When you live in rural Isaan and need work done or services, you will get quoted a price.
If you do not immediately reply with an OK or make a face like it is to much, they will always ask you, “How much do you want to pay”?
This happened today when we were negotiating a whole house solar system.
The installer gave us a price and I did not say anything.
Then he looked at my wife and asked “How much do you want to pay”?
The price ended up 50,000 thb lower than his original low quote and we made a deal.
After he left, I asked my wife how can they always ask “How much do you want to pay”?
She said that during this time of the year, no one in the village has any money coming in.
No field work, no crops to sell during this time equals no income.
They quote the price like that just to have the work to have something coming in, which is better than nothing.
Always good for us to get the things we need at a better price.