Ripoffs Go Right To The Top.

[RustBucket]

I have been in business in Thailand with various food products for over a year now, and I can categorically confirm that not a single Thai business is exempted from ripping off its customers.

In my business I handle dozens ingredients from the smallest to the biggest suppliers, and it seems that there is no lengths that most will go to in order to pull every last baht out of their produce in the most scandalous way. But with no regard fo getting found out.

I think I must have switched more than 10 suppliers and still find their replacements are all up the the same scams.

I own a pair of very high quality digital scales and now weigh everything I buy so I can avoid certain brands that are consistently bad in the future.

Just a quick example.

Fresh milk from Makro. 50% water, switch to farm 50% water, change to another farm 40% water. I make cheese, yoghurt and butter and so I know exactly what volumes of curds to get from milk. I can even tell the cow's diet from the taste.

Condensed milk (Thai brand with brown label) supposed to be 385g. Tin is full to the top and yields 330g.

Non dairy creamer both Aro and Tulip brand.. Aro supposed to be 1000g average bag weighs in at 970g, Tulip brand supposed to be 900g weighs in at average of 800g... yes its true.

Very rare do I get a bag of sugar that weighs 1000g almost always under as little as 900g.

Even on the market, I bought a stick of moo yaw (pork/flour cold cut thing wrapped in banana leaf) The stick was about 10 inch log and 4cm diam.... open it up and inside 7 inch long and 1cm diam. The thing packed weighed 620g and the eatable part was 71g.

But this is the killer... CP pangasus fillets at Makro in a bag marked up as 1kg, defrosted and drained of all the water they pump into it and cooked then weighed in at 400g so you are pretty much buying water at the rate of fish price.

I come from a country where I could seriously get something done about this. But here in Thailand I get no response from the companies and my wife doesn't even bother complaining for me any more, she is typical mai pen rai Thai and that is the problem right there. Vendors and food manufacturers exploit the mai pen rai attitude of Thais.

Damn it.... I can't even go into shops some times because my wife tells me to stay in the car to save being hit with farang price. I hate going into shops where the prices are never marked on the goods or the shelves, I am pretty much banned from walking into them. The wife has a point. No Thai will shrink away from double charging a farang if the price is not already on something.

Rant over.

Edited November 16, 2014 by RustBucket

[slapout]

Just think of all the material you will have after another year in amazing Thailand.

Not much truth in advertising in this part of the world. Check the fuel pump sometime, I had 55 liter show on a pump one day with a vehicle where fuel tank capacity is 42 liter (manufactor measurement) Even warrenties can be misleading, battery for vehicle may say 2 year free call out if battery fails to start vehicle but battery itself only 1 year (not mentioned on warrenty card. I normally have any pre wieghed/marked meat etc at mackro weighed on meat counter scales, both probably have a thumb added to actual weight.

[KarenBravo]

Yup, it's in their blood.

[arthurwait]

Just think of all the material you will have after another year in amazing Thailand.

Not much truth in advertising in this part of the world. Check the fuel pump sometime, I had 55 liter show on a pump one day with a vehicle where fuel tank capacity is 42 liter (manufactor measurement) Even warrenties can be misleading, battery for vehicle may say 2 year free call out if battery fails to start vehicle but battery itself only 1 year (not mentioned on warrenty card. I normally have any pre wieghed/marked meat etc at mackro weighed on meat counter scales, both probably have a thumb added to actual weight.

You tank size doesn't include the filler neck which is several litres and your fuel lines all the way from the front to the rear of the car, there are several if injection, fuel filter , accumulator and fuel distributor as well. Also you are trusting your manufacturer to be precise to the litre.

Petrol stations are randomly checked, the allowable error is negliable on a single tank. If you believe what you say then call the authority.

But as for scales, the markets all seem to be wrong and only one way by at least 100 grams/Kg.

[Don Mega]

ripoff at the deli in foodland.

lets say I ask for 100gm of smoked ham at 100b per 100gm.

Watch them. They place the piece of paper they wrap the ham in on the zeroed scales.... it weighs 10 grams then they slice up the ham and put on the scales until the total is 100gm.

They then price this at 100B.

[Don Mega]

Just think of all the material you will have after another year in amazing Thailand.

Not much truth in advertising in this part of the world. Check the fuel pump sometime, I had 55 liter show on a pump one day with a vehicle where fuel tank capacity is 42 liter (manufactor measurement) Even warrenties can be misleading, battery for vehicle may say 2 year free call out if battery fails to start vehicle but battery itself only 1 year (not mentioned on warrenty card. I normally have any pre wieghed/marked meat etc at mackro weighed on meat counter scales, both probably have a thumb added to actual weight.

You tank size doesn't include the filler neck which is several litres and your fuel lines all the way from the front to the rear of the car, there are several if injection, fuel filter , accumulator and fuel distributor as well. Also you are trusting your manufacturer to be precise to the litre.

If Slapout drove into the petrol station the fuel lines and filters would be full, they cannot be considered into the equation.

[arthurwait]

Just think of all the material you will have after another year in amazing Thailand.

Not much truth in advertising in this part of the world. Check the fuel pump sometime, I had 55 liter show on a pump one day with a vehicle where fuel tank capacity is 42 liter (manufactor measurement) Even warrenties can be misleading, battery for vehicle may say 2 year free call out if battery fails to start vehicle but battery itself only 1 year (not mentioned on warrenty card. I normally have any pre wieghed/marked meat etc at mackro weighed on meat counter scales, both probably have a thumb added to actual weight.

You tank size doesn't include the filler neck which is several litres and your fuel lines all the way from the front to the rear of the car, there are several if injection, fuel filter , accumulator and fuel distributor as well. Also you are trusting your manufacturer to be precise to the litre.

If Slapout drove into the petrol station the fuel lines and filters would be full, they cannot be considered into the equation.

Not with some of the customers my wife has. "Why won't it start ? "

[Forethat]

Massive difference in culture. In western countries this is called a scam, in Asia it's referred to as business. If you pay for more than you get it's YOUR problem because in Asia the responsibility is reverse.

And if you think Thailand some sort of exception, why not make business in the rest of Asia.

Learn to live with it, adapt, and become a sharper businessman. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is exactly what you're doing.

Cheesemaker, huh? Living the dream ...

[slapout]

The wife ran out of fuel once and I took fuel (1 liter milk container) to get it running and drove to station to fill up ( less than 1 kolimeter) They could not get 43 liter into the tank even with my urging. This is just a little background info for all you doubting thomas

[daveAustin]

Indeed, it is rife and pretty annoying if you dwell on it. Just think about it this way; the bandits that are ripping you off are also getting ripped off when they buy anything.

[RustBucket]

Massive difference in culture. In western countries this is called a scam, in Asia it's referred to as business. If you pay for more than you get it's YOUR problem because in Asia the responsibility is reverse.

And if you think Thailand some sort of exception, why not make business in the rest of Asia.

Learn to live with it, adapt, and become a sharper businessman. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is exactly what you're doing.

Cheesemaker, huh? Living the dream ...

Not just cheese maker, baker and confectioner also.

It is not so much about the ripoff that bothers me, it is the fact i have to weigh out every individual package to get the ingredients balanced correctly for consistency and to make sure I don't rip off my own customers and they get correct portions.

Not quite understand the reason for sarcasm with what i choose to do in life, I am way younger than retirement age and cheese making yields me up to 10 X profit to cost if not being cheated on the milk..... However in Thailand I only get X 6 profit to cost.

I suppose your idea of 'living the dream' is sliding onto a bar stool at 11am every day and staggering off home to fall asleep or talk <deleted> with your Thai wife/gf.

I am making good money. My dream comes later.

[RustBucket]

The wife ran out of fuel once and I took fuel (1 liter milk container) to get it running and drove to station to fill up ( less than 1 kolimeter) They could not get 43 liter into the tank even with my urging. This is just a little background info for all you doubting thomas

That is an old scam. The pump attendant doesn't zero off the pump when there is a few litres registered on it from the last sale, and you pay it a second time and that is his skim. I believe they have something on the nozzle so that when it it put back on the latch it doesn't close the filling session.

Edited November 16, 2014 by RustBucket

[CharlieH]

I remember asking a petrol station guy once, how did you put 65ltrs into a 60ltr tank that was a quarter full when I arrived ?

Shrugged his shoulders and pointed to the digital meter, Amazing Thailand.

[arthurwait]

The wife ran out of fuel once and I took fuel (1 liter milk container) to get it running and drove to station to fill up ( less than 1 kolimeter) They could not get 43 liter into the tank even with my urging. This is just a little background info for all you doubting Thomas

Wasn't the same petrol station then, this one was obviously reading wrong in your favour ?

As said call the authority get this petrol station checked.

[krisb]

Maybe your scales are out?

Edited November 16, 2014 by krisb

[Crazy chef 1]

btw- are you German?

and have you ever compared the prices you're paing here and (wherever) home is?

[Aussieroaming]

Excellent post

When I read it I felt really ripped off, had a headache and never wanted to shop again..then I thought mai pen rai.

Truthfully though you made a good case for being ripped off.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Went I buy my 5bht of sticky rice (200gm) at the local shop, she often gives me more.

[casual inquiry]

congrats on your successful business.

think of it this way, if it were any different you wouldnt be able to afford to retire here for next to free, so dont try too hard to change the score please.

i drink thai meiji milk even in singapore where the choice in milk is larger than most places. never had anything to complain about with it. in singapore if i recall correctly it even costs more than the rest of the field but i still choose it.

Edited November 16, 2014 by casual inquiry

[David48]

From the OP ...

I have been in business in Thailand with various food products for over a year now, and I can categorically confirm that not a single Thai business is exempted from ripping off its customers.

Lets make this a 'true' statement, rather then a 'generalisation' ...

I have been in business in Thailand with various food products for over a year now, and I can categorically confirm that not a single Thai business that I have done business with is exempted from ripping off its customers.

Not for a second am I saying that your experiences are not valid, but it's a bit of a broad brush to say that it applies universally to every business in Thailand.

.

[Forethat]

Massive difference in culture. In western countries this is called a scam, in Asia it's referred to as business. If you pay for more than you get it's YOUR problem because in Asia the responsibility is reverse.

And if you think Thailand some sort of exception, why not make business in the rest of Asia.

Learn to live with it, adapt, and become a sharper businessman. Which, if I'm not mistaken, is exactly what you're doing.

Cheesemaker, huh? Living the dream ...

Not just cheese maker, baker and confectioner also.

It is not so much about the ripoff that bothers me, it is the fact i have to weigh out every individual package to get the ingredients balanced correctly for consistency and to make sure I don't rip off my own customers and they get correct portions.

Not quite understand the reason for sarcasm with what i choose to do in life, I am way younger than retirement age and cheese making yields me up to 10 X profit to cost if not being cheated on the milk..... However in Thailand I only get X 6 profit to cost.

I suppose your idea of 'living the dream' is sliding onto a bar stool at 11am every day and staggering off home to fall asleep or talk <deleted> with your Thai wife/gf.

I am making good money. My dream comes later.

No sarcasm; as the founder and president of a cheese club, I wasn't talking about your dreams, I was referring to mine....(cheese).

Relax.

Edited November 16, 2014 by Forethat

[crickets]

When it comes to money and profit thai people cant see past there own noses. If you want top quality products you have to pay for it. Thai will find what the minimum quality is they can get away with selling at and then take a furthur 10 per cent off that.

[trainman34014]

I'm always telling my wife that if she doesn't complain things will never change. She keeps on moaning about attempted scams in my ears but never says a word to those who are effecting the scam.

Thai's are taught from an early age that you don't say anything or challenge anyone about anything. It's the biggest reason why the rich keep getting richer and the poor get exploited.....period.

[philw]

When it comes to money and profit thai people cant see past there own noses. If you want top quality products you have to pay for it. Thai will find what the minimum quality is they can get away with selling at and then take a furthur 10 per cent off that.

Nice bit of Thai bashing that.

Is it a surprise for you that top quality products have to be paid for ??

[pigeonjake]

i find it very sad,,

im buggerd if im going to weigh every one of my pig feed bags,

OP you must spend half your day weighing things?

you could allways take your scales shoping with you and point this out to them,

come on darling grab your scales were going shoping,,,lol

[smokie36]

Oh boy.......

[HeijoshinCool]

OP:

I believe everything you stated, and have experienced the same thing.

I will say, however, that Foremost Cream in Thailand is the best I've ever had. Extremely thick and flavorful. I have even frozen a half carton, later to defrost and shake it madly. Yep, the result was whipped cream! Not possible in America, freezing destroys whipping potential.

When I got back to the States this month, first thing I did was buy some heavy cream. Took a sip. Insipid. Looked at the ingredients, "Cream, skim milk."

Why the hell would anyone put skim milk in cream?

[HeijoshinCool]

Every vendor in the "fresh" market in Rhek Thum, has the customer side of their scales covered.

They knew darn well no one was going to walk around the other side and look ….

… until Whitey came to town ...

/

[Gringogazzer]

OP:

I believe everything you stated, and have experienced the same thing.

I will say, however, that Foremost Cream in Thailand is the best I've ever had. Extremely thick and flavorful. I have even frozen a half carton, later to defrost and shake it madly. Yep, the result was whipped cream! Not possible in America, freezing destroys whipping potential.

When I got back to the States this month, first thing I did was buy some heavy cream. Took a sip. Insipid. Looked at the ingredients, "Cream, skim milk."

Why the hell would anyone put skim milk in cream?

Because with the size of American's now days they are altering the orbit of the moon.

Every little bit helps.

[phazey]

Hey OP one thing i noticed with your post, please do not think I am insulting your intellect..

Are the weights you mention gross? Including packaging and containers. Something about your use of the word "yield" when it came to the condensed milk...