Notice of a farrang double pricing location

Post by **Bump** » September 13, 2007, 5:35 pm

The jewely shop at Lotus:

I gues the wife decide it was time to put her brand on me. So she purchased asked a wedding ring at the Jewely shop in the fron of Lotus. Her cost 3k Baht. The ring was one size to small and they had agreed to exchange it.

I wasn't with her the first time she went and made the purchase.

They found a ring the right size same design, but it was going to be a bit more 3.1K more.

Thai price 3K

Farrang price 6.1 K

Needless to say I'm still not branded.

Post by **BobHelm** » September 13, 2007, 6:40 pm

Ray, I thought that all Thai gold products were purchased by weight only - you pay nothing for the design. In any gold shop you just ask them to 'put it on the scales' & that gives you the price as they always display their gold selling price (for 1 baht) in the shop.
By the way has anyone else noticed that the selling price has gone up by nearly 1,000 baht in the last month - now 11,400 in most shops

Post by **Bump** » September 13, 2007, 7:30 pm

Your absolutely correct Bob, that is why I don't have ring today. After seeing me walk by the shop for five years you would have thought they would have known I was not a tourist. Just not a shop I could recommend. Why the wife picked that shop I have no idea I had already seen it when I priced things there before.

This priced doubled in two hours

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 13, 2007, 7:53 pm

Ray,I take it this wasn't a gold shop and the ring was not being sold at gold prices?

Post by **RALPHCUSENS** » September 13, 2007, 8:00 pm

Ray,

Stop splashing out on GOLD for the wife, we hav'nt received the money from the Dutch Lottery win yet!

Post by **tawan3** » September 13, 2007, 8:30 pm

Gold a little down today on news China will over take South Africa in out put adding to world supply.

Post by **Bump** » September 13, 2007, 8:32 pm

Yes it appears to eb a gold shop, however that being said I have never seen thegold prices posted a you would normally them So I think a better description would be a jewlery shop. Newver seen a price displayed on anyhtign it si the kild of place I might inquire. But, more the likely would not buy at. My wife usually goes to a place downtown that has always treated farrang and Thai's fairly. I think this was a spur of the moment thing.

Ralph take it easy she was buying for me

Like I said it was branding time she has seen six farrang divorces this year, got her a bit nervous I guess.

Post by **PopsIcafe** » September 13, 2007, 10:07 pm

I have shopped at 2 gold stores and both put items on the scales, as I requested. I paid for the weight of the gold not the design.

Pop's

Post by **Stu** » September 13, 2007, 10:08 pm

The following information was copied from a website dealing with gold coins and such. It makes sense to me that there has to be some labor costs involved in pricing gold jewelry. Stu

"THAI BAHT CHAINS AND OTHER HIGH KARAT GOLD 09/2006
Anyone who has ever been on a trip to Thailand or other Asian countries has probably noticed the honey colored yellow gold jewelry that people wear. It is noticeably different than the 14-18K jewelry than we are used to seeing because it is 23-24K gold.

Thai Baht Chains: "Thai gold" is .965 fine, a little over 23K. The alloy makes the gold harder so that it stands up to wear much better than very soft 24K gold. Thai gold is sold by the "Baht weight", which is 15.2 grams. So a "two Baht" chain would weigh 30.4 grams, just a little under one troy ounce (31.1 grams). The price for Thai gold is published in the newspaper by a governmental agency. Every gold shop in the country prominently displays and uses that price (a little over the world gold price) for selling 23K gold items that day.

The price for the gold in a 23K chain is non negotiable. There is no wholesale or retail; everyone pays the published price. However, there is a fabrication charge which varies according to the weight of the piece and how ornate it is. The labor charge on a heavy, plain chain will be cheaper per Baht weight in comparison to a very fancy, lightweight pair of earrings. The labor charge is sometimes negotiable and occasionally can be reduced a little by bargaining.

The price on a plain two Baht (approximately one troy ounce) 23K gold chain in Thailand would usually cost about $60 over the world gold price. Thailand has lost its most favored nation trade status and Baht chains are taxed at the rate of 8% coming into the US. There are some Thais who insist upon 24K gold, which is also sold by the Baht weight and the procedure is the same as when buying Thai gold.

Hong Kong & Singapore gold: In these and other Asian countries the gold shops sell only 24k gold, and it is sold by the tael, which is 37 1/2 grams (approximately 1.205 troy ounces). The procedure is about the same as Thailand. The gold price per tael is standard at every shop (a few percent over the world gold price) and the labor charge varies and is negotiable."

Post by **Bump** » September 13, 2007, 10:11 pm

Yes Pops I believe the wife might have learned something today. The price went up (doubled) when I showed up nothing about scales or anything else farrang pricing is the reality here.

Not something I see much of probably why it angered me so much.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » September 14, 2007, 11:37 am

Playing jeweler

Post by **Bump** » September 14, 2007, 5:05 pm

I don't know just won't go there anymore, to many more place that I do trust.

Post by **Frankie 1** » September 17, 2007, 12:52 am

There are a lot of farang teachers who only want to work in Thailand if they earn at least 3 times as much salary as Thai teachers.

I think that's also a kind of double pricing, isn't it?!

Post by **BKKSTAN** » September 17, 2007, 7:40 am

Frankie 1 wrote:There are a lot of farang teachers who only want to work in Thailand if they earn at least 3 times as much salary as Thai teachers.

I think that's also a kind of double pricing, isn't it?!

Are you sure that your statement is accurate?My understanding is that the Thai teachers generally make more money with benefits included and work less hours without the same stress and expectations!
Plus most foreign English teachers can speak English!That is not a good comparison unless you are trying to show the the foreign teachers are generally treated much worse than their Thai counterparts!

Post by **Bump** » September 17, 2007, 8:54 am

It is interesting I think the entire point of this post was lost immediatley. Someone asked that we post our experiences with this problem, that is what I did nothing more.

I made a decesion about future business based on what I saw, after that it is up to each individual to determeine if they want to use the facility. It is certianly not a moral issue it's a business issue.

Each business can make it's own decesions a to pricing, then it is up to the consumer to use or not use it. The place has been around a very long time so many must use it.

Myself if I'm put in to an increased price situtation be it for a haircut or something like this I simply dont use them again.

I beginning ti think it is mistake to even mention the subject maybe is better to just let people find out for themselves. In this instance it really looks to me like minding my own business would have been the proper route.

I did enjoy learning a little more about the jewelry trade.

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » September 17, 2007, 9:59 am

yikes, keep posting, heads up are always welcome, especially to the newbies, as we all were. i have 2 beautiful sapphire rings, via being a newbie, and paid way too much for them, back in the ignorant bliss days, but they are nice rings.

rings to teachers, we do have a way of going sideways.

Post by **ISSAN_NISSAN** » September 17, 2007, 12:31 pm

Ray,

Thanks for posting reference the gold shop.

I think many of us here appreicate the effort and time you spend to post information about services, products and prices, I know I do.

I wish more guys would take the time to share our experiences here in Udon.

And yes, once I get to know my way around this lovely province I too will share my good and not so good experiences.

Best Regards,

Post by **Bump** » September 17, 2007, 8:09 pm

Well personally after five years I'm still learning

Post by **Irish Alan** » December 4, 2007, 3:59 pm

Usually I go to AEK Udon for my eye tests (Ocular pressure) but they do not have the equipment to do “Field of Vision” testing there so I was referred to Udon hospital. My usual bill in AEK is under 800 Baht. Fee for the AEK eye specialist is 480 Baht (inc. 3 ocular pressure tests) and 245 for medication.

The test in the Udon hospital is like a computer game and I was charged 990 Baht for the 15-minute test with no medication. My g/f was shocked and even her mother agreed it was peeng mak mak and was a classic example of fahlang pricing.

Post by **wilson_smith** » December 4, 2007, 4:34 pm

How about some falang restaurants that charge 2x to 3x the cost for Thai food, because the falangs thai wife or girlfriend wants to eat Thai food?

I wont name the places, but we all know and let it slide

Personally, I ask the GF to eat falang food at a falang restaurant, and if she wants Thai food, WE both go to eat Thai food

At california cafe and nongs ribs its ok for her to eat thai food (reasonable)