Buying things in Thailand can be a challenge to noobies in the Land of Smiles. Sure, you can point and gesture and type prices on a calculator, but that will only get you the special \u2018farang price\u2019 . . . You can always purchase based on the price tag, but many sellers are willing to go lower if otherwise they\u2019d lose the sale. Most of these sellers are professional sellers, so you won\u2019t be able to out-smart them. But I\u2019ve found that if your Thai is good enough, you can smooth-talk a lower price.<\/p>\n
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I remember once a long time ago back when I was still new to speaking Thai. I had tried my hand at bargaining for a lower price. It was my first attempt at bargaining, and I decided to bargain 20% lower. But I accidentally got my numbers confused and asked for a price 60% lower . . . three seconds later he said yes, which was about the time I needed to realize that I mis-spoke and just got the deal of a life-time. Well, it was just a pair of green shorts, and I only saved like $5, but I was a dirt poor fresh graduate without a job back in those days . . .<\/p>\n
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Anyway, here is a list of a few phrases that will help you purchase stuff like a pro.<\/p>\n
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How much is this?<\/p>\n
\u0e40\u0e17\u0e48\u0e32\u0e44\u0e23\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a tow3rai1 krap4<\/p>\n
\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e19\u0e19\u0e35\u0e49\u0e40\u0e17\u0e48\u0e32\u0e44\u0e23\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a an1nee4 tow3rai1 krap4<\/p>\n
\u0e01\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e17\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a gee2 baat2 krap4<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s very expensive!<\/p>\n
\u0e41\u0e1e\u0e07\u0e21\u0e32\u0e01\u0e40\u0e25\u0e22 paeng1 maak3 loy1<\/p>\n
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Can you lower the price?<\/p>\n
\u0e25\u0e14\u0e23\u0e32\u0e04\u0e32\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e48\u0e2d\u0e22\u0e44\u0e14\u0e49\u0e44\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a? lod1 raa1kaa1 noy2 dai3 mai5 krap4<\/p>\n
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Do you have this in size X?<\/p>\n
\u0e21\u0e35\u0e44\u0e0b\u0e0b\u0e4c______\u0e44\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a? mee1 sii1 ______ mai5 krap4<\/p>\n
\u0e43\u0e2b\u0e0d\u0e48 yai2<\/p>\n
\u0e40\u0e25\u0e47\u0e01 lek4<\/p>\n
\u0e2a\u0e32\u0e21\u0e2a\u0e34\u0e1a\u0e2a\u0e2d\u0e07 saam3 sib2 sawng5 (this is a number, like size 32 for example)<\/p>\n
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Do you have this in color Y? (see this blog post to learn about Thai colors<\/a>)<\/p>\n \u0e21\u0e35\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e19\u0e19\u0e35\u0e49\u0e40\u0e1b\u0e47\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e35______\u0e44\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a? mee1 an1 nee4 bpen1 see5 _______ mai5 krap4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you sell XX?<\/p>\n \u0e02\u0e32\u0e22_____\u0e44\u0e2b\u0e21\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a? kaay5 _______ mai5 krap4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where can I buy YY?<\/p>\n \u0e1c\u0e21\u0e0b\u0e37\u0e49\u0e2d_____\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e44\u0e2b\u0e19\u0e14\u0e35\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a? pom5 sue4 _______ tee3 nai5 dee1 krap4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019d like to buy Z of them.<\/p>\n \u0e02\u0e2d_____\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e1a kaw5 _______ an1 krap4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In that last example, I\u2019d like to make a mention that everything you buy has different \u2018unit words<\/a>\u2019 associated with them. If you are a beginner and want to keep it simple, use \u0e2d\u0e31\u0e19. 80% of the time it won\u2019t be correct, but you\u2019ll easily be understood no problem.<\/p>\n Since we are on the subject of Thai markets, here is a video of one . . .
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