Scam

[islandguy]

It will be interesting to see how social media and the influx of Chinese tourists affect the ease of running scams here. While Thai Visa posters cannot (and should not) 'name and shame', tourists who come and go aren't going to be worried about posting, especially if they are upset at the time. I also see the Chinese as being very willing to complain when they think something is wrong with their bills. Up to now it has been true that there is always going to be a new tourist who doesn't know the score (although the smart businesses understand that local repeat business gets them through slow periods) and can be taken advantage of without repercussions. So far, the changes in the availability of information and the increase in less easy going tourists doesn't seem to have made all that much difference, but more and more tourists are checking on their smartphones before every choice they make.

[Razzler1973]

Even with the (open to abuse) 'daily market price' I still double check the price 'this fish how much' 'what about this one' and then they weigh it or whatever. Some of the beachside places on islands will give you a 350 or 400 price but for a bunch of stuff and if they're closing the deal they'll chuck another shrimp on anyway, you can physically see on the plate they are holding what you get

400 baht for fish would have to be a hell of a fish!

[smokie36]

Standing invite to a roasted sea bass evening in Bangers Rooo....certainly no chance of any scam in this place.

[Marcel1]

I bet I know which restaurant this is, the owner comes across as being very pushy to the point of overdoing it...

But it's not a problem just on Samui, (actually rare here IMO) in my travels around France, that happened to me several times, order something relatively inexpensive and get a bill for the most expensive thing on the menu... of course waiter no speak English at that point.

At the risk of drifting off-topic, may I ask where in France?

We have rather strong consumer protection regulations here, so you can really make a big fuss when this happens to you. Have you?

French people don't like being scammed and I would even claim that they don't like watching tourists being scammed either, so you'd probably be lucky trying to find someone help you with the language barrier among the customers of the restaurant.

oh you'll get me in trouble...

It was back in 1974, doing the backpack trip around Europe .... several places in France, including Paris... and other places I don't remember... but the only country it happen, and I never went back to France.

I am sure there are still places around the world that do it... I have never found it to be common on Samui or KP or KT... or any other place I have been to in Thailand.....

Despite what some people believe most Thais are very honest. Always a bad apple somewhere!

1974... 1974.. 1974.. Bro I'm not French and been there many times and no I don't like the French that much but they have a great country, good food and some halfdecent wines but to compare this story with the stone age u come from..... No

[samuijimmy]

I bet I know which restaurant this is, the owner comes across as being very pushy to the point of overdoing it...

But it's not a problem just on Samui, (actually rare here IMO) in my travels around France, that happened to me several times, order something relatively inexpensive and get a bill for the most expensive thing on the menu... of course waiter no speak English at that point.

At the risk of drifting off-topic, may I ask where in France?

We have rather strong consumer protection regulations here, so you can really make a big fuss when this happens to you. Have you?

French people don't like being scammed and I would even claim that they don't like watching tourists being scammed either, so you'd probably be lucky trying to find someone help you with the language barrier among the customers of the restaurant.

oh you'll get me in trouble...

It was back in 1974, doing the backpack trip around Europe .... several places in France, including Paris... and other places I don't remember... but the only country it happen, and I never went back to France.

I am sure there are still places around the world that do it... I have never found it to be common on Samui or KP or KT... or any other place I have been to in Thailand.....

Despite what some people believe most Thais are very honest. Always a bad apple somewhere!

1974... 1974.. 1974.. Bro I'm not French and been there many times and no I don't like the French that much but they have a great country, good food and some halfdecent wines but to compare this story with the stone age u come from..... No

Agree to a point, .... the whole world has changed... but no matter where, "scams" can still happen ...

I meet many very nice French people here on Samui, and very occasionally enjoy a bottle of French plonk!

The stores here that don't get my repeat business are those who use the two price system. ...some have learned that does not do them any good!

[muzmurray]

In the UK we have Trading Standards and laws to prevent these sorts of things as do most of the other first world countries, may be if Thailand want to be a first world country it should understand what makes a first world country.

So should you!

"The term "First World" refers to so called developed, capitalist, industrial countries, roughly, a bloc of countries aligned with the United States after World War II, with more or less common political and economic interests: North America, Western Europe, Japan and Australia."

[TheLobster]

Same thing, a scam at 7/11 in Bangrak on the left at the end of Soi Baan Ghai. They will scan an additional item, usually chocolate at 30THB to add to your bill. If they don't give you a receipt you know it is worth checking

IME all staff have been trained in this procedure.

Edited May 10, 2016 by TheLobster

[Rob13]

Same thing, a scam at 7/11 in Bangrak on the left at the end of Soi Baan Ghai. They will scan an additional item, usually chocolate at 30THB to add to your bill. If they don't give you a receipt you know it is worth checking

IME all staff have been trained in this procedure.

Your experience is that all 7/11 staff have been trained in ripping people off?

[AlfGarnett]

Same thing, a scam at 7/11 in Bangrak on the left at the end of Soi Baan Ghai. They will scan an additional item, usually chocolate at 30THB to add to your bill. If they don't give you a receipt you know it is worth checking

IME all staff have been trained in this procedure.

Your experience is that all 7/11 staff have been trained in ripping people off?

The 7/11 that has now closed down on Nathon sea front used to do this. I was buying similar items nearly everyday, then once I added up the amount in my head as I walked to the counter. Was charged twice for the lowest item, which you could see on the receipt I had asked for. I then carried on using this 7/11, as is nearest, and was overcharged three more times that week, which I could see after I asked for the receipt. So maybe they are not trained for it, but maybe they are all aware that it can be done, especially to foreigners. I always get a receipt now.

[Rob13]

More likely the manager of that store wasn't doing his job and allowed shenanigans like that to go on under his nose. Probably alot of other stuff going on too, like supplies being lifted by employees. No wonder it closed up.

Thing about 7/11 is, you'd usually only have a handful of stuff and it's easy to make a good estimate of what your bill should be.

[samuijimmy]

Not a scam, just a plain rip off... the dirtiest and worst looking resort on Ban Tai beach (Samui) and they think they can charge this... (sign was not obvious either)

When we were about to leave, a lady came to collect... I said no have money and drove off....

[TheLobster]

Same thing, a scam at 7/11 in Bangrak on the left at the end of Soi Baan Ghai. They will scan an additional item, usually chocolate at 30THB to add to your bill. If they don't give you a receipt you know it is worth checking

IME all staff have been trained in this procedure.

Your experience is that all 7/11 staff have been trained in ripping people off?

No IME all staff at this particular 7/11 have been trained in this procedure where they have something hidden near the till which they scan when they think they can get away with it. When I pulled the supervisor up about it before and asked him what it was he said it was nothing and refused to tell me what the additional item was. I left as I didn't think it was worth being attacked over a 30THB ripoff. If you use this 7/11 then it usually happens when I pay with a 1,000THB note.

[TheLobster]

Not a scam, just a plain rip off... the dirtiest and worst looking resort on Ban Tai beach (Samui) and they think they can charge this... (sign was not obvious either)

When we were about to leave, a lady came to collect... I said no have money and drove off....

I was at the 7/11 near the entrance to Fisherman's Village last week and pulled up into the left hand side where there is a concreted area. Immediately an old Thai woman came out and asked for 40THB to park there. I was just pulling over for a couple of minutes, the car was still running whilst the wife popped into a local shop but she was quite insistent so I drove across to the SCB opposite to avoid further aggravation and parked there. I had to laugh as the old bird hid round the corner and peeked out to see if I'd come back. 5 minutes 40THB no way!