Did you know that Thailand is classified as an emerging or developing country. Or perhaps a Less Developed Country (LCD). In older terms a third world country. Now a lot of people hear the term and don't really have an idea. Countries in Africa? Well probably most are third world right. Except for the oil rich arab nations. What about Asia. Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand. Are these countries still considered third world. Well the answer is yes. And Thailand is in that group.
Of course a lot of expat locals will tell you there are two countries here. Thailand and Bangkok. Very different. Those that have been here and gone home now will tell you that outside of BKK it is very basic. Primitive might be a word. I have even heard backward. Meaning how it was back then for all of us, before the good old days I guess, back before things changed or started to change.
So when you come here watch out. You have stuff. Third world residents don't. Like all humans third world parents want to advance the position in life of their children. Maybe have them go to school and stuff. So some parents will do as much as they can to get ahead. Even a lot of ordinary people will do as much as they can to get ahead.
Of course a lot of expat locals will tell you there are two countries here. Thailand and Bangkok. Very different. Those that have been here and gone home now will tell you that outside of BKK it is very basic. Primitive might be a word. I have even heard backward. Meaning how it was back then for all of us, before the good old days I guess, back before things changed or started to change.
So when you come here watch out. You have stuff. Third world residents don't. Like all humans third world parents want to advance the position in life of their children. Maybe have them go to school and stuff. So some parents will do as much as they can to get ahead. Even a lot of ordinary people will do as much as they can to get ahead.
We have had the experience of a visitor getting caught in a jewellery scam that is run daily on the streets of BKK. There are many people involved in these scams and we have all met them in one form or another. Sometimes ignoring them Sometimes not. Here is how the thing works.
A tout will be on the lookout at popular tourist spots like the Grand Palace, various temples and other heavy tourist attractions in Bangkok. (The scam is often initiated by a tuk tuk driver.) The tout will be dressed as a student or gentleman and will approach the mark. The tout, taking advantage of the Thai people's reputation for friendliness, may strike up a conversation, asking where the mark is from, and if this is his first time in Bangkok. The tout will tell the mark that a certain (insert item here because the good redirection artists represent more than one commodity) jewellery store offers a great sale today or that they know the owner, etc. They supply a business card for the store and will even arrange transport to the store. Once there the heavy sales pitch is on. The big issue is that the gems/antiques/etc. are not worth anything near the stated price. Or to the well negotiated lower price you achieve.
Our story starts with a well dressed gentleman approaching our visitor while he was poking around downtown. Just getting a feel for the city. The gentleman engages him in conversation and after finding out that gems might be something he would be interested in, directs him to a jewellery store that he happens to know that has a grand sale on this week.
In our case the gems were not worth what was paid. But our visitor was relentless. He got an independent gasp of horror when he stated the price paid and knew he had to get satisfactory resolution. So off he went, business card in hand. Not really knowing where the place was but he was off.
Here is the interesting part of the story as he told it to us.
"So I was standing on the street looking at this business card and trying to figure out which way to the store when this young fellow walks up and asks me if he can help out. (Now folks, in our minds eye we see him standing about twenty feet from the actual spot that the first gentleman approached him!! Do you watch Dr. Phil. The world is full of clues!! We are listening to the story and saying to ourselves, holy mother of pearl, he got caught a second time as near the scene of the crime as you can get!!), But wait.
Our visitor tells the young fellow the story of being scammed. It turns out the young fellow was a tourist guide and when told the story he was aghast, horrified. He took the business card, hailed a cab and took our visitor to the store. Once there he scolded the owners telling them "You are everything that is wrong with scammers in BKK. You give all Thai people a bad name". To which the store owner opened up and explained the business arrangement he had with the gentleman and the tuk tuk drivers. You will get a discount on price of 40% immediately if I get to cut out the middle man they said. But I have to pay these guys for bringing you here or else I go out of business.
Bottom line our visitor gets back all but 90% of his money. They called 10% a restocking fee. We call it a BKK Street Tax. Only a few pay it but enough so that we all don't have to! Others pay way more because they are too embarrassed to go back or more specifically don't have a Thai person helping them.
I consider our visitor to be vely vely lucky perhaps even blessed, that he met a second person who was a gentleman and helped him get rid of a nasty mark on his vacation.
Hey remember Hill Street Blues?? ............ be careful out there!
So enjoy the friendly Thai people when you come here. Smile and they will smile back.
Sawadee Krup
