Go Go Touts on Bangla Rd

[Arraaghhhh...!!!]

wish that happen...... that would make some changes.....

 

[Cissy]

In this instance, you might as well be in a Halloween suit.

You said yourself, that farang volunteers are NOT to intercede in matters dealing with Thai's.

What're you going to do....go tell the MIB?

 

[Sincity Lin]

It works for me, but always check that they're not following you into the go go bar!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks for the link - I did find it a long time ago, but the title "Owning or leasing a bar on Bangla road" wasn't something I followed up on. I didn't think to look there for updates.

I read most of the early stuff again, then read the end of it a lot more carefully. Sheesh, I didn't/don't know anything about this. I'm sitting here thinking that I posted some very unrealistic thoughts up above, but I also find it hard to believe that 50 to 100 of these touts have been able to buy more power than all the bars. I did read where (for reasons of safety) nobody wants to go up against them. Is there really a "tout mafia" now?

There's that old saying, "if you can't beat 'em, join them". What would happen if bars were to hire their own "touts" with signs listing drinks at the standard prices?

It's funny - until tonight, I never imagined those touts to have anything like "power". I thought they were just out there by themselves, trying to get tourists to go to "their" bar, and earning a commission from those who take them up on their offer. I guess I was way off base.



By the way, I did have a friend who used to work on Soi Sansabai, and who then got a job working at one of the discos, spending a lot of his time hanging out on Bangla Road handing out flyers to get people to come inside. He gave me one - it was for a "free drink". I guess that makes him a "tout". I did go inside, got my drink, didn't have much of it because I really only drink beer, and after half an hour or so I decided I had to leave - was way to noisy for me. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that with any group of people, some are nice, some not. I feel it's wrong to lump all of them into one category and condemn them all because of the actions of some.

 

[Christ alone]

Charlie Sheen knows all about them

 

[Car]

Had a look at a couple of the touts cards last night...on the back of the first one about 40 drinks listed...EVERY single drink 650 baht.

Had a look at another a bit further on...again about 40 drinks listed...cheapest 500 baht up to 750 baht!

These guys can make more in 1 minutes "work" than anyone else...now you know why they are so aggressive and why there are so many of them.

 

[? ??so? ?]

Errrrrrrrr...I think more like they are too embarrassed they got taken in by the scam....and how can they complain anyway when the drinks prices are clearly printed on the back of the touts' card even though they don't get shown them.

 

[Kellzs]

I wish someone would have intervened for my sake!

Not the touts, just cut me off of my whiskey. 55555 :mdr:

(later the next day, I began to notice a rash... 5555)

 

[Pompal 09.]

^ Hmm, I guess when you have a live in porno star ...

 

[LaLa]

Here is a suggestion for on-the-spot education.
A you see an farang being persuaded to follow a tout hand the tourist a small card with an educational statement.

 

[Raliegh Theodore Sakers]

Simon, there's a TON of stuff that's been identified here that tourists ought to be informed about. It would be nice if all this stuff was printed in some kind of handout, which could be distributed at the airport, but who knows if that will ever happen.

You could follow the above advice, and create a flyer that covers the main things you'd want to inform tourists about, and hand it out to people. You could make it even more useful, if the tips were on one side, and a map of Patong on the other.

 

[lippylou]

I've jumped in on page 8 so forgive me if it's already been said........

On my recent February/ March trip at the beach end of Bangla Road just before Soi Easy we were often confronted by up to 8 touts spread out across Bangla.
As somewhat seasoned veterans it wasn't intimidating for us, rather annoying. But for newbies and tourists it could be quite confronting/intimidating.

 

[Lootomenuoups]

I have never had one follow me into a club YET....Like MassMoose said i bet its gona happen to me the next time i come...:intello:

But honestly they dont bother me too much, i mean they all come up to me and ask me the standard question as well as if i want marijuana.. But i think so far for me the good old no thanks with a little smile still works...

It would really put me off going into a club in SD if i was charged 300bt for a drink and i would get really pissed off if i was followed in... I dont mind helping out locals so they get commission because i understand its difficult for them and they dont earn to much cash but if they are annoying thats different...

 

[AHM]

i think it more they dont want the hassle
sure they are pissed to get screwed, say, 1k baht, but doubt anyone wants to go through the hassle of making an official complaint for 1k

 

[Brendon]

On the map of the bars on Bangla road im sure i read a list of do's and don'ts...examples being ALWAYS check the the price of beer BEFORE ordering..people just need to take a minute to read this sort of information that is already out there.

 

[Danielle]

I've never had a problem, avoid eye contact and then simply hold your hand up and shake it slightly as a gesture to say "no" when they approach lets them know that you have no interest. Plus don't stop walking.

Show any sign of interest and they are all over you like a rash.

 

[summer is almost over]

I read warnings like this on the wall of my room in the Stoney Monday hotel on my first visit to Patong.
It suggested friendly non-ripoff bars to drink in, advice on BG's and tuk tuk's
plus a few others.....Not a problem after that.
Maybe other hotels do something similar to help their customers, I dunno, always stay at the same place

 

[Pompal 09.]

If this tout thing doesn't get cleared up soon, it could cost Patong alot of dollars in lost tourist revenue.

You know the old theory....if someone has a positive experience, they tell 3 people........If they have a negative experience, they tell 11 people, who go on & tell more blah blah blah

I wonder if any business owner or concerned local has thought about writing anonymously to the Phuket Gazette, airing their concerns about the shenanigans in Bangla........Would make for a good story, I think.

Edit...
I was gonna mention writing to the Mayor & Tourist Associations........Ya just never know???

 

[billys_office]

Yeah... I always said "no" with a smile and kept walking.

 

[Tothepoint]

Nah, I never say "No", don't smile; just keep walking.

The creeps are not worth acknowledging. They were in action at the beach end of Bangla an hour before sunset the other day. I don't know where they would lead suckers to at that time.