One of my male friend's is opening self defense center in Bangkok. His specialty is the hand on/practical type of training and he has classes for women and children.
He is considered highly qualified in this area and has excellent programs.
The problem/issue is this.
He is not doing this for profit but would like not to lose money also-how does he have a fair pricing system that allows everyone to benefit.
He/we are very keen that this training is available for both locals and non-locals.
If he were to charge locals and foreigners the same fee it basically means that most local's could not afford it.
I suggested a sort of scholarship program where the fee is waived for earnest locals and also foreigner's .
But mainly local's.
I suppose this just my way of being able to adjust a fee based on race!
As I two sets of mixed parents from different European and eastern heritage I can hardly be called a racist, but I am wondering about my idea.
What does TV members think? is this a racist policy, any other idea's of how to deal with this issue please?
thanks
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Am I Advotacting A Racist Policy In Thailand?
Started by ourmaninbangers, 2009-02-02 20:29
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35 replies to this topic
#2
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-02-02 20:32:28
If it based on nationality/race alone, yes it is racist. If it is based on other things such as student discount, age discount, lower income discount, it is not racist. You are on to something with the scholarship program if you are serious about offering it to non-Thais who are poorer. That would be both compassionate and not racist, if you were also willing to give the same break to a qualified non-Thai.
However, if you give a Thai discount to Thaksin's daughter, does that make sense? As a way of expanding on this, the Central Food Hall just opened in Pattaya. It is the most expensive grocery in town. The majority of people filling up their carts there at my recent visit were Thai people. In other words, being Thai does not mean you are poor and not being Thai does not make you rich. All that said, if you want to have a racist pricing policy here, you will have lots of company. Most farangs will agree with you that they are richer, and many Thais will appreciate the "discount" they get. So from a business point of view, not sure it will really hurt you. Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-02 20:50:48. #3
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 20:35:20
Remember that Thai is not a race; there are many Caucasian Thais and Indian Thais, etc. Thailand did not even exist 100 years ago! Why not go with a sliding scale, fee based on ability to pay? Seems fair.
#5
SmugFarangBore
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-02 20:47:58
there are many Caucasian Thais No there isn't. #6
jtp
Boating member Posted 2009-02-02 20:52:14
One of my male friend's is opening self defense center in Bangkok. His specialty is the hand on/practical type of training and he has classes for women and children. He is considered highly qualified in this area and has excellent programs. The problem/issue is this. He is not doing this for profit but would like not to lose money also-how does he have a fair pricing system that allows everyone to benefit. He/we are very keen that this training is available for both locals and non-locals. If he were to charge locals and foreigners the same fee it basically means that most local's could not afford it. I suggested a sort of scholarship program where the fee is waived for earnest locals and also foreigner's . But mainly local's. I suppose this just my way of being able to adjust a fee based on race! As I two sets of mixed parents from different European and eastern heritage I can hardly be called a racist, but I am wondering about my idea. What does TV members think? is this a racist policy, any other idea's of how to deal with this issue please? thanks Hey,if your friend does get this up and running,be sure to put a link in your personal profile page,as i would be interested in it for my daughter...  (Paying customer,not freebies)  And i'm sure others would be interested also.
#7
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 20:53:09
there are many Caucasian Thais No there isn't. Edited by jumnien, 2009-02-02 20:54:41. #8
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-02-02 20:58:49 Quote There are many Thais who are of many races. Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-02 21:00:52. #9
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:03:00
"some kind of Asian people" sounds like a rather broad group of people to me and inclusive of many cultures, nationalities and races and most importantly, a majority of mixed-race individuals.
#10
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-02-02 21:07:11
"some kind of Asian people" sounds like a rather broad group of people to me and inclusive of many cultures, nationalities and races and most importantly, a majority of mixed-race individuals. #11
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:15:23
"some kind of Asian people" sounds like a rather broad group of people to me and inclusive of many cultures, nationalities and races and most importantly, a majority of mixed-race individuals. #12
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-02-02 21:18:22 Quote This is an incredibly diverse population Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-02 21:20:20. #13
ourmaninbangers
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:24:36
can we put aside semantics for once
he just wants a fair system of pricing that allows everyone to train regardless of where they are from/what they are, etc #14
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:27:00
I think the problem is that in the last 60 or so years of propaganda the "Thais" have been led to believe that they indeed exist for nationalistic reasons. The arbitrariness of the borders has been swept under the carpet and nationalistic hymns fabricated to justify all sorts of bizarre alliances on one hand and false delineations on the other. We agree more than disagree. Besides, I am truly a loafer, inbred from a long lineage of loafers; please love me.
#15
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-02-02 21:29:00
I do see a possible cultural problem with the scholarship idea. Say a middle class Thai wants a discount. You are asking him to prove need. Isn't there a face problem with this. Here I am, I don't have money (when he does have money). Would you ask him to prove his poverty? There is a chance that could backfire and lose potential business. If you go with a scholarship that is open to all, I think you'll need some expert cultural advise on how to implement this in a way that doesn't offend local cultural expectations.
Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-02 21:29:32. #16
SmugFarangBore
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:32:47
there are many Caucasian Thais No there isn't. Yes, you're right. Thanks for the correction. I don't have a meagre existence as an English teacher so I tend to forget what I was myself taught in school. It was a while ago now. Ok then, no there aren't. 
#17
jumnien
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:40:59
From each, according to their ability; to each, according to their need. Sounds simple, doesn't it. In Amerika, we quite often priced things according to race. If you were black you paid this much, if you were latino you paid this, if you were white but smart enough to claim your great aunt was Cochise or Shawnee you paid this, and if you were stupid enough to admit you were white you paid full fare. I agree with the RealDeal here, you won't have much success going this route here in Thailand. Be creative and good luck.
#18
samuibeachcomber
Platinum Member Posted 2009-02-02 21:41:42
if the guy is n't after a profit but wants to cover costs,as a business person he will have to work out how many patrons he needs at what price to cover those costs.he should work on same price for all,lowest fee possible.for example at 100baht per person per lesson,how many patrons would he need.start from there.i go to a gym,its 100 baht for all,thai,farang etc.
#19
sassienie
Intelligent Member Posted 2009-02-03 00:18:09
One of my male friend's is opening self defense center in Bangkok. His specialty is the hand on/practical type of training and he has classes for women and children. He is considered highly qualified in this area and has excellent programs. The problem/issue is this. He is not doing this for profit but would like not to lose money also-how does he have a fair pricing system that allows everyone to benefit. He/we are very keen that this training is available for both locals and non-locals. If he were to charge locals and foreigners the same fee it basically means that most local's could not afford it. I suggested a sort of scholarship program where the fee is waived for earnest locals and also foreigner's . But mainly local's. I suppose this just my way of being able to adjust a fee based on race! As I two sets of mixed parents from different European and eastern heritage I can hardly be called a racist, but I am wondering about my idea. What does TV members think? is this a racist policy, any other idea's of how to deal with this issue please? thanks You say your friend (or you) is not doing this for profit, meaning he would be happy just to break even. So while this out of the goodness of the heart training is going on, how does he gain income in Thailand for the cost of living expenses, Visa etc? And the answer to the question, what to charge according to race, than if profit is not involved, make membership fees the same for all, perhaps have seperate price tariffs for children & adults. This is easy because it only requires a cheap empty room for these activities and the skills of the trainer. Edited by sassienie, 2009-02-03 00:26:27. #20
mrcree007
Advanced Member Posted 2009-02-03 00:52:41
if the guy is n't after a profit but wants to cover costs,as a business person he will have to work out how many patrons he needs at what price to cover those costs.he should work on same price for all,lowest fee possible.for example at 100baht per person per lesson,how many patrons would he need.start from there.i go to a gym,its 100 baht for all,thai,farang etc. i agree with samuibeachcomber. it ist rocket science is it... #21
Sabum
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-03 01:07:22
It depends on your neighbourhood also. If you are in a upper scale neighbourhood you will get middle to high income thais almost exclusively (for the Thai clients). You really think they need a discount?
#22
dinthailand
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-03 07:51:14
Remember that Thai is not a race; there are many Caucasian Thais and Indian Thais, etc. Thailand did not even exist 100 years ago! Why not go with a sliding scale, fee based on ability to pay? Seems fair. oh dear! i think you need to widen your reading before posting. #23
geeky
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-03 07:52:51
do it like the national parks: prices for Thai's and non-Thai's
-> anybody who can show a workpermit also get Thai prices #24
easyride
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-03 16:34:03
Thais are rascist as hel_l and your dual pricing policy is just that no matter that a 'friend' gets a scholarship. Dual pricing is unfair, how would you screen the 'poor' foreigner to ensure he gets lower rates? As has been pointed out, would Thaksin's daughter need a discount? Sounds to me like you're just trying to make the most money possible despite what you say about non-profit.
#25
djlest
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-03 17:00:00
I personally think that any dual pricing despite race or 'who is richer or poorer' is still discriminating, no matter what angle you look at it with...
Just set ONE price Make it VALUE for money and dont discriminate or even consider who is richer or poor, has no arms, no legs, no brains etc. Make it a low price for all - and set a GOOD example to your fellow Thais and peers Then offer a kick ass service and really deliver! Do this and you will do Great! you will get double the customers, make great word of mouth, set a good example and prove you are non discriminatory to rich, poor, black, white, etc. Personally if i was poor and i saw that i had to tell you i was poor to get the LOW price (id feel a loss of face and respect if 80% class was paying higher rates) If the whole world offered value for money and forgot about discrimiating, or dual pricing, or trying to milk every tom for what they could afford based on their background, deficiencies, creed, eduaction etc. Wouldnt that be good Karma for your business... Wouldnt it be nice to exist as equal And yes Taksins daughter was paying the same price as the guy with no shirt or shoes, why not? EQUALITY = QUALITY |
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