Yes, we do get charged more.
Not that I have contributed much, but that is my new years resolution, to be more practice. I have another trip to BKK scheduled in a couple weeks and will be sure to share.
But, I do have to respond to this. I know I was charged more in most countries when I travel southeast Asia. The only country that I feel is more honest than not is Singapore. Anyways, what is an extra (US) dollar or two for me. Frankly, I view it as contributing to the local economy. Call it a foreigner tax. But, I have to share my experience when I traveled with my girlfriend several years back. While not to Bangkok, it demonstrates the same principle.
So, I had a Vietnamese girlfriend and when in Vietnam I had to get off the motorbike (she made me) before she parked it as the price would go up. One time, a taxi driver tried to charge us more leaving the airport after flying back to Vietnam from Bangkok and my girlfriend got so pissed she was yelling at the taxi driver and made him drop us off and instead of paying his price just threw the appropriate amount of money at him. He called her very vulgar names in Vietnamese that I did not know and she didn't tell me until after he left as she knew if she told me I would probably beat lose my temper.
Anyway, I speak Mandarin and Vietnamese, but not any Thai. However, I do pay attention to costs when traveling in any country. And again, I do not care if I get charged a little more. I know the difference between 10% or 20% more and 5 times what it should be. When it is too much, I just walk away from the purchase rather than try to haggle. But when you just want a snack, or a drink, or to park a motorbike, a little bit of a surcharge is not big deal. It is when the taxi driver wants to charge three, four or five times as much that I say fuck off.
[QUOTE=TConor; 1522039]If you just watch what Thais pay and then just pay the same they can't over charge you. Or don't buy.
I go to fresh markets and actually get better prices, well same price but more quantity or better quality than many Thais. I do frequent the same vendors as repeat customer.
But I can give you many examples of being treated better than fair. My latest was buying shrimp. The guy went in the back and pulled out fresher product than was on display but at the same price.[/QUOTE]