Difference in price of tablets for my Thai wife and for myself.

[dotpoom]

If you are suffering from high b-p, what on earth are you getting so worked up about this issue, and certainly do NOT go to confront and argue with the two pharmacies who appear to be over charging you. The employees couldn't care less; you will appear to be confrontational, and their policy will not change one single iota. Your b-p will go up still further, you will

achieve absolutely nothing, and you don't even know whether one is selling the genuine article and the other a generic version, or whether one is a fake, copy or imitation! Do yourself a favour, and us, and let this one go, just for once. O.K?

I understand your point about doing myself a favor....but please...what's this about doing "us" a favor.....I didn't send for you....you can leave anytime you wish.

PS. Why does so many people think that one has to let a situation like this be the cause of one's B/P rising.....there is such a thing as a controlled protest........Sometimes the same technique can be used in a traffic jam.

[kikoman]

I didn't know farang could get the 30 baht medical program.

Yes Farang's can qualify for the 30 baht medical program, you can get all the information on the Medical thread, I believe under the "Affordable medical insurance".

Cheers

One has to realize if you choose to live in a tourist city, you will be paying tourist prices that not to be confused with "double pricing" ,

Cheers

Edited November 7, 2013 by kikoman

[dotpoom]

Many seem to have missed the point that I DID VOTE WITH MY FEET...I went back to the first shop and ordered my 5 boxes.

My simple point is...vote with your feet for sure.........but let the over charger KNOW that you are voting with your feet, at least that may make him think if it happens often enough. By simply walking out and saying nothing he is none the wiser......that you have voted with your feet.

[kriswillems]

The price of medicines and lab-work varies a lot. I don't think is related to the fact you're a farang.

Try to look for a pharmacy near a cheap government hospital. They usually sell at very low prices (2 or 3 times lower than boots).

Labs and pharmacies related to the government hospital are usually very cheap. If I do a full blood test at a local clinic I pay 1500B, they send the blood to a small lab nearby. In a big private hospital I pay even more. If I just go directly to the small lab I get the same test for 200 B.

[Tchooptip]

You've got your tablets, dotpoom, so why would you want to raise your blood pressure further by confronting Jomtien pharmacists? I don't understand.

Simply because it's the way a great percentage of western men behaved

[dotpoom]

The price of medicines and lab-work varies a lot. I don't think is related to the fact you're a farang.

Try to look for a pharmacy near a cheap government hospital. They usually sell at very low prices (2 or 3 times lower than boots).

Labs and pharmacies related to the government hospital are usually very cheap. If I do a full blood test at a local clinic I pay 1500B, they send the blood to a small lab nearby. In a big private hospital I pay even more. If I just go directly to the small lab I get the same test for 200 B.

Thank you Kris,

When I first started attending Queen Sirikit Hospital (my local) many years ago I was given a repeat prescription for tablets. My wife told me it would be better for me, as a foreigner, to buy them at a local pharmacy instead of coming back to the hospital as t would be cheaper. since then they have put up a sign stating that foreigners are charged 50% more than a Thai national.

[Tchooptip]

I will think again about what to do. By the way, I had intended to hide the name of the pharmacy if it was at the top of the receipt, but to the best of my knowledge most receipts here are just written on a receipt book that you can buy in any store, not personalized. I'm surprised to hear that going back is not considered a good idea by the contributors here...where I come from it is considered a "must" to pull up people who overcharge in the hope that being "found out' might help them change their ways. Yes, I hear you all saying "You're not at home now".... this is Thailand............but old habits die hard. I think by lying down under such practices is, to say the least, condoning it. If more people let it be known to shops who "double charge Foreigners" that they were taking their custom to shops that did not do this....maybe...just maybe...it might make at least one of them think again. It's people not doing this that encourages the practice.

i fully agree with you mate, i would do the same !

i really dont understand the RIDICULOUS reactions of some smartasses here....

i fully agree with you mate, i would do the same ! ...Also Same blood pressure ?

[Tchooptip]

I have placed a call with the consumer watch group FART (farangs against racist targeting) and raised a stink. They have sent out a private investigator to get to the bottom of this problem. There is no doubt something smells here. They did provide a suggestion for the next time.

Get some shoe polish and darken your skin a bit...shave your hair so that it stands straight up, spike it, and color it black.....draw or grow a scraggily beard and moustache....wear a pair of dark sunglasses so the pharmacist can not see your eyes...and in your best Thai accent ask for the product in question......if you get charged a lower rate then YES you have been discriminated against and FART is more than willing to take this case to the supreme court!

Let's all raise a stink and get a FART in every district within Thailand...before long with all the new FART's around, Thailand will have to take notice and do something.

Ting tong

[n210mp]

Its like driving continuously up a cul de sac reading the Thai apologists for so called unfair and racialist trading practices.

To these laid back apologist posters.

Are you so Blase and lazy minded that you cannot at least share a sense of outrage when you are being shafted so blatantly?

One Bod talks about the real world of business as though it is normal to "sucker" your customer and get as much as you can out of the deal, this of course is pure <deleted> and a proper "Business" would be more concerned with "Repetitive and regular trade where there is built up good will based on trust and integrity and customer satisfaction that means that the customer will come back time after time after time therefore maximising potential profits!

Surely that should be the aim of any "normal" business?

Lushgoat has summed it up with his post;

"You are all part of the problem you let these people shit on you, screw you literally extort money anyway they can if they were in our country and were treated like so you think they would keep quiet."

The absolute corruption in all facets and shades of society in this Country is well known throughout the world and of course must to a degree be accepted if you wish to reside here but my issue is with those who choose to sweep it under the carpet as it where by making some one who speaks an elemental truth into some kind of nut for even voicing a protest.

You still dont understand Thailand. My wife even bargains on price weather I'm there or not. Do you not know this? As for international business that guy you talk about is correct. I do international trade. Do you think I accept the first price quoted? If I did I would not have a business for a long time. You always have to negotiate. Do you buy a used car for the price they ask? Stop blaming others for your misery.

I never stated that I understood Thailand and cannot remember saying I understood it before this thread, taken from "You "Still " dont understand Thailand comment" and thus Indicating a past tense scenario, so where did you get this gem of info and what is the point of your very confrontational and subjective comment!

The "normality" of Thai people bartering for best price is not under consideration in this thread except that it has been raised by apologists to make some mitigation for the Racially stimulated price differences charged to Farangs in Local shops stores and Pharmacies.

Your comments about international business dealings which I would have thought applied to any business dealings in any Country are superfluous and totally out of any meaningful context within the scope of the OP thread .

Finally do you know me?

If not as I suspect then why make such a comment as " Stop blaming others for your misery." how do you know whether I am a miserable and grumpy old fart or not, in any event what has that got to do with the validity of any opinion I express on this forum?

I suspect that like a lot of other people on here on here, you dont really read all of the posts of a thread comprehensively and have just responded to a section, possibly mainly mine , to which you have taken exception too and decided to interpret my offerings in an out of context (With the context of the OP that is )

You then stated that I need a course in Business management or that is what you seem to be inferring, that is the message I get when reading your comments about me "Still not understanding Thailand"

Once again I bow to your superior knowledge in this matter and would respectfully ask for a future "Reading" so as I can ascertain when my "misery" in this mortal coil is going to end?

As one poster regularly says at the end of his posts.... " Just saying"

Oh and as for buying a used car, Even I know that it is much better to buy a new one in LOS but thanks for the informed help!

[Stradavarius37]

You've got your tablets, dotpoom, so why would you want to raise your blood pressure further by confronting Jomtien pharmacists? I don't understand.

Good point Wool.....but you see it shot up already when I got the 800 Baht quotes....so now I' attempting to bring it back down when I see the look on their faces when I show them the receipt and wait for their explanations, 555......Seriously though.............. I thought it would be obvious why I would be interested in hearing what they have to say for themselves without actually admitting that ""We double charge Foreigners" or..."We like to rob people".

UK....you are right, but a lot of Thai people, including my wife, just don't want to confront fellow Thais in situations like this so I wouldn't put her in that position.

Unless you can speak and understand Thai - you are basically just a funny cartoon character to them. Go do something productive with your time remaining on this planet - rather than trying to score a cheap "one up" on some low educated people.

[scratchy]

Next timeYou can go back with your wifes receipt and say you would like to pay this price, you don't have to be confrontational but don't accept any bull sh#t there's a way of going about it where every one can be happy, you don't have too start a war with them

If they don't do you a deal move on our send the wife again, I send my missus out to stop the locals fleecing me, she understands because it's our money not just mine

shafting you 800 isn't okay and the apologists should wise up that's all I have to say on that matter.

Good luck when you back next time.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tim armstrong]

Go into Farcino ,they charge the same price if you are a farang ,a Thai Or a monkey ,the price is the same and if you have their card you get 5% discount.

Agree with the above. Fascino are definitely the best. But if you are living here, try to cultivate a good relationship with the local pharmacist.

I live in a large country village with several pharmacies, but only one actual pharmacist who is a grumpy older guy with attitude, to both Thais and farang alike.

In my limited Thai, one day I asked him about the graduation photo of (obviously) his son above the counter. In an instant he went from grumpy old dragon man to proud father with a beaming smile. Since then I've had very friendly service and maybe cheaper prices.

But the other thing to always focus on is generic brands. Particularly with OTC painkillers and blood pressure medication. Its obviously in the pharma companies interests to sell you the name brand and not the generic. Many of these meds have long since past the patent period. But the big pharmas keep on adding 'sunset ' clauses to tweek the patents and keep the prices high. Example: Voltaren - I can buy a locally made generic version - Volta, for about 2/3 less than voltaren. But its hard to find as its so cheap, and your regular pharmacists - Boots etc don't keep it - no profit etc. But my friendly local chemist who is honest and now knows, me does sell it.

So moral of the story, speak Thai and get to know the shopkeeper.

[impulse]

I still recall fondly a sign in a store in Cozumel in the ‘80s. (I’m paraphrasing):

Please do not hassle the staff about our high prices. They’re sensitive.

We all know you can buy this stuff cheaper back home. But this is an island. Do you have any idea what it costs to ship a truckload of stuff to an island?

Our high season is 6 months long, yet we have to pay rent for all 12 months.

And we have to treat our staff fairly. They only work for 6 months and during that 6 month high season, they have dozens of other places trying to hire them away. So we have to pay them pretty good.

Most of the stuff you’ll be buying also has to be imported so you recognize a familiar brand. Besides the ridiculous cost of shipping it from back home, we also pay horrendous import duties and taxes. And at the end of the season, most of the stuff on the shelves has to be liquidated because it will expire before next season.

And you wouldn't believe what kind of other taxes we pay here on a tropical resort island.

So please brighten everyone’s day, and just smile at the staff.

Thank You

[dotpoom]

You've got your tablets, dotpoom, so why would you want to raise your blood pressure further by confronting Jomtien pharmacists? I don't understand.

Good point Wool.....but you see it shot up already when I got the 800 Baht quotes....so now I' attempting to bring it back down when I see the look on their faces when I show them the receipt and wait for their explanations, 555......Seriously though.............. I thought it would be obvious why I would be interested in hearing what they have to say for themselves without actually admitting that ""We double charge Foreigners" or..."We like to rob people".

UK....you are right, but a lot of Thai people, including my wife, just don't want to confront fellow Thais in situations like this so I wouldn't put her in that position.

Unless you can speak and understand Thai - you are basically just a funny cartoon character to them. Go do something productive with your time remaining on this planet - rather than trying to score a cheap "one up" on some low educated people.

I would hardly call the pharmacists I have met "low educated people"...I don't think they would either.

I would safely say that the majority of people here think it's a good idea to "Vote with your feet". However, in my opinion....a vote is not a vote unless it has been counted. Simply walking into a pooling booth, smiling and exiting....is not voting, it won't get people elected or cause people to lose their seats. Similarly if a vote in this case is ment to be a protest vote....it has to be counted. By the way, at no point did I mention about going back to the pharmacy's with both guns blazing. As they say....It's not what you say but how you say it....it's called DIPLOMACY..... You can make a protest....with a smile on your face..

[Bpuumike]

There is of course another possibility, the " higher price" is not double pricing the ferang, they are charging more for a better or original product, the lower price shop is selling cheap copy from china, are you a pharmaceutical expert and know how to tell the difference? The boxes may be identical, is that all you can go on?

After all this is the land of copies, remember you often get what you pay for.

But then, the shop owner could just look at you blank, and tell you, you want buy or not, if other shop cheaper then go there, then who looks stupid and feels better?

Up to you, whatever floats your boat.

I rarely buy from 'a certain supermarket' pharmacy but when I do they always offer me the choice of imported original or generic.

At very different prices.

[Bpuumike]

Go into Farcino ,they charge the same price if you are a farang ,a Thai Or a monkey ,the price is the same and if you have their card you get 5% discount.

Agree with the above. Fascino are definitely the best. But if you are living here, try to cultivate a good relationship with the local pharmacist.

I live in a large country village with several pharmacies, but only one actual pharmacist who is a grumpy older guy with attitude, to both Thais and farang alike.

In my limited Thai, one day I asked him about the graduation photo of (obviously) his son above the counter. In an instant he went from grumpy old dragon man to proud father with a beaming smile. Since then I've had very friendly service and maybe cheaper prices.

But the other thing to always focus on is generic brands. Particularly with OTC painkillers and blood pressure medication. Its obviously in the pharma companies interests to sell you the name brand and not the generic. Many of these meds have long since past the patent period. But the big pharmas keep on adding 'sunset ' clauses to tweek the patents and keep the prices high. Example: Voltaren - I can buy a locally made generic version - Volta, for about 2/3 less than voltaren. But its hard to find as its so cheap, and your regular pharmacists - Boots etc don't keep it - no profit etc. But my friendly local chemist who is honest and now knows, me does sell it.

So moral of the story, speak Thai and get to know the shopkeeper.

You are lucky. My nearest pharmacy is 1.1/2 hours away.

[Bpuumike]

Next timeYou can go back with your wifes receipt and say you would like to pay this price, you don't have to be confrontational but don't accept any bull sh#t there's a way of going about it where every one can be happy, you don't have too start a war with them

If they don't do you a deal move on our send the wife again, I send my missus out to stop the locals fleecing me, she understands because it's our money not just mine

shafting you 800 isn't okay and the apologists should wise up that's all I have to say on that matter.

Good luck when you back next time.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The wife always goes with me and keeps an eagle eye on them.

If she's not happy then she tells them and tells me to vote with my feet.

[atyclb]

If you dont like the price DONT shop there, ...simple.

If you go back with a receipt of cheaper elsewhere they will look at you as if your stupid, and couldnt careless, the price is the price right or wrong.

This is not the west, they have no clue or could careless about repeat business, telling them they are wrong would be regarded as offensive, if talking to the owner, and staff are not bothered one bit, they do as they are told.

Yes Charlie,

Telling them they are wrong would be regarded as offensive...."That is my intention".....why should I care about offending them....aren't they clearly offending me by double charging me. I think I would have looked stupid had I bought the tablets there, not for going back and letting them know i know what they are up to. I wouldn't mind if it was a few extra Baht, even up to 50 Baht. on a 400 Baht purchase....but adding 400 Baht to a 400 Baht purchase is a bit much ....do you not think so? I suppose it is more for my own benefit that I considered going back.....i would not think much of myself for doing nothing when somebody is laughing to themselves about how they nearly conned another foreign sucker in their shop today.

in theory you are right and i agree with you. BUT. the ones that overcharge aren't concerned about ethics or integrity and cheating is the national pastime. they cheat each other all the time so why not us? Many pharmacies are quite decent though. In bkk one that i have found to be very decent is the big one on sukumwit near bullys pub. also ones close to public hospitals are often fair.

[AryanicAristocrat]

Actually I do not know what all the fuss is about? Everybody here knows that Thais practice double pricing.....u just have to come to terms with it and know when to have your revenge. I have lived in Thailand for eons and run multiple businesses and one includes a medical related business. Whenever Thais come in, we charge more or give them inferior products. I stay in Thailand to run my businesses to make money, but I will never give one baht to a thai charity or to help Thais but i will donate to foundations overseas. I make sure that myself and my expat workers never teach or impart too much skills or knowledge to the local staff . I could go on with a lot of other things but the key thing is just relax and undertstand how these things work and just do your own thing whenever you have a chance. It can be quiet fun actually.

[LUSHGOAT]

you are absolutely right if you take shit you will get plenty of it. They will say oh Farangs are idiots with more money than sense so they will attempt to charge what they like. I hope you sorted the problem to your satisfaction dotpoom

You are all part of the problem you let these people shit on you, screw you literally extort money anyway they can if they were in our country and were treated like so you think they would keep quiet. dotpoom you are right and I would send my wife in first to check the price then leave her outside go in with the receipt and confront them they need to know we are not idiots and we are not prepared to take this racial discrimination. When I go in a shop there I always ask if the price quoted is the Farang price or Thai price.

Thank you LUSHGOAT,

I fail to understand why many posters here have the attitude of just shrugging their shoulders and saying ...Ah well...... this is Thailand you know...... without even feeling that it's worth a protest when they find themselves in this situation. If one doesn't even make the slightest protest (without having to blow your blood pressure through the roof) is it any wonder that it is going on. Why would it stop with so many who give the impression that it's "OK" if you want to make a sucker out of me.

Who was it that said....." Evil prevails when good men do nothing".....or words to that effect. Maybe a bit overstated in this context but I think you get my drift.

[DickFarang]

Pharmacies in Thailand charge as they please.
At Watsons the price for Bayer Diane-35 is 145 baht, but some other pharmacies in Pattaya charge over 160 baht and some pharmacies at the Dark Side even over 180 baht.
My magnesium pills are labelled 350 baht, but the lady pharmacist where I buy them only charges 236 baht.
Try to remember prices and avoid places that you find overcharge.
Getting angry or confronting people gets you nowhere in Thailand.
I would never travel from Bang Saray to Jomtien just to discuss prices of medicine.

[DickFarang]

Actually I do not know what all the fuss is about? Everybody here knows that Thais practice double pricing.....u just have to come to terms with it and know when to have your revenge. I have lived in Thailand for eons and run multiple businesses and one includes a medical related business. Whenever Thais come in, we charge more or give them inferior products. I stay in Thailand to run my businesses to make money, but I will never give one baht to a thai charity or to help Thais but i will donate to foundations overseas. I make sure that myself and my expat workers never teach or impart too much skills or knowledge to the local staff . I could go on with a lot of other things but the key thing is just relax and undertstand how these things work and just do your own thing whenever you have a chance. It can be quiet fun actually.

There are also farang run charities in Thailand:

http://www.fr-ray.org/

http://www.camillian-rayong.org/