Thais Getting Ripped Off By Thais

[meatboy]

my wife was pleased to come back to her home country after 20years in the uk,but what is pissing her off is being ripped off on a reguler basis, being served half cooked frozen food no appoligy,buying food in the markets and finding out when she gets home it is under wieght,eg.yesterday she bought half kilo prawns charged for that amount only to find she had 405grams not 500,one evening 5 of us went to s/p to eat,waiter asked her why dont she have a discount card she said ok,only to find that they added the charge to the bill and 10%service plus 7%tax these are only a sample of what is happening,is it only my wife or any others getting ripped off by your own i think she is too trusting but she does get funny looks from traders who she has supported in the past but not anymore,but do they care do they hell.

[BuckarooBanzai]

I think a lot depends on where you live. Village Life in Issan has no problems for us. Would think if you live in a tourist area though things are going quickly downhill.

[sarahsbloke]

Anyone who looks wealthy is fair game.

Last time we were in BK my wife went somewhere alone on a tuktuk, he tried to overcharge her.

You should have heard the shouting, "It doesn't matter if you steal from tourists but you don't steal from other Thais"

That was the gist of the altercation (translated to English and the swearing removed to avoid offense)

Very funny. (and the tuktuk driver didn't know she was with me, I was in a coffee bar nearby)

If you find yourself in that situation

Kamoy rer nia

Is the phrase to use (you're a thief are you?)

(literal translation Kamoy = thief, rer = question inviting agreement, nia = indication of surprise)

[seriouseats]

Those things only happen in the south/bkk ..

[samran]

basic rule, if you look like a tourist people will generally will try it on.

My mother (Thai) who has lived in Australia 40+ years will get scammed when in Thailand, mainly taxi drivers, traders etc.

My wife, a white Kiwi, doesn't have the same issues, in the same places. Same for most long term expats.

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

[sarahsbloke]

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

I think it's the clothes, they can tell foreign made clothes

Now that I wear clothes entirely purchased here, even the TukTuk drivers have stopped shouting "TukTuk" at me.

[Fookhaht]

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

I think it's the clothes, they can tell foreign made clothes

Now that I wear clothes entirely purchased here, even the TukTuk drivers have stopped shouting "TukTuk" at me.

Or "You! You!"

[meatboy]

my wifes no.1rule if shes buying anything shes on her own,as we dont have wheels we used to use the taxis in korat,they even tried to rip us off by saying its a fixed rate outside the area yet thais that live by us pay whats on the meter,not satisfied with 40bht tip they ended up loseing a customer,they just cant resist trying to rip off us expats,thais beware catching farang itus is bad for your wealth.

[IanForbes]

I expect to get ripped off. It no longer bothers me. But, if I notice it then I just don't go back. It's like eating pretty much the same meal at different places. One will charge me 50 baht for what I pay 25 baht somewhere else. It's not that big a deal, but I just don't go back. I certainly can't "blend in" so I don't even try. However, very often I am very pleasantly surprised.

[nocturn]

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

I think it's the clothes, they can tell foreign made clothes

Now that I wear clothes entirely purchased here, even the TukTuk drivers have stopped shouting "TukTuk" at me.

i dont think it is the clothes.

[robblok]

my wifes no.1rule if shes buying anything shes on her own,as we dont have wheels we used to use the taxis in korat,they even tried to rip us off by saying its a fixed rate outside the area yet thais that live by us pay whats on the meter,not satisfied with 40bht tip they ended up loseing a customer,they just cant resist trying to rip off us expats,thais beware catching farang itus is bad for your wealth.

I just make sure im not around when important thing need to be bought. I do make sure gf understands what i want. I only ever pay for meter taxi's else i just dont get in plenty of other taxi's. But now we got a car and a couple of bikes. I love the freedom that that gives us.

If you dont like something just dont buy it from them. Ignore them, i usually tell them i know they are ripping me off and ill take my business elsewhere.

[Thongkorn]

Its not just in Thailand Try London England, Taxi drivers and street vender's, what makes it worse is its foreign works living in England that are mainly doing it , Foreign tourist go away and start to call England . I never have any problem when i visit the wifes family, in fact a lot of local shop keepers want to give me things rather than pay for them. I decline most of the time so as not to insult them.But thats only in the vicinity of the family house.The big money Thais rip of the poorer Thais all the time , with wages ext ext so its not just tourists.

[SantiSuk]

The deeper you go into Isaan the bigger the smile on their face and yours.

[scorecard]

basic rule, if you look like a tourist people will generally will try it on.

My mother (Thai) who has lived in Australia 40+ years will get scammed when in Thailand, mainly taxi drivers, traders etc.

My wife, a white Kiwi, doesn't have the same issues, in the same places. Same for most long term expats.

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

My Thai daughter-in-law got ripped off by buying two no value life insurance policies and was convinced to buy an extremely expensive health policy which would have been nice for a rich billionaire.

The salesperson was her Thai best friend from all of high school. They had a really good friendship for many years until daughter-in-law discovered she had been used, and on top of that was told all sorts of lies about how customers are forbidden to contact the insurance company HO, etc.

But wait a minute, these things have been happening in every country in the world since time began and will, unfortunately, continue forever.

[samran]

basic rule, if you look like a tourist people will generally will try it on.

My mother (Thai) who has lived in Australia 40+ years will get scammed when in Thailand, mainly taxi drivers, traders etc.

My wife, a white Kiwi, doesn't have the same issues, in the same places. Same for most long term expats.

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

My Thai daughter-in-law got ripped off by buying two no value life insurance policies and was convinced to buy an extremely expensive health policy which would have been nice for a rich billionaire.

The salesperson was her Thai best friend from all of high school. They had a really good friendship for many years until daughter-in-law discovered she had been used, and on top of that was told all sorts of lies about how customers are forbidden to contact the insurance company HO, etc.

But wait a minute, these things have been happening in every country in the world since time began and will, unfortunately, continue forever.

My post was more about things in touristy areas or in areas/markets where prices can be viewed as negotiable by all sides.

Nevertheless, you make a good point. Insurance products here (ie Life policies) are inherent rip off and even when you've been paid out, you've lost money. I've posted quite a bit about these in the financial forum.

Easy targets are financially illiterate (no offense to your Daughter IL). My experience is that those selling the things don't have a clue they are bad investments (till you show them). All they want are commissions. In the case of banks, tellers are sometimes basically forced to sell them to meet some predetermined targets. Not pretty all around I'm afraid

[SadieMBeagle]

I'm not Thai, so maybe I have no place in this discussion. But I agree with the posters who say Thais can tell if you're a traveler...by that I mean, now that I've been here 1.5 years, I dress more conservatively (and I wonder if I carry myself in a different way than I did back home - really no way to tell, unless I go back to the USA and someone comments on it, I guess), and I speak some Thai - especially when it comes to shopping and eating. I find that people will often discount the price they've offered me when they hear me speaking Thai, before I even ask for a discount.

So yes, I think it doesn't matter if you're Asian, Caucasian, or anybody else - if you're seen as a "foreigner," you'll be offered the higher price.

[robblok]

basic rule, if you look like a tourist people will generally will try it on.

My mother (Thai) who has lived in Australia 40+ years will get scammed when in Thailand, mainly taxi drivers, traders etc.

My wife, a white Kiwi, doesn't have the same issues, in the same places. Same for most long term expats.

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

My Thai daughter-in-law got ripped off by buying two no value life insurance policies and was convinced to buy an extremely expensive health policy which would have been nice for a rich billionaire.

The salesperson was her Thai best friend from all of high school. They had a really good friendship for many years until daughter-in-law discovered she had been used, and on top of that was told all sorts of lies about how customers are forbidden to contact the insurance company HO, etc.

But wait a minute, these things have been happening in every country in the world since time began and will, unfortunately, continue forever.

My post was more about things in touristy areas or in areas/markets where prices can be viewed as negotiable by all sides.

Nevertheless, you make a good point. Insurance products here (ie Life policies) are inherent rip off and even when you've been paid out, you've lost money. I've posted quite a bit about these in the financial forum.

Easy targets are financially illiterate (no offense to your Daughter IL). My experience is that those selling the things don't have a clue they are bad investments (till you show them). All they want are commissions. In the case of banks, tellers are sometimes basically forced to sell them to meet some predetermined targets. Not pretty all around I'm afraid

I got the same experience, my wife was almost convinced to take out some life insurance on her mother. Until i looked at it and pointed out that it was a bad idea. I work all day with numbers and calculating insurances or mortgages is not that hard if you know what you are doing.

But some insurances can be good, car insurance and such. Im not against insurances but life insurances are usually here not that good.

[zzaa09]

I think a lot depends on where you live. Village Life in Issan has no problems for us. Would think if you live in a tourist area though things are going quickly downhill.

Yep. I believe it's the nature of the circles that one keeps.

[Member]

You wife finally had the western culture to compare with, lol

[cdnmatt]

Anyone who looks wealthy is fair game.

That's my suggestion. Take the gold off, and throw some trackpants and a t-shirt on!

[meatboy]

we have had the insurance reps visit us many times but the wife always tell them why take out life ins.as i dont have anybody to leave it to,but this is what i found out what one said to my wife,because you are married to a farang he must take an aids test,i see this rep quite offten and she keeps her distance.only this morning the wife had to go back to the checkout at one of tesco exspess stores because she had been double charged,but the look they gave her was if she had pinched the item,she shops there at least 6times a week but this is the last time,hope maybe a manager of the co.reads this but do they care do they hell.

[wolf5370]

basic rule, if you look like a tourist people will generally will try it on.

My mother (Thai) who has lived in Australia 40+ years will get scammed when in Thailand, mainly taxi drivers, traders etc.

My wife, a white Kiwi, doesn't have the same issues, in the same places. Same for most long term expats.

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

I think this is quite true - even in quite dense tourist areas it seems to be true. For example now and againb I'll shot into topwn (CM) to go to Panthip Plaza (IT place at the CM Night Bazaar - very touristy area) - or to see some friends etc. If its late, I'll walk to the Night Bazaar and get a Song Taew home (11KM) - I always can see and hear the drivers offering silly proices to the tourist for fairly short trips - yet I get reasonable quotes (that I of course knock down from reasonable to realistic).

I think a lot is attitude perhaps, I don't mean being rude, but acting in a Thai-ish way - Song Taew driver says 300Baht (ignoring the fact he just offered a ride half the distance to farang backpackers for twice that) - me: Laugh and tell him its far too expensive (basic Thai is all that's needed, right? most can learn to say "Paeng mahk") - driver laughs too and offers 250 - I offer 150 we agree on 200.

[meatboy]

as we are discussing being ripped off i think this post should be here,i had run out of salt to cure my own bacon so the wife bought 2x120gram pkts.of bacon to carry on,there is a small part of the pkt.where you can see what your buying,on opening the pkt.i would have a guess that it contained at least 50%fat,ok they say you get what you pay for but at 800bht.a kilo thats a ripp off.and on the front of the pkt.in english is healthier and happier better food,besides my wife who buys this collestral busting crap.

[meatboy]

sorry i got the price wrong it was 400bht kilo.not 800.i stand to be corrected.

[PattayaParent]

Newbies to Thailand (even if they are boomerang Thai's who have been out of the country for a while) seem to have an aura which is apparent, and people attempt to exploit.

I think it's the clothes, they can tell foreign made clothes

Now that I wear clothes entirely purchased here, even the TukTuk drivers have stopped shouting "TukTuk" at me.

i dont think it is the clothes.

Yes, it is, he wears his wife's clothes when he goes out.

[meatboy]

as we are discussing being ripped off i think this post should be here,i had run out of salt to cure my own bacon so the wife bought 2x120gram pkts.of bacon to carry on,there is a small part of the pkt.where you can see what your buying,on opening the pkt.i would have a guess that it contained at least 50%fat,ok they say you get what you pay for but at 800bht.a kilo thats a ripp off.and on the front of the pkt.in english is healthier and happier better food,besides my wife who buys this collestral busting crap.

once again i got it slighty wrong the fat content of what was left half the packet was70%,one/half pkts in the bin if its not fitt for me to eat i am not going to give it to my dog.