in Thai "Adults, B60." When the hair cut was finished, I paid with the only note I had, a crisp new B100. The barber said thanks and didn't offet to give any change. I kept my hand out and when it was obvious that he wasn't going to give change, I motioned to the sign on the door and said hair cut B60. He then became quite nervous and said hair cut pu yai (big man) B100. I just looked at him for a second and left.

I lived at that apartment for about 12 months and usually get a haircut once a month, so the shop could have grossed B800 from me (60+20 tip) Instead he got B100 today and lost B700 in the future.

Pretty advanced business model

The point is Lancelot he/they don't care whether you come back or not. Just don't care.

[klikster]

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.

Most of my visits to barbers are where "locals" go. I see Thais tipping pretty often. Pranburi, Bt 50 -- KK, Bt 50. And anytime I go into a new place I ask the price before I sit down.

[PeaceBlondie]

Chang Mai, at Santitam traffic fountain, forty baht, falang.

[ray23]

Time for a new barber, haircuts all over Udon for 50 baht. I think I know the place as well from four years ago never been back. Double pricing is not the norm here. The further away from downtown the better.

I like CR as well, but for a cheaper haircut don't think so.

[apetley]

The point is Lancelot he/they don't care whether you come back or not. Just don't care.

If you explain their loss then they do care, believe me. Sometimes pointing out that you will be a loyal customer at the usual Thai price will work.

But then that face sh!t comes back to bite and it's tough to let it go but there is some understanding of economics here, just has to be worked at with some.

[Tanaka]

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.

What do you expect they would have done? Stabbed you with a pair of scissors? Being a westerner is not the issue, cheating and double standard is and you accepted it by paying. And as for you "making it clear that you were not pleased", they would not give a rat's ass about that. They may, however, have laughed at the silly farang when you left. Because you lost face in their eyes. By overpaying and by complaining about doing so. You mentioned in one post something about your principles. What happened to them? This is Thailand. Either you agree to pay the price or you don't. Don't complain. In your case, like someone already said, you should have said the price says max 60bt. So you pay 60bt and leave. You need to try and find some balls again.

I never pay double price for anything. I use my thai driver's license when applicable to show that I live here and if that still is not enough, I'll leave. And I live in Udon Thani and have my hair nicely cut for 40bt in the town centre by a man who has his chair on the pavement.

[kalasin]

Raised from 40 to 50 baht in Kuchinarai in Kalalsin. School children pay 20 baht.

Last time it cost me 250 baht, since the police had a "driving-without-helmet-pocket money-day", which cost me 200 baht. Strange that after I had paid the ticket, I could continue driving without helmet.

[Eazy-Going]

Well I was paying £8 in UK last year just for a trim with clippers, about a 5 min job, + £1 tip. Now have a lovely place in Udon Thani, takes her time, about 20 mins, does a brill job and all for 50Bht + 10Bht tip. It even looks better than the crop I have in UK...

[mickj88]

[ Last time it cost me 250 baht, since the police had a "driving-without-helmet-pocket money-day", which cost me 200 baht. Strange that after I had paid the ticket, I could continue driving without helmet ]

Should ask your guy to cut it helmet shaped next time ,you may not get stopped then

On a slightly different note i went to our usual 7-11 type shop in the local town for some milk but they had none,went across the road to a different sop bought some and the cheeky git asked me for a tip.My wife was with me and told them where to get off .As I am only in the area for a couple of months a year on 2 occations they must not of recognized me where as the other shop know me as I use them all the time when in LOS.

Edited May 11, 2010 by mickj88

[witold]

You should've just said the sign says 40-60B and that is all that you are willing to pay and if they want to charge you more, to put a corrected sign.

[tartempion]

I Used to visit that luxury barbershop a few doors from the traffic light on Prajak Silapakorn over the railway station night market.

Shampoo et all was 200B, much better than your average village military 40B cut. Last year they raised their price to 250B, since I am looking for a decent cut around my village 40kms away and can't find any decent barber shop. Last visit was in Nong Han, an ugly kathoy asked 100B. Won't go back neither.

The shops in Charoensri shopping mall are way overpriced, 500B?

But I don't mind paying 200B for full service, never tip though.

[marquis22]

Quote: 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."

I had a hair cut in that area 3 weeks ago, went about 9am on a Monday morning and got a no:2 from an elderly bloke. Was charged B60

[ronthompson]

I am one of the few with out hair so no problem with cutting fees.

I did notice nearly every one is tipping, in the US I used the old fashion Barber shops and never gave a tip, guess I was wrong.

[ESB7]

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

Good advice. Thats what you need to do with almost everything now...

[ESB7]

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.

Thought I was getting it cheap in Cha am at 60.....so I am paying 20% more than you, I am getting ripped off