Rising Prices in Bangkok

[Guest fountainhall]

After years of relatively stable prices, I noticed the cost of many goods and services in Bangkok starting to creep up in 2005. This year I have found many increases are in the 'whopping' category.

 

I have been a member of a hotel health club near my apartment since 2000. When I got the renewal notice a few weeks ago, I was shocked to find the annual fee had risen by 25%. This has nothing to do with the recent demonstrations or the oil price mid-year, as the fee was hiked at the start of the year. I tried to negotiate, without success. So in these uncertain economic times, I reluctantly decided not to renew.

 

Now I find that the hair salon I have been going to for 7 years has jacked up prices by 50%. I wrote to the manager and suggested that she consider a discount to encourage regular customers rather than relying on passing trade. I got no reply! (If anyone has a recommendation for a good barber in Bangkok - I'd love to hear from you!).

 

I wonder if this is a general trend in Thailand - or just a couple of unrelated incidents.

[PattayaMale]

I don't think they are unrelated incidents. Last year when I purchased my gym membership it was the last 3 days before the price would rise by 20%. Fortunately they had a Lifetime membership so I would not be affected.

 

Pork, fresh vegetables are still inexpensive by USA prices but still up over 15%.

 

Auto prices have fallen a bit but are expected to rise. Why the rise when there should be a big inventory? I don't understand.

[KhorTose]

I think the increase in prices is tied to that "only in Thailand" business practice of raising the price when business is slow to make up for lost profits. Don't ask me to explain it, as it just boggles my mind.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I think the increase in prices is tied to that "only in Thailand" business practice of raising the price when business is slow to make up for lost profits. Don't ask me to explain it, as it just boggles my mind.

 

When I asked my bf about this practice he laughed and said, "I don't understand". If Thais don't understand it how can we?

[PattayaMale]

Tonight I was at a few beer bars and the owners told me that they all have received a price increase in rent of about 30%. I understand this is both in Boyztown area and also Sunee.

 

One owner told me it was explained to him that the city went around appraising properties which raised the tax. So the owners are passing it on.

 

30% is incredible.

 

So with fewer customers and higher costs what will they do?

[Gaybutton]

So with fewer customers and higher costs what will they do?

I have a feeling that the first significant group of tourists to start returning to Thailand will be the gays. Rising costs and all, Thailand is still quite inexpensive for gays seeking readily available boys. But I think the days of bargain basement prices for bars, booze, boys, and sex are over. If the gays want what Thailand has to offer, then they're going to have to spend more money to get it.

 

I think raising prices is acceptable, within reasonable limits. I think some of the prices being reported in some of the Bangkok bars are outrageous. The bars charging that much won't get any of my business, they can rest assured of that. The tactics some bars are using are right up there on my "I Don't Get It" list. 250 baht for a glass of water? Not me, especially when I can go to plenty of other bars that charge reasonable prices. I have yet to ever see a bar at which the boys are so irresistible that I would willingly pay that kind of a price.

 

Just why these same bars can't figure out that the way to run a successful business is to attract customers goes beyond me.

 

The first thing I think they ought to do is put a stop to overly aggressive touts who try to literally pull customers into the bar. Any bar employing touts trying to do that to me, or blocking my path while they're insulting my intelligence with shouts of "have BOY, sexy BOY, new BOY, go-go BOY," or any of the other aggressive things they sometimes do, can forget all about my business.

 

The second thing they can do is to charge reasonable, fair prices for drinks and off fees. Next they can get rid of the pushy mama-sans. I haven't met anyone yet who enjoys being high-pressured by a mama san.

 

They can also lower the music volume to an acceptable level. The law says no more than 90 decibels. Very few bars are in compliance.

 

They can also get their dancers to actually dance. Having their boys just standing there like narcissists, admiring themselves in the wall mirrors, or doing nothing more than the 'one-knee shuffle' is not my idea of a fun bar.

 

So, if you happen to be a bar owner who is reading this, if you want my business then employing under-age boys so that I have to check IDs if I want to take one off, using aggressive touts who try to physically yank me into your place of business, watching go-go boys doing everything except go-go dancing while you're busy blasting my ear drums with uncomfortably and illegally high music volume, while being high-pressured by your pushy mama-sans, and paying 250 baht on up for a watered-down drink for the privilege, and paying you 300 to 400 baht to take a boy off, isn't exactly the way to get it. Not interested. I'll go to a bar where I am treated decently and can have an enjoyable time, while paying fair and reasonable prices. Your bar, if you're running it as described, can close down permanently tonight for all I care. You're not going to get my business or my support and I doubt you'll have many repeat customers.

 

If the current economic crisis and lack of tourists drives bars like that out of business, I never thought I would find myself saying this, but as far as I'm concerned, good riddance.