2 price system

[Seastallion]

I'm sure the subject has been beaten to death. The post is not actually about Thai price vs farang price, it's about principles and what an awesome wife I have.

Here in Hat Yai I have rarely been asked to pay a different price to the locals. This morning we went to the fresh market and bought a few veges. Saw a seafood vendor and decided to get some squid. Nice sized fresh ones, and the wife asked the price. 160 baht per kilo. seemed ok, so wifey gets the dish and started selecting some. Another customer comes and asks the price. The vendor was quiet, and tried to avoid answering but was forced to reply, which she did very quietly. 140 baht per kilo. Wifey heard this, put the dish down, said "thanks for giving me a higher price", and took my arm and we left.

She asked me if she had done the right thing and I wholeheartedly told her yes indeed.

She's a treasure.

It's good to know she stands on principles, and it's not something she's acquired from me.

Truly principled people are not all that common. Human weakness, face, etc often interfere with principles.

What are your good stories of Thais being strongly principled?

PS. I'm disappointed because I was going to do Korean style BBQ squid.

[Spoonman]

he gave you a price you were happy with. what is the problem ?

[benalibina]

By reading your OP, it seems more like you taught her that principle and she wanted your confirmation to know if she acted correct. Anyway, good on ya.

[JesseFrank]

My stories of Thais being strongly principled ?

I'm trying to think about but can't recall any, unless their insistence on overcharging foreigners can be called a principle.

[Seastallion]

he gave you a price you were happy with. what is the problem ?

Yeah, I was waiting for that point to be brought up.

It wasn't me, it was the wife. She doesn't see why we should be charged more. I don't see it either. Look at it the other way, the vendor was happy to receive the lower price, why should we give more? We are not a charity and the vendor is not destitute.

But actually off-topic because I'm not trying to discuss the ins and outs of 2-tier pricing.

[Seastallion]

By reading your OP, it seems more like you taught her that principle and she wanted your confirmation to know if she acted correct. Anyway, good on ya.

No I didn't. As I have said, it's rare for me to come across it anyway so it has never been an issue. She asked because she knew I was looking forward to a bulgogi style squid dinner. I was actually across at another vendor and did not witness the scene.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Seastallion

[ATF]

It's called Capitalism. Thais aren't racist about this. Thai families usually have to pay more for hotel rooms because a couple will book in then half an hour later a pick-up truck full arrives. All staying in the same room.

Anyway as far as the squid incident goes why didn't you just tell the girl to put a few extra in, then everyone would have been happy.

Edited June 15, 2014 by ATF

[i claudius]

I live in Pattaya and never get charged a higher price ,the tourists do ,but thats worldwide.

[Costas2008]

I live in Pattaya and never get charged a higher price ,the tourists do ,but thats worldwide.

Do you have a label on your head, that says, "I'm not a tourist"?

[Spoonman]

he gave you a price you were happy with. what is the problem ?

Yeah, I was waiting for that point to be brought up.

It wasn't me, it was the wife. She doesn't see why we should be charged more. I don't see it either. Look at it the other way, the vendor was happy to receive the lower price, why should we give more? We are not a charity and the vendor is not destitute.

But actually off-topic because I'm not trying to discuss the ins and outs of 2-tier pricing.

Possibly the vendor gave a discount to a friend and the price qouted to your wife was the correct one.

[benalibina]

I live in Pattaya and never get charged a higher price ,the tourists do ,but thats worldwide.

Do you have a label on your head, that says, "I'm not a tourist"?

Didnt you know !

[TerryLH]

"But actually off-topic because I'm not trying to discuss the ins and outs of 2-tier pricing."

Perhaps the title was misleading.

[Costas2008]

I live in Pattaya and never get charged a higher price ,the tourists do ,but thats worldwide.

Do you have a label on your head, that says, "I'm not a tourist"?

Didnt you know !

Screenshot_2014-06-15-07-11-26-1.png

Don't know about you benalibina, but I Claudius is as Thai as I am.

[cooked]

฿20.-? Wow! And you probably weren't even buying a whole kilo. My wife would have stood her ground and politely but forcefully ask what was going on. We stood at a stall in the market when a Thai 'lady' asked the price of a dress. ฿500.-. She was with a Farang, they walked away. We approached, and my wife got the same dress for ฿350.- which was probably still too expensive. No shouting or walking away in a huff involved, just my wife asking can you make a price for me?'

Things are different here. They don't like bargaining with the customer, that can lead to loss of face. Took me some getting used to after my experiences in north Africa.

Your wife means well for you, but doing people out of a few Baht for a principle and then letting the stall holder lose face is maybe not the best way to go about buying food in a market. Those ladies gossip.

So no answers to your question about Thais standing for principles, although I know plenty.

Things are different here.

[chuang]

he gave you a price you were happy with. what is the problem ?

Yeah, I was waiting for that point to be brought up.

It wasn't me, it was the wife. She doesn't see why we should be charged more. I don't see it either. Look at it the other way, the vendor was happy to receive the lower price, why should we give more? We are not a charity and the vendor is not destitute.

But actually off-topic because I'm not trying to discuss the ins and outs of 2-tier pricing.

Possibly the vendor gave a discount to a friend and the price qouted to your wife was the correct one.

Or a regular customer..

[nidieunimaitre]

It's called Capitalism. Thais aren't racist about this. Thai families usually have to pay more for hotel rooms because a couple will book in then half an hour later a pick-up truck full arrives. All staying in the same room.

Anyway as far as the squid incident goes why didn't you just tell the girl to put a few extra in, then everyone would have been happy.

Is it "Capitalism"?

NO!

It is one form of Capitalism.

Good to hear that the OP's wife thaught the seller how "the free market" works.

Let's not confuse "free market" and "Capitalism".

That is of course a very common mistake.

[Seastallion]

฿20.-? Wow! And you probably weren't even buying a whole kilo. My wife would have stood her ground and politely but forcefully ask what was going on. We stood at a stall in the market when a Thai 'lady' asked the price of a dress. ฿500.-. She was with a Farang, they walked away. We approached, and my wife got the same dress for ฿350.- which was probably still too expensive. No shouting or walking away in a huff involved, just my wife asking can you make a price for me?'

Things are different here. They don't like bargaining with the customer, that can lead to loss of face. Took me some getting used to after my experiences in north Africa.

Your wife means well for you, but doing people out of a few Baht for a principle and then letting the stall holder lose face is maybe not the best way to go about buying food in a market. Those ladies gossip.

So no answers to your question about Thais standing for principles, although I know plenty.

Things are different here.

Yep, 20 baht. If each member of this forum gave me 20 baht for nothing I would be a very happy man. If the vendor over-charged 10 people, she probably nearly doubled her daily profit.

There was no huff, she calmly said what she said and walked off. She was certainly not "doing" the vendor "out of a few baht", the vendor was trying to do us out of 20 baht. That's the price of an iced coffee. Back home would you give your custom to a vendor who charged just you, and not the other customers, $5.00 more for squid?

I've just asked her if she thought it possible that the other customer was a regular or friend. She says unlikely by the way they spoke to each other.

But that is bye-the-bye; Principles. Shall we talk about them?

[Seastallion]

The topic of principles could be a very important subject in the coming months and years.

It will take principled people to rid the country of corruption.

[starky]

By reading your OP, it seems more like you taught her that principle and she wanted your confirmation to know if she acted correct. Anyway, good on ya.

No I didn't. As I have said, it's rare for me to come across it anyway so it has never been an issue. She asked because she knew I was looking forward to a bulgogi style squid dinner. I was actually across at another vendor and did not witness the scene.

Hate to nitpick but in your OP you said after she blew up she grabbed your arm and you walked away which infers you were there, so were you with her or across the street?

[CharlieH]

By reading your OP, it seems more like you taught her that principle and she wanted your confirmation to know if she acted correct. Anyway, good on ya.

No I didn't. As I have said, it's rare for me to come across it anyway so it has never been an issue. She asked because she knew I was looking forward to a bulgogi style squid dinner. I was actually across at another vendor and did not witness the scene.

Hate to nitpick but in your OP you said after she blew up she grabbed your arm and you walked away which infers you were there, so were you with her or across the street?

He said "across at another vendor" in post #6, given market ailes are rarely more than 2m wide he woukd have been within arms reach, so to speak. Thats how I read it anyway.

Edited June 15, 2014 by CharlieH

[Gringogazzer]

The 1st girlfriend I had when I came to Thailand used to actively tell people to charge a higher price because I only understood snippets of Thai.

I've no issue with the odd ฿20 here and there for vendors but that's not your point, she puts you 1st and doesn't make you feel like a mug. That's nice.

[EyesWideOpen]

Sticking a higher price to a farang is just what is done here. But sticking it to a Thai

because she is seen to be with a farang is pathetic. My girlfriend has told me many

times to not be near her when she is buying something from a Thai merchant....

[Spoonman]

By reading your OP, it seems more like you taught her that principle and she wanted your confirmation to know if she acted correct. Anyway, good on ya.

No I didn't. As I have said, it's rare for me to come across it anyway so it has never been an issue. She asked because she knew I was looking forward to a bulgogi style squid dinner. I was actually across at another vendor and did not witness the scene.

Hate to nitpick but in your OP you said after she blew up she grabbed your arm and you walked away which infers you were there, so were you with her or across the street?

He said "across at another vendor" in post #6, given market ailes are rarely more than 2m wide he woukd have been within arms reach, so to speak. Thats how I read it anyway.

Yeah the OP reads to me as though he was right there with the wife.

[HeijoshinCool]

Capitalism? No. It's fraud.

I was sitting in Krabi when a busload of kids arrived. They all had box lunches. After, they went for ice creams. They paid 30 baht.

A foreign teacher, about 20 years old or so, from the same bus walked up to the vendor and ordered an ice cream. The Thai teacher with him paid the vendor for it, said to the foreigner that she had paid for it, and told the vendor who the 30 baht was for. The vendor replied in Thai, that she understood. Thai teacher walks back to the bus, about 200 feet away.

A minute later I hear, "How much?"

The vendor was telling him 90 baht. He said it had been paid for. Vendor shakes head. He pays the 90 baht. He sat nearby me after he paid, and he said he didn't want any trouble. I said no one does, that's why they keep doing it.

A minute later I left, and walked by the Thai teacher. Seconds later she was burning a trail through the grass towards the ice scream vendor. No sound there, but the conversation was very one-sided with the vendor nodding a lot. I saw the kid later that day. He'd gotten his money back.

Good for your wife, Seastallion.

[cooked]

฿20.-? Wow! And you probably weren't even buying a whole kilo. My wife would have stood her ground and politely but forcefully ask what was going on. We stood at a stall in the market when a Thai 'lady' asked the price of a dress. ฿500.-. She was with a Farang, they walked away. We approached, and my wife got the same dress for ฿350.- which was probably still too expensive. No shouting or walking away in a huff involved, just my wife asking can you make a price for me?'

Things are different here. They don't like bargaining with the customer, that can lead to loss of face. Took me some getting used to after my experiences in north Africa.

Your wife means well for you, but doing people out of a few Baht for a principle and then letting the stall holder lose face is maybe not the best way to go about buying food in a market. Those ladies gossip.

So no answers to your question about Thais standing for principles, although I know plenty.

Things are different here.

Yep, 20 baht. If each member of this forum gave me 20 baht for nothing I would be a very happy man. If the vendor over-charged 10 people, she probably nearly doubled her daily profit.

There was no huff, she calmly said what she said and walked off. She was certainly not "doing" the vendor "out of a few baht", the vendor was trying to do us out of 20 baht. That's the price of an iced coffee. Back home would you give your custom to a vendor who charged just you, and not the other customers, $5.00 more for squid?

I've just asked her if she thought it possible that the other customer was a regular or friend. She says unlikely by the way they spoke to each other.

But that is bye-the-bye; Principles. Shall we talk about them?

Wow, so instead of ฿400.- she would be making ฿800.-? How many Farangs come along in a market, I rarely see one in Buriram market, maybe she would be making ฿420.- instead of ฿400.-. The principle is that you are a miserly g@t. I have been so poor that I had nothing to eat. Now that I have a few pence I don't mind being 'cheated'out of ฿20 now and again. That's another principle, not very scientific maybe.

[nidieunimaitre]

Sticking a higher price to a farang is just what is done here. But sticking it to a Thai

because she is seen to be with a farang is pathetic. My girlfriend has told me many

times to not be near her when she is buying something from a Thai merchant....

It is sad isn't it?

We live far away from tourists, and yet, when we buy expensive things, my wife will allways check out the price by herself, knowing that we will be charged extra when together.

And even at the local market, my wife sometimes will angrily walk away from a vendor, for that same reason.

Saving the face of the vendor, as advocated by the appologists? Why? What about OUR face?

[ATF]

Anyway whether it is free market economics or capitalism or just getting ripped off your principles didn't get you any squid. What did you have for dinner?

"Principles" will get you into more trouble than anything in Thailand. Next time go to Tescos or be prepared to negotiate.

[nidieunimaitre]

฿20.-? Wow! And you probably weren't even buying a whole kilo. My wife would have stood her ground and politely but forcefully ask what was going on. We stood at a stall in the market when a Thai 'lady' asked the price of a dress. ฿500.-. She was with a Farang, they walked away. We approached, and my wife got the same dress for ฿350.- which was probably still too expensive. No shouting or walking away in a huff involved, just my wife asking can you make a price for me?'

Things are different here. They don't like bargaining with the customer, that can lead to loss of face. Took me some getting used to after my experiences in north Africa.

Your wife means well for you, but doing people out of a few Baht for a principle and then letting the stall holder lose face is maybe not the best way to go about buying food in a market. Those ladies gossip.

So no answers to your question about Thais standing for principles, although I know plenty.

Things are different here.

Yep, 20 baht. If each member of this forum gave me 20 baht for nothing I would be a very happy man. If the vendor over-charged 10 people, she probably nearly doubled her daily profit.

There was no huff, she calmly said what she said and walked off. She was certainly not "doing" the vendor "out of a few baht", the vendor was trying to do us out of 20 baht. That's the price of an iced coffee. Back home would you give your custom to a vendor who charged just you, and not the other customers, $5.00 more for squid?

I've just asked her if she thought it possible that the other customer was a regular or friend. She says unlikely by the way they spoke to each other.

But that is bye-the-bye; Principles. Shall we talk about them?

Wow, so instead of ฿400.- she would be making ฿800.-? How many Farangs come along in a market, I rarely see one in Buriram market, maybe she would be making ฿420.- instead of ฿400.-. The principle is that you are a miserly g@t. I have been so poor that I had nothing to eat. Now that I have a few pence I don't mind being 'cheated'out of ฿20 now and again. That's another principle, not very scientific maybe.

My wife is a dressmaker.

She would NEVER do something like that.

She would even rather short change herself then doing the "oh I do not have small change" routine.

But there has to be a first for everything - do you need a dress?

[nidieunimaitre]

Anyway whether it is free market economics or capitalism or just getting ripped off your principles didn't get you any squid. What did you have for dinner?

"Principles" will get you into more trouble than anything in Thailand. Next time go to Tescos or be prepared to negotiate.

My kingdom for a horse - my principles for a squid.

I am sure the OP and his wife found something else edible at the market, such as "kung with principles"? - very tasty!

[Lucifer]

There can't be many seafood vendors where you live. So, If I was your wife, I would have paid the extra 20 baht this time and whispered to the vendor, next time give me same price as the other lady gets. This way, no one looses face and the vendor knows this woman is good.