The Great Tuk Tuk Scam
Whoever said the best things in life were free obviously never heard of the great tuk tuk scam.
Tuk tuks are like these weird motor cycle/open car hybrid vehicles that once were relevant means of getting around Bangkok but have since become less popular due to taxi's and public transportation. However, all the European idiots who frequent the place are so enamored with tuk tuks that their presence single-handedly keeps the tuk tuks in business. Apparently they find them quite quaint, and tuk tuk driver's use this to their advantage in scamming the fuck out of these clueless travelers.
Imagine you are a tourist and looking to do some shopping. Chances are you'll come across a tuk tuk driver who will charge you an insanely low price to take you to some shopping destination. Like maybe they'll offer to take you somewhere for 80 baht, but if you say no they'll change it to 10 baht. Then, once you pay, they'll lie to your face, say the place you want to go to is closed and that they know some place that is having a one day only sale for foreigners (srsly). And you, being the clueless tourist you are, go along with it! So they take you to this place that is having this fake one day only sale for foreigners, and the people there pressure you into buying shit that they claim is on sale but is really overpriced. Most of the time this winds up in the store making a sale and the tuk tuk driver getting a fat ass commission.
MaryAnn and I knew good and hell well about the great tuk tuk scam, but we got scammed anyway. Actually, can you really call it being scammed if you know you're being scammed? With her leg hurting so bad she wasn't trying to really walk anywhere our first night back in Bangkok, and there were a million and one tuk tuk drivers parked outside our hostel just waiting to pounce on all the foreigners in there as soon as they stepped out. One guy offered to take us to a restaurant for 10 baht...So we went. And when we got there the owner or whatever was hella quick to great us and seat us. This restaurant, by the way, was filled with nothing but foreigners. And, as we sat waiting for our food, we noticed tuk tuk after tuk tuk pull up with foreigners inside. Yup...we were watching the tuk tuk scam in full effect.
Thailand is a good place to visit and the people there are mad nice and hospitable. But know that if you are in Bangkok in any area that is highly frequented by tourists do no trust anybody. Because more than likely they are after your money and not trying to be benevolent.