gerry53
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Posts posted by gerry53
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Rogue33 is on the right track. The RBC International Remittence can be done once every 24 hours for up to $2,500 CDN and costs $13.50 each transaction even for lesser amounts. For the best value take out the maximum each time - less fees. It will flow right into the recipients account or she will have to produce ID to pick it up. All very easy to do online once it is set up and 2 to 3 days is correct.
Sending Thai Baht to Canada is always a bad decision, the Canadian bank will hammer you on the exchange rate. Here in Thailand you get a better rate sending Cdn dollars in then having it changed here into baht.
For very large sums a SWIFT transfer is the easiest in my opinion. Great for major purchases, investments or buying property.
If you are coming here for a month or 3 taking travellers cheques is the easiest and safest, plus it gets the best rates (better than cash), just another option.
Good luck with your fiancee.
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60,000 US Dollars in cash. Idiots.
You mean to tell me that you never leave the equivilant of 1.8 million baht in cash or $60,000 USD lying around the house and go partying in Pattaya - what could go wrong??? Sometimes I just stuff that amount in my wallet and party with it
. You would never be lonely!!Yes it does sound like an inside job of some type or someone being completely niave. With that lack of common sense it is hard to believe they can run a successful business I am afraid.
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You will never get it "Warm and wet: or Hot and Hummid will you
. I think the guys who "tuned you up" in the bar were correct as you will not listen to reason.You seem to be immune to common sense.
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A whole 20 baht eh and here you are telling the world all about it.
Have the price of noodles gone up recently? This board would go into meltdown.
It might only be 20 Baht but as the OP said it's 40 percent! THAT is a massive increase and typical of the so-called business brains here.
I'm with the OP FWIW!
The intention of the OP from me was to point out 40% was a very large 1 shot increase going into low season. No complaints were made about service, personal or Thai wages. It seems after high season a number of bars, massage parlors, restaurants etc. jack up prices excessively and I personally think the business operators who do this "shoot themselves in the foot" because in the long run they lose customers and business. This happens every year and I wish Thai (and Farang) business's would be wise to use a bit a business sense and encourage farangs and Thais to continue using their services without adopting the attitude less custormers will result in large increases for the same service to the loyal customers who stay with them.
It seems to peeve many of the the "apologists" off who think we should pay over and above going rates because it is already "cheap" and the Thais should not have to follow "normal" business ethics of supply and demand. Many of the true cheap charlies residing in Thailand have already vacated Thailand to Cambodia, Vietnam, Phillipines and other countries.
I don't think pointing this out deserves the wrath of certain individuals who feel they are so lucky just to be here - their are other options and many are less hassle than here in Thailand. This "debate" happens every year yet seems to disturb some board members.
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Cardholder, an intelligent discussion with certain individuals is truly a waste of time, especially when that invidual is licking his wounds from his last "altercation".
Thank god they hit him in the head and didn't kick him in the groin - that may have resulted in a brain injury!
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While your hedging against the exchange rate; why not get thinking about hedging against inflation aswell?
...or better still, hedge against the gold bugs trying to sneak in their agenda.
I was going to suggest a house with a good sized garden for orchard + veg growing actually. Maybe a few chickens. A few rai of farm land to rent in exchange for produce is an easy option.
Food security as well as a roof over head. A renewable water supply independent from the grid. Same for ellectric if can afford it - more ecpensive than gov power right now but I'm prepared to pay for the independence , happy to know fridges wont cut out in case of flood or Burma turns the switch off for what ever reason.
How about a TV or internet subscription plan for the "Doomsday Preppers" and "Fox News"! That should keep the paranoia alive and well
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another price increase certainly due to idiots tiping 20 or 50b for the washing service. Why not increase prices when most farangs insist on paying more ?
So you're now an 'idiot' if you tip someone 20 baht?
Priceless.
I personally think your an "idiot" if you refuse to pay a bar bin in a drunken stupor, then get the crap beat out of you after being frog marched out of a GoGo bar. Then you advertise your stupidity for board members to see and invite comments
.This traumatic episode may be "post traumatic stress disorder" so we won't hold it against you.
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SET at 4:30 pm was up over 3%, that should put the brakes on a "collapse".
Phronesis - I also pulled a large amount of Thai baht out and exchanged it for Canadian dollars. This is for to a trip we are taking and the favorable exchange rate (28.75 baht to my dollar) not lack of confidence in the Thai economy.
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Excuse me weren't you the inebriated guy who got thumped out on Walking Street because you complained about paying your bin - you are too funny?? Reality check HAH.
You must be bored today or got hit too hard?A whole 20 baht eh and here you are telling the world all about it.
Have the price of noodles gone up recently? This board would go into meltdown.
20 baht is easy to justify. 40% less so.
Just imagine if your rent or new car price went up 40%?
A meltdown would occur if it was an increase in the price of chang beer or "short time"!
It's 20 baht. Why not be a bit grateful and be happy that you was only paying 50 baht anyway, why begrudge the Thai an extra 20 baht? Maybe you have been spoilt that so many things are cheap here?
Just an idea.
Try to justify all you like with the silly % arguement but the bottom line is you are just another farang cheapskate.
Furthermore I am not just another Farang Cheapskate but generous with my money, I just dislike being gouged with any 40% increase.
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You must be bored today or got hit too hard?A whole 20 baht eh and here you are telling the world all about it.
Have the price of noodles gone up recently? This board would go into meltdown.
20 baht is easy to justify. 40% less so.
Just imagine if your rent or new car price went up 40%?
A meltdown would occur if it was an increase in the price of chang beer or "short time"!
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I don't know how long it was 50 baht and if you read the post I never suggested they lower the price? I also did not say the XE rates had anything to do with the Thais setting the price, I did say a 40% increase going into low season was a large one considering the other factors???? Quit being an apologist for the Thai's business mindset of less customers results in a price increase.How long has it been 50 Baht, probably 5 years or more. XE rates are nothing to do with Thais, do you honestly expect them to lower their prices just because your $ or Euro is trashed.
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At noon on Monday the SET up about 2%??? I'll stay the course thanks. What happened to "the sky is falling?".I am presently transferring some of my capital OUT of THB....and also out of Thailand.
The Thai SET had a major correction on Friday. There will be another on Monday morning.
There is an old saying that "when a bell hop starts giving you stock tips it is time to get out of the market".
The modern version of this is "when TV members start giving you advise about how to hedge against a strengthening Thai currency it is time to get out of baht".
Welcome to the currency wars...
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Jomtien - larger bikes were higher of course.its 120b at he petrol station in Naklua.....
where you taking yours ??
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I just took my scooter to be washed and noticed the price for a small motorbike went from 50 baht to 70 baht. Considering it is going into low season, the Thai baht is at highs and many foreign currencies are suffering you would think NOW is not the time to impose a 40% one shot increase?
What ever happened to graduated price increases so it was easier to justify to the customer, say 10 or 20%? It could help to justify these increases with the new 300 baht minimum wages but even if they have been imposed and were being followed in this area I don't think they would recieve it as most seem to be illegals.
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You are either very fortunate to get your visa renewal and re entry the same day or maybe paid an additional fee for this privilige. Even when arriving early for the retirement visa renewal they told all to return after 3pm to pick them up. Even at 1 pm on a separate day they will not even give you a ticket to get a re entry permit, yet you get one after 2 pm. One guy was renewing a retirement visa from Koh Samui on a Friday and he picked his up at 3 pm, he had to wait in town until Monday for his Multple re entry. They always tell me and many friends "can not". I know in the residence permit section a 300 baht fee gets you one in a few hours or less, the normal 200 baht is slower.
You can get both on the same day in Jomtien, but in different queues.
That is a serious time-waste. The Udon Immigration will happily do the re-entry permit the day you get your extension stamped in the passport. Just have the forms and passport photos ready for the re-entry application, an extra 5 minutes, pay the cash and away you go.I understand that the re-entry stamp is a nice earner, but why make it so time consuming? If they aren't able to cope with it, forget the paperwork shuffling from one desk to another, just get both desks to just stamp you if you have the right visa already (it is not as if they don't ask for enough documents to get that).
Even better would be to be able to pay for the re-entry stamp at the airport as you are going out of the country, but I understand that the local immigration offices wouldn't want to lose that business.
Or allow you to purchase your re entry at the same time as you get your (retirement) visa extension, it would be convenient, practical and prevent long lineups.. They will not allow it.
I will be relocating to Nong Pla Lai so I guess I will be doomed to doing the queue and shuffle in Jomtien some time next year.
My wife and I got our renewals last week and it wound up an all day affair.
First to the bank for the deposit letter, then to Jomtien. Arrived about 1015, got the number for the retirement extension desk, and was finished at the desk about 1130 - less our passports, which we were told to pick up after 1500. Had lunch, came back at 1400 and took a number for the re-entry permit desk. Picked up our passports with the retirement extensions at 1445, then waited until 1600 to be reached at the re-entry permit desk, and then until 1645 to retrieve our passports with all the necessary entries.
Then went home and drank a few beers....
What I think the other poster was referring to was the suggestion that the re-entry permits could be issued as part of the same process as getting the retirement extension, instead of two different queues. That would speed things up quite a bit.
I am not saying you did not get it without paying an additional "fee" but in my experience it would be unusual without extra payments or going thru a visa company - there is just no consistency at Jomtien Immigration.
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I'm with guzzi on this one, I like to be able to drive 60km away from Pattaya on my motorbike and I enjoy that freedom. I have a new car but hate taking it into Pattaya. If you are too old or afraid please stay home in the rocking chair!Scooters are hard to live without, we can't in the family, we got 2 now.
We also got a truck but to be honest I prefer my PCX in Pattaya, can park almost everywhere and you never get stuck.
Will you still think the same when you have an accident?
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I understand that the re-entry stamp is a nice earner, but why make it so time consuming? If they aren't able to cope with it, forget the paperwork shuffling from one desk to another, just get both desks to just stamp you if you have the right visa already (it is not as if they don't ask for enough documents to get that).
Even better would be to be able to pay for the re-entry stamp at the airport as you are going out of the country, but I understand that the local immigration offices wouldn't want to lose that business.
Or allow you to purchase your re entry at the same time as you get your (retirement) visa extension, it would be convenient, practical and prevent long lineups.. They will not allow it.
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Could you please tell me how to go and how far is to soi Whitehouse comming from the soi 5 beach side with thé 10 baht taxis.
How are the seats at the Denmark place? Do they have any solid ones with no armrest? And the Cowboy place? I'am a big guy... Thanks for any information given.
I think the outside chairs have arms on them ? You can also sit inside in the dining sectioin where it's cooler, I don't think these chairs had arms.
From Soi 5 Jomtien it is only maybe 400 metres. Go past Soi 6 & 7 and Soi Whitehouse is the very next Soi on the left. The Danmark is about 200 metres up on the right, the Cowboy only about 100 on the right side. I hope that helps.
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I arrived at 7:30 am and was fifth in the queue outside the doors. By the time the doors were opened (well before opening time) the queue behind me stretched out into the road. The re-entry ticket I got was number 3 so I didn't have to wait more than a few minutes but in twelve years I have never seen the place so packed out. Perhaps it is time to have another building just for the Russians!
Why would so many people now want a reentry permit, is this a loophole to abuse the system?
It could just be the timing - 3 months from Christmas rush or it could be people wanting to vacate the area during the week long Songkan
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JSixpack - it was me who they told to come back in April as they only give 100 re entries a day. It was a young lady at the front desk. That was my second trip to immigration that day and I arrived the second time after lunch when the early rush thinned out and I thought I might get a ticket - I was refushed. There is no consistency.
I do agree the immigration guys get an earfull at times and the language issues are often an issue. I have also seen them get difficult and start yelling at customers.
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Addition: Since we're on the topic of "what's going' on at Jomtien?" In my second visit (as above), I was able to get an affidavit of residence. I got out 200 baht, which is what I paid only a few months ago (400 bt for two affidavits) and has been repeated in posts, I was asked for 300 baht. I stumbled at that and got out another bill. Anyone else faced the same "inflation"?
You are at their whim. I had many residency certificates due to buying and selling some motor bikes ( you need one for each!). Usually if you want it quicker they ask for 300 baht though a few times they just ask for 300 and you get regular waiting times? Sometimes there is no consistency at the Jomtien immigration department.
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There is a phillopino lady with an office outside on the left, i think she can do most types of visa's for you - drop off all the paperwork, she calls you when it's done, it removes ALL the ball ache!
I think thats what the visa outfits and immigration wants. What is the fee for this service, I know they have payments to make?
800 baht - bargain!! girls name is Ruby i think - pm me if you want her number, speaks perfect English.
Where does it end though. When you need to get a retirement visa, a renewal, residency certificate, bank letter, re entry visa etc. you now head down to the visa office and pay extra money so somebody who you are "paying an addition fee" to do what should have been done efficiently by immigration in the first place. 2 sets of entrepreneurs reap the benefits, the visa companies and the immigration officers. People often leave little choice but it is not right. The longer these waits continue, the more people will be forced to use these "services". It seems this is what they want.
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Took me about 2 hrs 15 min today. I started in the afternoon. So while waiting I had a beer by the beach and then a cuppa (only 30 baht) at Simple Simon's on the same soi, near J Beach Rd. Looks like decent food there.
The line moves about 25 people an hour. I had 51 in front of me, though initially the girl at the ticket desk told me 100 people.
Took me about 2 hrs 15 min today. I started in the afternoon. So while waiting I had a beer by the beach and then a cuppa (only 30 baht) at Simple Simon's on the same soi, near J Beach Rd. Looks like decent food there.
The line moves about 25 people an hour. I had 51 in front of me, though initially the girl at the ticket desk told me 100 people.
I estimate desk 1 & 2 must be finished the 100 per day entries cutoff number by 12 noon. I wonder if they give them the rest of the day off, have them round up illegal workers or provide extra services for the visa companies who seem to be able to do their business with immigration whenever they want.
I was number 176 and got out about 4:10. They kept going all day.
Joe - I'm confused, you indicated in this earlier post that they only give 100 per day which is exactly what they told me when arriving in the early afternoon. Are they deliberately not telling the truth to get people to return at a later date?
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A new scam is gaining in popularity--if you go from Jomtien to Pattaya--some bhat bus drivers will stop right after South Pattaya Rd., park on the left (this would be very near the entrace to Walking Street and if you go the other way, the Wat) get out and tell all passengers that they must pay 20 baht to go any farther. This has happened to me twice over the past two weeks. What did I do? I got out, gave the a-hole driver 10 baht and flagged down another baht bus to take me farther down the road. What did I want to do? (no comment). Total a-holes! I have zero sympathy for any of them!
There is often a convenient policeman just opposite that corner. If that happened to me I would invite the driver to discuss the matter with said policeman. And I would take the driver's number and report him to the coop and City Hall just for the satisfaction it would give me.
If more people stood up for what is right no one would need to.
If you get this opportunity BPB please let me know the results after they quit snickering and laughing? Why not take it the mayor directly?
. You would never be lonely!!
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Currency Transfers From Canada To Thailand
in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments
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Yes spud67, that is correct. I use the Kasikorn Bank exclusively but I am sure it will be the same at the Bangkok Bank. I have done all the methods I listed and when you exchange CDN dollars for Thai baht in Canada you take a major hit. If you SWIFT transfer, use International Remittance, travellers cheques or even cash you get a better rate here in Thailand using CDN dollars. Try buying Thai baht at a currency exchange or bank in Canada and you will see what I mean. Even for small pocket change upon arrival here it is best to bring Cdn $ and exchange to Thai baht at the airport.
Never exchange your Cdn dollars for American dollars either as you just lose more in each currency tansaction and the Cdn dollars are readily accepted.