Blatantly ripped off 1000 baht

[invogue]

I am really upset about what happened today.

I went to a market in Bangkok and selected 5 items which equalled 370 baht. This was confirmed on a calculator that she held up and showed me the amount.

All I had in my wallet was 3 x 1000 baht notes as I had just been to the ATM.

So I handed the lady a 1000 baht note and she disappeared behind a wall and came back with a 20 baht note for change.

I'm guessing she thought I was a stupid foreigner who couldn't count. I stood there indicating I wanted my remaining 610 baht change and she just kind of ignored me and looked in the other direction.

I didn't want to play any games with her so I handed back the merchandise and the 20 baht note and indicated I was cancelling my transaction and wanted my money back. She stalled, disappeared behind the wall for another minute and came back and handed me a 100 baht note.

I shook my head and gave her the 100 baht note back and took out another 1000 baht note and kind of waved it around. I really didn't know what to do. I don't speak Thai which obviously made things really difficult. I raised my voice a bit which I know is a taboo in Thai culture but the woman was blatantly stealing from me. Then a couple of other shop owners came over and one spoke a little English. I tried to explain what happened to her but she didn't understand. I realized I wasn't going to get anywhere so I took the 2 bags of merchandise that was sitting on the table and decided I had to give up the 610 baht. Then the shop owner lady grabbed the bags off me and said 'mai chai', which I do know means 'cannot'. She then spoke in Thai to the other lady who spoke a little English and she told me the woman said I hadn't paid for it yet. By this point I was really upset, I burst into tears and walked off.

The thing that really upset me was that I go to these markets all the time, I spend a lot of money there and I always give extra money to the shop owners because they are obviously really poor. If something costs 80 baht I will usually just give 100 baht and tell them to keep the change. I will probably never go there again now. I was really upset about being blatantly and blindly conned.

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else and can anyone tell me how I could have handled this situation better?

[Eesat]

"Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else and can anyone tell me how I could have handled this situation better?"

Never try to buy anything from a market stall without something resembling the correct change,go to 7/11 and buy a can of Coke or bottle of water or something if you don't have it.Although Thais are generally reasonably honest about this,I'm sorry but you must look like an easy target!
Same with taxis as I had it the other day,my Aussie mate tried to pay a 200 baht fare with 500 baht and the scumbag taxi driver claimed he had no change!Luckily I had some so I scrunched it up and threw it at him,he went off cursing but who cares,dickheads like that make it worse for everyone and give all Thais a bad name!

[Mrjlh]

Stand your ground next time.

[benalibina]

If you were 100% sure that you gave 1.000 bth and you have persisted on a calmly manner to get the proper change back. With or without help from others (police ?)Nothing else. Leaving gives that person a motivation to bullshit somebody else next time.

[mrtoad]

Call the tourist police, sure they will be helpful. Lol.

[Jingthing]

I'd have to agree. I don't use 1000 baht notes at such markets. I can imagine a scam happening but find it harder to imagine it happening in markets where the vendors recognize a regular buyer.

[Jingthing]

Stand your ground next time.

Easy to say but the vendor was a thief and the buyer could not prove anything and speaks no Thai. I think it was a no win. Sad.

[FDog]

Yes you were robbed. As you are a regular to those markets I would make a point of returning as often as possible, do some window shopping at her stall then buy the same items from the stall next to her and make sure she knows you tipped the other lady and remember to smile at the one who ripped you off when you tip that lady.

Do that often.

[MrZM]

Never known of this happening before.

But thanks for letting me know, as my sister is going Bangkok tomorrow I must warn her, and make sure she has small money.

But really, never have experienced this before, not have heard if it before.

Only in bars, like for instance, when I ordered a sang som and coke, when received they gave me a glass of coke, thinking i was drunk and would t notice and I was with my thai wife at the time found it really strange as this hasn't happened to me before.

[I Like Thai]

Stop giving free money away (100 when price 80), they don't think you are nice and generous, they think you are an idiot.

Don't give large amounts.

Call the police if they try to steal from you.

[Jingthing]

Of course there is no need to give exact change. Just I guess in some rare cases a 1000 baht note is just too tempting for some when they think/know they can get away with it.

My main issue with such markets is subtle f-rang related overcharging. You have to shop alot to know when it is happening and then with market fluctuations it isn't always clear. Sometimes I feel the prices at such markets aren't much different than in cleaner grocery stores, but it depends on the specific items.

Edited June 17, 2013 by Jingthing

[Loptr]

You burst into tears and walked off?? Wimp.

Are you a ......

Yes, she is......

Never known of this happening before.

But thanks for letting me know, as my sister is going Bangkok tomorrow I must warn her, and make sure she has small money.

But really, never have experienced this before, not have heard if it before.

Only in bars, like for instance, when I ordered a sang som and coke, when received they gave me a glass of coke, thinking i was drunk and would t notice and I was with my thai wife at the time found it really strange as this hasn't happened to me before.

What rock did you just crawl from under? One of the oldest scams in the book. If you have never had it happen to you, consider yourself lucky and forewarned.

[lannarebirth]

Not that it's your fault or anything, but I think you should change your ATM habits. What I do is is always 3,900, 5,900, 9,900, whatever. In that way you've always got small bills.

[Jingthing]

I made a drunken mistake my first trip to Thailand, gave a 500 baht tip meaning to give 50. After the receiver did a victory dance, there was no turning back. It happens. You just move on. It's a crappy feeling but who hasn't been scammed sometimes in life for much more than 1000 baht?

[marstons]

Same as others have said never take big notes into a place like that, i would always have taken 3300 out for smaller money, or make a point of its 1000 when handing over. I dont see any problem raising your voice, nobody can tell me they don't under same situation, its another myth. lesson learnt but doubtful on the other parties logic.

yes also agree tipping place like that went out the window years ago for me along with the Land Of "Smiles",

Edited June 17, 2013 by marstons

[David48]

I'm sure many of us have sympathy for what happened to you but ... you could have set the scene yourself.

"The thing that really upset me was that I go to these markets all the time, I spend a lot of money there and I always give extra money to the shop owners because they are obviously really poor. If something costs 80 baht I will usually just give 100 baht and tell them to keep the change."

You have signalled yourself as a soft touch ... so the Vendor touched you up.

It's not because you're white (presumption), nor that you are a girl ... but you displayed an action that sets you apart.

You probably wouldn't 'tip' a market vendor back home, so why do it here? They, the Market Vendor are making a profit through the sale and you wanted to turn into a Super Profit by continually tipping.

.

[473geo]

Yes you were robbed. As you are a regular to those markets I would make a point of returning as often as possible, do some window shopping at her stall then buy the same items from the stall next to her and make sure she knows you tipped the other lady and remember to smile at the one who ripped you off when you tip that lady.

Do that often.

Just be sure the lady on the stall next to her is not her sister

[MrZM]

You burst into tears and walked off?? Wimp.

Are you a ......

Yes, she is......

Never known of this happening before.

But thanks for letting me know, as my sister is going Bangkok tomorrow I must warn her, and make sure she has small money.

But really, never have experienced this before, not have heard if it before.

Only in bars, like for instance, when I ordered a sang som and coke, when received they gave me a glass of coke, thinking i was drunk and would t notice and I was with my thai wife at the time found it really strange as this hasn't happened to me before.

What rock did you just crawl from under? One of the oldest scams in the book. If you have never had it happen to you, consider yourself lucky and forewarned.

I've been here 7 years, and normally buy bottles.

Was with family and my wife so was in an unusual bar, I have heard if it happening, but never have experienced it. Was quite embarrassed actually as is my sister and bf first time in Thailand. No wonder people get put off.

[wooloomooloo]

Without trivialising, cheap lessons in life are worth their weight in gold in the long run.

[wooloomooloo]

I'm sure many of us have sympathy for what happened to you but ... you could have set the scene yourself.

Good point. The least you could do is barter.

[bangkokstick]

First I don't believe that she intentionally tried to ripped you off.

Second I hardly believe a story from someone who doesn't know how ridiculous it is to think that these sellers are poor and let them the change as you would do to beggars.

[Jingthing]

I agree that most of the vendors are doing quite OK. I don't agree there couldn't be bad apples at the fruit stand!

[samran]

Easy way to get around these things. Before paying, ask 'do you have change for 1000 baht?' Hold it up for all to see. For many small store owners, this is a courtesy. For the small proportion of scammers, it stops them from doing the 'you only gave me 100 trick'.

Very few mistakes are made after that.

[MAJIC]

I'm sorry for this lady,but to be honest she needs to toughen up a bit.Nobody tips a market trader. She is giving out the wrong vibes,and set her self up for the inevitable rip off. which has now happened! never part with a 1000 baht bill,this is big money to some traders,had she been in Thailand a little longer,she will see the efforts most honest businesses go to,and try to change it for you,and give you the correct change!

Just as a footnote: newcomers need to know the value of money in Thailand,1000 baht,or 3 days wages,x that by 3 days wages in our own Countries,and then the real value emerges.

Edited June 17, 2013 by MAJIC

[yoslim]

Why complain at all ? You got what you got what you deserve, tipping in a market.. walking around with 1000 baht notes

[benalibina]

So by trying to do good, tipping 20 bth many times, she appears to be an easy victim for the scammers !! She tries to do GOOD !!!!!!!!!! Whatever her, mistakenly maybe, perceptions are of the foodstallowners. They must cherish her and give a good service and price so she comes back to them next time. Not cheat her. Brings them money constantly, now she will not return. Hopefully.

[maccaroni man]

This is no place for the weak. I would have filled my bags with another 610 worth of goods before walking away empty handed.

[wprime]

"Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else and can anyone tell me how I could have handled this situation better?"

Never try to buy anything from a market stall without something resembling the correct change,go to 7/11 and buy a can of Coke or bottle of water or something if you don't have it.Although Thais are generally reasonably honest about this,I'm sorry but you must look like an easy target!

Same with taxis as I had it the other day,my Aussie mate tried to pay a 200 baht fare with 500 baht and the scumbag taxi driver claimed he had no change!Luckily I had some so I scrunched it up and threw it at him,he went off cursing but who cares,dickheads like that make it worse for everyone and give all Thais a bad name!

It's very possible he didn't have change, you're lucky you didn't get beaten up for such an act.

[dave111223]

Should have said "Oh this merchandise is only 80, I'll take 12 more bags then please and hand them another 1000"...

[chrisinth]

You burst into tears and walked off?? Wimp.

Are you a ......

Yes, she is......

Never known of this happening before.

But thanks for letting me know, as my sister is going Bangkok tomorrow I must warn her, and make sure she has small money.

But really, never have experienced this before, not have heard if it before.

Only in bars, like for instance, when I ordered a sang som and coke, when received they gave me a glass of coke, thinking i was drunk and would t notice and I was with my thai wife at the time found it really strange as this hasn't happened to me before.

What rock did you just crawl from under? One of the oldest scams in the book. If you have never had it happen to you, consider yourself lucky and forewarned.

Consider yourself lucky you didn't get a double measure.

The barkeep must have had some varnish removal work planned for the next day........................