The Thai saving face thing gets on my nerves sometimes

[joekicker 53]

call it opportunism

 

Or capitalism. Or superstition. Or hi-so.

 

In the west (and of course in the east) people pay big money for licence plates that are "lucky". Yeah, right, of COURSE you get lucky with a "better" licence plate number, right?

 

Right?

 

Those dumb Thais and their stupid lucky phone numbers that are easier to remember. Dumb, eh?

 

Any idea what that price might be?

 

What the market will bear.

 

Take a walk through one of the malls with a lot of phone sellers, and you'll see lists of numbers for sale, almost always with price lists.

 

.

Edited March 13, 2011 by joekicker

[dontcha 53]

Or capitalism. Or superstition. Or hi-so.

 

In the west (and of course in the east) people pay big money for licence plates that are "lucky". Yeah, right, of COURSE you get lucky with a "better" licence plate number, right?

 

Right?

 

Those dumb Thais and their stupid lucky phone numbers that are easier to remember. Dumb, eh?

 

 

 

What the market will bear.

 

Take a walk through one of the malls with a lot of phone sellers, and you'll see lists of numbers for sale, almost always with price lists.

 

.

 

Joe,

My Thai number for years was so easy for me to remember it was 08208182xx and I did not pay extra for it.

I got a new sim card on this trip where I chose an easy to remember number and I got it fully installed for 49 baht.

The guy that I saw forking out 400 baht did not get a special number, he got random mixed up numbers.

He did not gain anything by paying more.

He was ripped off and just maybe I have highlighted what the real price for a sim card is for people that don't know.

The price is normally displayed by the phone company on the outside of the packaging sleeve

[sailingbill 1,025]

I didn't know that. Four years ago i was the guy shelling out 500 baht for a some badly mixed up numbers.

Discovered the Beer Garden in Bangkok this trip, so there was a lot of annoying back and forth with the numbers at times.

After four years i still don't know my own #, though i do tend to drink a bit.

I'll buy another sim next trip, thanks.

[mmaaarrrkkk 41]

One thing not factored in is the body language I guess only Dontcha knows the actually happenings and the lady would have a different story.

 

I wonder why you dont just 'Mai Aow Kap' loudly and walk away the moment she started BSing.

 

 

It seems a lot of westerners automatically assume it's a face thing even when it's just a money thing. I've noticed this over the years. Probably because they have this "Thailand is a face culture" stuff drummed into them.

 

I also notice the way face is talked about as though it's exclusively a Thai or at least asian thing. It's not. Face is a part of English culture. And probably other European countries, too.

 

 

Yup agree 100% North south east west , face , macho , will to win or whatever you call it , is there.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

He was ripped off and just maybe I have highlighted what the real price for a sim card is for people that don't know.

 

Except that you haven't. The price of basic Sim cards, as I've already said, is dependent upon the length of time the credit will remain active and some cards already include pre-installed credit (amongst other features). All you've highlighted is the price of your particular Sim card.

[dontcha 53]

Except that you haven't. The price of basic Sim cards, as I've already said, is dependent upon the length of time the credit will remain active and some cards already include pre-installed credit (amongst other features). All you've highlighted is the price of your particular Sim card.

 

The 49 baht DTAC card has got 15 baht pre-installed.

The guy bought a 49 baht DTAC card,

Rather than continously haranguing me and trying your best to find any sort of defect in my posts could you for once accept that not all Thai people are nice and honest and many of them make a living out of ripping of guilible farangs.

Don't tell me that you forked out more than 49 baht for a 49 baht sim card and then tipped the girl 100 baht

[CheshireTom 1,377]

The 49 baht DTAC card has got 15 baht pre-installed.

The guy bought a 49 baht DTAC card,

Rather than continously haranguing me and trying your best to find any sort of defect in my posts

 

Nobody is haranguing you. Some guys may take your posts as read, and believe that there is one price for a Sim card. That is, quite simply, not the case and is bad advice, particularly for newbies. FWIW, DTAC have a range of price plans attached to their numerous Sims - the cheaper they are, they generally have shorter credit validity and, as you can see, more expensive call rates. DTAC is really helpful, they even provide a website in English to make it easy for (most) folk to understand.

 

 

 

could you for once accept that not all Thai people are nice and honest and many of them make a living out of ripping of guilible farangs.

 

I made no comment on your perception of Thai people, only the price of Sim cards.

Edited March 14, 2011 by CheshireTom

[dontcha 53]

Nobody is haranguing you. Some guys may take your posts as read, and believe that there is one price for a Sim card. That is, quite simply, not the case and is bad advice, particularly for newbies. FWIW, DTAC have a range of price plans attached to their numerous Sims - the cheaper they are, they generally have shorter credit validity and, as you can see, more expensive call rates. DTAC is really helpful, they even provide a website in English to make it easy for (most) folk to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

I made no comment on your perception of Thai people, only the price of Sim cards.

 

Yes I accept there are sim cards for different prices but when it clearly states the cost is 49 baht then you should not be paying 400 baht.

Calls are not expensive on the 49 baht sim cards and you always top up by 50 or 100 baht at your local 7-11 or family mart.

The average 2 week millionaire would find it almost impossible to spend 200 baht on phone credit unless he was calling his home country on it..

My information is good in that it will make people more aware of the cost.

I cant take a photo of sim card packaging sleeve right now because I am online out at the pool. .. Trying to get a tan on another murky day that looks like it is going to rain yet again.

[hkaussie 0]

It has been explained to me on more than one occasion that it is my role in society (Hong Kong) to pay a different price (more) than the locals as I earn more than them and that I "deserve" to be charged more. Also that it is right for me to support the local economy.

 

I was told that there have always been two prices- one for the Chinese and one for the white folk.

 

ummm and they say that we are racist towards the Chinese.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Yes I accept there are sim cards for different prices ...

 

But you still claimed that 49 Baht is the "real price".

 

Calls are not expensive on the 49 baht sim cards and you always top up by 50 or 100 baht at your local 7-11 or family mart.

 

It depends on which 49 Baht Sim promotion you choose. Call charges differ by as much as 100%.

 

A small tip ... the next time you see the Happy/DTAC girls running a promotion booth, go and speak to them. In exchange for your e-mail address, they'll give you a Sim for free. You can then spend the 49 Baht you've saved on two bowls of somtam.

Edited March 14, 2011 by CheshireTom

[Regyai 415]

But you still claimed that 49 Baht is the "real price".

 

A small tip ... the next time you see the Happy/DTAC girls running a promotion booth, go and speak to them. In exchange for your e-mail address, they'll give you a Sim for free. You can then spend the 49 Baht you've saved on two bowls of somtam.

 

 

 

Hey the real price of Somtam is 30THB

 

 

and it comes on plates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[mrlasvegas 124]

North America for sure. Mexicans call it macho. Further north they call it "wachew lookin' at bub?" and even further north they call it "wachew lookin' at, eh?"

 

.

 

Machismo, actually. But it is not face in the asian way. It is more of an attitude.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Hey the real price of Somtam is 30THB

 

Reg,

 

He can always ask for 2 free sims and save 98 Baht.

[Regyai 415]

Now your talking...3 free plates of Somtam

 

 

Think we'll need to adjust all those 'how much do I need to live in Pattaya threads'

 

 

 

 

 

 

:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[dontcha 53]

Reg,

 

He can always ask for 2 free sims and save 98 Baht.

 

Hell no. ... I would get two free sims and sell them on for 300 each + get a 100 baht tip each so that I could...

A. Get a hottie out of Lucifer for 800 ST

or

B. Treat myself to a meal in Sizzlers.

 

Decisions decisions

[Regyai 415]

See it just gets better

 

 

All we need to nail down now is the cheapest Full English plate of shite

 

 

And the best taxi service to/from Swampy

 

 

and everythings sorted

 

 

 

 

 

 

duh

 

 

 

 

.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

B. Treat myself to a meal in Sizzlers.

 

Decisions decisions

 

Dearie me! Why would anyone pay 800 Baht in Sizzlers? 219 Baht on a Wednesday after 4 p.m. is the going rate, so don't go ruining things for the rest of us. Get there early though, as the place tends to get packed with Thais.

 

As you know, I'm really generous with the tips - that's two good ones in one thread and another 116 Baht saved.

 

 

 

Edited March 14, 2011 by CheshireTom

[joekicker 53]

Hey the real price of Somtam is 30THB

 

 

and it comes on plates

 

Sometimes it does.

 

 

.

[Fondles 94]

.... I looked at her like she had two heads and told her I could buy a Nokia charger for 50 baht almost anywhere so I offered her 60 baht.

 

Your getting genuine Nokia chargers for 50 baht, I'll take 20.

[LocalYokul 214]

depends, the latest Nokia's charge on a micro-USB port which you can find all over, not Nokia brand, but there are plenty cheapies out there that do the same thing.