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Naive Travelers Pay $200 for Snack in India
It's one of those tricks you learn in "How to Rip off Travelers 101": act friendly, provide food or a service and then reveal that you are charging an exorbitant price. The traveler is at a disadvantage because they have already used the service or eaten the food. In general, they will pay all, or at least a major portion, of the price you are asking. This is what happened to a Dutch couple recently in the Indian state of Bihar. They enjoyed some samosas (spicy, fried dumpling-like snacks), which usually cost well under $1 ($1=49 rupees). When they were finished, the proprietor of the market stall demanded payment of 10,000 rupees (just over $200). He claimed that the samosas were made with rare herbs that were natural aphrodisiacs. After arguing, the couple paid. It was an expensive but valuable lesson, right? Except that the couple went to the local police station and complained. The police made the samosa-maker return the money, except for 10 rupees, the actually price of the snacks.
[Via Reuters]
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Filed under: Food and Drink, Stories, India
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
arex Nov 17th 2008 2:23PM
spicy! I wish I would have been able to do the same when I was in Prague, eating in the Old Town Square. Annoying how restaurants like to swindle foreign patrons and often use the 'lost in translation' card.
Any other people have experience on how to avoid getting swindled due to supposed language barriers? Sure makes a nice vacation turn sour real quick.
Gary Nov 19th 2008 9:31AM
Arex,
There is an easy way to prevent getting ripped off in a foreign country. Take a vacation in the USA !!!
John Nov 19th 2008 9:57AM
Agree on the price before you do anything. Don't be the naive traveler. Stand your ground.
arex Nov 19th 2008 11:12AM
I totally agree. It was one of those things where on the very fine print of the menu it said to the aspect of: "20% Gratuity is added to the price of the meal."
The argument was whether it was already included or it was in addition to the price of the meal. Our waiter wanted to include it on top of the meal, whereas other foreigners nearby us did not have to pay this. After several minutes of arguing, they adjusted the bill sans extra gratuity.
Miffed.
LNF Nov 20th 2008 8:13AM
I brush up on the language spoken in the place where I'm going to travel. (When people visit the U.S., we expect for them to speak English to us.) This cuts down on the amount of people that read "Swindle Me" on my shirt.
PINAY Nov 19th 2008 7:02AM
Our family went to Sistine Chapel in Rome 2 years ago...It was a 2 hour line before we got in and saw the museum and of course the Sistine Chapel....We went to a restaurant across and had our pizza and soda....When we got our bill, we were charged 4.00 euro for a can of soda and 10.00 euro for spaghettie which we didn't order...And of course, we didn't pay for the spaghetti but complained about the outrageous price of the soda....So when I saw a group came in looking for seats, I told them "this place is a ripoff" and they left....
Amy Nov 19th 2008 8:11AM
Sodas cost more in Europe, so does bottled water and the tap water isn't the best to drink. When you plan a trip abroad, prepare for higher food costs. Check the menu posted outside the door before you go in. If you are on a budget, but bread, fruit, cheese and bottled water at the small grocery stores and have a picnic in the park. If in doubt about the price, ask how much before you order. If the wait staff won't tell you, excuse yourself and leave.
madsahader Nov 19th 2008 8:13AM
Don't think it's just in other countries or just at the Sistine Chapel, tourist ripoffs are no further than your own backyard. While the situation has greatly improved at most airports since national chains started opening outlets, I can remember refusing to pay four bucks for a hotdog at my local airport TWENTY YEARS ago when that four bucks would be at least ten today. If there is no competition there is no incentive to compete.
DothRightThingKW Nov 19th 2008 8:54AM
It's not just in other countries. Here in the US, in the Southernmost City (Key West) there are many, many really shady tshirt shops on Duval Street that will charge on the credit card of an unsuspecting foreign tourist up to $750 for a tshirt. It's outrageous and if caught, these people get in trouble. But how many are never caught? Who knows.
AND the City seems to be unable to do anything to stop these dirtbags. If they close up shop in one location, move two doors down, they get a new city license.
madsahader Nov 19th 2008 8:55AM
AND, have you been to a movie theatre lately? The last time I ordered a coke and a bucket of popcorn, it was ten bucks. Since when did a one dollar bar of candy cost $4.50? It's called a captive audience and when there are signs prohibiting outside food or drink it's a true monopoly which translates to FORTY BUCKS for a family of four to consume four cokes (not even refillable) and a dollars worth of popcorn.
rezrugger Nov 19th 2008 9:28AM
did you know that the movie theater makes NO money off of the movies? Their overhead must be covered by people buying their snacks.
Kate Nov 19th 2008 12:26PM
I recently read an article on distribution of films. The theater actually makes very little on the movies and theaters depend upon revenue from the snack bar. Personally, I think theater chains should unite and change the policy, but when a movie first comes out, the distributor of the movie takes most the money from the sale of tickets. By the time the movie has been out for three weeks, the theater then starts to generate revenue. If a film is gone in the first two weeks, the theater makes nothing. Knowing this, I feel a little better about why I'm paying a huge price for soft drinks and candy.
mike Nov 19th 2008 12:37PM
Two reasons not to go to the movies. And now I don't have to feel sorry for these butt-heads (the studios AND theatre owners) when they cry about bootleg videos from China.
madsahader Nov 19th 2008 8:56AM
To further expound upon my previous post, you should not also always blame the propriator of the establishment, but rather the museum or airport he rents space from. The one and only vendor at the local airport won his monopoly by bidding for the space and, since I read the newspapers, I was aware that our glorius politicians were guilty of price gouging for the space on the very grounds that the winner would have a monopoly.
S. Evans Nov 19th 2008 9:43AM
Theaters in the USA are THE WORST!!! When my husband and I went to the movies last weekend, the ticket lady saw my drink that I had in my hand from a fast food place where we had gotten a quick meal. She said, "We don't allow outside foods in the theater." I said, "well I'm not going to toss it out, I just bought it." She stood there and looked at me, and I just went on into the theater...What was she going to do, call the police and have me removed from the theater??? I don't think so. AND, when I go next time, I will just carry my larger purse and take in a drink and popcorn...When theaters start charging even $5.00 for a drink and popcorn, which is the RIGHT PRICE to charge, people won't bring in their own drinks & food. All in favor, raise your hands.. Case closed.
bree Nov 19th 2008 12:41PM
wow...you bullied the poor person working the counter. you should be proud. that person is not responsible for making the rules, only being stuck to face to rude patrons. it's common knowledge you can't bring in food and drink to a movie theater.
here's a suggestion...if you don't want to face the prices of these services, don't use them!! no one is forcing you to go to the movies. yes, they are too expensive but i'll wager you knew it before you walked in the door.
don't put the person (most often some poor teenage) behind the counter in the position of dealing with your cheapness or rudeness. they're just trying to make a buck.
sulaymaan1 Nov 20th 2008 8:14AM
I always sneak in my food they can't check you. Just take a large bag. Last time my wife and I snuck in chinese food. My wife and I always sneak in food to the movies from a restaurant. Only thing is people start looking around wondering where that good smell is coming from. One couple that sat next us asked us where get that from in here. She told them you can't find this in here, just get a bigger purse and stop by the restaurant before the going to the movies.
Nathan Nov 19th 2008 9:58AM
Avoiding a ripoff is simple in both the US and in a foreign country. Never order anything you don't know the price of first.
Polly Nov 19th 2008 9:58AM
One word Alllllllllllll ripoffs !
Bryan Nov 19th 2008 10:11AM
I was in Mexico and ate at the Rainforest Cafe. After finishing my $35 meal, I realized that I only had hundreds. I gave the waiter a $100 bill. My mistake. After 30 minutes I went looking for him and found my bill was paid but my change left with senor rip off! I was mad, but that was my fault. Make sure you have close to correct change before giving it to someone that doesn't make that much a week. The manager promised to send me the change, but after 9 years I've yet to receive my money. He probably took it for himself. lol