My tourist friend ripped off in Sydney

[mannej]

Yeah I know Mannej but sometimes fear of something, when someone knows they've done something wrong can work (or at least leave them scared and sleepless for a few days)

By the sounds of it he has done this before, so I don't think the fear factor is there.

On the other hand, I think ACA or TT may have a different outcome

 

[Hvr]

My wife's suggestion. (We have 2 Salons) Go back and buy a half dozen bottles of product, give them $5.00 and walk out the door...

No, you'd get done for theft and may well end up with a criminal record.

 

[k_sheep]

Sadly this is all too common around the world. Heck, try being a local girl in Australia; $110 seems reasonable compared to what some will try. :-|

 

[The Rok]

I think if I were in your situation then I would make an effort to identify the salon and pay him a visit at opening time, when there is no customers around. A gentle "If you don't refund the $110 I will knock all your teeth out" should do.

 

[turtlemichael]

You asked about other tourist rip-offs. One not uncommon one in Cairns was for a restaurant to have the foreign language menu with higher prices. Not that they aren't astronomical here anyway. This "bonus" went in part to the tour guide who recommended the establishment. That is a while ago and don't know if it still happens. Really damaging to the tourism industry that one.

 

[moa999]

However, higher 'foreigner' prices occur all over Asia.
Indeed sometimes evenly openly advertised.

 

[ksthommo]

However, higher 'foreigner' prices occur all over Asia.
Indeed sometimes evenly openly advertised.

Lucky Plaza Singapore is a favourite for this.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sadly this is all too common around the world. Heck, try being a local girl in Australia; $110 seems reasonable compared to what some will try. :-|

I was too afraid to say the same thing :!:

 

[Mattg]

However, higher 'foreigner' prices occur all over Asia.
Indeed sometimes evenly openly advertised.

Very true, have been blatantly ripped off several times while overseas.

The Mekong Rest Stop in Vietnam comes to mind.

 

[drron]

Has been going on for ages.A particular bugbear of mine was Japanese tourists being ripped off.I remember sitting next to a Japanese couple on their honeymoon at the Teppayaki restaurant at the Seaworld hotel in the 80s.They were being charged $50 each way for transport from Jupiters to there.As the wife had huge reactions to sand fly bites as well I did my bit for tourism by driving them back to Jupiters stopping at a pharmac_ on the way to buy some anti histamines.I still have the memory of leaving Jupiters with the pair of them in my rear vision mirror bowing.

 

[docjames]

Sadly this is all too common around the world. Heck, try being a local girl in Australia; $110 seems reasonable compared to what some will try. :-|

If the haircut is $110 I could fly mrsdoc to Sydney and back for her haircut and we'd be ahead $$ wise......

 

[JohnK]

It annoyed me that operators in Sydney would take advantage of a tourist and I had thought that this sort of thing was limited to a number of dodgy overseas destinations - but not here in Australia.

Take one look around you and you will realise that Australia is not what is used to be.

 

[MarkD]

Geeez. Glad my hair fell out years ago......

Chinese tourists are shafted everywhere they go in oz, one bloke will own " duty free shops" in BNE, SYD, CNS, MEL and usually in AKL as well. The groups buy a wholesale holiday back home, which includes everything, ie meals attractions, hotels, accom, transport. This usially costs equivilent of $600-$800 AU. The wholesaler then sells the customer to the duty free shop owner for $2000-$2500. And in turn makes a killing. Duty free shop owner then feeds own businesses in every city, all prices are inflated and customer thinks that is the price everywhere, as they dont get the opportunity to shop anywhere else. As an example $950 for a pair of standard ugg boots. The tourists dont "have to buy" but are definately encouraged to do so. Unfortunately you will never change it, and will never change the a-hole tour guides charging$20 for the tourists to wslk on the beach
At the end of the day, as wrong as it is, if the people enjoy theor holiday, and dont have a problem being ripped off, its none of our business, as annoying as it is

 

[AVC]

Go after hours. Take a housebrick with you.

I like the spraypaint suggestion though. I don't know if I would try the "anti-spruiking" without backup nearby

I am sure no-one here would advocate vandalism though.

Good point. Wear gloves before you pick up the housebrick. Don't leave DNA



You see, someone gets ripped off by some scumbag, and they have my sympathy.
If someone chucked a housebrick through said scumbag's window, I have zero sympathy.

Unfortunately, the Law doesnt advocate street justice, even when it'e required

 

[Sprucegoose]

No receipt? Ring the business and let them know you will call the tax office. Get your money back

This is disgraceful behaviour.

 

[medhead]

Name and shame. I'll happy go there this week to mess with them.

 

[straitman]

For $110 I get seven haircut plus $5 change :!:

 

[Mal]

I generally pay 5 quid for haircuts. So wow at paying 110 dollars.

Any luck in working out the hairdresser involved?

 

[JohnK]

For $110 I get seven haircut plus $5 change :!:

My haircut costs ~$2.50 and I tip 25%. Went up ~15% recently so the tip has decreased.

 

[serfty]

For $110 I get seven haircut plus $5 change :!:

For $110, I get 11 and no change ... (Mon-Wed, Top end Elizabeth St)