General Reports

[Member #3428]

The cards that last 1 year have much higher calling rates per minute (I think it is 4 Baht). So if you heavily use it, you would want to make a calculation. For me the 1 year card does it because I don't stay in LOS for more than a week at a time. I paid 250 baht and it was charged with about 350. You might even be able to switch the plan on your card. Just ask a shop at MBK for example. Or at BIGC in Pattaya.

I end up using the free wifi in places and using fring on my phone to use skype for most calls and skype out of the room on the computer. So it's not that bad. I spend two weeks or so at a time there for work. Basically it was replying via calls and sms to the recent manila GF that i was being good in BKK that ate up most my cards this last trip.

[Tiger 888]

If that's true then I get screwed as 300 baht only updated it for one month each time. Not a problem as I'm there every month it seems like and refill it often but I think it's only one month atleast the 300 baht cards i was buying.

The cards that last 1 year have much higher calling rates per minute (I think it is 4 Baht). So if you heavily use it, you would want to make a calculation. For me the 1 year card does it because I don't stay in LOS for more than a week at a time (I prefer to be able to buy my beer at the time of the day that I want to buy it - I don't drink during the day but that rule is ridiculous). I paid 250 baht and it was charged with about 350. You might even be able to switch the plan on your card. Just ask a shop at MBK for example. Or at BIGC in Pattaya.

[Member #3428]

One 2 Call is the one that I use. Refill cards for the number can be purchased almost everywhere; 100,200,300,500 B. The nice thing about the refills is that it updates the time remaining to expire in 1 year. Some of the others only give you 3 months, I think that you have to get a 300b card to extend for the year. You might want to check on that.

If that's true then I get screwed as 300 baht only updated it for one month each time. Not a problem as I'm there every month it seems like and refill it often but I think it's only one month atleast the 300 baht cards i was buying.

[Member #2041]

As this might relate to girls as well, what is your initial counter when dealing with these folks. Some folks go 50%-75% below but try to go for paying 50% below what original asking price is. Granted 90% of the time we're talking one or two USD difference and I could care less so I never fight it that hard, but when going for higher end items I do care.

It depends on whether I have already established what the walk away price is. What I try to do ideally is find the same item at more than one vendor, and use one vendor for price research, and maybe buy at the other vendor.

before I have any information, I will normally counter the first asking price with between 1/4 and 1/3 of the price asked, and then I hold to it in the face of numerous progressively lower offers from the seller. I will then see how low they go, and how quickly they go low, to gauge what the walking price will be. And after the first time, I will generally walk, listening very carefully to how low the offer gets as I am walking away. At this point, I will have in my mind just how low I can get the item for, especially at another vendor. I will later return, and offer EXACTLY that price, and hold firmly to it, in the face of the vendor's counters. I might then go up SLIGHTLY if I feel that it is necessary to get the vendor to actually close, but only after they are clear that I am about to walk again, and they have gone as low as they will go without me moving on my offer.

This strategy I only use when buying material items. I don't use it with P4P women for two reasons: 1st, it can leave hard feelings with the seller (and if I'm buying an item, I don't care, but when buying companionship, I don't want that) and secondly, sometimes when negotiating P4P, the lower head takes over the negotiation process.

[Member #3428]

BTW. walk away price is the lowest price offer where the vendor will not try to keep you from walking away after he counters with something higher. In my experience, it doesn't matter if you are Farang or local - the price where they will still make money making the sale is the lowest price you can get if you know how to negotiate. The initial asking price will surely be higher for a Farang, but the walk away price never changes - there is a price point at which the vendor doesn't wish to lose the sale, and a lower one at which they will let you walk, irrespective of whether you are white, black, yellow, green or purple. Before I ever buy a watch or anything else at one of these night bazaar-tyoe markets, I make sure that I have found out through low-ball bidding, what that walk price is.

As this might relate to girls as well, what is your initial counter when dealing with these folks. Some folks go 50%-75% below but try to go for paying 50% below what original asking price is. Granted 90% of the time we're talking one or two USD difference and I could care less so I never fight it that hard, but when going for higher end items I do care.

I know what I pay for girls, I know what I pay for at markets as well for goods. But what are others doing just out of curiosity.

And I'm surprised the number of P4P girls, and old GF's, that won't bargain when they are shopping with my money

[Member #2041]

My experience is the best place is China, after that Hong Kong, then Bangkok but I had some nice experiences in Korea.

Philippines.... don't waste your time, you'll be over priced and the quality is poor, trying to find decent fakes is hard.

The selection I found of fakes in the main central market in Saigon was at least as good as that in the Silk market in Beijing, and those are probably the two best places in the world for buying a high end fake watch. Although, I haven't shopped in Hong Kong for several years, it would not surprise me if that is just as good. Bangkok is not as good as those places, and the prices are higher - i.e. the same fake watches that had a walk away price of $25-30 in Beijing and Saigon, required paying $40-50 in Bangkok.

BTW. walk away price is the lowest price offer where the vendor will not try to keep you from walking away after he counters with something higher. In my experience, it doesn't matter if you are Farang or local - the price where they will still make money making the sale is the lowest price you can get if you know how to negotiate. The initial asking price will surely be higher for a Farang, but the walk away price never changes - there is a price point at which the vendor doesn't wish to lose the sale, and a lower one at which they will let you walk, irrespective of whether you are white, black, yellow, green or purple. Before I ever buy a watch or anything else at one of these night bazaar-tyoe markets, I make sure that I have found out through low-ball bidding, what that walk price is.

I would also emphasize, as Tansak has, that following a tout is a GUARANTEE that you did not get the best price or quality for your baht.

[Lord Farquard]

They are all over, two main brands 12 go or something like that and another, 50 baht got me a sim over at MBK but sim's can be found all over. refill cards for 12 are found at every 7-11 and other stalls all over the place. The other refill they charge it up for you electronically or such. Refil places for loads are all over also.

One 2 Call is the one that I use. Refill cards for the number can be purchased almost everywhere; 100,200,300,500 B. The nice thing about the refills is that it updates the time remaining to expire in 1 year. Some of the others only give you 3 months, I think that you have to get a 300b card to extend for the year. You might want to check on that.

[Member #3428]

They are all over, two main brands 12 go or something like that and another, 50 baht got me a sim over at MBK but sim's can be found all over. refill cards for 12 are found at every 7-11 and other stalls all over the place. The other refill they charge it up for you electronically or such. Refil places for loads are all over also.

As a tourist, can you buy Prepaid SIMs in Thailand for cash, i.e. without a local bank account or local address?

What are the denominations?

How much is a local call to a mobile?

Where are the SIM sold?

Reason for asking is, that in some countries in Europe, one needs a bank account and an address, in order to purchase the first one, i.e. the phone number. (Before someone flames me, I do know that there are workarounds, but they are bothersome)

[Member #3428]

I have no experience with the Philippines, so I can't help you there.

My experience is the best place is China, after that Hong Kong, then Bangkok but I had some nice experiences in Korea.

Philippines.... don't waste your time, you'll be over priced and the quality is poor, trying to find decent fakes is hard.

My advice to Bamboo Pete, is if you find a good P4P girl who you get along with and such, then see if she'll take you to Patpong and start the negotiations. Usually that helps break the price down lower and get's some better quality if you are with thai over just being a lone farang walking around. That is if you are unsure about Patpong, not sure about the stalls, etc... There's a farang price and a thai price in everything and if a local girl starts the work it helps me. But I usually have a GF I'm with anyways. Just don't trust touts or tuk tuk or taxi drivers to help you get best quality IMHO.

[Artisttyp]

[QUOTE=Freeler]Artisttyp,

Police do random checks (or at least they appear to be random...) in gogos and bars.
When they do EVERYBODY inside gets tested on the spot.
You should find reports of such searches on
http://www.pattayamail.com/
on a regular basis.

Wow it is very true. I cant knock another culture but man that is brutal. I wonder if the 100 people who tested positive in one article will all face brutal prison sentences ?

Maybe I should stick to latin america.

By the way is this common in asia ?

[Freeler]

Artisttyp,

Police do random checks (or at least they appear to be random...) in gogos and bars.
When they do EVERYBODY inside gets tested on the spot.
You should find reports of such searches on
http://www.pattayamail.com/
on a regular basis.

Here are some search results:
http://www.google.com/custom?domains...&sa.x=9&sa.y=9

[Artisttyp]

i just came back from the bookstore where i was reading roughguides' bangkok. i will certainly buy a copy of it before i leave. it had everything i wanted to know and alot more.

the one thing which stood out to me was the paragraph on police searching tourists for drugs. the book mentioned they look for it.

i would never do drugs in thailand or most places i go. if i do its a joint in jamaica or mexico......i dont do anything else.

the paragraph went on to say that they even go as far as [CodeWord109] tests in some cases.

they would find weed in my [CodeWord109] for sure...no chance of that not showing up.

i look a little edgy with a few tattoos but im 38 years(look 27) and wear decent clothes. what are my chances of a random search ? i usually only keep a lamenated photocopy of my passport.

thanks

first timers planning a trip to bangkok should read roughguides' bangkok

[LittleBigMan]

Now that's the problem with having so many Threads, last time I look
"General" could include any one of the current Threads on the Board. So if someone ask a question it is usually, someone will answer it.

LBM

[Freeler]

Richo Stevens,

"Can't believe you guys waste money on business class while traveling to Asia for cheap mongering? Save your ticket expenses and get double the amount of girls during your stay."

I could not possibly have twice the pussy. Exhaustion would kill me.
BTW At today's ticket prices staying at home and screwing the Colombian ladies at the local RLD would be cheaper anyway.

Bold Focker,

"I think bussines was £1000 more. That gets a lot of pussy in Pattaya!"

My business ticket is only 400 Euros (£285) more - that's both ways, not a one way upgrade! Great seats, good food, airport lounge, no queueing, seat pre-select and reservation and pretty damn good cabin service too.
Just thought of one restriction: 20 kg luggage max. No prob, I'll be damned if I carry more than 10 kg!
And I get more pussy than you no matter what!

[John Euro]

Ive b,

Also some tickets from amsterdam to bangkok are way more than nyc to bangkok. I assume thats the euro coming into play or are flights just more costly leaving from europe?

Thanks

Ticket pricing is Internationally calculated in US$ and as nothing to do with the Euro.

All flight from Europe to Asia are mainly fully booked, why should Airlines or agents reduce there prices then when they are the king? When competition is high or some Airlines that are starting new routes will discount to take customers from other company’s.

JE