Japhrodisiac Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Samui taxis are a bit of a joke...They wont use their meters as a matter of principal. Their lame excuse is that they have to pay more for their petrol. This maybe true but it is no excuse for charging taxi fares that are double anywhere in Thailand apart from Phuket. Now you really have two choices. You either accept that the fare - say Bt200 for a Bt70 fare in BKK - is actually ok value when compared to the 'real' world or you rent yourself a motorbike/travel by jeepney. To be honest, it isnt something worth getting excited about. It is just the way it is. The problem in Samui really is that that 70bt fare in BKK is more like 500bt here. And if you take 3 short rides a day on holiday, it's excessive. There have been several clampdowns on Taxi drivers over charging, but none has stuck so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhrodisiac Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Mafia my ass..Ive been there so many times and heard all this crap about 'mafia'..if they are so big and hard and all they wouldn't be staying in a pit like that.Ive got friends living in Samui and they openly boast about association with 'mafia' and if anything goes wrong it will be 'sorted'. In a word bxxxxllxxxxcks. Lame traveller excuses all the time. If you find yourself in trouble its your own fault for doing something risky and someone else exploiting your situation. As for taxis ripping people off..it happens everywhere..I never let a driver touch my case until the meter goes on.. As for ripping of your own countrymen..take a look at the land of milk and honey.................it happens everywhere. Its sad to see it going on and it wont get better.. Beast. Be my guest mate, you obviously have all the answers. Not! Yep Ive got all the answers I need thank you....being careful, use of judgement, a little courtesy and savvy go a long way. Im tired of hearing this crap all the time. Its happened to me too..drivers asking for too much money etc...I just point at the sign or whatever..look them in the eye and walk away having paid what I owe and not 1 bt more..if they want to challenge it after then fine...its not happened to date. Vindy. You are most welcome to come down here and educate all of us dumb sucker expats, locals, tourists here if it solves the problem. (bows in awe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vindaloobeast Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Hahahaha..ok..see u next week...and I mean really..! Sadly I just dont understand how you allow yourselves to be duped. Walk away...whats the worst they are going to do...??? Obviously some people fear confrontation and prefer to pay up.............I wont thats the difference. If it all goes bent and I get a slap then that would be my fault right..however I would try to avoid the situation in the first place. And..just to put it to bed..Thailand is f all compared to some of the holes Ive been to so it doesnt bother me a jot. Confronting this sort of behaviour in other parts of the world could get you killed. You pay yer money you take yer chances. Beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu_thailand Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Hahahaha..ok..see u next week...and I mean really..!Confronting this sort of behaviour in other parts of the world could get you killed. Yeah, and that has NEVER happened in Thailand :roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie36 Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 To be honest I think that most people should just be thankful that taxis in BKK are ridiculously low rather than fares are outrageously high in Samui. The meter taxi fare hasnt gone in BKK since 1992 when the cost of petrol was Bt9/litre (compared to Bt30) and the price of a car was about half current levels. It is almost impossible for a BKK taxi driver to make a living... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 To be honest I think that most people should just be thankful that taxis in BKK are ridiculously low rather than fares are outrageously high in Samui.The meter taxi fare hasnt gone in BKK since 1992 when the cost of petrol was Bt9/litre (compared to Bt30) and the price of a car was about half current levels. It is almost impossible for a BKK taxi driver to make a living... i've wondered how they make any f**king money .... but if it's such a bad business why is there so f**king many of them ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Whilst talking about taxi's, why do many of them refuse to take you places....? On many occasions the taxi driver doesn't want to take you somewhere (and it's not because of the traffic) - he'd rather drive around bkk in his taxi alone than take you. (corrected my crap grammer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranM Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 whilst talking about taxi's, why do many of them refuse to take you places....?Many occasions the taxi driver doesn't want to take you somewhere (and it's not because of traffic) - he'd rather drive around bkk in his taxi without rather than take you. they want short runs ..... 35 baht for the first 2 Kms (17.5 baht per Km) then around 5 baht per Km after that !!! why do they not just agree a fair rate and reset the meters ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyP Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Sadly I just dont understand how you allow yourselves to be duped. Walk away...whats the worst they are going to do...??? Obviously some people fear confrontation and prefer to pay up.............I wont thats the difference. If it all goes bent and I get a slap then that would be my fault right..however I would try to avoid the situation in the first place. Beast. Having worked and lived on Samui I can assure you - **** happens. Taxi drivers have been known to stab and beat tourists refusing to pay for illigitimate fares - including changing the fares mid transfer or at drop off. Now if you're a hard arse and want to take the Pepsi challenge of Thai 'vs' Ferang then go right ahead - but I can guarantee you there are alot more of them and I am yet to meet the ferang that didn't come off second best! Random shootings are popular and I think the going rate for a hit man out of Nakhon Si is about 3 - 5000 Baht. So for under $200 a kid and his buddy will swing by on their motorbike, pump a couple of rounds into you and be on their way home before the cops get out of their seats. Koh Samui is promoted as an international tourist destination - they invite the "lame traveller" - not everyone has the street smarts that come with years of bumping heads - but the whole idea of tourist detinations like Samui is that the "lame traveller" can come and experience it and they shouldn't have to have been down the wrong side of the tracks and know how to handle themselves just to get a taxi. Samui needs to sort it's **** out or it will be left behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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