USA Joe, If an accident involved drunken Lao youths then their age comes into play, whether they are legal to ride/drive. Then they investigate who caused the accident.

In a worst case scenario, that is if some gets killed as a result of a road accident, the rider/driver of the other vehicle must spend some time in jail by law, even if he/she didn't cause the accident.  

Why don't you buy things? Even if they cheat you for 10 cents over the actual price, there's no harm done.

USA Joe, The vendor cheats on everyone, including the locals. They alway try to make as much profit as they can, so you have to bargain. That's part of life in Laos.

If you and I bought the same item, you may have got it at a cheaper price because you negotiated with them better than I did.

USA Joe, Fair or not fair is not the issue. Their product/service, they have the right to sell it for any price they wish.
 
Laos is not everyone's cup of tea. If Laos seems so primitive then maybe you need to rule it out as your next travel destination.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 13^th Aug, 2010 at 8:32am:


actually i already establish fact that it is their right to sell their items. just as it is mine to buy or not. that was posted 3 messages above, u may have missed it.

but its crazy and unfair for them to change price for different person.
that just proves the notion that there is no equality for everyone. primitive. but true.

dont worry. i wont let these way of life interrupt my visit to lao. i'm looking forward to time traveling to 1950 usa (back when usa was unfair) because that is modern lao

USA Joe. Thailand are civilized, and developed but they are worse with pricing and riping off farang tourist. Becareful they might charge you extra dollars or couple quarter in Laos.

Lao Lan Xang, You have a good point regarding the pricing in Thailand and the US.  


USA Joe, I didn't miss anything. I am well aware of your rights as a buyer, but please don't go walking away believing that they cheated on you due to being a foreigner because we are all in the same boat, and it comes down to how well you negotiate. Some places in Laos have fixed prices, such as a small supermarket.

I'm sure that if I visited the USA, certain situations will seem crazy and unfair to me. It's called "culture shock", and that's what you will be experiencing in Laos.

And by the way, I hope that picture of you in a Buddhist monk robe is just a rehearsal because beard and earrings are not allowed.

llX wrote on 13^th Aug, 2010 at 10:18pm:


i rather get charged and ripped off the same as the next person. it's call fair treatment to everyone. everyone gets the same price regardless of age/sex/race/beauty.

and u are wrong:  i can agree to pay or not and leave. never forced to buy.

USA Joe, But not monks in Laos.