masuk Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Today I wanted to travel from Pantip Plaza to Kad Suan Keow. It's a fairly standard route, which I've done many times. However, every driver held up four fingers and said "forty baht". I didn't argue, I just stepped back and waved him good bye, as he drove his empty wagon off into the sunset. What's wrong with these guys? Trying to hit me with a tourist price! I'm not being stingy over a 20 baht difference, but it's strange how they're all asking for the same fare. Same happened at Warawot yesterday. I should mention that a blue Song Teaw only charged me 10baht from the farang cemetary to the markets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Riveting post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangmai Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 That would have been a good case of taking the ten minute walk to the moat and there would have been scores of them that would do it for twenty. Same for Worrorat Market. Worrorat Market to the bus station is 60-100...cross the bridge on foot and it's 20 again. I don't thnk they would do Worrorat to KSK for twenty, either, but if you walked up to the moat, very easy. Up to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daoyai Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 There is often a songT. waiting for a load for direct to KSK 20 baht. They stop closer to the river but opposite the 7-11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 Riveting post. So happy that you liked it. I'll keep you posted...... (It's not like you to make sarcastic remarks) or is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konini Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I don't thnk they would do Worrorat to KSK for twenty, either, but if you walked up to the moat, very easy. Up to you. I used to cross the bridge to be on the maket side and didn't have a problem getting it for 20 baht, but last time it was too hot and I couldn't be bothered to walk over the bridge. First one I flagged down just before the lights nodded and money wasn't mentioned so I gave him 20 baht on arrival and he was happy enough with that. I think it's just down to the individual driver, and as a heavy user of them I have found that there are far, far more fair and honest drivers than those who try it on, and in my experience most of those who try it on give a mischievous smile and nod when I smile, pull a face and hold up my 20 baht note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangmai Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 For some reason the guys driving the new ones try to mark it up, as well as the ones, who let their wife or gf ride with them and negotiate fares...they always think every farang is FOB...but thanks for helping me sat tah-pay-get...couldn't have done it without them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fang37 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 After you have lived in LOS for a number of years, it is the small things that "get up your nose". Songtaews & tuk-tuks! In fact, I dread using these modes of transport. Personal experience - the older drivers tend to be more honest. Even when you speak in Thai to them, these younger dudes can't help themselves. After 13+ years, I still demand that the price is settled prior to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 After you have lived in LOS for a number of years, it is the small things that "get up your nose". Songtaews & tuk-tuks! In fact, I dread using these modes of transport. Personal experience - the older drivers tend to be more honest. Even when you speak in Thai to them, these younger dudes can't help themselves. After 13+ years, I still demand that the price is settled prior to travel. That is tantamount to demanding an inflated price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masuk Posted June 15, 2015 Author Share Posted June 15, 2015 I can't say I've seen a single bit of evidence for the new bus routes, numbers on the vans, or anywhere on the routes. I can almost imagine that the photos appearing here last week were Photoshopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Got to thinking it over. The rate has been 20 baht now for about 4 years. They like you have had rising cost of living. Unlike people on a pension they do not get a raise yearly. I pay 20 baht if they don't ask for more if they do and I feel it is reasonable I pay it. Generally it is a little high and I try to offer a lower price. If they don't take it I walk away. Today I walked about a mile and a half to do some business. When I came out of the office I just did not feel like the walk back so I flagged a songthaew down and stated my destination. He almost said OK then he said 40 baht. I countered in Thai with 30 baht and he accepted it. For me the ten baht was not worth the walk or standing around waiting for the next one to come by as I had already started walking home any how. I wonder how any of these cheap Charlie's went into their boss's office when they were working and said I want the lowest wage I can get. Most of them asked for the most they could get. Or had a union doing it for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangmai Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Oil prices have been cut in half in the last year, or so. So much for government controlled petrol prices. Thailand is in technical deflation, unless you ask a foreign bar renter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernjohn Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Oil prices have been cut in half in the last year, or so. So much for government controlled petrol prices. Thailand is in technical deflation, unless you ask a foreign bar renter. Cost me a lot more to live here than it did four years ago and I haven't changed any thing. All so I don't have a vehicle. The wife does and takes care of all the expenses her self. There are lots of things that the price is the same you just don't get as much for it as you used to. I am speaking of dining out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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