wont give change what would you have done

[VocalNeal]

Just pick up 50 baht worth of bananas?

[namdocmai]

Bananas are sold by the piece for big ones and a set price for the small bunches. Not by the kilo.

Maybe they should be sold by the kilo though. The size of the big bananas varies a lot, same price.

I have never seen them weigh the bananas, here they go by the bunch for 20-30 baht.

I remember being new to Thailand and saw green mango's for sale on the street, 20 baht was written on a note. I took a green mango and gave her 20 and walked away......

How should i know that green mango's are not sweet and that the price was for a kg?

[Neeranam]

You don't get many bananas for 20 baht. You probably got 50 bahts worth and can't speak the language so she could tell you. I think you are paranoid. And judging all the country's people because of one banana seller, come on.

[Jingthing]

You don't get many bananas for 20 baht. You probably got 50 bahts worth and can't speak the language so she could tell you. I think you are paranoid. And judging all the country's people because of one banana seller, come on.

Now we're on to something.

In Pattaya 20 baht would get you a bunch of small bananas sometimes but the price could also be 25 to 35. NEVER 50.

You could also could get about 3 large bananas for that, but at 7 baht each the price would be 21. The current price for large bananas is 5 to 8 baht per piece.

Edited December 6, 2013 by Jingthing

[namdocmai]

You don't get many bananas for 20 baht. You probably got 50 bahts worth and can't speak the language so she could tell you. I think you are paranoid. And judging all the country's people because of one banana seller, come on.

For 20 baht i get about 8 bananas. Special bananas (ladyfingers or other variety's like the red ones) can cost more. Also the big ones cost more.

But maybe you are right and it was a big bunch or special bananas so the price was 50.

[Neeranam]

You don't get many bananas for 20 baht. You probably got 50 bahts worth and can't speak the language so she could tell you. I think you are paranoid. And judging all the country's people because of one banana seller, come on.

Now we're on to something.

In Pattaya 20 baht would get you a bunch of small bananas sometimes but the price could also be 25 to 35. NEVER 50.

You could also could get about 3 large bananas for that, but at 7 baht each the price would be 21. The current price for large bananas is 5 to 8 baht per piece.

Maybe the OP bought big bananas.

[Jingthing]

50 buys quite a few big bananas. More info please or we're in the dark. Such as what route did the OP take to and from the alleged fruit stall?

Edited December 6, 2013 by Jingthing

[MB1]

I would have just helped myself to some extra bananas and walked away never to return.

Great idea...Infact do it and see what happens, I can picture it now, you laid on the floor covered in blood with a bannana or 3 stuck up your arse...

Absolute and total <deleted> ! Yet another scared view perpetuated by more scared views. Totally unrealistic and based on broad generalisations and not based in fact but stupid rumours.

Go do it then and report back when your anus is looking like a ripened blood orange as well......

I take it you have never seen a bunch of Thai's gang up and attack a lone farang over something petty, I've seen it more than once over the years in Pattaya also in Rayong and Kho Samed, they can be like a pack of wild dogs....

You might be fortunate and get away with making a Thai lose face on some occasions but sooner or later if your going to stand your ground be prepared for what can happen...Enjoy.....

[Jingthing]

Word up!

[Showbags]

Some people liked to be walked all over and others are to scared to do or say anything that might upset the natives.

Grow a set.

and...why are big bananas so popular? I prefer the little ones.

[Kangawallafox]

This is hilarious because the one time I had issues with a refusal of change was a banana vendor.

Old woman about 60, I was confident I could whoop her ass so I did not let up until I got it back,that was a market in lad phrao.

[Jingthing]

Potassium O.D. makes them surly?

[MB1]

Some people liked to be walked all over and others are to scared to do or say anything that might upset the natives.

Grow a set.

and...why are big bananas so popular? I prefer the little ones.

Some people just don't heed IMO good advice, to avoid confrontation with Thai's, it can seriously damage your health..

It's not being walked all over it's preventive medicine, just my opinion of course..And having small change and 20baht notes can stop incidents such as the OP's alledged incident happening...Not really rocket science is it....

Oh and as for the Bannanas, I don't like em, the shape of them puts me off from putting them in my mouth ,does that make me homophobic...

Especially the big fat ones....

Edited December 6, 2013 by MB1

[Jingthing]

Slice 'em up then, mate.

[uptheos]

You don't get many bananas for 20 baht. You probably got 50 bahts worth and can't speak the language so she could tell you. I think you are paranoid. And judging all the country's people because of one banana seller, come on.

Now we're on to something.

In Pattaya 20 baht would get you a bunch of small bananas sometimes but the price could also be 25 to 35. NEVER 50.

You could also could get about 3 large bananas for that, but at 7 baht each the price would be 21. The current price for large bananas is 5 to 8 baht per piece.

Not in small Chiang Mai local markets. I bought a hand of really large ones (20) Wednesday and paid 70 Baht.

Also a hand of local bananas at 20 Baht (didn't count how many), but they're not the really small ones. Sweet Pineapples were 25 Baht and a nice for eating papaya 30 baht. With a few added veggies thrown in I'm on a perpetual smoothie kick

In the OP's situation I think I would have offered them back nicely (probably refused) or taken another bunch to make the change. Anything other than that just kiss goodbye and don't go back. It really does pay to frequent the same stall holders in a market. Not only don't they cheat you, but often the will give you overweight or a free orange to try. Not all Thai's are crooks, many like to see the foreigner come to their stall twice a week or regularly and I may add I eat a heck of a lot of fruit.

Edited December 6, 2013 by uptheos

[HardenedSoul]

As someone else said, "No wonder they laugh at us"

All the timid little pussies advocating that we allow the locals to walk all over us as and when they feel like it need to grow some stones.

Without a doubt, there are most definitely times when it's prudent and smart to let shit go rather than get into a confrontation but those situations are so rare that the majority of us would find it difficult to quote more than one instance.

The OP's situation was a complete and utter non-event.

When she refused to give him change, he should've returned her bananas, taken his money and left. Alternatively, he should've grabbed some more fruit to the value of what he was owed and left. <deleted> could she do about it?

Sure, be polite, respectful and fair but don't let people take the piss.

[Jingthing]

Yes I'm sure the market price for fruit varies by location ...

The prices I mentioned could be higher in a tourist targeted stand but no local would buy from them.

Edited December 6, 2013 by Jingthing

[mca]

Well this is certainly a first for me. Of course I've had the occasional taxi driver being a bit slow on handing over the change when I give him a 100 baht note for a 50 baht journey in the hope I'll tell him to keep it but I've never had somebody blatantly refuse to give me change for a purchase. Amazing.

[circusman]

I would have just helped myself to some extra bananas and walked away never to return.

"Help yourself" ? What stupid advice. You know nothing about Thailand.

[orosee]

Or... Three possible scenarios that don't involve hatred of foreigners:

1. You gave a 20 and thought it was a 50

2. She got a 50 and thought it was a 20

3. She gave you 50 Baht worth if produce instead of 20

Oh,or maybe she's just a mean market seller who'd cheat locals and foreigners on equal opportunity... I've found those in other places too.

[scorecard]

What you should have done, return the bananas and got your 50 Baht back, few countries have a law which states that retailers must give change.

What to do now? As JT says never buy from her again.

Regarding the change, crossy is correct.

You can't also put it another way:

By law, in most countries, the buyer is responsible to tender the correct money / the seller has no legal responsibility to have change.

[scorecard]

if things have come to this next time i go shopping i will have to give the exact money every time

Always a good strategy. I always ensure I have enough change when I get in a taxi.

[rotorbreeze]

if things have come to this next time i go shopping i will have to give the exact money every time

yes exact change, you could have been out more than 30 baht...and do not go bananas ..ok this is Thailand a differant culture..

[squarethecircle]

You did best walking away...thay extra 1 dollar is a small price to pay to learn to avoid getting shorted larger amounts. Imagine doing the same with 1000 baht.

Now it is time for revenge. Take the part of the bananas she touched, chop it off, dry in the sun, chop to a fine grade, mix with a dash of black pepper or pungent curry, on the next full moon bury this in the ground near a cemetery or burning chamber. If you can manage to steal a bit of her hair, it will work better.

[rotary]

Lesson learned, buy at super markets with a set price and a cash register in the future.

[misterphil]

This has come up before, I think an Ozzy girl bought something at a market and wasent given her change either. Poor girl broke down in tears over it.

If this ever happened to me, I would stand my ground and demand my change back, but Im known to get a little hot headed, and this is probably the reason my wife doesnt let me go shopping alone lol.

What you could of done is taken a bite out of one of the bananas, then spat it back out on the floor and shout out "mai aroi". Then throw the rest of the bananas on the floor and stand on them. You then proceed to buy some more bananas from a different market vendor, take a bite from the new bananas and say "aroi maak". Hand over a nice juicy 500 baht tip and give the vendor who didnt give you your change back a nice big Thai smile.

Lost face big time, produce spat on the floor, rival vendor gets a compliment and a huge tip. That will teach them to steal 30 baht.

[Beetlejuice]

I would have just helped myself to some extra bananas and walked away never to return.

Great idea...Infact do it and see what happens, I can picture it now, you laid on the floor covered in blood with a bannana or 3 stuck up your arse...

Absolute and total <deleted> ! Yet another scared view perpetuated by more scared views. Totally unrealistic and based on broad generalisations and not based in fact but stupid rumours.

Totally agree.

I would like to ask the OP:

Did the bananas have a price tag on them?

If so, how much were they per kilo and how many kilos of bananas did the woman give him?

If not, did the OP ask how much before handing over any money?

I know that some bananas can be more expensive according to their size and type. So could there have been a bit of language confusion in this case? Because this has never happened to me and this seems more of a misunderstanding than a rip-off.

In any case, I would not advise anyone trying to help themselves, that would be lunacy.

[Straight8]

The OP's situation was a complete and utter non-event.

When she refused to give him change, he should've returned her bananas, taken his money and left. Alternatively, he should've grabbed some more fruit to the value of what he was owed and left. <deleted> could she do about it?

Sure, be polite, respectful and fair but don't let people take the piss.

Right, and she would have been happy to hand back 50 baht with a smile.

She didn't give him 30 baht in change, what makes you think she would have given him back the 50 baht. Were these banana's now worth more than 50 baht to her ??

They wold have been worthless after this event. The money on the other hand... well!!!

Edited December 7, 2013 by Straight8

[Straight8]

What you should have done, return the bananas and got your 50 Baht back, few countries have a law which states that retailers must give change.

What to do now? As JT says never buy from her again.

Regarding the change, crossy is correct.

You can't also put it another way:

By law, in most countries, the buyer is responsible to tender the correct money / the seller has no legal responsibility to have change.

Thailand, law, farang ...

[Joe Mamma]

The laws of Karma will reward and punish, you decide which and when, and when you suffer it will bring goodness for you, watch.