Thai Elite

[The Coder]

...there are people much richer than yourself, and for whom the Elite card might be useful.

"might" is the operative word here. Most people with dosh don't want any part of the card and see it as the wrong way to go. It seems those behind the card didn't really understand the mind of the rich (remember, they claimed they would sell 1 million cards in 5 years). But year after year were stunned when rich people shrugged it off and have actually ended up giving them away to people! The number of card holders actually went DOWN according to their own press statements. In February, Choksiri Rodboonpha, managing director of the card stated they "have 2063 members and expect to sign another 2000 by year end". Now 5 months later they announce they have "more than 1500 members". They continually embarrass themselves with their forecasts but for membership to decline 25% with no explanation in a period they expect it to go up 100% deserves at least some sort of explanation. It's easy to see why this card is so ridiculed here.

[Arsenal]

...there are people much richer than yourself, and for whom the Elite card might be useful.

"might" is the operative word here. Most people with dosh don't want any part of the card and see it as the wrong way to go. It seems those behind the card didn't really understand the mind of the rich (remember, they claimed they would sell 1 million cards in 5 years). But year after year were stunned when rich people shrugged it off and have actually ended up giving them away to people! The number of card holders actually went DOWN according to their own press statements. In February, Choksiri Rodboonpha, managing director of the card stated they "have 2063 members and expect to sign another 2000 by year end". Now 5 months later they announce they have "more than 1500 members". They continually embarrass themselves with their forecasts but for membership to decline 25% with no explanation in a period they expect it to go up 100% deserves at least some sort of explanation. It's easy to see why this card is so ridiculed here.

I generally agree with this and, as mentioned earlier, the business case seems flawed.What my earlier post was getting at was to note the rage that some of the crabbier and dare I say it -less well off - members display on the subject of the Elite card.One suspects that green eyed monster, jealousy, is at work.None of this is present I hasten to add in your sensible post.

[sriracha john]

not "make much sense" to get one??

careful now, that's getting very close to the slander orion was alluding to...

Sriracha John,

I long ago accepted there are people out there cleverer, wealthier,better looking and more charming than myself.Good luck to them all.You however seem to have a lot of difficulty in accepting there are people much richer than yourself, and for whom the Elite card might be useful.It's almost as we Brits say as though you have a bee in your bonnet and quite frankly your continued comments on the subject make you sound like a crazy old man.

In fact I think the business case, from the Thai Government point of view, for the Elite card is a bit flawed and certainly some of the very modest uptake represents a wannabe element.But there will be some -like Orion - for whom it makes perfect sense.I think also, if we are honest, that Elite card will always get a bad press in this forum with its strong blue collar element.

Actually, personal wealth has very little to do with the issue for me.

IF it were ever able to live up to its initial promise to grant land ownership to it's buyers, I'd purchase one tomorrow. THAT is what I was referring to by not meeting the vast majority of people's needs or desires. I would purchase one for that sole reason of absolute land ownership...because that would fulfill mine and many others "needs or desires." unfortunately, it never fulfilled it's initial promise.

As I have repeatedly said, if someone wants to purchase an Elite card, that is entirely up to him... but I fail to see that a few spa treatments or rounds of golf or saving 10 minutes going through the airport... the promises the Elite HAS kept... are worth the expense.

The other aspect of Elite I have mentioned in my posts refer to its poor management from not being able to pay its bills to frequent changing of its directors, not to mention the taxpayers money being wasted year after year in the extravengent marketing campaigns that fail year after year to produce positive results. Or any of the issues that The Coder mentioned or any of the other shortfalls countless other posters have mentioned in the likely dozen threads on this topic over the past 3 years.

This is mainly due to the concept being originated by Thaksin.. who to try and save face keeps pouring money into "his" baby.

I hope that clears things up for you.

btw, there is no "rage" in anything I post regarding Elite... and you miss the mark with theorizing "jealousy" as well as "less-well-off"... but that's ok... that often happens when people "guess."

Edited August 12, 2006 by sriracha john

[taxexile]

should somebody want to spend 1,000,000b on a card that promises much in the way of benefits ...............yet even the promoters website and fully paid up cardholders seem to have trouble explaining or confirming exactly what the true extent of those benefits are ,

where you get a five year visa .......... but still have to present yourself to immigration every 90 days and possibly pay 1900b each time for the priveledge ,

where the goalposts regarding the conditions of membership are moved more often than those on a sunday league soccer pitch , and when the plug could be pulled on the whole sorry shambles at any time .........

........well jolly good luck to them , its their hard earned money and they can piss it away anyway they want.

[Firefan]

I contacted Longstay - which was a VERY hard thing to do. It turns out that their visa is basically the normal retirement visa and that one only qualify if 50 years old - so as mentioned elsewhere they really do just function as a visa-agent - unlike the Elite card it is not a special visa.

I did ask them why they did not mention that on their homepage and they replied that since the "program" was new they might be adding other ways to obtain the longstay visa.... hmm... I can see them wanting 3M Baht in a time deposit/new condo or maybe a Thai wife as other "ways". I.e. nothing new under the sun from them at all.

Oh, as per the homepage there are a limit to number of times one can get the airport speed-service.

Cheers!

[backflip]

The Elite card, and infidelity, are things that work for some people. Not me.

[Firefan]

That is fine blackflip. As I would have 14 years of visas before hitting the magic 50 year old, it would be about $1800/year(+extension fee when in country more than 90 days straight). I currently (due to ever changing rule implementation by emmigration) have spend $700-$1200 per year in stamps/lawyer fees getting/trying to renew my investor visa extension(based on condo).

Considering the hassle/hoops/lawyer fees/visa runs(by plane to obtain new non-em visa) that amount does not seem too bad. In fact a golf game or massage every 2 weeks would cover that $1800/year.

Cheers!

[Kerryd]

I remember the discussions about this when it first started. It was tempting, initially.

For me, the 2 main incentives were the 5 year visa and the possibility of being able to own a (small) hunk of land.

It seems the land ownership has slipped of the chart (and the discussions). Last I heard, they had a some kind of scheme where you would be able to buy the land, but on paper it would be owned by the Thai Elite corporation.

I too have years to go before being eligible for a retirement visa. I would have to do some serious number crunching to determine if it would be worthwhile to get the card just for the visa (I'm not a golfer, and not into spas and most of the other benefits).

Even the fast tracking at the airport isn't that big of an appeal, as I wouldn't be travelling that often any ways, and already know how to speed through the process (my record so far is 22 minutes from the time the plane stopped at the terminal, until I stepped outside at the taxi stand. The longest delay was waiting for my luggage).

As someone else mentioned, another concern is what happens if the current government (or even just the caretaker PM) gets replaced ? Could/Would the next crew close the whole program down ?

My luck, that would happen right after I paid my money, but before I got the 5 year visa !

[Firefan]

He,he - good point Kerry! With my luck same would happen! Maybe we should warn people on this board should we decide to go for it!

Cheers!

[stevemcqueen]

Probably better than longstay!This is what I received from their Tokyo office.

Dear MR IAN,

Thank you for your mail.

I am USUI.

Condition for apply VISA is,

1 age 50ys up

2 must deposit 800,000baht or aprox 2,4million Yen at Bank in Thailand.

If you interested in it, pls mail me back,

I will send some documents to you.

Best rerards

USUI HIDETOSHI

I'm a bit young yet,anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Firefan]

Yeah - as I pointed out above - Longstay sofar has nothing new under the sun besides some discounts and airport speed-service.

They explained to me that they did not mention on their homepage as "was not sure what would be added later as new company". Hmm...

Quoting Mr. Usiu Hidetoshi: " Best rerards"

[pgrin]

Yeah - as I pointed out above - Longstay sofar has nothing new under the sun besides some discounts and airport speed-service.

They explained to me that they did not mention on their homepage as "was not sure what would be added later as new company". Hmm...

Quoting Mr. Usiu Hidetoshi: " Best rerards"

We have covered the Thai Longstay Program on this forum before. The short story is that it was started 6 years ago with 300,000,000 baht(thats three hundred million)of Thai taxpayer money and to date has no products or services to offer. It was not supposed to suplant the retirement visa but the venders have nothing to sell so they are just packaging a retirement visa with minimal added value for an big fee. They produced one infomercial( a fake "talk show" format) were the host interviewed a supposed Thai Longstay Card holder, a English citizen of Indian decent who was younger then 50. The web site is childishly bad with no info on the price or sales points for the 5-8 different levels of cards. The are many infered benifits but no facts available. Were is the 300,000,000 baht?

P