1. He Haggles The Set Menu
There’s a golden piece of advice littered across Thai travel forums that goes like this:
“Be prepared to haggle on prices. The Thais will respect you for it.”
Fair enough, but Sweet Mother of Jesus, can we learn some timing in here?
You see, there’s a time and a place to haggle.
In markets
In business
Before signing any contract
The time and place to haggle is not — as I witnessed yesterday morning — in Au Bon Pain, over a 95 baht bagel.
“Can you do it with the coffee for 120?”
“Sorry?” *smiley face*
“Can I have the bagel and coffee for 120 baht?”
“Sorry sir…” *points at menu*
Most astonishingly of all, the guy was somehow offended by this adherence to pricing — you know, in a clearly-franchised American coffee chain.
Can I get some extra baggage allowance for your common sense, sir?