Just bought suits for $2k, did I get scammed?

yeah this is the classic gem scam but with suits instead of rubies. the "holy day free entry" thing is a script they've been running for decades, the tuktuk driver gets a commission from that shop. i'd bet money the suits won't be cashmere when they arrive, they'll swap the fabric on you.

for the fitting tomorrow, ask to see the actual fabric bolt they're cutting from, not just a swatch. if they show you a different roll than what you picked that's your red flag. also check the shoulder padding and lapel construction, cheap suits have that stiff fused look. the stitching inside the jacket sleeve near the armhole is a good tell too, if it's all machine done with loose threads that's not 15k baht quality.

honestly 65k baht for 3 suits plus a camel jacket isn't insane if the tailoring is good, but the scam is you're paying tourist markup for what might be mediocre work. i've got suits from a place on sukhumvit soi 23 that cost 8k each and they're fine, nothing special. the camel jacket at 19k is where they really got you, you could get a real wool one at uniqlo for way less.

for your credit card thing, good luck with that. thai banks don't care about verbal promises and your home bank will side with the merchant since you signed a receipt. just focus on

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You walked right into the classic tuk-tuk gem scam, just with suits instead of jewels. The "holy day" with free temple entry is a tale as old as time here, and the "promotion only for this week" is the same script they've been running for decades. That shop on the route is paying commission to the driver and the "helpful local" who steered you there, so the price you paid is likely 3-4 times what a Bangkok tailor would actually charge for that work.

For tomorrow's fitting, do ask for a small fabric sample to keep, but don't expect them to hand it over easily. You can also call their bluff by saying you'll have a friend who's a textile expert check the material against the swatch, but honestly if they've already got your money and the suits aren't made yet, you have some leverage to change your mind. Thai law doesn't allow you to just cancel a custom order, but you can insist on the exact fabric you agreed to and refuse to accept anything less.

The credit card chargeback depends on your bank's policy and the evidence you have. Recording the conversation in your pocket is legal in Thailand since it's a one-party consent country, but it won't help much if you can't prove the final product is different from what was promised. These shops aren't dangerous or lawless in a violent sense, they're just very good at running a high-pressure sales operation that preys

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honestly 65k baht for all that is not terrible if the quality is decent. the real scam is the commission structure not the product itself. those shops on the tourist trail mark up like crazy but the actual tailoring can be fine. i've got a couple suits from a place near pratunam that cost about 8k each and they're solid. yours works out to roughly 15k per suit which is on the high side but not criminal if the camel jacket is real.

for tomorrow just tell them straight up you want to see the fabric bolt they're cutting from. don't ask for a sample, ask to see the roll itself. if they hem and haw or try to show you something different that's your answer. also check the stitching on the inside of the jacket - cheap suits have loose threads and uneven seams. if the lining looks clean and the buttons are stitched tight the construction is probably okay even if the material isn't real cashmere.

about the chargeback thing - thai banks are a pain about disputes and your home bank will prob side with the merchant if they can show a receipt you signed. i wouldn't count on that route. just focus on making sure the final product matches what you saw today. and next time skip the tuktuk tours, they're all commission driven.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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