Farang Pricing At Its Worst.

[MrY]

'Literally trotting out of the shop' is not 'chasing us down the street'.

What sort of 'trot' was it?

Jog trot

Collected trot

Slow trot

Working trot

Medium trot

Park trot

Lengthened trot

Extended trot

Racing trot

Other

Foxtrot

Gutrot

The Trots...

[Nibbles48]

Sorry, but I find this incredibly difficult to believe.

I have had store and market stall vendors trying it on with me on goods that are not priced, but never in my whole 30 years in Thailand had anything so blatant as a store owner chasing out of a shop demanding extra money for priced up items because it was bought for a farang, plus how did the staff member at the beautician’s know the OP`s wife was married to a farang if he was not there? Unless this particular staff member had psychic powers?

Naive.

Or perhaps it`s the opposite.

I am not naive, don`t come across as naive and don`t stand for any crap and I am capable of dealing with my own matters here and not reliant on any Thai person or my Thai wife or children to do the negotiating and talking for me or standing there like a spare one at a wedding while the business is going on around me.

My main priority if and when I am making a purchase, hiring a service or making a booking in Thailand is to first make it clear who I am and what are the costs and if the person tries any of the crap on me, I never lose my temper, but rather just turn my back, walk away never to return to that place again. And believe this or not, although I have lived in Thailand for many years, my Thai language skills are embarrassingly far from perfect, but I try to use the basics to my full advantage and usually I manage to get my message across, which is simply, don`t mess with me because I am not a fool. It is still possible to be straight to the point, firm but yet still polite in Thailand and be respected for it. It`s all about knowing how to deal with Thai people and at the same time fully realising that we are foreigners here or in other words, it`s knowing how to play the game

Before anyone get sarcastic and says, I desire some applause or a medal, no, it`s simply common sense for those who have decided to live in Thailand for the long term, that is try to get yourselves as independent as possible without the need for someone to accompany you, holding your hand when dealing with your affairs here. This way you will always be in the picture, know exactly what is the state of play and what is going on and I could never live my life any other way or blame anyone else when matters don`t go exactly to plan and this is probably why I don`t have the same dreadful experiences similar to the OP`s alleged experiences in Thailand.

So you don't let your wife buy you things because you deem it to be an assault on your personal independence?

You sound like a real catch.

I personally don't consider that my wife asking me to stop the car outside a shop because she saw something she wanted to buy for me at an earlier time, and me waiting in the car could really be construed as 'the need for someone to accompany me, holding my hand when dealing with my affairs'.

I actually see that as not only an insult to me personally, but to any other farang who allows this.

I can stand on my own two feet here, believe me, I am no infant Mr '30 Years Service'.

[NoshowJones]

Just for curiosity which town is this ?

I'm convinced that these things also happens because foreigners allow them to happen, be that because they don't realize, or misplaced generosity (of the type, "Oh, 100 Bt is nothing to me! And this person works so hard!)

Nakhon Ratchasima Town.

I am not saying this is not true, just that I have never exoerienced it, but one of my fellow teachers at the time took his wife and little girl to buy something for the little girls hair. When his wife asked the price, the assistant ask if my fellow teacher was the father, she said yes, then was told she must pay the Farang price which was more.

[rgs2001uk]

Some might say, if you find what you read hard to believe,

then just move on to the next article.

Why waste your time with expression?

Double charging happens all the time,

some restaurants in Samui,

even have Thai menus and Foreign menus,

and we think it's just the language within it that's changed,

but it's not the only thing...prices too.

We make this issue or situation possible because,

tourist love to say how cheap everything is here,

or they used to say it more often.

Now that the locals have heard it so many times,

they've adjusted their prices,

just look at the little sticker over the prices on the menu...

They don't even bother to make new menus to go with their new prices.

That cost money and they don't wish to spend any extra money to earn the extra charge.

Tourist have done this damage to all of us foreigners with their boasting about how cheap things were,

and now they are surprised?

Thai's are not stupid people,

they just don't go around showing off how smart they are,

that takes energy, and we all know how they wish to save that energy for family & friends.

We are of little interest to them really, just revenue.

How can we blame them,

we are for the most part just here and then gone soon after.

It's different to some degree, after they see you here for long periods of time.

Then relationships can grow and build,

more respect can transpire between the local people and yourselves.

Other mentioned here, why not ask for discount?

I think if the sticker or price tag is on the product,

what gives me the right to ask for that price to be lowered?

I wouldn't do it in my home country.

On the other hand if I bought a large amount of trousers,

or anything that's considered the same items,

then I might approach the subject of a bulk discount,

and the locals see that as reasonable or understandable,

and respond with respect to the request.

I've seen several foreigner tell the shop clerks what they are going to pay for a single item,

and expect to be given that price, as if it's their shop,

and they have the right to determine the price.

This does't appear to be respectful in any way,

and I would escort the customer out my door,

and ask that they don't return.

The shop owner comes to work everyday,

buys her products to sell to the public,

marks the prices for all to see,

which is certainly an improvement over the way it was before.

Only to be asked or even worse told time & time again,

all day long, by tourist mostly, what the price is going to be for the transaction.

It gets tiring, I'm sure of this,

and no I don't own a shop or retail outlet,

but I can certainly see the exhaustion on their faces,

and share in their frustrations.

Yes the local people haggle, but it's a social thing mostly,

and never to the degree of disrespect I've seen we foreigner bestow onto the shop owners.

Especially when we sit back and consider,

this haggling would never be done in the country we're from.

The price is marked,

the cost has been determined,

we except it or we shop else where looking for a cheaper sticker on the same items.

Simple...

this haggling would never be done in the country we're from.

The price is marked,

the cost has been determined,

we except it or we shop else where looking for a cheaper sticker on the same items.

I dont know where you come from.

Many times in the UK when paying cash I have asked for and been given discounts for fixed price items, examples include furniture stores, electrical goods and other big ticket items.

In some instances was told cant give a discount but can throw this other stuff in for free, eg toaster and kettle.

[Korat28]

I also live in N.R./Korat. I went into a hair salon and I asked in Thai how much a haircut was. She told me "som roi baht" (300 so I just said thank you and left. A former me would have given her a piece of my mind, but I held my tongue and walked out. I then got a haircut at a much better place for 100B. I've learned always ask the price up front (even if you look like a cheap arse) so there aren't any surprises. Also, you did the right thing by returning the pants and getting a refund.

Sadly, too many farangs shrug it off when SE Asians try to overcharge them since they think it's still a "fair price." It pisses me off too since I've lived in Vietnam and Thailand and know when they overcharge you they think you're paying extra since you're a schmuck. I can't stand the overcharging either, but rest assured it definitely happens elsewhere in SE Asia. Many of the people are uneducated and ignorant and think round eyes are all rich.

[realenglish1]

To avoid a lot of this money grabbing I have learned how to speak Thai and when I approach a vendor I don't have a problem with overcharging As a matter of fact its easier to get lower negotiated prices

[sami10]

Nibbles

I have never been involved in post-purchase price inflation due to spousal country of origin. However, like In Search of, I have hidden behond street vendors , lamp posts and signs so that my gf (at the time) could get better taxi fares. Many years ago, I had vendors try to make deals with my gf because it should be Thais against foreigners when it comes to buying things. Fortunately, my gf (now wife) treated my money as her's and she is still most unwilling to part with any of our money.

As I do not live in Thailand, I am most likely seen more as a tourist than other members of TV so I do expect a greater chance of being over charged. I still don't like it. Unless my wife insists on going, I have no interest in national parks, palaces, or other places that rely on the dual-pricing scheme. It offends me.

CB

[GreenSnapper]

Once I went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar with my GF. She wanted to buy some item and asked the price.

"100 Baht" the vendor said. And she continued, noticing me: "Normally, when Farangs want to buy this, I ask 200 Baht. Because Farangs have a guide book where it is written that you must haggle hard and get at least 50% discount. So when I ask 200 Baht, they make a happy deal when I finally accept 100 baht".

Indeed, the Lonely Planet tells everybody to haggle down the price at least 50%. Israelis even go for 75%.

Edited December 18, 2013 by GreenSnapper

[kikoman]

I also find it exceedingly hard to believe!

As I have been living in Thailand for 13 years, shopped all over Thailand except for the deep south and nothing like the OPs story has ever happened to me.

Let me rephrase that, "has never happened to me where fix prices were posted" In Pattaya I would ask a vendor "how much" many times I received a high price quote, never said a word put the item back and left.

Also in 13 years never had anyone say,"Farang price is more"

I am not implying that it could not happen, but to be as wide spread as some say it is on this forum and I take issue with the OP's statment "every single incident that has happened to almost every Farang here"

Eight (8) different posters stated that has never happened to them, at least five of them are long time residents of Thailand, and aside from the very vocal anti-Thai poster that champions the OP , the majority sentiment is that it has not happened to them.

As it has also never happened to me, I would have to side with the majority opinion!

Cheers

More statistical evidence:

I have spent more than half of last twenty years in Thailand, and this kind of thing has occurred (aside of government or tourist business systematic double pricing) about yearly. I have to agree it has much depended on the partners I had each time. For example, with my ex-wife they would often try suggesting she should "share" the perceived wealth of her rich foreign husband, and she always let them quite vocally know how bad they had misjudged her. Later, one gf occasionally mentioned something like this happening, but never confronted any shop owner. Another gf "candidate" I caught making deals right in front of me, unaware I understood. My wife now (and for several years) on the other hand never gets these kind of suggestions, I guess they don't take her as the type that would be receptive to such deals.

So, much depends on who you are with, and whether you or your wife are perceived as being potential targets for this kind of BS. But it does happen all the time.

YMMV

Where is your "statistical evidence"?

I will attempt to not be negative in addressing your post.. The "facts" that you state are simply stories about what your partners told you, not something you saw and know as a fact.

I was single in Thailand for quite a few years and as Beetlejuice stated I am able to negotiate my own way in Thailand I being a long time resident in Thailand know for a fact a few things.

1. I know the price of Tee shirts I purchased to be 180 baht, XX-large, in Pattaya I would pick up a T-shirt I liked and the vendor would say 450 baht, I simply put the shirt back and leave, No Sale!

I have been here a long time and have a good idea of how much items I use cost, If a person lives in a Tourist center Pattaya, Nana, Phuket, Chaing Mai etc. you will always run into a vendor quote of a high price because many tourist do in fact pay more for items.

2. Once I moved out of the Tourist cities and moved to rural Thailand I shop in mostly the same stores. Most vendors know how much I purchase and I get great customer service. It is a fact that anyone who chooses to live in the Tourist areas of Thailand will be quoted a higher price for an item.

Just my Two cents!

Cheers

[uptheos]

That is exactly how we escape it most of the time.

The wife is always saying 'wait me here'. I never complain, I get to sit in my air conditioned car and listen to music or step out for a ciggy. We rarely walk through the market together. She knows we are a target for paying more, and this goes for her too if someone knows she is married to a farang, as in the case with the beautician katoey.

If we are making purchases of 5000+ the wife will go with her dad instead and we will save money almost every time.

The big retail chains are never a problem.

Will her dad be doing your side of the multi million baht deal?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/686275-fantastic-opportunity-in-confectionery-startup-711-makro-no-problem/#entry7116854

[NoshowJones]

I wudda paid the extra baht only if the sales assistant agreed to join me & the wife in a 3some.

Do you mean at the beauty parlor? Why would you want to have a threesome with someone who needs to go to a beauty parlor?

[MrY]

I also find it exceedingly hard to believe!

As I have been living in Thailand for 13 years, shopped all over Thailand except for the deep south and nothing like the OPs story has ever happened to me.

Let me rephrase that, "has never happened to me where fix prices were posted" In Pattaya I would ask a vendor "how much" many times I received a high price quote, never said a word put the item back and left.

Also in 13 years never had anyone say,"Farang price is more"

I am not implying that it could not happen, but to be as wide spread as some say it is on this forum and I take issue with the OP's statment "every single incident that has happened to almost every Farang here"

Eight (8) different posters stated that has never happened to them, at least five of them are long time residents of Thailand, and aside from the very vocal anti-Thai poster that champions the OP , the majority sentiment is that it has not happened to them.

As it has also never happened to me, I would have to side with the majority opinion!

Cheers

More statistical evidence:

I have spent more than half of last twenty years in Thailand, and this kind of thing has occurred (aside of government or tourist business systematic double pricing) about yearly. I have to agree it has much depended on the partners I had each time. For example, with my ex-wife they would often try suggesting she should "share" the perceived wealth of her rich foreign husband, and she always let them quite vocally know how bad they had misjudged her. Later, one gf occasionally mentioned something like this happening, but never confronted any shop owner. Another gf "candidate" I caught making deals right in front of me, unaware I understood. My wife now (and for several years) on the other hand never gets these kind of suggestions, I guess they don't take her as the type that would be receptive to such deals.

So, much depends on who you are with, and whether you or your wife are perceived as being potential targets for this kind of BS. But it does happen all the time.

YMMV

Where is your "statistical evidence"?

I will attempt to not be negative in addressing your post.. The "facts" that you state are simply stories about what your partners told you, not something you saw and know as a fact.

I was single in Thailand for quite a few years and as Beetlejuice stated I am able to negotiate my own way in Thailand I being a long time resident in Thailand know for a fact a few things.

1. I know the price of Tee shirts I purchased to be 180 baht, XX-large, in Pattaya I would pick up a T-shirt I liked and the vendor would say 450 baht, I simply put the shirt back and leave, No Sale!

I have been here a long time and have a good idea of how much items I use cost, If a person lives in a Tourist center Pattaya, Nana, Phuket, Chaing Mai etc. you will always run into a vendor quote of a high price because many tourist do in fact pay more for items.

2. Once I moved out of the Tourist cities and moved to rural Thailand I shop in mostly the same stores. Most vendors know how much I purchase and I get great customer service. It is a fact that anyone who chooses to live in the Tourist areas of Thailand will be quoted a higher price for an item.

Just my Two cents!

Cheers

Oh no, no statistical evidence.

Just "my two centavos" about your "8 poster majority".

And I stand erected, it should have been "statistical evidence" [in quotes] so you would have known they are "just stories", weighting in on the subject by sharing our experiences.

Thank you for sharing your stories.

Carry on.

[473geo]

Once I went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar with my GF. She wanted to buy some item and asked the price.

"100 Baht" the vendor said. And she continued, noticing me: "Normally, when Farangs want to buy this, I ask 200 Baht. Because Farangs have a guide book where it is written that you must haggle hard and get at least 50% discount. So when I ask 200 Baht, they make a happy deal when I finally accept 100 baht".

Indeed, the Lonely Planet tells everybody to haggle down the price at least 50%. Israelis even go for 75%.

You should see the look I get from my wife if I unknowingly try to haggle what is probably the Thai price! Indeed when she walks away in embarrassment I know I have gone as low as I can go, probably on two fronts! One reason why I am happy for her handle the household transactions! I don't understand those of you who are trying to deny the op has a true story, this type of thing happens, it is just how much you allow it to twist your bargain price underwear!

[mac1970]

Of course it happens, but like always easy find people who want to say, never happened to me...sure...what ever...

it just depends how nicely it's done and do you really get it when it happens(this case sure extreme)? It's not always so clearly visible as you would like to see it. My wife does not want me to follow her to some shops where she knows this might happen.

And by the way, this is not Thailand specific as you know, same s@#t happens for example in China. And if you really want to keep your eyes open, it's many times easy to see when lady wonders how much extra she could rip of you, greed is always in peoples eyes.

But I have to say that for some guys it's very hard to admit that someone could screw them, no way! Hmmm, and then why we always have so much fun to listen some farang to promote the price they got in the store.

Only 2-3x more what they should pay, but hey, lets keep people happy, it does not hurt when you don't know, but it's the way how some places are spoiled and not good to visit anymore. OK, this happens mainly when price is not visible or it's clearly a joke and bargain clearly needed.

And by the way, ever have a thought, does local lady WF/GF really want to tell you when it happens, take a risk that it brings fight and loosing face, farang fighting because of the price of cheap thing, so you're married with poor farang, no money, reputation flies fast....definately not good.

[Nibbles48]

That is exactly how we escape it most of the time.

The wife is always saying 'wait me here'. I never complain, I get to sit in my air conditioned car and listen to music or step out for a ciggy. We rarely walk through the market together. She knows we are a target for paying more, and this goes for her too if someone knows she is married to a farang, as in the case with the beautician katoey.

If we are making purchases of 5000+ the wife will go with her dad instead and we will save money almost every time.

The big retail chains are never a problem.

Will her dad be doing your side of the multi million baht deal?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/686275-fantastic-opportunity-in-confectionery-startup-711-makro-no-problem/#entry7116854

That doesn't have anything to do with this topic, and it is nothing to do with you either.

We are all sorted on that deal for the record. It is no longer required.

We don't need her father, 7/11 Makro and the other leading retailers are not a tin pot independent clothing shop on a corner, a tuk tuk or a taxi.. They have a system.

[In Search of Space]

A few weeks ago I arranged to meet one of my Thai work colleagues in The Londoner. He was running late and called me to ask what he should pay a motorcycle taxi from the office to the pub. Told him i paid 100 baht, but he should be able to get it for 60 - 80 baht. They hit him for 120 !

[amse]

When it comes to more expensive things like say car repairs, I have my close friend Charlie take me to a mechanic he knows, trust and will charge me the Thai price. Other things like clothes and such I go to places like Big C, Tesco Lotus and etc. where I pay the same as anyone else there. Those small mom & pop stores are to often a rip off, especially where the items are not clearly marked with a price tag.

[brewsterbudgen]

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! The OP can't have liked the trousers very much if he was prepared to return them after having already paid a good price for them, and received the locals' discount! And well done to the shop for accepting the return of goods already purchased and providing a full cash refund.

[uptheos]

That is exactly how we escape it most of the time.

The wife is always saying 'wait me here'. I never complain, I get to sit in my air conditioned car and listen to music or step out for a ciggy. We rarely walk through the market together. She knows we are a target for paying more, and this goes for her too if someone knows she is married to a farang, as in the case with the beautician katoey.

If we are making purchases of 5000+ the wife will go with her dad instead and we will save money almost every time.

The big retail chains are never a problem.

Will her dad be doing your side of the multi million baht deal?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/686275-fantastic-opportunity-in-confectionery-startup-711-makro-no-problem/#entry7116854

That doesn't have anything to do with this topic, and it is nothing to do with you either.

We are all sorted on that deal for the record. It is no longer required.

We don't need her father, 7/11 Makro and the other leading retailers are not a tin pot independent clothing shop on a corner, a tuk tuk or a taxi.. They have a system.

It has everything to do with BS.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, try to get out a bit more and I hope you weren't taken for too much.

[Nibbles48]

Best feature of thaivisa is the 'ignore' function.

[brucegoniners]

You should post the name of the establishments so nobody will ever go there. If they have a name up there, lol

[Nibbles48]

That is exactly how we escape it most of the time.

The wife is always saying 'wait me here'. I never complain, I get to sit in my air conditioned car and listen to music or step out for a ciggy. We rarely walk through the market together. She knows we are a target for paying more, and this goes for her too if someone knows she is married to a farang, as in the case with the beautician katoey.

If we are making purchases of 5000+ the wife will go with her dad instead and we will save money almost every time.

The big retail chains are never a problem.

Will her dad be doing your side of the multi million baht deal?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/686275-fantastic-opportunity-in-confectionery-startup-711-makro-no-problem/#entry7116854

That doesn't have anything to do with this topic, and it is nothing to do with you either.

We are all sorted on that deal for the record. It is no longer required.

We don't need her father, 7/11 Makro and the other leading retailers are not a tin pot independent clothing shop on a corner, a tuk tuk or a taxi.. They have a system.

It has everything to do with BS.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, try to get out a bit more and I hope you weren't taken for too much.

Holiday... for 7 years? Best check my UK bank account, the holiday pay must have racked up a few digits.

Best thing about you, is that there is probably a good possibility that you or your family will probably be buying some of our products and lining my pockets with cash.

Kaching!

Now on the ignore list for good.

[flyingdoc]

This is capable of happening all the time in LOS. I once wrote an article about the Tourist mango, which I only discovered after 25 years. When a farang wants to buy some mangoes with a price stuck on them then that price is per mango. When a Thai asks, that is the price per kilo!

Try going into one of the national parks! Locals one price, and farangs up to 10 x more, officially !

[uptheos]

Holiday... for 7 years? Best check my UK bank account, the holiday pay must have racked up a few digits.

Best thing about you, is that there is probably a good possibility that you or your family will probably be buying some of our products and lining my pockets with cash.

Kaching!

Now on the ignore list for good.

Good!

Enjoy your flight home.

[soomak]

I don't know about the particular post , but double pricing is rampant at hotels in Thailand.... of course you never know unless you get your wife to book then turn up. I travel down to BKK quite a lot and my wife likes to stay around the Jatujak area because of the market & the BTS makes it simple for what I have to do---so I tend to stay in Pradipat Road --all the hotels there are extra for farrangs, sometimes 20---50% more--- I wish someone would test this sort of thing out in court---if indeed it is illegal to charge extra because of someones race in Thailand, or if it isn't then let it be more widely known. If any one doubts that this isn't the case, then just go to Agoda or any other site that has customer feed back & look at some of the comments. Below I have put just 3 different peoples comments from Trip adviser on that area. I have removed the hotel names as TV does survive on Advertising---but you can look them up yourselves. These are all about different hotels.

1/ This is the first time I have taken the time to write a review.My wife and I had the same experience .We were told 900 baht and as we got to the desk the price was raised to 1400 because I am white. Too late to change we stayed one night.

2/ the hotel 'The XXXX' wanted to charge me more because I am a foreigner (900 for Thais, 1,200 for you!). I don't agree with that kind of thing which is rife in Thailand (my wife is Thai and I've worked here for a very long time)

3/How can this be allowed to happen anywhere? Why is the XXX Hotel Bangkok behaving border line RACIST? This would never be allowed in the UK, USA, OR Australasia. And I'm sure in Europe. My Wife called to make the booking. Fine at (1000THB) for the night. Anyway a little later we arrived at the checkin desk, and to my shock the Receptionist told my Wife who is Thai, that we would have to pay (500THB) more for the room because I am (Farang, Western) Disgusting that this can be allowed to happen. one to stay clear of.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review

If you use Agoda I guess this can't happen since you pay online according to the posted price. Just another advantage of online shopping...

[uptheos]

This is capable of happening all the time in LOS. I once wrote an article about the Tourist mango, which I only discovered after 25 years. When a farang wants to buy some mangoes with a price stuck on them then that price is per mango. When a Thai asks, that is the price per kilo!

Try going into one of the national parks! Locals one price, and farangs up to 10 x more, officially !

Oh dear, you must have really suffered during your time here.

Knowing the real price of mangoes at the market is basic stuff.

BTW no-one is questioning that dual pricing happens all the time.

[Nemesis7]

You are at the wrong city mate.

[mikemac]

Sorry, but I find this incredibly difficult to believe.

I have had store and market stall vendors trying it on with me on goods that are not priced, but never in my whole 30 years in Thailand had anything so blatant as a store owner chasing out of a shop demanding extra money for priced up items because it was bought for a farang, plus how did the staff member at the beauticians know the OP`s wife was married to a farang if he was not there? Unless this particular staff member had psychic powers?

"Incredibly hard to believe" ??? Are you from Mars? That happens every day in Thailand.

Then, learn to read the FULL posting, not just what makes your apologetic, drunk response.

No beauty salon, clothing store. And the OP was just there outside having a cig, and Thais, you know, got eyes.

If you believe this tale paz, it's only because you want to.

Funny, but in all the years I have spent in Thailand these amazing scenarios never happen to me, and I am married to a Thai lady and we both shop a lot.

In a way I wish it would happen to me, just once, so I could tell the thieving pox what I think of them, and then share my incredible story with all the TV members who believes this happens 10 times a day to every single foreigner in Thailand.

And if it did happen, my wife would probably kill the shop assistant.

Actually when I read the op I was reminded of something my Father used to say...."believe nothing of what you hear and half of what you see".

[uptheos]

Sorry, but I find this incredibly difficult to believe.

I have had store and market stall vendors trying it on with me on goods that are not priced, but never in my whole 30 years in Thailand had anything so blatant as a store owner chasing out of a shop demanding extra money for priced up items because it was bought for a farang, plus how did the staff member at the beauticians know the OP`s wife was married to a farang if he was not there? Unless this particular staff member had psychic powers?

"Incredibly hard to believe" ??? Are you from Mars? That happens every day in Thailand.

Then, learn to read the FULL posting, not just what makes your apologetic, drunk response.

No beauty salon, clothing store. And the OP was just there outside having a cig, and Thais, you know, got eyes.

If you believe this tale paz, it's only because you want to.

Funny, but in all the years I have spent in Thailand these amazing scenarios never happen to me, and I am married to a Thai lady and we both shop a lot.

In a way I wish it would happen to me, just once, so I could tell the thieving pox what I think of them, and then share my incredible story with all the TV members who believes this happens 10 times a day to every single foreigner in Thailand.

And if it did happen, my wife would probably kill the shop assistant.

Actually when I read the op I was reminded of something my Father used to say...."believe nothing of what you hear and half of what you see".

It's no longer chic to say you were overcharged and didn't know how to deal with the situation so it caused embarrassment. You have to make up some ridiculous story to get people's attention and full credit to OP for originality.

Edited December 18, 2013 by uptheos

[Gsxrnz]

Often when I negotiate a price on the street, I pay less than an average Thai pays. My friend taught me how to do it.

Honestly, if there isn't a tear running down the vendor's cheek when I walk away with my purchase, I have failed.

And that's the way to do it. If they aren't telling you that now they can't afford to buy food tonight, then you know you got within a few baht of their genuine not prepared to sell for any less figure.