General Reports

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004812]I was in Bangkok last week and found out that some of the Starbucks locations do not accept cash payments anymore. They only accept credit card payments. This was around BTS station Siam.
Has anyone else experienced this, either in Bangkok or somewhere else? It was rather annoying because I do not carry around my credit card all the time.
Luckily the Starbucks locations that I visit the most (in Soi 2 and Terminal 21) still accept cash.[/QUOTE]Never experienced it, but last couple of years I usually I pay via my phone in Thailand. Even the barfines. If you have a thai bank account, you can use the ubiquitous QR-code system which even the local coconut sellers on the street have, and if not, most credit cards can be loaded into google pay / google wallet, or apple pay for iphone users.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004812]I was in Bangkok last week and found out that some of the Starbucks locations do not accept cash payments anymore. They only accept credit card payments. This was around BTS station Siam.
Has anyone else experienced this, either in Bangkok or somewhere else? It was rather annoying because I do not carry around my credit card all the time.
Luckily the Starbucks locations that I visit the most (in Soi 2 and Terminal 21) still accept cash.[/QUOTE]I have read posts from other members here who claim they have patronized establishments in different parts of the world where only a credit card was accepted. No cash. In all my many travels around the world this has never happened to me. There have been times when I was told no credit cards and cash only. But never the other way around. Still waiting (shrugs). When on a mongering trip I greatly prefer cash. It's quick and easy and everyone takes it, at least in my experience! And it helps me to better stay within my travel budget too versus just whipping out the metal (my preferred cards are all metal now versus plastic).

[QUOTE=Werqweq;3004863]Never experienced it, but last couple of years I usually I pay via my phone in Thailand. Even the barfines. If you have a thai bank account, you can use the ubiquitous QR-code system which even the local coconut sellers on the street have, and if not, most credit cards can be loaded into google pay / google wallet, or apple pay for iphone users.[/QUOTE]I have bank account info for many ladies in my rotation and pay via bank transfer.

This worked out badly for a lady last night when she went home. Her young Thai boyfriend demanded cash, which she didn't have, and got so violent she left her room and came back to my place to sleep.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004812]I was in Bangkok last week and found out that some of the Starbucks locations do not accept cash payments anymore. They only accept credit card payments. This was around BTS station Siam.
Has anyone else experienced this, either in Bangkok or somewhere else? It was rather annoying because I do not carry around my credit card all the time.
Luckily the Starbucks locations that I visit the most (in Soi 2 and Terminal 21) still accept cash.[/QUOTE]Have you ever had a bill for say 98 baht and gave the teller 100 and 3 one baht coins to get rid of the in exchange for you 5 baht change? The tellers don't know waht the hell you are thinking. They can't make change, can't calculate in their heads. Do you really think the balance their bank accounts when using all these QR codes?

Historically which country has had a better economy? Better respected currency? Thailand or Japan? Try this on:

In Japan, cash remains a significant part of daily transactions, despite the rise of cashless payments. As of 2024, approximately 20% of all transactions were still conducted in cash. While digital payments have gained popularity, many small businesses, traditional markets, and rural areas still prefer cash transactions.

Japan has historically been known for its preference for physical currency.

[QUOTE=Werqweq;3004863]Never experienced it, but last couple of years I usually I pay via my phone in Thailand. Even the barfines. If you have a thai bank account, you can use the ubiquitous QR-code system which even the local coconut sellers on the street have, and if not, most credit cards can be loaded into google pay / google wallet, or apple pay for iphone users.[/QUOTE]I don't have a Thai bank account, and I have never even considered Google Pay, because Google already knows too much about me.
Cash is so much easier and quicker. People who pay with the QR code often spend ages trying to get it done on their phone.

And I guess when you pay by credit card, the exchange rate is lousy.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004812]I was in Bangkok last week and found out that some of the Starbucks locations do not accept cash payments anymore. They only accept credit card payments. This was around BTS station Siam.
Has anyone else experienced this, either in Bangkok or somewhere else? It was rather annoying because I do not carry around my credit card all the time.
Luckily the Starbucks locations that I visit the most (in Soi 2 and Terminal 21) still accept cash.[/QUOTE]Yup I was at a T21 restaurant the day and saw a sign that said doesn't accept cash. Luckily the girl I was with paid with her thai bank account.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]I don't have a Thai bank account, and I have never even considered Google Pay, because Google already knows too much about me.
Cash is so much easier and quicker. People who pay with the QR code often spend ages trying to get it done on their phone.

And I guess when you pay by credit card, the exchange rate is lousy.[/QUOTE]I understand that choice, though in my case, convenience triumphed privacy some 10+ years ago.

The exchange rate itself is excellent, as set by visa / mastercard. Normally it's the "foreign transaction fee" that kills it, which is something your local bank who issued you the card tacks on top, but at least in Europe (N26, others?) and the USA (Schwab, others?) you can get some cards without this fee.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]I don't have a Thai bank account[/QUOTE]I do. When I have run into places that are cashless it has been great to have it. You know when in Thailand! First time that happened to me I was sending a package to a family member in Dis-United States of America through DHL. The office did not take cash. The employee in the store had to teach me how to use scan to pay.

[B]ROTFLMAO![/B]

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]Cash is so much easier and quicker.[/QUOTE]I pay cash as much as I can because it is a personal preference. I am old school. But the idea that is quicker and easier, nah! Not my experience. [B]Maybe because I keep a LOT of mother fucking money up in dat *****[/B]!

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]People who pay with the QR code often spend ages trying to get it done on their phone.[/QUOTE]That has not been my experience in Thailand. Either with being in line with others or using [I]scan to pay[/I] using QR Codes myself. It is a great option to have. Especially when making a large purchase that you need a record for in case of a problem. My attorney taught me that.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]And I guess when you pay by credit card, the exchange rate is lousy.[/QUOTE]Depends upon what credit card you hold. The credit card and debit card I use for overseas transactions consistently gives me a exchange rate that surpasses what I can get retail on on the streets of Thailand even if using [U]T.T. Currency[/U] exchange located all over the greater Pattaya metropolitan area.

[QUOTE=Werqweq;3004952]I understand that choice, though in my case, convenience triumphed privacy some 10+ years ago.

The exchange rate itself is excellent, as set by visa / mastercard. Normally it's the "foreign transaction fee" that kills it, which is something your local bank who issued you the card tacks on top, but at least in Europe (N26, others?) and the USA (Schwab, others?) you can get some cards without this fee.[/QUOTE]I realize everyone isn't eligible, but the best thing about USAA is there's no foreign transaction fees.

[QUOTE=FutureDeadGuy;3005014]I realize everyone isn't eligible, but the best thing about USAA is there's no foreign transaction fees.[/QUOTE]Schwab debit card is also good. They refund any and all fees incurred at the end of each month. I got over $70 in fees refunded after spending a month in Brazil using the ATMs quite heavily.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;3004898]Cash is so much easier and quicker. People who pay with the QR code often spend ages trying to get it done on their phone.[/QUOTE]For places that I frequent, I have the pictures of their QR codes in my phone so I can pay anytime I am ready. No waiting for change or anything. Massage shops, restaurants, landlord, chicks, grocery store, mechanic, etc. Chick gets ready to leave in the morning, I do not have to worry if I have enough cash. I simply pull out my phone and do the QR code transfer.

Well maybe it's just bad luck, but there are quite often people in front of me who are scrolling endlessly on their phone to get the bloody payment done.

[QUOTE]Pattaya police rounded up some 50 women and members of the third gender on Beach Road amid claimed that they will eradicate the historic selling of bodies on [b]Beach Road[/b] a bold statement for sure but as police from numerous areas saw them take many into custody and in other cases monitor some then nab them as they prospected for clients the operation we're told will remain ongoing in the hope that they can at least remove the body sellers from the beach which is now designated as a family and regular tourist resort those women though have been operating for decades but the ones on [b]Beach Road[/b] are considered to be the lowest on the food chain being for whatever reason mostly unemployable in bars and clubs many have records of illness others of crimes and violence most news stories involving hookers committing crimes see them carried out by those working the streets and not the clubs and bars[/QUOTE]The Defense Rests!

[B]ROTFLMAO![/B]

[QUOTE=Allover;3000611]You weren't there 25 years ago. [b]You just got there and know nothing[/b]. Would somebody please post the baht bus route for Beach and Second Road? This dumbfuck doesn't understand it. He had to buy a motorbike to pick up his Beach Road and Soi 6 uglies and get around town. He can't figure out the circular bus routes.[/QUOTE]The baht bus runs along [B]Beach Road[/B]. I know this because I often ride it. When I do so at night I check out the [I]princesses standing under the palm trees[/I]. I just go here and I know nothing? I don't think so. But I do have one question:

[B]Tell me is prostitution illegal in Thailand?[/B]

[URL]https://youtu.be/zZcOrKKhWpk?si=2lvMpvNOiXwV7cDk[/URL]

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;3005069]For places that I frequent, I have the pictures of their QR codes in my phone so I can pay anytime I am ready. No waiting for change or anything. Massage shops, restaurants, landlord, chicks, grocery store, mechanic, etc. Chick gets ready to leave in the morning, I do not have to worry if I have enough cash. I simply pull out my phone and do the QR code transfer.[/QUOTE]Better stick to cash. I don't think paying prostitutes by electronic means is a good idea. Transactions records might stay around forever. With all the big data, AI, and increasingly hostile attitudes towards our hobby, who knows when it'll come back to bite you.