discrimination local businesses

[NamKangMan]

I prefer to shop at "mom and pop" stores, and the local market.

However, there were a few of them, that charged me different prices than Thais. (charged me more)

Same with some of the stands at the market.

I don't like to see (at least I didn't when I first moved here), western chains like Tesco Lotus, Big C, Mc'Donalds, etc. kind of stores moving in.

I feel that they (western franchises) take away from the culture here and also take money out of the local economy.

However, they do charge the same to everyone, so, I started going there. mostly for that reason.

Now, most all the "mom and pop" stores are gone.

More and more convenient chains are everywhere, where the small family run places used to be.

The Thais can blame it on themselves IMO>

Of course they wont' and won't blame the dual pricing system,

But, that's the reason I moved on.

So, IMO things will sort themselves out.

But, it's not a good thing.

The culture will eventually die out and you will all get what you wish for: All the same rules that you have where you came from.

I am the same.

I'm am no fan of globalisation, so I happily supported small, independent businesses and markets.

On Phuket, they tried to rip me off so many times, I just got tired of it. So, now I just go to the main supermarket chains where all items have a price ticket, and everyone pays the same.

On Phuket, the Thai mentality is rip off a foreigner today - don't care if have a job tomorrow, or he never comes back.

They only have themselves to blame for the loss of my business.

Edited June 16, 2014 by NamKangMan

[Kasset Tak]

Double pricing and stupidity have only been a real problem one time for me. I went to War Prakaew (or something like that) whit the school I was working at. 200 students, 20 teachers and 3 vice directors made that field trip, the school had asked for permission to enter and that we would have a guide. And the guide started going on that I needed a ticket to enter but the vice, directors showed him that they had asked for permission and received permission for me to go with the group. The answer came back that farang is farang, must buy ticket. The vice directors demanded to speak with the supervisor but with the same result. I got my money back for the ticket but the school did send a formal complaint to Wat Prakaew, OBEC and the provincial office of education. I don't know what happened after that but non of the schools in the area that have field trips to Bangkok after that have gone to Wat Prakaew!

[nedkellylives]

If the govt has dual pricing like at the old royal palace in Bangkok and other

historic sites why would ordinary people not do the same thing

Plenty of Thai businesses do not have dual pricing and lots sell exactly the same

merchandise so vote with your feet and buy of someone who does not cheat you

or ask for a discount like Thais do and you will probably get it

Its hard to beleive what some people complain about on this forum

Or you could return to your home country where everything is usually a lot more

expensive it certainly is in Autralia, vehicles, food, taxis, clothes, fuel you name it all

cost more usually a lot more

[LivinginKata]

There really is no need for any criticism of a member's writing style. The last 4 posts removed. There is no need for the spelling and grammar police type posts. Not helpful at all.

[KarenBravo]

Double pricing and double standards being shown.