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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 3 of 3)
Daniel Nov 20th 2008 1:07AM
There is a 1000% markup on movie popcorn. It costs them .004 cents per bag, but is sold at $4 a bag However, its part of doing business. A movie 25 years old, (like the Rocky Horror Picture Show) costs the movie theatre $100+ per week, for a 1 night showing (Saturday night). Minimum of four weeks kept, after that it begins to go down. How many showings do you have to show of a 25 yr old movie to make your cash back of $400-$500 per month.
Is is the Movie theatre's fault? No, not really. Part of it is Hollywood, but hey, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Tim Curry deserve their money for it being shown too.
Over charging food at Amusement parks? Imagine the cost of equipment, staff, electricity, supplies, insurance, at those places.
Another crock is 'insurance', especially the insurance at a Rental Car.
$99.00 for a weekend..
However, if you add in the additional coverage that is $100.00 a day, (which they just tell you, "Its 100 dollars), at the end of the trip you find out you owe $400.00 for a weekend trip.
oser Nov 19th 2008 10:25PM
# 21 JAY
I agree with you, totaly. I have been ripped off more in the USA than in any other place on earth. I travel constantly and it never fails the corruption your country has and taken a person for dumb because the
english is not that good. Crooks and disshonest people are all over the world, they are just more in action in the USA.
Janie Nov 19th 2008 11:01PM
On one trip to Ireland, we stopped in London so my daughter could see some historical sights. We went to a nice hotel for dinner (nice for England; assuming you like mushy, waterlogged, overcooked food) (Irish food is great; Irish lamb is always pink whereas English meat is cooked until it's not edible) and when they brought the bill I put my visa card down and looked at the bill and there was no total, not even individual charges/amounts. I asked the waitress what was going on (yes, I'd priced the menu before ordering) and she said, "oh, you just have to sign it and we'll add it up later". I said " I don't think so". Stupidest attempt at scamming I've ever seen.
Syed N. Sarwar Nov 20th 2008 10:55PM
Traveler need to be careful by asking the cost before the use of any service. I paid euro 15 for a 15 minute call to Karachi from a 4 star Paris Hotel but had to pay euro 168 in Frankfurt for same duration and city.