Is this true?

[cotambear]

The latest issue of `National Geographic Traveller Thailand` book contains heroic accounts of bravery and self sacrifice during the tsunami, but contrasts it with this example;

`Mercenary tuk tuk drivers in phuket charged $50 for rides that would normally cost $3`

Is this true, or urban myth? I`m tempted to believe anything about this nasty little cartel, but it is true?

[LivinLOS]

kind of true..

Tuk tuks charge 2 - 4k to take people to the airport, usual price 500 baht. Prices of 1000 baht to take people only up the hill were the kind of prices I heard.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

kind of true..

Tuk tuks charge 2 - 4k to take people to the airport, usual price 500 baht. Prices of 1000 baht to take people only up the hill were the kind of prices I heard.

the kid i always use made a boatload the 3 days after tsunami.

[erikE]

This is just sad. I'm in no way in a position to understand these guys - if I were poor and got a chance to earn some extra bucks, I really do not know I I would reacted otherwise. But I would not feel good about it.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by erikE

This is just sad. I'm in no way in a position to understand these guys - if I were poor and got a chance to earn some extra bucks, I really do not know I I would reacted otherwise. But I would not feel good about it.

well, it can go both ways. i was here and unless one of your family members were injured or you were injured a little bit where you want to go home then id be pissed to see those people overcharged
but for 80% of the people who were just irrational and had to leave the next day, i couldn't care less

[seafox]

and why worry about it now, a year and a half after the fact.

Is it that you just want to stay mad at them? You can't do anything to change it, it is in the past

[Benjy]

Business people make money out of circumstances, I don't see people crying foul when someone makes money on the stock exchange after an earthquake, war or recession etc...

Or paying Iraqi contractors large amounts of danger money etc..

No-one knew what was happening or going to happen afterwards, Most Thai's ran up to the top of the hill - Why shouldnt a Tuk Tuk driver baring the possible dangers charge more money, Don't get me wrong I personally think they are scum and never use them, but I'm betting there were some people glad they got out of there, at any cost.

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Benjy

Business people make money out of circumstances, I don't see people crying foul when someone makes money on the stock exchange after an earthquake, war or recession etc...

Or paying Iraqi contractors large amounts of danger money etc..

No-one knew what was happening or going to happen afterwards, Most Thai's ran up to the top of the hill - Why shouldnt a Tuk Tuk driver baring the possible dangers charge more money, Don't get me wrong I personally think they are scum and never use them, but I'm betting there were some people glad they got out of there, at any cost.

its life, supply and demand
i made so much money on anthrax scares in the market after 9/11
i personally thought people were too panicky, so whenever some news broke that there was an anthrax scare i bought everythign that was being sold

[LivinLOS]

Supply and demand in free and fair markets is a little bit different than a closed shop mafia element that controls who can and connot provide those services and cartels the work though.

[sundancekid]

I remember sitting in a bar in Patong one night some months after the Tsunami, when the siren went off. Apparently there had been another earthquake near Indonesia.

This caused quite a bit of panic, people running etc., but things eventually calmed down. Afterwards I heard a farang saying that a Tuk Tuk had wanted to charge him 4000 baht to take him to "safe place".

[cotambear]

[b][i]its life, supply and demand
i made so much money on anthrax scares in the market after 9/11
i personally thought people were too panicky, so whenever some news broke that there was an anthrax scare i bought everythign that was being sold
Well thats a fair point, but related I think to investments, not to the actuality on the ground during a real life disaster
To illustrate, I don`t think there`s anything morally wrong with someone buying property as an investment after the tsunami in phuket - thats simply an investment decision based on making an assesment that the market may be overly depressed and due for a correction upward.

But there is something wrong with scalping people who are fleeing in fear of their lives, particularily when others were trying to help as much as they could.

[Nicke]

If I was a tuk tuk driver and thought a second wave may hit Phuket, I should probably also charge more for risking my life in a dangerous area, they could easily escape Patong and other beaches instead of staying and working and driving other people out and put their own life at risk.

Ofcourse I feel its wrong to overcharge, but if tourists wanted to flee Phuket why should everyone expect drivers to stay here and work at their normal rates instead of fleeing themselves? I guess its fair they charge more during a dangerous time.

Personally, I wasnt afraid, but still look like a lot of tourists wanted to leave Phuket as quickly as possible and they had to pay the current price.

[lucky2]

In a way I don't condem them for trying to make a quick buck. Got to know massage places on my last trip and the girls are at work from 10 or 11am to 11pm every day with a lot of days having no customers at this time of year. They get 100 baht from a 200 baht Thai massage that lasts an hour. What can you buy for 100 baht? Guess other businesses are the same. Here personal fortunes are made from wars, drugs, and ripping off elderly people in purposely failed property scams.

[LivinLOS]

This wasnt in the hours surrounding the tsunami itself.. This was during the following days and well after all clears and when people wanted on mass to get to the airport and get the hell out. There was no additional danger there was plenty of warnings and saftey monitoring then and these lifts could have been from haasip pee rd to airport via inland roads.

This was not danger money it was farang scalping, pure and simple. Get rid of Tuk Tuks in favour of meters. Fair and transparent.

[nelsonone]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Get rid of Tuk Tuks in favour of meters. Fair and transparent.

Wouldn't that make Patong a beter place.........!!!!!

last tour............Songkran...........thought I had a mild case of the bends after diving and decided to go over to the hospital in Phuket Town....... and thought best to go by car rather than on my rented motorbike.........went along beach road and asked 3 or 4 different tuk tuk drivers who all quoted me BHT1000 or more.....despite sitting by their tuk-tuks talking to their mates.......and generally asing about.......

a lovely old lady on her mb taxi then pulled up and asked me where i wanted to go.....and when I told her it was the hospital she offered to take me for nothing.........

I insisted that she take money on the way over but she kept saying "no, you sick me look after".............so onwards we went.......

Anyway to cut a long story short......I was in the hoispital for an hour talking to the doctors and having some tests done......and when I came out there she was still there waiting for me...she asked "you stay now" and I said no I was OK to go back.....so we set off..........

When we got back I gave her BHT1000 and she was blown away and wouldn't take the money............I insisted and made her take it saying that she had earned it and she spent her time taking me when she could have had other customers.........

After a big night out drinking with the boys at MTB + Dragon I awoke the next morning to a knock on my hotel door..........there she was with one of her kids....a teenage daughter of about 14 or 15..........and she asked how I felt and if I was OK............the daughter had a package in her hand and gave it to me and waied............it was some beautiful warm chicken noodle soup.............

It is for these kinds of moments that I keep coming back to this beautiful country..

[JayPee]

"""""After a big night out drinking with the boys at MTB + Dragon I awoke the next morning to a knock on my hotel door..........there she was with one of her kids....a teenage daughter of about 14 or 15..........and she asked how I felt and if I was OK............the daughter had a package in her hand and gave it to me and waied............it was some beautiful warm chicken noodle soup.............""""

Isn’t this just another example of what makes this country and its people so special…forget all the rip offs, the piss takes, the raw deals…this is why we all love Thailand and its People….. a lovely story.

Tuk Tuk drivers…well I have meet some real rat bags..but some of the “Mum and Pop” teams you sometimes get in Phuket town in those real old Tuk Tuks that you climb in the side of are Gems…..

[Benjy]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

This wasnt in the hours surrounding the tsunami itself.. This was during the following days and well after all clears and when people wanted on mass to get to the airport and get the hell out. There was no additional danger there was plenty of warnings and saftey monitoring then and these lifts could have been from haasip pee rd to airport via inland roads.

This was not danger money it was farang scalping, pure and simple. Get rid of Tuk Tuks in favour of meters. Fair and transparent.

If there was no possible danger though, why did the tourists have to flee, instead of staying and helping clean up like many did. Ithink its still a case of "I could help you and your family escape, or make my family feel safe by being with them.

Tuk-Tuk's are a rip-off, but no-one NEEDED to get to the airport to leave the island. The Water charge pissed me off more, as thats a necessity.

[Captain]

Saw on TV some wanted to stay, but a lot were booked on organised tours (charter flights). The tour operators send the planes and ordered everybody back to Europe. Those who refused had to search for a new ticket and pay for their returnflight

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Benjy

If there was no possible danger though, why did the tourists have to flee, instead of staying and helping clean up like many did. Ithink its still a case of "I could help you and your family escape, or make my family feel safe by being with them.

Tuk-Tuk's are a rip-off, but no-one NEEDED to get to the airport to leave the island. The Water charge pissed me off more, as thats a necessity.

Erm.. Thier hotels were damaged, thier accomodation gone, thier belongings scattered, they didnt feel like holidaying is an area damaged, they were in shock, etc etc etc. To say there was no reason for someone not to go on with thier vacation after an event like that is a little OTT, plenty of valid reasons why people wanted to get the next flight home or to other areas.

Basically the tuk tuk brigade here have an attitude, and that very effect attracks the cowboys who want to think they are part of the tough clique. They are very often quick to get physical and attempt intimidation tactics and in general are a constant source of complaints. So why not implement a fair and transparent system of meter taxis thats profitable for the drivers and yet fixed against rip offs ?? They said it could never happen in BKK but look at it now. It just takes the political will to enforce and challenge the established power base.

On a side note I saw a meter taxi stopped on beach Rd a couple of days ago, I assume he was picking up fares which is a real change as they would have been drummed out of town (probably with a rock through the window) only a couple of years ago.

[Nicke]

Jonas refused to go home with the charter flights, and extended his stay and bought a return ticket himself. The travel agency paid for his ticket and hotel stay when he got gome.

Originally Posted by Captain

Saw on TV some wanted to stay, but a lot were booked on organised tours (charter flights). The tour operators send the planes and ordered everybody back to Europe. Those who refused had to search for a new ticket and pay for their returnflight

[Captain]

Originally Posted by Nicke

Jonas refused to go home with the charter flights, and extended his stay and bought a return ticket himself. The travel agency paid for his ticket and hotel stay when he got gome.

That is OK but at that moment those travel agents didn't probably mention anything about paying back. I saw on Belgian TV that they confirmed that they sent charter planes, the tourists had to cut their holiday short, take that plane or they would be on their own and wouldn't be reimbursed.
What did they tell Jonas?

[JockLOS]

Overcharging and ripping people off is by no means confined to this part of the world. I can think of several instances in London when various transport systems were shut down leaving thousands stranded. Hotels doubled and even trebled their rates to take advantage of the situation. That said however tuk tuk drivers are in my opinion a bad advert for Phuket and Thailand in general. How many people have gone home from a Thai vacation with their opinion of LOS soured forever because of the actions of these people? That said there does not seem to be the political will to challenge the cartel.

[cybernator_uk]

Originally Posted by JockLOS

Overcharging and ripping people off is by no means confined to this part of the world. I can think of several instances in London when various transport systems were shut down leaving thousands stranded. Hotels doubled and even trebled their rates to take advantage of the situation. That said however tuk tuk drivers are in my opinion a bad advert for Phuket and Thailand in general. How many people have gone home from a Thai vacation with their opinion of LOS soured forever because of the actions of these people? That said there does not seem to be the political will to challenge the cartel.

Actually i have a good experience with tuk tuks... Asked to go back to hotel and took me to a soapy on the way..... Didnt ask for that but it was a good experience and the girl was very nice i had..... That was in Bangkok tho not Phuket... But in Phuket used a tuk tuk a few times and never had a problem... Still i have read on here about stories of people being ripped off... But as you said it happens everywhere so being ripped of by a tuk tuk doesnt really worry me much... My friend got a tuk tuk before and was probably ripped of he reckons (was drunk as a skunk) although he said what he probably got ripped of was still cheaper than a london taxi to do the same journey

[LivinLOS]

You do realize that when a taxi takes a customer to a massage joint they give him a cut.. 99 times out of 100 its just tacked on your brice unless they list prices on a sign or other firm rates.

So even the nice tuk tuk clipped you.