I was recently reading the comments on an old post where a reader was trying to point out how little of a difference there is between an average short-time off tip, 1,500 baht, and an average long-time off tip, 2,000 baht in Bangkok. His point being that 2,000 is way too little because of how much more you are getting for a mere 500 baht. That’s like $15. Which ain’t much. I’d normally agree with him. And often use the same calculation to show what a cheap bastard someone is being in only tipping 1,000 baht instead of 1,500 on a short-time off. Because $15 isn’t much money at all.
But that’s economics from the Westener standpoint. When it is coming out of your pocket that 500 baht is a paltry $15 and you shouldn’t be such a tight wad. 500 baht to a Thai, however, can be big bucks. And it is the Thai economy that sets the difference between tips for a short-time and long-time off at such a small amount. Small, to us. But to them it is not an insignificant amount.
Consider what an average Thai bar boy can do with 500 baht. He can eat for five days. Not well, certainly not at McDonalds, but he can fill his stomach. And with food he knows and loves. Or he can eat for three days and splurge on a few treats. Like those offered at this road-side stand in Chiang Mai.
It was the intensity of the look on this little kid’s face that drew me to this shot. He had the patience of Buddha in waiting for his treat to be cooked, though he was practically drooling the entire time. The cost was a rather pricey 14 baht. Food-wise, off hand I can’t think of anything you can still buy back in the states for forty-five cents. Certainly not freshly cooked.
I don’t know what the mark-up is, or what amount of profit off that 14 baht sale the vendor realizes. Even if he netted 10 baht, he’d have to sell 50 servings to take home 500 baht that day (not factoring in his rent and other operating costs). Regardless, I doubt if that kid tried to get his treat for a few baht less just because he might have thought he could.
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Interesting article, but although there are still a lot of poor people in Thailand, especially at the country side, Thailand is not a poor country. Sure, salaries are lower then in the West, but if you take into account the taxes in for instance Europe, the gap gets smaller and smaller. Don’t forget Thais hardly pay any income tax or other crazy taxes invented by government in Europe.
Maybe the uncle in your article owns the shop and he is in fact a millionaire and his Mercedes is just parked outside your shot.
On my last flight out of Bangkok to Hong Kong, I was flying First at Emirates (I know I sound like Beachlover), all other seats were occupied by Thai women, in there way to Macau to gamble, it is indeed the Pacific Century.
Aha!
I always thought you sounded like Beachball!
🙂
Yes, It’s nice that the Thai economy is doing well these days – and wrong to think all Thais are poor. But for the average worker, 500 baht is still big bucks. I think the important thing is to keep the value of baht in perspective – not just yours but also the value seen by the locals you deal with.
Very true! And that’s the beauty of Thailand where you get more bang for your buck. Seriously.
lol
Yup, many more bangs in fact . . .
Oh my……you guys have been paying them THAT much ??? Sheesh.
Seriously though, there are two sides to every story, I have seen one Farang who stayed at a well known ‘gay’ hotel in Bkk who offed a young man for a week, took him to Pattaya, slept with him, they ate, drank etc and the Farang could not get it through his head that 500baht tip was not adequate for the time spent.
I have also experienced the bar boys who carry on so much for an extra 500 baht it just isn’t funny. I must admit, those lads are the ones I just won’t give into even if it was only costing me one extra dollar. I have always tipped over the going rate when the boy managed to not be thrown out before bed. (A few stories in that statement)
I agree that cheap charlies are terrible, so are over greedy boys.
Yup, there is evil on both sides of the equation. Though I do sometimes wonder if the money grubbing bar boy came to that naturally, or had one too many customers like the idiot you described.
That is entirely a possibility, surely not every farang is short changing them??? Or have they all met the Pataya douches?
🙂
I do remember a post by Da Boss about a visit of his to Bangkok where he tried to haggle over the price of a drink at Screwboy. Maybe that “Where you from?” barboys always ask is them trying to make sure they are not dealing with a Pattaya sexpat!
Everything is relative. Really you adore the guy, you couldn’t get anything nearly this good in your bed back in farangland for $50. He sees you as a means to an end (yours or his usually) he needs to pay rent for next month, you are there for 10 days.
It is purely a transactional love affair.
The facy you are there states your wealth vastly exceeds his, you’ll probably ‘come’ again next year. I don’t like haggling with the boys, save it for patpong.
Please don’t even start me on the sloths and rogues masquerading as expats in Pattaya. Expats have always displayed some dignity in my book.
Dignity . . . expats . . . now there’s an intriguing idea!