Dual Pricing in South East Asia, your thoughts?

[Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 11:07
Last edited 19/02/2017 - 11:34

Having traveled to Thailand I have some experience in having to pay a different price to the locals, eg. Grand Palace in Bangkok is 500THB (about AU$20) and for locals it's free. There are several other places that charged me 5-10 times extra because I was a foreigner.
Even some food vendors and restaurants are setting a higher price for foreigners (written in English or digits), and lower price for locals (written in Thai).
(I know this because I visited with my Thai friend and he would explain to me the price difference between Thai writing and English writing)

Recently I've got a friend that just came back from Indonesia and said about dual pricing, a temple that's roughly $2 for locals and $20 for foreigners.

I'm finding this to be quite specific to South East Asia. I'm personally from East Asia and dual pricing is nowhere to be found there, and in Australia I've definitely not seen prices based on nationality either (other than um… education stuff). While I don't mind paying a little bit extra, I'm finding it hard to get over having to pay 5-10x extra.

What are your thoughts? and have you found anywhere else in the world to have dual pricing?

Poll Options

  • 138
    Foreigners should be walking ATMs
  • 135
    Foreigners shouldn't be walking ATMs
Travel

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 19/02/2017 - 11:12
    +72

    Pretty common. FWP; I don't think you'd want to swap your life here with theirs.

    Also, your poll question is loaded.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 11:49

      I agree I wouldn't wanna swap my life with theirs. Although not all foreigners are the same, not all Aussies are wealthy, other south east asians going to Thailand would've been foreigners as well… they possibly have similar life as the Thais but paying foreigner prices. We aren't talking about prices based on income. People from poorer countries would've needed to pay foreigner prices, too.

      • Ughhh on 19/02/2017 - 12:28
        +52

        If you can afford to travel, then you have money- you don't have to be James Packer level rich. Travelling is a luxury.

        That being said, I agree it sucks having to pay more. Foreigners paying more is actually quite common in markets too, you thought you got a great deal negotiating 30% off, fact is the local before you got 50% off.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 13:00

          That's true. Markets are usually pretty bad for foreigners (or people who are bad at haggling), but I guess one good thing is even for the locals they would've got different prices between different people too, I suppose depending on how good they haggle… compared to having two different prices written down straight up.

        • nikey2k27 on 20/02/2017 - 23:41
          +2

          @clse945111: So it like good guys on sat

        • Scrooge McDuck on 21/02/2017 - 10:43
          +1

          @clse945111:

          This is called price discrimination.

          The seller recognises the large difference in the willingness to pay between locals and foreigners and they exploit this to capture more of the social surplus for themselves.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 21/02/2017 - 10:54
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck:

          You have 4 options (possibly more):

          1. Pay the foreigner premium.
          2. Negotiate a satisfactory price.
          3. Learn the local language (or have it translated), hand over the local price total in cash and walk out. (but be prepared to deal with the subsequent conflict)
          4. Not patronise businesses that price discriminate.
      • retiredfeline on 19/02/2017 - 12:45

        You sure they didn't have ASEAN concessions? If not they can go post in MalBargain, PhilBargain, etc to complain ;)

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 12:51

          I'm pretty sure. Have you seen the pricing boards in Thailand? Here's an example I'm pretty sure many other ASEAN countries don't know Thai.

        • TightAl on 20/02/2017 - 17:46

          @clse945111: it's like you have nothing to whinge about, travel to sh!t third world countries and complain. Better stay home.

      • nikey2k27 on 20/02/2017 - 23:43
        +3

        i don't see big deal with foreigner prices we have them in Aus too.Gold coast park do cheap Tecket for locals

      • kangaroo on 21/02/2017 - 09:46

        Loaded poll, yes there are poor people in Australia. But there is a difference in knocking someones door for food vs scavenging the garbage for food. When I go to poorer countries, I am very generous to the locals, because with AU Fx Rates, I can afford that.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2017 - 07:25

      How do you know if you haven't lived there? you think life here is perfect???

      • retiredfeline on 21/02/2017 - 09:11

        And how do you know I haven't lived there in the past? And continue to travel there?

        Also I didn't claim life here is perfect; nowhere is, but given the choice I'm starting here.

  • dasher86 on 19/02/2017 - 11:32
    +18

    I guess you've never been to Europe. A lot of attractions have EU citizen prices.
    This also happens in other countries where you have to barter.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 11:55
      -1

      Nice to know that, I'd love to see Europe actually.
      Are there also different prices in restaurants or just some attractions?

    • misu p on 20/02/2017 - 16:07
      +4

      I am from Europe and I have never seen this. Where did you encounter such prices?

      • dasher86 on 20/02/2017 - 16:14
        +7

        I believe the Louvre in Paris was one.
        I was in my 20s at the time. My friend from Belgium didn't have to pay and i did.
        A few other places as well (i can't recall).

        • misu p on 20/02/2017 - 16:20
          +7

          You are right http://www.louvre.fr/en/hours-admission/admission#tabs . It is free if you are "18-25 year-old residents of the European Economic Area (EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein)".

        • dasher86 on 20/02/2017 - 16:22
          +2

          @misu p:
          I also remember having to pay 'tourist' hotel tax in spain.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2017 - 09:36
          +1

          @misu p:

          IIRC it was a measure of the previous government to boost up attendance from younger visitors.

      • retiredfeline on 20/02/2017 - 16:36

        Not to mention locals can take advantage of public transport specials that tourists can't.

      • ilikeradiohead on 21/02/2017 - 14:42

        Versailles too. I know this because I was studying in Austria when I went but they wouldn't accept my student card as proof of EU residency >:(

      • Emli on 23/02/2017 - 09:06

        Euro Disney is another. Website is something like bilet francilien

  • Islund on 19/02/2017 - 11:34
    +5

    Forget about Asia - applies in certain parts of Sydney 1st hand. In restaurants as well.

    1st hand experience .

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 11:53
      +2

      More info please. I'd wanna avoid the restaurants.

      • Islund on 19/02/2017 - 19:28
        +13

        I have a Chinese friend and if we go together the bill is always around 10% less then is I go width another friend talking about essentially the same items.

        And we do not get charges for Chinese tea.

        Applies to most restarurants in Chinatown, Ashfield and Hurstville.

        • leslie knope on 20/02/2017 - 14:12
          +1

          It's not uncommon to see signs for 10% cash discount. These signs are only in Chinese though..

        • MrGrinchy on 20/02/2017 - 17:00
          +3

          @madge: Thank god for (or google) for Translator app, point and translate writing.

          I cant believe so many people have no idea you can translate signs/menus/ and voice using Translator, its like have
          startrek device, so awesome. I cannot believe the dept of immigration or customs doesnt use it, they still outsource to
          official hard to get translator humans costing lots of $$$, idiots.

        • senz on 21/02/2017 - 04:47
          +4

          @madge: Some Chinese restaurant display signs "10% discount when paying with cash" this is most like to pay their workers in cash and reduce their gross turnover.
          Overall reducing their taxes and expenses as they don't pay for worker superannuation, workers compensation insurance and also lowering bank fees.

        • Hirolol on 21/02/2017 - 12:42

          @RalX:
          So you can take a pic of a sign and the app will translate it?
          What is the app name specifically?

        • haverford on 21/02/2017 - 14:27
          +3

          @Hirolol: Google translate. It's had it for a few years now. The cool thing is for some of the languages it can do the translating on the fly. You hold up the camera to the text, and it overlays the translation into the image. Move the camera around and it translates new text. It really is like a star trek device.

        • abb on 22/02/2017 - 16:13

          @haverford: I'm skeptical about how well Google Translate will work on hard-written chinese, given that it struggles even on printed text in Spanish…

    • RyanMK on 19/02/2017 - 12:17
      +2

      Would love to hear more about this as well.

      • BK12 on 20/02/2017 - 17:22

        I haven't experienced anything like this in Australia . except in Dubbo where Dubbo residents have cheaper pricing for Taronga Zoo & Wellington Caves , Then again even if you are Australian from different town you pay same price as someone from different country which i think fair

    • Cyphar on 20/02/2017 - 20:42

      Happens in the restaurants in Chinatown here in VIC too. When I go to eat, I always have to ask for the proper menu in Mandarin.

      • KaTst3R on 21/02/2017 - 02:12
        +3

        It is quite hilarious actually. You step into a chinese restaurant, the waiter gives you a pathetic looking laminated sheet of paper or a piece of paper which looks like a take away menu. As soon as you speak mandarin, the waiter swaps your cheap skate looking menu for a full proper booklet which has high quality laminated cardboard and colored pictures of the dishes with black pepper beef or lemon chicken no where to be found.

        This happened to me in Sydney Chinatown.

      • Repi on 22/02/2017 - 18:41

        I asked for the proper menu, looked all Chinese to me :-)
        I am having more luck just ordering by the pictures.

    • ribze1 on 20/02/2017 - 23:20

      I've had it happen to me.

      Turkish mate and I (Anglo-Australian) order a kebab each separately (although we're together), $8.50 for me and $5 for him just cause he spoke Turkish to them. He also did not know them at all, i.e no mates rates.

      • secondstory on 24/02/2017 - 17:47

        Don't need to be mates when you're just looking out for one of your own. If I lived in a foreign country and met another native English speaker I'd be pretty happy inside even if just having spoken to them briefly. Heck, if I owned a store I'd give them a discount too if they had an Aussie accent. I don't see it as a racial discrimination but that they are genuinely happy to give a discount for nothing other than this reason. It's like when a person meets someone with the same niche hobby and as soon as they find out they're instant comrades.

        Though I think in other circumstances, it may be because they know someone of the same race is more likely to try haggle it down anyways since the practise is so common.

        • ribze1 on 24/02/2017 - 22:34

          Plenty of Turks in Sydney, not exactly the same as coming across an Aussie whilst being in a foreign country.

          If an Anglo-Australian gave discounts to fellow Anglo-Australians but not others then would that be racist and discriminatory?

          And,

          discrimination
          noun
          the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

  • charng on 19/02/2017 - 11:34
    +61

    have you seen the uni fees for local students and for international students in this country?

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 11:52
      +1

      Literally I mentioned education in the post (as an international student once, I feel you… really), but it really doesn't have much to do with tourism, does it?

      • altomic on 19/02/2017 - 12:02
        +5

        somewhat similar in that differing prices (lower for locals) is to encourage local attendance. international users are a bonus revenue stream.

        • decr on 22/02/2017 - 13:05
          +2

          Exactly. Here in Hobart MONA is free for locals, $28 otherwise I think. I've been there 3-4 times in a year, usually have a beer etc while there. Guess how many times I would have visited if I had to pay? 0.

      • charng on 19/02/2017 - 12:06
        +6

        the nature of your question has nothing to do with tourism. it is different pricing based on residency. aus price differently in education (and public transport concession, back then local students could apply for a concession card to pay half) but not in tourism. some country does that in tourism. i don't feel anyting wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 12:13

          In Sydney for example: Foreigners pay exactly the same price for public transport as the locals (because we aren't talking about concession and pension rates). If you have a regular adult Opal card (black), you pay the adult price, regardless of who you are and where you are from. There's no "foreigner Opal card" or "local Opal card".

        • charng on 19/02/2017 - 12:18
          +3

          @clse945111: foucus on the nature. keywords "different pricing" and "residency". education, toursim or public tranport is irrelevent. if it happens in education, why it shall not happen in tourism?

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 13:11
          +6

          @charng:
          One thing I can think of is taxes. Universities usually are funded heavily by the government. Food stalls and zoos are usually privately owned and not funded with tax payer money. (There are probably many other factors too)

          If you really wanted to go further, you could argue because non-citizens (or non-pr) can't get Medicare, all other things should have a separation between local and foreign. Because if it happens in health care, it must happen in every other field, right?

        • charng on 19/02/2017 - 13:31
          +2

          @clse945111: you finally spoke out the reasoning behind these pricing schemes. so, are travelling sceneries not built and maintained using local tax payers' money? if so, is different princing justified in tourism as it is justified in education etc?
          and i was saying since it happens in education, there is nothing wrong for it to happen in tourism. your logic is since it happens in xxx, it must happen in every field. why don't we let other fields choose if they want to adopt to this approach? remember, different pricing is NOT mandatory.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 13:51
          -4

          @charng:

          are travelling sceneries not built and maintained using local tax payers' money?

          They can be, or they can be privately owned.
          Are food stalls maintained using local tax payers' money? Would 5-10x prices be justified when there's tax involved?

          your logic is since it happens in xxx, it must happen in every field.

          It's called sarcasm. You see, with your logic of it happening in education so nothing wrong with it happening in tourism can be a slippery slope. I can swap out the "tourism" for pretty much anything else and the statement would still work perfectly.

        • charng on 19/02/2017 - 18:01
          +2

          @clse945111:

          like others have said, you need to travel more to understand it is normal for them to do so. they don't have to, but they can. that does not mean they must.

        • Candour on 20/02/2017 - 12:40

          @clse945111:

          it seems opal concessions only extend to nsw residents, as some vic pensioners complained about this before.
          https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/opal_for_concessions/

        • BK12 on 20/02/2017 - 18:12

          @clse945111: I would slightly disagree with above comments especially in NSW transport as International Student wont qualify for concession

          http://www.transportnsw.info/en/tickets/eligibility-concessi…

          I studied in Adelaide as international Student and i was qualified for concession there but not in NSW

          But your point is mostly fair as prices are similar to tourists as well as for foreigners in most cases

        • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 22/02/2017 - 18:03

          @charng: you're doubling down on a silly argument. Foreigners have no entitlement to taxpayer funded subsidies on transport or education. Locals have no entitlement to lower prices on private goods.

      • Looking4Bargians on 22/02/2017 - 10:39
        +2

        You really have some issues going in your life. Sort them out mate….

        • tomleonhart on 22/02/2017 - 11:19
          +2

          @fredz: i suggest you disable your account since you're on a site/community founded by a (your word) "international scum".

    • paaj on 21/02/2017 - 18:45

      +100 upvote

  • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2017 - 12:29
    +1

    I love haggling cultures for a holiday at least. Let them try whatever they can get away with. In Petaling St, Malaysia I would usually offer 1/10th what the Americans before me paid and often still got stuff.

    • Lockieasy on 20/02/2017 - 16:36
      +11

      Really? I find the constant haggling tiresome and annoying. Like seriously, stop wasting my time and give me a reasonable price to start with!!

      • ItsMeAgro on 21/02/2017 - 13:25

        Yep. Want to haggle? Won't give me the real price without it?

        You've already lost my business.

        • Justinism on 21/02/2017 - 15:21

          there are others that find this kinda thing fun. i thought as ozbargainers, you'd appreciate the challenge. ;)

      • SupeNintendoChalmers on 21/02/2017 - 15:44

        same, I don't mind a haggle, but only with people in first world nations

      • stanstho on 22/02/2017 - 13:25

        Just got back from Beijing. I went to the Silk (aka fake/black) markets. I watched all my friends, one by one, get slaughtered by people who are literally professional hagglers. They're not even speaking their first language and my friends ended up paying $80 AUD for fake nikes! You could get real ones for $20 more in Australia!

        Not that I'm bragging, I walked away empty handed as it took about 20 minutes to click that I was never going to haggle them down to a reasonable price.

  • Findo on 19/02/2017 - 12:31

    I experienced this in Hong Kong in the years past, English menus at smaller restaurants and cafes were often slightly more expensive than their Chinese counterparts. When it came to ordering many wait staff had NFI what the English name for the item actually was. It's harder and harder to find examples of dual pricing though.

  • Emli on 19/02/2017 - 12:41
    +19

    MONA in Hobart is free for locals and $28 for others. Also discounted entry into Tahune air walk. Found this out when staying with friends recently.

    The Hermitage in St Petersburg has tourist price and local price.

    I bought discount tickets for Euro Disney Paris using our rental apartment address and google translate.

    Places also need repeat business from the locals during the year to boost their turnover.

    • mskeggs on 19/02/2017 - 18:17
      +7

      Plenty of places offer a locals discount that non-locals might be unaware of.
      I live in a tourist town and our local toy shop gives 10% off for locals (still not really competitive, but I appreciate the gesture).
      The alternative is for the attractions in Thailand to raise the prices for the locals and cut the prices for tourists, impacting the locals much more than the benefit to the traveller.

    • cams884 on 22/02/2017 - 10:06
      +1

      Yep. I think the MONA thing is a great idea. It encourages locals to take their many interstate visitors along. Sure enough, on our last visit we still paid for food and drinks for lunch, so they're still getting a turn over.

      • decr on 22/02/2017 - 13:10

        Yep. As commented above I totally agree. I went there last week and it was awesome. Beer was good too.

  • rgr on 19/02/2017 - 13:10
    +26

    honestly who gives a shit, you're there for a bit then you move on. you can't blame them for hustling you because you're well ahead of them if you can afford to get out of your own country for a while for fun. we're lucky as it is to be born/to be able to live in a country like australia, despite how shit it can be sometimes.

  • ausdday on 19/02/2017 - 14:11
    +7

    Think OP should travel more. This happens everywhere, even in Aus. Have you been to NT? NT residence enters Kakadu national park for free, while other state residence costs $25 per person. This is the same for other national park as well. There are always benefits for being local.

  • Hardlyworkin on 19/02/2017 - 14:36
    +5

    I dont have a problem now with cultural attractions being much cheaper or free for locals, surprised it doesn't happen more.

    That being said I do admit to being a bit peeved in India paying 10x the locals price to attend some of the famous sites. I guess my view then was I am a cheap backpacker and their are plenty of locals with far more money than me.

    I guess Ive chilled more now and realise that we earn a sh*tload more in Aus than most people and locals shouldn't have e to pay to access their local cultural highlights.

    Btw, I agree you wouldn't win any prizes for the skewed questions in your poll. How about 'do you think locals should receive free entry to cultural attractions?'

  • minniethemoocher on 19/02/2017 - 14:55
    +12

    The theme parks in the Gold Coast are cheaper for locals.

    • thriftybunny on 21/02/2017 - 10:05

      I noticed a few posts about Australian attractions being cheaper for locals, assuming by locals they don't mean all of of Australia but just the city the attraction is in? Because otherwise I'd like to get onto the discounts!

      • El Cap on 21/02/2017 - 18:40
        +1

        Usually for the people like in the state.

  • victinini on 19/02/2017 - 15:17
    +3

    I think that we should try our best to respect the business decisions based on economies that we don’t fully understand. For example, tourist business might be their way of propping up their entire business. If they didn’t charge tourists more, they might go out of business and no one would get anything.

    I’ve seen bars in Hong Kong for example that had cover charges for Asian people but not Westerners. It’s a business decision and we’re not forced to buy from them. To be fair on a larger scale, even while we’re overcharged compared to locals, it’s still very cheap compared to what we get here, so without being able to speak their language (along with all the risks involved), without paying due respect to their religion - treating the temples like tourist attractions rather than places of worship, we’re still getting a decent deal.

    • mskeggs on 19/02/2017 - 18:19

      had cover charges for Asian people but not Westerners

      Finally the whitey gets some respect!

      That is a weird kind of reverse discrimination. Is the idea that bars attracting westerners are "cooler" or something?

      • ronnknee on 21/02/2017 - 20:59

        Possibly. However it's more common for clubs to offer free entry for ladies.

  • holdenmg on 19/02/2017 - 19:24
    +1

    If people want to pay to duel in SE Asia, I say let them.
    (I want the film rights).

  • dasher86 on 19/02/2017 - 21:46
    +12

    Australia charges many countries for tourist VISAs, many countries don't charge Aussies.

    • snipeymcsnipesnipe on 20/02/2017 - 15:30
      +1

      Because we aren't as likely to stay longer than our visa or maybe just trade/tourism agreements

      • Monad on 22/02/2017 - 21:05

        There is a time limit for entering countries that don't charge and they will have your details on file. The overstaying has nothing to do with it. Australia decides that it can charge without negatively affecting the tourism dollar, where countries that don't charge, do so to get the tourism dollar after immigration. Could have something to do with per capita GDP and western purchasing power.

    • ilikeradiohead on 21/02/2017 - 14:48

      Those are mostly on reciprocal agreements though. EG going to the EU is a free 90 day visa on arrival, and EU citizens get a similar treatment (free for 90 days, need to register before they get here). There are instances where it it one way though, like Indonesia, where we still charge visas for Indonesians but not vice versa.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/02/2017 - 10:05
    +8

    What about ozbargainers vs non-ozbargainers,
    I mean, where's the humanity?

  • Candour on 20/02/2017 - 12:41

    sri lanka is bad for this. went there years ago. the way around it is to have a paid package tour which includes all fees [might be cheaper overall].

  • jackspratt on 20/02/2017 - 13:02

    Expats living in Thailand can usually pay the "local" price at national parks etc, by flashing their local ID such as a Thai driver's license or yellow house book (Tabien Baan).

  • Ranagade on 20/02/2017 - 13:13
    +2

    It is the same in USA for theme parks. If you live in the state, then you get special entry discounts. E.g. Californian residents get special local discounts to Disneyland and Universal Studios tickets.

  • LKJ899 on 20/02/2017 - 13:17

    Those places rely on tourists. They know tourists are one-off business…so they'll charge gullible tourists who are willing to pay for the price knowing they won't come back.

    I noticed for some Asian countries, it's the other way round…foreigners get cheaper entrance fees/discounts

  • zombrex on 20/02/2017 - 13:22
    -6

    It is wrong and I do not respect it at all. Greedy owners ripping off tourists, do you think they give their workers an extra cut of the money? Not at all!

    I only support differential pricing for tourists if it is cheaper.
    For example giving tourists cheap or free public transport to encourage them to visit more rural areas.

    • ozeebee on 20/02/2017 - 19:24
      +5

      Haha nice sense of entitlement you got there.

      • zombrex on 21/02/2017 - 19:20
        -1

        Entitlement to not be discriminated against?

        • illumination on 22/02/2017 - 13:20

          You're saying you support differential pricing if it is cheaper for tourists, it can be argued that's still a form of (positive) discrimination. In other words, you have double standards.

  • inherentchoice on 20/02/2017 - 13:23

    Dual pricing is waisis.

  • idonotknowwhy on 20/02/2017 - 13:32
    +12

    I went to a Chinese restaurant with my Chinese gf years ago. The English menu said I'd get a 'free desert', and the Chinese menu said you'd get a 'free soup'.
    We got neither and when we asked for the desert, the owner explained that because I'm Australian and my partner is Chinese, we won't get either :(
    edit: This was in Melbourne

    • garetz on 20/02/2017 - 14:02
      +12

      If that happened to me i would walk out without paying, seriously.

      • Wally on 20/02/2017 - 23:05
        +1

        and report the racial discrimination to the HRC

      • idonotknowwhy on 22/02/2017 - 09:40

        I was 18 and nervous on a date at the time. I'd do the same thing now though.

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