I have been coming to Goa for quite a fews years now, so you would have thought that I would have gained a bit of knowledge of how things work out here. When you buy something you always barter for the price you are happy with, if you want a service you ask what the charge will be then you decide if it is acceptable. But when you think you know the cost of something like I did today and you dont barter or even ask the price, you get annoyed when the price you are charged has risen by 40%. Not only has the price increased, it is actually 350% over what a local would pay and there has been no increase for the local people. So forgive me for moaning over an issue which some people might find trivial. What I am moaning about, well would you believe the cost of a gents haircut. A local haircut for a man is 20 rupees, as a foreigner I have been paying 50 rupees, which I know is very very cheap compared to the UK. Now the rate charged at my regular barbers was 70 rupees and I was told this when I handed him my 50 rupees after I had my hair cut. So I was not a happy chappie bearing in mind that I have used this guy for quite a few years and so do my sons. I just dont like being taken advantage of just because I am a foreigner and the fact I thought I knew the guy well enough to call a friend. Next time I shall go to another barbers who I know charge 50 rupees for a haircut (well at the moment they do).
Is it just me or do other people get annoyed at the prices being charged.
(Sorry again for the moan)
are you really moaning that you had to pay 90 pence for a haircut instead of 60 pence. they are well aware that we can afford to fly round the world to far flung places, goans can only dream of going on an aeroplane, so foreigners are charged a different rate to locals. everything you buy in goa is hiked up 300 or 400 % more than what a local pays. the taxi drivers are really good at it, charging 100 rps when the official rate is 5 rps p/km. we are happy to pay 80 rps for a beer out there when some indians only earn this in a day. if our money helps them to get a better life then we shouldn't moan when we have paid a few pence too much. you can hardly call it being ripped off!!
Philf - I do agree with your points. Very well put.
I do understand why suckSeed may feel disappointed. I suppose another point to consider is that the enconomy is changing for everyone, times are hard for everyone. Higher prices were to be expected. Also alot of tourist hotspots have local and tourists prices.
I do understand why suckSeed may feel disappointed. I suppose another point to consider is that the enconomy is changing for everyone, times are hard for everyone. Higher prices were to be expected. Also alot of tourist hotspots have local and tourists prices.
I can see where both of you are coming from and agree with both BUT....
I go to Goa not only because I fell in love with the place but because it is so cheap to get there and then stay there. It has been for the past 5 years my only holiday and I hate to think that there is a possiblity of not being able to afford it one day. Prices have gone up for flights/holidays this year and now the local prices.
So everything is relevant to what you may or may not earn over here. I have a friend who goes and pays OTT for taxis, rarely haggles and still sees it as cheap but she has no dependents and earns a very good wage.
The exchange rate is not good at the moment, and while it is still cheap compared to here I hope it doesn't drop any further.
I go to Goa not only because I fell in love with the place but because it is so cheap to get there and then stay there. It has been for the past 5 years my only holiday and I hate to think that there is a possiblity of not being able to afford it one day. Prices have gone up for flights/holidays this year and now the local prices.
So everything is relevant to what you may or may not earn over here. I have a friend who goes and pays OTT for taxis, rarely haggles and still sees it as cheap but she has no dependents and earns a very good wage.
The exchange rate is not good at the moment, and while it is still cheap compared to here I hope it doesn't drop any further.
SuckSeed wrote:I have been coming to Goa for quite a fews years now, so you would have thought that I would have gained a bit of knowledge of how things work out here. When you buy something you always barter for the price you are happy with, if you want a service you ask what the charge will be then you decide if it is acceptable. But when you think you know the cost of something like I did today and you dont barter or even ask the price, you get annoyed when the price you are charged has risen by 40%. Not only has the price increased, it is actually 350% over what a local would pay and there has been no increase for the local people. So forgive me for moaning over an issue which some people might find trivial. What I am moaning about, well would you believe the cost of a gents haircut. A local haircut for a man is 20 rupees, as a foreigner I have been paying 50 rupees, which I know is very very cheap compared to the UK. Now the rate charged at my regular barbers was 70 rupees and I was told this when I handed him my 50 rupees after I had my hair cut. So I was not a happy chappie bearing in mind that I have used this guy for quite a few years and so do my sons. I just dont like being taken advantage of just because I am a foreigner and the fact I thought I knew the guy well enough to call a friend. Next time I shall go to another barbers who I know charge 50 rupees for a haircut (well at the moment they do).
Is it just me or do other people get annoyed at the prices being charged.
(Sorry again for the moan)
The point is it's not the money it's the principal of it.Why should there be a two tier pricing system just because you can afford it.If the same thing happened in the uk it would be called racist.
John
I agree with SuckSeed ........it is none other than racist. If an Indian tourist come over to london and went to the Tower of london and was charged £5 to get in and everyone who lives in the uk got in for £1 what do you think this would be called .......(RACISM) ..when went to the Taj Mahal last november we had to pay 500 rupees to get in and the Indians paid 50 rupees this is just not fair at all .....its not about how much you can afford or how much you earn it should be the same price for every one and not about the colour of your skin or where you come from ...colleen
A pint of lager in wetherspoons is 2 quid but in my local its 3 quid, is this racism? no its commercialism, My local minicab firm charges 3 quid for a fare, but in london you are going to pay a tenner, is this racism towards londoners?
I think to call it racism is a little strong.
I think to call it racism is a little strong.
Perhaps from the business owners' point of view as they are expecting fewer tourists this season and therefore, to make up for the possible loss of earnings, they are putting up their prices. They therefore feel that putting up their prices is acceptable because the season lasts approximately 6 months, and also as the locals earn very little they cannot be expected to pay the higher prices.
I am not saying that I agree to the price increases because last season when we went twice, we noticed the prices had increased each time and the quality and quantity of the food had in some cases deteriorated to the point we felt we were having the p*ss taken out of us.
I am not saying that I agree to the price increases because last season when we went twice, we noticed the prices had increased each time and the quality and quantity of the food had in some cases deteriorated to the point we felt we were having the p*ss taken out of us.
Philf wrote 
It might be too strong a word philf your right there... but I still cant for the love of me see why they can charge two different prices for the same thing to me that is just not right but then again that is IMO......
I think to call it racism is a little strong.
It might be too strong a word philf your right there... but I still cant for the love of me see why they can charge two different prices for the same thing to me that is just not right but then again that is IMO......
i have to agree colleen, its not right...
adele victoria do you mean you agree with me .in what I am saying
sorry hun yes... having a blond moment...
Philf the point is your pint in wetherspoons is £2 for everybody not just the locals also when prices in the uk go up 6% most people fell robbed cause inflation is only running at say 2.5% what if they went up 100% 200% 300% just because your a tourist come on people dont let these people rip you off.slan(cheers)
"All",
I think we are going to hear a few more rip off stories before the season ends and I bet the taxi drivers will be in there somewhere...jxk8
I think we are going to hear a few more rip off stories before the season ends and I bet the taxi drivers will be in there somewhere...jxk8
In repsonse to Colleens comments, I am sure there are some parts of Gt britain where the locals can go in museums etc free but outsiders have to pay.
Surely in the case of the taj mahal, if Indian nationals pay towards its upkeep then its only fair that they should get preferential prices.
On the other hand it must be really annoying to know that you are being taken advantage of, but surely this applies to almost all services in Goa.
I really doubt that paying prices double or treble what the local pays has any real detriment to tourism as the prices are still far below what we would pay at home.
Just as a comparison re the barbers, I had my hair cut in Bitez and was charged 40 lira (£20), but it did include a facial wax !! (I chickened out on the brazilian), at home I pay £7.
Regarding holiday prices for next year,(2010) a quick look through the new brochures suggests that prices have gone up by a fair bit, so even looking at lesser hotels than the Phoenix Park it still looks like being dearer than the one we have booked for February.
Surely in the case of the taj mahal, if Indian nationals pay towards its upkeep then its only fair that they should get preferential prices.
On the other hand it must be really annoying to know that you are being taken advantage of, but surely this applies to almost all services in Goa.
I really doubt that paying prices double or treble what the local pays has any real detriment to tourism as the prices are still far below what we would pay at home.
Just as a comparison re the barbers, I had my hair cut in Bitez and was charged 40 lira (£20), but it did include a facial wax !! (I chickened out on the brazilian), at home I pay £7.
Regarding holiday prices for next year,(2010) a quick look through the new brochures suggests that prices have gone up by a fair bit, so even looking at lesser hotels than the Phoenix Park it still looks like being dearer than the one we have booked for February.
A pint of lager in wetherspoons is 2 quid but in my local its 3 quid, is this racism? no its commercialism, My local minicab firm charges 3 quid for a fare, but in london you are going to pay a tenner, is this racism towards londoners?
If you walked into Wetherspoons and bought a pint for £2.00 but the person next to you was charged £1.00 for exactley the same item would you not complain?????
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