Bangkok Day 2 – The Art of the Deal

Well, I have spent 2 full days in Bangkok. It has been an interesting experience to say the least. Bangkok is a huge city without any emissions laws. All the pollution here has likely turned my lungs from a healthy pink, to something resembling an 18% grey card (there is my filmmaking reference for the day.) There are street vendors EVERYWHERE. These vendors completely over take many of the sidewalks and the only way you can pass is by putting your life at risk by taking a small detour into the busy street.

The cab rides have been quite interesting. You basically haggle with the driver over a price to take you somewhere. You come to an agreement, hop into the cab, and you are on your way. Suddenly he says something like, “Instead of pay me 100 Baht you pay 50 Baht. Must go somewhere else.” Then you say, “No, please take me to where I asked you to go.” Then he says, “No, must go here.” It took me two cab rides to figure out what is going on, but from what I can tell if the driver takes you to a shop he is in cahoots with and you buy something he gets a percentage. So, they just take you to these shops and the high-pressure salesmen try to sell you something. So far we have been taken to a jewelry store and a custom clothing shop. Of course my wife is a willing participant in this scam and ends up buying all sorts of stuff at these places. LOTS of stuff. Is it really a scam if you know they are taking advantage of you, yet enjoy the experience?

The first cab ride cost us about 35 bucks for a ring worth $2 and the one last night cost us about $100 because she bought a kimono. Granted it seems like a nice kimono. Aleksandra also has an interesting bargaining strategy. I ask how much something costs. They say 1,000 Baht. I say, “Are you kidding? That’s way too much. I will pay 500 Baht. That’s all we have.” Thai merchants LOVE to haggle. It is expected. That’s part of their culture. Immediately my wife interjects with her best Polish accent and says, “OK, 1,000 Baht. We have money.” I nearly spit up my Pad Thai as I look at her with a “WTF??????” look on my face and she says, “These people are poor. Let’s give them our money. Don’t be so cheap Bill.” Thai people LOVE my wife.