I'm sitting in the Khao San Road at a restaurant. See a street vendor with handmade umbrellas at a table ahead. He tried to sell it to an elderly male tourist.
I looked after it, found that the seller was annoying and pushy. Had the idea that the tourist did not feel comfortable with it, but still wanted to buy something out of politeness. Now I saw that the tourist gave the seller money, one note of 500 Baht and two of 100 Baht = 700 Baht. Thought that was actually a lot for such a small umbrella. But, when the seller very pushy asked the tourist:
“Papa give me more, please give me little bit more…please Papa, papa..i need more?” Then I just sprang into action.
I speak a little Thai, ask him: what does that umbrella cost? Then he said 350 Baht. I say you already have 700 Baht in your hands! He had closed it tightly. Then he only opened his hand but didn't even look what was in his hand, immediately started saying sorry, sorry!
Say to him: Shall I call the police? No, no was his answer. Returned the overpaid money to the tourist, and he left very quickly.
I asked the tourist: “Where you from?”. He said: From Holland. Ok, me too, let's continue talking in Dutch. He thanked me for the help. He had just arrived and was not yet familiar with the Thai money. Glad I could help him with that.
To think that shortly before that I myself had been cheated with change in a bar. Have also mentioned this on this site (received change of 500 Baht, instead of 1000 Baht)
Always be careful in Thailand when you buy something.
With kind regards,
Khunhans
Well if you read this then you really wonder how someone like that comes to Thailand.
On the one hand, not familiar with the money? This is really part of preparation.
Exchange rates can be found almost at all locations in Khaosanroad.
I frequent Khaosan road a lot, the vendors are not extremly aggressive but presumably this man was the victim of a vendor.
More annoying is the transport from Khaosanroad by taxi and Tuk Tuk, I sometimes hear prices that are so extreme that you almost want to intervene.
Just refuse and take the next one or leave by boat.
Taxis on Khao San road are a nightmare. Especially since you have little alternative because there is no BTS nearby.
But just say how much it is on the meter. I usually say I'm fine with you wanting to turn off the meter, but a bit of a normal price. On the meter it is around xxx baht so that's all you get. Usually, after some grumbling, they agree.
They usually just pick out the tourist who indeed come to Thailand for the first time or few. For example, a friend of mine who came to Thailand for the first time had a deal with the Tuk Tuk on Khao San. A ride from Khao San to Sukhumvit 11 only cost him 800 baht, he proudly said, normally it was 1000 baht. Did I just ask where we went for that 1000 baht, Bangkok Sukhumvit Soi 11 or to Pattaya ……
Coincidentally, we got this whole spectacle, when a friend and I happened to be eating across the street.
Hello Nard,
How funny / coincidental that you also read my piece
I've seen you!
Had eye contact with you for a while.
Suspected a bit that you were Dutch.
Yes, I'm glad I could help this man.
Think it's a cowardly area!
This seller had long seen that the tourist had little experience with the Thai Baht.
The next day he was in the same spot again.
We walked past it, tell him: be careful with the money.
To which he had to laugh.
How funny that you were there too, and read this blog.
gr. Khunhans
As a stranger in Thailand you can indeed fall victim to scams. Be very clear to the street vendors that you are not interested. Total ignoring is even better, but understand that can come across as rude, but after many years in Thailand, I'm learning that's for the best.
The taxis on Khao San are actually not as bad as people think. Of course it is nice to take a tuktuk once, but in the end the 'normal' taxi is the best and cheapest. Force the driver to turn on the meter, the first three might catch you off guard. But it really won't be long before a driver agrees to this. And then you really don't pay much for a ride!
My girlfriend taught me to quickly fend off the sellers. Just say Mai Krap and most of the vendors will walk through. to another potential customer
I was in Khao son road last week, which took the ferry from south Bangkok, that was already laughable. Left there at 21 o'clock but the ferries no longer sail. So we had to take a taxi: a 35-minute ride to the hotel, costing 109 baht on the meter…so don't complain, just pay attention.
Unfortunately, the story does not say whether or not the tourist who came to the rescue was aware of the converted value in euros. If there is, then there is no scam, if in his perception he thought the umbrella was worth 700 baht. Even if a fellow tourist had to pay less a few meters away, that would be 'good' trade by the street vendor. It is of course rightly noted that the way in which the sale takes place is reprehensible. And you can arm yourself against that with good preparation. It is a universal 'law': no fixed prices apply to street sales and the chance that you may pay too much is greater than in a regular shop. However, I will be the last to say that you will not find a bad apple there either.
Hello Sander, I helped this tourist!
I have been coming to Thailand for more than 15 years, married to Thai, I can manage with the language.
Also know about the target prices of products offered in Thailand.
I knew that these umbrellas were sold for 250-350 Baht.
But, when I saw that tourist gave 2 notes of 100 Baht and 1 of 500 Baht to the street vendor, and then kept asking: papa give me more, please give me a little more etc, etc.
Then I thought, this is not good! I don't think the tourist realizes what he has already given.
In hindsight this is also true!
The tourist did not realize that he had given a note of 500 Baht.
And that the seller has seen! He squeezed his hand tight, so that the tourist could no longer see what he had given. Then he started begging for more money.
Until I got up and asked what this umbrella should cost.
The rest of the story is known.
gr. Khunhans
Don't complain but pay attention? A comment that no one cares about.
I travel quite regularly by taxi or tuk tuk.
From anywhere, it is standard for them to turn on the meter. But at Siam Paragon, Khaosanroad etc they think they can ask for the top prize.
Since I speak a word of Thai and know the route prices, they try anyway. I flatly refuse. But it takes time.
Take the ferry from south bangkok? Do not complain…. It's just the taxi boat
Good on you for coming to the rescue of that man. Only it should not be claimed here that this is “typical” Thai. It is a worldwide phenomenon that the weak (the inexperienced) are exploited. Whether that is your first taxi upon arrival or the first hotel night…
And 700 baht for an umbrella… I wonder what went through that man's mind. Maybe he didn't have a good idea how to convert the Baht. I know that well. Through my work I have been to many countries of the world and I also once made such a stupid mistake in Japan years ago. That was more than that 700 Baht. Then something like 1000 guilders. Afterwards it turned out that I still got it cheaper, but I was clearly over my budget at the time.
Once I ended up in a restaurant in Istanbul, together with a colleague. We looked at the map and I whispered to her, just take water and then leave… However, when we recalculated again, it turned out that we had completely miscalculated and the prices were about 10 x lower than we thought… after that we were fine to go…. 🙂
I also sometimes had a blackout in Thailand and I couldn't even properly calculate what I would spend now.
However, it is not a Thai phenomenon…. it's a human trait..unfortunately.
Still a shame they are so greedy in Thailand. I get it on the one hand, but yes... As mentioned by the gentleman in this story, as soon as you start talking about the police... they know their way. But very good that it is mentioned. I also remember my 1st time back in Thailand very well. Not disastrous, but also duped.