Pattaya Mail Letters


HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
: Cable Woes Naivete; Two tier pricing promotes racism
: Helpful website

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail will also be on our website .
It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

Cable Woes Naivete

Editor;

It’s amazing to see comments about a local cable company surface from time to time, apparently from new cable subscribers. When I left in July the monthly rate was Baht 350. It had been Baht 350 for the five years that I lived there. Why does everyone think that the fee is Baht 350 and not Baht 1000 plus like IBC or others? It is reasonable to assume that the local cable co. and many other small time operators in the Kingdom do not actually have a subscription agreement in all cases with all of the channels that they receive via satellite dish and subsequently distribute to the viewing public? If this is indeed the case, of course there will be times when the magic black box may need to be adjusted or replaced when the likes of Discovery or BBC scramble or change their signal to make it "inconvenient" for the Baht 350 viewers and their suppliers. Wake up mates and smell the saum tum but don’t complain too loudly unless you really want the Baht 1000 plus per month service and no other alternative.

Peter R. Cabrey - Hawaii

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Two tier pricing promotes racism

Editor:

Visiting the ‘restaurant in the sky’ at Pattaya Park, I was amazed that the two tier system of pricing resulted in the farang paying 550 baht while the Thai counterpart paid 350 baht. Amazing Thailand again. I also do not need to add that this is just a further example.

"How does the tourist know he or she or even they are being overcharged?"

Invariably the vast majority of people visiting Thailand are couples and groups who know no better and assume that racism is not prevalent in Thailand, for I believe that this is what it is tantamount to. It is no good trying to compare it to student, OAP or group discount of other countries. At least the fee there is advertised and thus a choice can be made. In Thailand it appears to be deliberately misleading.

The Thai Tourist Board claims their current campaign in promoting tourism in Thailand is being successful. However, as I see it, racism is being promoted.

Brian Foord

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Helpful website

Editor,

I logged onto your newspaper website on the advice of a friend who has recently returned from Thailand. Your website is very helpful to give me an idea of affordable rents in Pattaya.

Thank you

Jim Shea, CA USA

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