Why do so many on this forum defend Cambodia?
-
- Cambodia's cheapest charlie
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:40 am
Why do so many on this forum defend Cambodia?
The feeling I get is that the people on this forum blindly defend Cambodia, especially when it comes to ripoff's and over charging.
As always I will get a few good responses and mostly all flames. But I'm willing to read the few posts who can explain why everybody jumps in to defend Cambodia even though the practices are outright ripping off foreigners.
Why can't the people just simply say, "they have us by the balls" because there is not enough competition? Why defend Cambodia and not just say how it is, they are ripping foreigners off because they can get away with it. Or possibly just admit the truth, Cambodians can give a shit about foreigners and they don't really like you and just want your money. At least in the Thailand forum people there are more honest about the locals and not trying to defend them like they do on this forum.
It makes me wonder if a certain type of person comes to Cambodia that has a certain mentality that makes them want to defend Cambodia. Maybe they somehow want themselves to feel better about living in Cambodia? I don't know, hopefully I will hear a few responses from people who also notice this trend on this forum.
Maybe since I'm not an expat and don't want to live in Cambodia I can look at the situation in Cambodia from a more neutral perspective.
As always I will get a few good responses and mostly all flames. But I'm willing to read the few posts who can explain why everybody jumps in to defend Cambodia even though the practices are outright ripping off foreigners.
Why can't the people just simply say, "they have us by the balls" because there is not enough competition? Why defend Cambodia and not just say how it is, they are ripping foreigners off because they can get away with it. Or possibly just admit the truth, Cambodians can give a shit about foreigners and they don't really like you and just want your money. At least in the Thailand forum people there are more honest about the locals and not trying to defend them like they do on this forum.
It makes me wonder if a certain type of person comes to Cambodia that has a certain mentality that makes them want to defend Cambodia. Maybe they somehow want themselves to feel better about living in Cambodia? I don't know, hopefully I will hear a few responses from people who also notice this trend on this forum.
Maybe since I'm not an expat and don't want to live in Cambodia I can look at the situation in Cambodia from a more neutral perspective.
-
- Least Likely to be a Moderator, ever !
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:29 pm
You generally get flamed because you moan about being "ripped off" for 25c when in reality it was probably your fault.
We live in one of the cheapest countries in the region that doesn't need assholes coming in moaning about 25c or looking for the cheapest dish of the day.
If you don't like it, Thailand is thattaway and they will give even less of a shit about you.
We live in one of the cheapest countries in the region that doesn't need assholes coming in moaning about 25c or looking for the cheapest dish of the day.
If you don't like it, Thailand is thattaway and they will give even less of a shit about you.
-
- Cambodia's cheapest charlie
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:40 am
It just isn't the .25cent, it was the fact that two people colluded and tried to take me for $1.00. Then when I only gave her 2000 riel she still took it and then started yelling at me when I asked for change.Chuck Wow wrote:You generally get flamed because you moan about being "ripped off" for 25c when in reality it was probably your fault.
We live in one of the cheapest countries in the region that doesn't need assholes coming in moaning about 25c or looking for the cheapest dish of the day.
If you don't like it, Thailand is thattaway and they will give even less of a shit about you.
it's not about the .25c it was the whole situation that unfolded. It also gave me a bad feeling about them outright keeping my money like that for something that I have bought over 20 times and never paid more than 1000 for the same item. Don't forget the point about her yelling at me for not getting me for the full $1.00. That whole situation just makes my stomach turn when I think about it.
What does that tell you about the situation in Cambodia? Again, you're just another person defending Cambodia and saying it is "my fault". Pretty typical of the mentality that I am talking about here.
Last edited by Cheap Backpacker on Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
- vladimir
- Feminist Watch List
- Reactions: 4
- Posts: 34235
- Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 7:43 am
- Location: mod edit
I don't defend Cambodia. I assess whatever criticism there is and if it is fair, I let it ride. If not, I defend it.
There are some amazing local and expat people here, and obviously some extreme scumbags from both as well.
Tbh, the country's population is its biggest own enemy, they just keep on giving so much ammunition.
But I do feel your 25 cent rant was a bit over the top.
50 cents is my limit.
There are some amazing local and expat people here, and obviously some extreme scumbags from both as well.
Tbh, the country's population is its biggest own enemy, they just keep on giving so much ammunition.
But I do feel your 25 cent rant was a bit over the top.
50 cents is my limit.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
OP, which country is your next destination where you will be bitching and moaning about pricing on their forum?
The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.(Marx)
- johnnyj
- I Am Losing It All to the Internet
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2013 11:11 am
- Location: NZ / TH / KH / HK / GZ
I defend Cambodia, but most of the things you talk about, and complain about, I solve in a different manner,
for example: you complain about the replacement price of a rental scooter, I agree; its fairly steep (albeit not that steep imho) - however I get around this by owning my own motorcycle and scooter,
if I thought someone colluded to rip me off for a dollar, I wouldn't go back... but that said, most of the shopkeepers and locals I deal on a daily basis near my place are incredibly honest and lovely to deal with, so I will continue to give them my patronage.
for example: you complain about the replacement price of a rental scooter, I agree; its fairly steep (albeit not that steep imho) - however I get around this by owning my own motorcycle and scooter,
if I thought someone colluded to rip me off for a dollar, I wouldn't go back... but that said, most of the shopkeepers and locals I deal on a daily basis near my place are incredibly honest and lovely to deal with, so I will continue to give them my patronage.
-
- MerkinMaker
- Reactions: 62
- Posts: 3232
- Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:04 am
The problem is that you jump straight off the banana boat and expect to be treated like a local, when you clearly have very little understanding of how things work or the language. You think you are being singled out because you are a foreigner, when you are not.
There is no such thing in this country as "the price". The price is whatever someone agrees to pay and it's in the interest for the seller to make that price as high as possible and it's in the interest of the buyer to make that price as low as possible, it's called market rate and it's not unique to Cambodia, it's universal.
If a Cambodian is seen to have no idea about the normal price range for a product, they will also be at a disadvantage in negotiations and either be overcharged or have to go to multiple places to get a feel for what roughly the market rate is, it's equal opportunity you see.
If you want to get the best deal possible, it requires experience. Something you clearly don't have, so stop whining and go earn that experience and stop blaming everyone else for your lack of it.
There is no such thing in this country as "the price". The price is whatever someone agrees to pay and it's in the interest for the seller to make that price as high as possible and it's in the interest of the buyer to make that price as low as possible, it's called market rate and it's not unique to Cambodia, it's universal.
If a Cambodian is seen to have no idea about the normal price range for a product, they will also be at a disadvantage in negotiations and either be overcharged or have to go to multiple places to get a feel for what roughly the market rate is, it's equal opportunity you see.
If you want to get the best deal possible, it requires experience. Something you clearly don't have, so stop whining and go earn that experience and stop blaming everyone else for your lack of it.
Shouldn't you have fucked off already.
You have been here more than a month now and i haven't seen you bitch about the cost of extending your tourist visa.
Hopefully your next post is you complaining about the visa overstay costs when you leave.
You have been here more than a month now and i haven't seen you bitch about the cost of extending your tourist visa.
Hopefully your next post is you complaining about the visa overstay costs when you leave.
- Phuket2006
- The Internet is my Friend
- Reactions: 99
- Posts: 6985
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:00 am
I see the same thingCheap Backpacker wrote:The feeling I get is that the people on this forum blindly defend Cambodia, especially when it comes to ripoff's and over charging.
As always I will get a few good responses and mostly all flames. But I'm willing to read the few posts who can explain why everybody jumps in to defend Cambodia even though the practices are outright ripping off foreigners.
Why can't the people just simply say, "they have us by the balls" because there is not enough competition? Why defend Cambodia and not just say how it is, they are ripping foreigners off because they can get away with it. Or possibly just admit the truth, Cambodians can give a shit about foreigners and they don't really like you and just want your money. At least in the Thailand forum people there are more honest about the locals and not trying to defend them like they do on this forum.
It makes me wonder if a certain type of person comes to Cambodia that has a certain mentality that makes them want to defend Cambodia. Maybe they somehow want themselves to feel better about living in Cambodia? I don't know, hopefully I will hear a few responses from people who also notice this trend on this forum.
Maybe since I'm not an expat and don't want to live in Cambodia I can look at the situation in Cambodia from a more neutral perspective.
The expat in Cambodia ( well the expat on this forum) seems to think that since they are living in Cambodia therefore they must protect it as they are RESIDENTS and they take it personal. Also most Barangs that live in Cambodia are fairly new there ( by new mean less than 4-8 years) and Jump into defending their new country.
Many of us that live here in Thailand ( over 15 years or so) see things as they are an are not so inclined to defend, what we see, as unfair practices.
as to being, what u call , ripped off< thats the way it is, u cant condemn a seller if he can make an extra $.25-.50 off of a RICH barang ( please dont say ur not, u spent over $1,000 just getting their an can afford to not work for XX amount of days,something a local would never be able to do) vs the 10% markup he gets off a local.
Thats good business
Last edited by Phuket2006 on Tue Feb 03, 2015 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
- ali baba
- "Suit up!"
- Reactions: 12
- Posts: 2982
- Joined: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:46 am
- Location: Equadorian Embassy
The foreigners here are just as bad as the locals, CB. There's an American restaurant here that charges $1.50 for 2 fried eggs and a patron order 1 egg and assumed it would be half that price without asking any of the staff first. He was shocked and appalled to discover the full price was charged when he received the bill.
True story.
True story.
C'mere c'meye
-
- Least Likely to be a Moderator, ever !
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:29 pm
Oh more ammo for CB'S book of yawns.ali baba wrote:The foreigners here are just as bad as the locals, CB. There's an American restaurant here that charges $1.50 for 2 fried eggs and a patron order 1 egg and assumed it would be half that price without asking any of the staff first. He was shocked and appalled to discover the full price was charged when he received the bill.
True story.
As has been mentioned.
There's no such thing as "a price" everything is up for negotiation. Yes, if they think you aren't away of the "general" price. They will try to use that to their advantage, whatever country you're from, which is seen as a completely normal and fair practice. If they think you're knowledgeable, negotiation will be brief or perhaps not occur at all.
As a visitor it's up to you to get an idea of the prices (which will be different in different parts of the country and the types of shops you go to). And to also learn enough of the language to negotiate a price without it descending into an argument. Just holding up two fingers could mean 2,000 riel, $2 or two loaves of bread. You need to do better, and yes, that is entirely your responsibility.
If you think 25c is a rip, wait until you try to do something in a Cambodian law court, then I'll accept complaints about Cambodia's problems, but small change issues with a market trader? Fuck off.
There's no such thing as "a price" everything is up for negotiation. Yes, if they think you aren't away of the "general" price. They will try to use that to their advantage, whatever country you're from, which is seen as a completely normal and fair practice. If they think you're knowledgeable, negotiation will be brief or perhaps not occur at all.
As a visitor it's up to you to get an idea of the prices (which will be different in different parts of the country and the types of shops you go to). And to also learn enough of the language to negotiate a price without it descending into an argument. Just holding up two fingers could mean 2,000 riel, $2 or two loaves of bread. You need to do better, and yes, that is entirely your responsibility.
If you think 25c is a rip, wait until you try to do something in a Cambodian law court, then I'll accept complaints about Cambodia's problems, but small change issues with a market trader? Fuck off.
-
- MerkinMaker
- Reactions: 62
- Posts: 3232
- Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:04 am
Chuck Wow, please change your avatar, I left my epilepsy meds at home.
-
- Cambodia's cheapest charlie
- Reactions: 0
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:40 am
I like this.Chuck Wow wrote:Oh more ammo for CB'S book of yawns.ali baba wrote:The foreigners here are just as bad as the locals, CB. There's an American restaurant here that charges $1.50 for 2 fried eggs and a patron order 1 egg and assumed it would be half that price without asking any of the staff first. He was shocked and appalled to discover the full price was charged when he received the bill.
True story.
I actually don't even look at the menu of western owned restaurants as I know they are way way overpriced for being in a third world country. But I do understand that many older folks have retirement incomes and more money then they can spend and these places cater to them.
However, what doesn't make sense is that the locals should offer the same food at much cheaper prices and put these price gouging westerners out of business. Unless of course the ingredients for some of these more unique foods like hamburgers or pancakes cost more over here to make them charger higher prices, but I seriously doubt this is the case.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 9 Replies
- 3950 Views
-
Last post by newnewnewbie
Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:49 am
-
-
INCEL440 to be the next iteration of the forum!
by ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ » Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:15 am » in Cambodia News - 32 Replies
- 1896 Views
-
Last post by Sonic1
Tue Jun 20, 2023 3:10 pm
-
-
-
Opt-in adult forum and Felgerkarb Friday returns
by Alexandra » Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:45 pm » in Cambodia Speakeasy - 311 Replies
- 50233 Views
-
Last post by Alexandra
Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:30 am
-