this used to happen in soho clubs in london, and may still happen.

it can happen to the naive anywhere

people need to get better informed and street wise when travelling abroad

Thailand didn't remain uncolonised because they were stupid. Savvy leadership and smart bargaining to their own advantage has always been their strong suit.

If you come to Chiang Mai please stay out of the Karoke Bars they are known ripe off places.

In other words, they stink...

The government overcharges foreigners (for instance on entrance to national parks/ Wat Pra Kaew),

The police scams foreigners (look at harassment on Sukhumvit or police scamming Burmese workers without drivers license) ,

So the private sector probably thinks : if they can do it, we can do it too.

If you have to ask the price, that means you can't afford it, 555.

As Einstein noted, everything is relative.

Ever price apartments in Luanda, Angola or buy a cup of coffee in Hong Kong?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/07/10/the-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world/

The wealthiest people I know refuse to pay inflated prices. It has nothing to do with how much money they have but don't want to throw their money away. They think that's stupid. It's probably why they became so wealthy.

I don't go into the Karaoke joints because of all the horror stories but lived in other countries where private singing rooms were very popular and a regular part of our night life. I'm sure there are a lot of people in Thailand that would love to use them but don't want to deal with the circus.

Shames Thailand, really ?

Does anyone think those involved in scams and ripoffs worry what others think as long as they are making money ?

I once overheard a tourist ask a bargirl if she was scared of catching HIV working in a bar, she said no, I'm scared of not having something to eat tomorrow, and this pretty well sums it up.

LOL...something to eat? These girls eat more than I do. Several times more. They are not coming off the farm to get money to eat.... They are trying to payoff debts on cars and houses.

I had to laugh out loud at this one. Who ever saw a poor, pitiful, hungry ...but beautiful and sexy...bar girl begging for food?

The threat to the Thai Tourist industry is social media , these topics are now being highlighted virtually as it happens, before all you heard about Thailand was at the departure lounge or your seat partner on the plane moaning of the pitfalls of coming to Thailand and the never again chiming in , the problem lies in the frequency of these complaints , unless Thailand gets up to speed it will be come another dinosaur , a no go tourist destination , the balls in your court Thailand.

Yea... and I help out by re-posting articles like this to G+.

As much as they are addicted to Facebook and Line, Thais, even the government, simply don't comprehend the new power of social media.

A few years from now, all the tourist-based folks will be back in Issan, farming.

The offending bar in CM got shut down, but what became of of the 114,000 Baht the Malaysians paid?

Shames Thailand? Really?? Do you mean like Human Trafficking; Military Coups; Graft and corruption; Etc; Etc.....???

"One problem is they see the big ass house some Farang builds for his Thai wife another for her family and they all want it."

Solution: Tell the Thai wife you really like her parents and want to help them out by renting a room in their house.

They won't think you're rich then, 555.

Of course, they might charge you higher than the fair market value....

Thailand didn't remain uncolonised because they were stupid. Savvy leadership and smart bargaining to their own advantage has always been their strong suit.

Gee and I thought it was because they sold themselves out to whoever was expedient at the time....

Must have a different perception of Thai history.

Thailand didn't remain uncolonised because they were stupid. Savvy leadership and smart bargaining to their own advantage has always been their strong suit.

Gee and I thought it was because they sold themselves out to whoever was expedient at the time....

Must have a different perception of Thai history.

The Japanese gave them a choice. After the battle of Khiri Khan, many Thai lives were lost. The Thais realized they were greatly overpowered. The Japanese allowed them to become "occupied" instead of colonized. This allowed the Japanese near total control, without all the complications of occupation. They were occupied for over three years, and as a result Bangkok was bombed by the allies, and Thailand was declared an enemy to the allies. Much of this has been forgotten.

Outside of the tourst zones, if you are an expat, in your own neghbourhood amongst "friends" you will never get ripped off. Ishop at the local market daily and know the price of all the items I buy and pay the same as everyone else. Same if sit outside and have a beer or eat at a local restaurant.

One big problem is they think all Farangs are RICH !!!!!! Just ask your Thai women . I asked my girl friend and this is what they think. We can afford to pay it. One problem is they see the big ass house some Farang builds for his Thai wife another for her family and they all want it. Look at your girls Face Book account. They love to show off what they have and were they have gone. We really have no one to blame but ourselves.

Not really sure why you call it double pricing ? it is tourist pricing, just like going in to a place to eat and paying 70 baht for papaya salad. WHAT !!! I am not paying that, time to leave and go somewhere else. Unfortunately we are all just visitors here in the land of frowns and we can leave at any time. No one yes no one has to stay.

You make some good points re the idea that Thais think all farangs are rich. Most Thais I know are richer than me, but your comment about us being visitors is a bit off. There are thousands of farangs living here, looking after wives & families, making homes and living peaceful and fulfilling lives.

You may well be able to pack a suitcase and head off to Cambodia, Burma or wherever. Most expats that live here seem to want and do their best to stay or in many cases have to stay; and why not? I cannot contemplate life in the present day U.K. or Canada with all the problems they have in addition to the glorious weather. One only has to read the visa section of TVF to see the ends to which some people will go in order to remain here in the LOS

I have only been here 15 years but came as a visitor and am now a resident, not permanent, but resident here year after year and will continue to do so until I either die or am told by Immigration to leave.

Where we live, these problems are news items not life threatening incidents.

And my wife makes a better somtam than a restaurant.

I dont think anything shames Thailand,as they keep repeating

the same crap,it might make them a little tiny bit upset if they

get caught out,but that does not last long and they are back to

the same tricks again,its been going on for years,and sees

no sign of abatement.

regards Worgeordie

If you have to ask the price, that means you can't afford it, 555.

As Einstein noted, everything is relative.

Ever price apartments in Luanda, Angola or buy a cup of coffee in Hong Kong?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/07/10/the-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world/

Why, in every discussion about "things" Thai, do people have to compare fact with either their own country or some other place? This is Thailand, where some of us live and experience these matters. We do not care, nor want to know what "happens in other countries!"

The offending bar in CM got shut down, but what became of of the 114,000 Baht the Malaysians paid?

It seems that one person who cannot be named ? owns several karaoke bars, he will simply move staff and enforcers to his other bars.

"Why, in every discussion about "things" Thai, do people have to compare fact with either their own country or some other place? This is Thailand, where some of us live and experience these matters. We do not care, nor want to know what "happens in other countries!"

So, you're saying many expats are closed minded provincials who think the world revolves around them and couldn't care less about facts?

Nail. Meet head, 555

Big C and Tesco Lotus are temples of Thai overpricing.Third world wages for their Thai staff - First world prices, plus, for their unfortunate customers. Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Subway - they are all at it !

Thailand didn't remain uncolonised because they were stupid. Savvy leadership and smart bargaining to their own advantage has always been their strong suit.

Like they're were not occupied by the Japanese? Like the Chinese haven't taken over and now run the country? Is this where savvy leadership and smart bargaining got them? And by the way, who are these savvy leaders and smart bargainers?

Thaivisa,thaivisa.... please start to write some serious news..

If you have to ask the price, that means you can't afford it, 555.

As Einstein noted, everything is relative.

Ever price apartments in Luanda, Angola or buy a cup of coffee in Hong Kong?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/07/10/the-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world/

The wealthiest people I know refuse to pay inflated prices. It has nothing to do with how much money they have but don't want to throw their money away. They think that's stupid. It's probably why they became so wealthy.

I don't go into the Karaoke joints because of all the horror stories but lived in other countries where private singing rooms were very popular and a regular part of our night life. I'm sure there are a lot of people in Thailand that would love to use them but don't want to deal with the circus.

"It has nothing to do with how much money they have but don't want to throw their money away. They think that's stupid. It's probably why they became so wealthy. "

Exactly. It should become standard operation procedure in Thailand to ask for the price before you buy anything.

Don't care if they think you are poor. If everybody does it they will stop thinking this bs.

Tourists should be told about this necessity in LOS. Why not by posters on the airports in their countries? Why not paid by their foreign offices - its kind of a travel warning isn't it?

Outside of the tourst zones, if you are an expat, in your own neghbourhood amongst "friends" you will never get ripped off. Ishop at the local market daily and know the price of all the items I buy and pay the same as everyone else. Same if sit outside and have a beer or eat at a local restaurant.

Agreed. But you still have to watch out - at least when you go to the next city

Another group of tourists who will not be coming back,repeat buisiness seems to be an alien concept in Thailand,as does the old adage,if people have a good experience they may tell one or two people a bad one they will tell ten or more.

Weak law enforcement. Weak law enforcement. Weak law enforcement. Weak law enforcement.

Time and again this is raised in relation to all sorts of ailments here. It is high time the government did something about it! If it does, then better put on a hard hat. Things could get bumpy!

Thailand didn't remain uncolonised because they were stupid. Savvy leadership and smart bargaining to their own advantage has always been their strong suit.

Gee and I thought it was because they sold themselves out to whoever was expedient at the time....

Must have a different perception of Thai history.

Yes, there are several theories as to the supposed 'non-colonization' of Thailand.

Why would a private business care about overcharging/double pricing/ripping off? When it's sanctioned and enforced by the state the case is lost. To understand that it's morally wrong you have to have morals. Case lost.

Don't expect anything to change but DO fight it at every opportunity AND share your experiences

If you have to ask the price, that means you can't afford it, 555.

As Einstein noted, everything is relative.

Ever price apartments in Luanda, Angola or buy a cup of coffee in Hong Kong?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2014/07/10/the-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world/

Imo, your first sentence is wrong, even if I was a millionaire, and wanted to buy something and the price was not shown, I would still ask the price, the reason being I hate cheats. The only time cheating is acceptable is when you are cheating some person or company, or any organisation, is when they are cheating you.

From another angle take a look at the government's abusive taxation on, in particular, wine (possibly spirits also)- for imported or local production.

390% add on in duties, taxes and fees on the landed price of a bottle for imported wine; 60% taxes and fees on top of value for local production.

The rationale as given by a manager at one of the local wineries "the government sees wine consumption as something in large part by people of upper income (any foreigner and a few Thais) and therefore, like wolves on sheep, is able to rationalize this attack on the "elite" with the highest levels of taxation in wine drinking countries in the world. 390% Thailand, "only" 62% for China, for example.

So with thinking like that at the top there's a lot of room for rationalization at other levels of Thai society to stick it to 'em where you can.