How can I avoid overpaying for a SIM card in Thailand?

Jan 20, 2022
3 years ago
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
For the newbs - DO NOT pay more than a few dollars for a sim card. A friend of mine paid $200US for one due to sheer ignorance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses a friend's experience of overpaying $200 for a SIM card in Thailand, highlighting common pitfalls for inexperienced travelers. It emphasizes the importance of not paying excessively for basic necessities like SIM cards and suggests that travelers should seek out inexpensive options available at local stores, such as 7-11, where prices can be as low as 50 Baht for basic plans. Comments include various anecdotes about SIM card prices, experiences of being overcharged, and the importance of knowledge and research to avoid scams while traveling.
Alvin ******
Damn! Did you at least get a reach around?
Albert ********
Whaat??????
Gabriel ******
Ahhh the memories of MBK.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gabriel *****
Wanna share?
Psiley *******
so what’s the best deal for a sim card + real unlimited mobile internet data for a month?
Robert **********
Ive paid $50 in a few European countries, but $200, did it even work?
Carl ********
Ignorance? You would have to be mentally incompetent or brain dead to spend that much on a sim card !! I feel no pity .
Dwayne *******
Does he need a phone? I have special price just for him 555
Paul *******
Sounds more like sheer stupidity. It's Thailand, not Myanmar, where SIM cards ACTUALLY used to cost US$250, until about 10 years ago.

I have a Myanmar SIM in my phone and received a message saying that for new SIM registrations, there is a 20,000 Kyat charge (about USD 12) and 15% tax on internet from now on.
Филипп **********
@Paul ******
why u still have it?
Paul *******
@Филипп *********
The message says new SIM registrations. I've had mine for many years now. I think since 2013.
Osama ************
Maybe he got unlimited calling + unlimited high speed data for one year?
John **********
I piad that in may for 100gigs of internet per month for a year. Not a bad deal if you ask me
Brett **********
@John *********
you got ripped off as well. The same cost me 1500 baht
John **********
@Brett *********
for the whole year?
Brett **********
Dtac one I bought on 12.12.sale
Brett **********
That was with AIS. Then got an even better deal with dtac with unlimited data at 20mbps that i use for my 4g router. Speed is more than enough for hd streaming
Brett **********
John **********
@Brett *********
jfc Teach me
Brett **********
@John *********
you just need to look on Lazada. They only seem to be able to be purchased online. Not offered to foreigners on their apps. Lots of outlets seem to do them through. When it arrives you register online, scan your passport and you're good to go
Dallas ******
Do you have his details... I sell information, and my prices are really really good 😉
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dallas *****
Read the comments - that's where I mention that he is dead.
Dallas ******
@James ********
I'm sorry... I did not read that he is now dead? 🙏
Dallas ******
I have an unlimited data package for 200B/month....AIS
Keef ********
What did they get for 200 bucks?
James ***********
I love all these Anthony Bourdain wannabe heroes, every time they must compulsively post to flex how much of a DOPE TRAVELER they are - even to post about how cheaply they can purchase a fkn SIM card. It was an fyi for noobs christ
Traceys *********
@James **********
perhaps but sharing is caring
James ***********
@Tra****
thoughtful contribution! Sharing can be caring - but in this instance it is the subtly different activity of shitting on the dead, whether inexperienced or dumb. 🥴
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James **********
Which instance is "shitting on the dead"?
James ***********
@Ja***
people replying to your post and calling him an idiot etc. you’re alright mate!!!
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James **********
When he told me what he'd done - I thought he was an idiot, as well. But I thought - since he did it (he was a fairly intelligent guy), I thought I would warn others to not follow. I'm really surprised how much activity is on this post
Robert *********
Was using DTAC but dumped it in favor of AIS. AIS has much wider service area, they are fully-bilingual support for non-Thai and the service is just awesome! 50 baht for SIM and 200 for 30 days unlimited. No brainer!
Steve **********
@Robert ********
I

went the route: DTAC for 5 years,

Switched to AIS for another 5, after lot of frustration, now with True.

We'll see.
Robert *********
@Steve *********
was using True Home years ago with my ex. Now with AIS at home and mobile and current relationship. Guess I’m a little biased since she gets discounts as an ex-AIS employee! 😬Even so, AIS has my vote.👍
Steve **********
@Robert ********
All depends on the person across desk. Most are indifferent, and certainly overcharge farang.
Phill ***********
if you have money they will all be youre best friend here
Ben *******
Depends if it has 12 months calls, net etc.... What did he get with it? Otherwise massive ripoff.
Peter ***********
Saw this advertised on line for e-sim card. Idk anything about it.

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Jorge ****
Dorothy... I thought we were still in Kansas... 🤣
Jeff *******
This is the sort of thing one Googles before traveling.
Danny *************
Your friend is completely stupid. Ignorance is not the reason lol
Kevin ***********
Did he get a free phone?
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
No
David *******
Live and learn. If paying 200 bucks for a phone card is the worst he’ll experience , he’s very fortunate. There are many stories about The LOS turning into The WOS.
Steve **********
@David ******
Yes, we all have our stories, each year a new scam,

gotta give credit, we're naive.
David *******
And of course this just doesn’t apply to The LOS.

It happens everywhere.
David *******
Watch the movie”Return to Paradise”.
Marc ********
The friend clearly is an idiot. Period
Mickael ********
I paid 200 but Thai Bath not USD 🤪🤪🤪
Nick ************
Did he get a free phone and free internet and calls for life thrown in?
Donna **********
We paid 800 baht each in Phuket in October.
Robert *********
Sounds scammy!
Robert *********
Doh!
Harry ********
Buy at a shop that will register it, as self-registation cannot be very frustrating.

If AIS, from the AIS shop ฿50 all in...
Carlos *********
Amazing Thailand
ᘻᗅᖶᖶᗁᕦᙛ *******
If you get google fi. You wouldn't have to worry about a sim card haha
ᘻᗅᖶᖶᗁᕦᙛ *******
When my plane landing in bkk. I got a welcome message lol
Matthew ********
Wow what an unlucky guy. I’ve overpaid by a couple hundred baht probably once somewhere along the way but a couple hundred dollars? Jeeze. I hope he’s going to be way more careful now.
Ross ********
Did he buy a buffalo yet?
Steve **********
@Ross *******
we all have. But have an extra if anyone's interested

She will deliver.
Stan *******
@Steve *********
what, in 9 month’s time? 😊
Steve *******
Sim cards are 49bt.
Steven *********
Just go to a 7-11 to get a sim card. Easy and cheap.
Sammy *******
@Steven ********
do they require you to provide id to purchase the sim card?
Bryce ********
Marinus ******************
They have also a nice app. But with wifi 20 GB is enough for one month.
Marinus ******************
Works already 3 month with no problem
Marinus ******************
True
Marinus ******************
@Steven ********
20 Gb one month including SIM card 100 Baht.
Joakim ********
@Marinus *****************
I think 300 bath unlimited 10mb/s 30 days
Burnard ************
Bought at the airport?
Jenni ******
Sheer ignorance is a bit rough. I'd say it would have been his first time and we all get taken before we learn. Part of travelling
Linda **********
@Jenni *****
in Buddhist world ignorance is the absence of truth
Steve *******
@Jenni *****
you just described ignorance.
Jenni ******
@Steve ******
why do you people find it so necessary to be so rude
Steve *******
@Jenni *****
I think it's social media. I'm not rude, but it's so easy to bash people for maning mistakes or being st*pid on Facebook, because it's so..well..easy.

Blame smartphones and apps.

Have a nice day.
Jenni ******
@Steve ******
smartphones and apps don't type. People do
Steve *******
@Jenni *****
well you don't know what ignorant means, so maybe go read a book.
Jenni ******
@Steve ******
see being rude once again
Danny *************
@Jenni *****
you're getting some banter because you were incorrectly criticsing the OP's choice of words, and in fact it is you that got the meaning of the word wrong. Grow an extra layer of skin, or get off the internet. We've all been wrong and been mocked. It's the same in every country I've lived in. Learning to laugh at one self is important in life ...
Danny *************
Steve *******
@Jenni *****
I like pizza with tuna on it.
Jenni ******
@Steve ******
some things just don't warrant a reply 🙄
Danny *************
@Steve ******
Jenni Vs English. Who's your money on???
Steve *******
@Danny ************
gambling is illegal in Thailand. I know that because I'm not ignorant.
Danny *************
@Jenni *****
Do you know what ignorant means hahahaha? I think not
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jenni *****
He had no reference - I think it was his first time out of the US. Like none of the people in here making comments have ever been ripped off. I been traveling Asia for over 15 years now and have been ripped off PLENTY (at least not robbed yet). We all learn from our mistakes - otherwise, it would be too easy.
Jenni ******
@James ********
I agree, it happens and you learn especially trying to convert money that you understand into local currency
David *******
@James ********
-It happens and it pisses me off .But the Pen is mightier than the sword.But!He’s gotta wait until he gets back stateside before he posts a scathing review.There are defamation laws in Thailand followed by lawsuits and other legal procedures that would make $200 look like tip money.
Andy *********
Ignorance is seeing Thailand as a poor, developing country without easy, cheap and wide access to phones. Getting conned out of 50 baht in a taxi for a meter not running is not the same as paying 200 dollars for a sim.
David ********
@Jenni *****
More like "pure stupidity" Lol
Olivier *********
@Je***
, being conned is NOT part of travelling.
David *******
David *******
Unless you never leave the nest, being conned is part of life.

And getting revenge is sweet.

But payback is a motherfucker.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Olivier ********
Yes, it is - especially in Asia.
Jenni ******
@Olivier ********
it pretty much is lol
Charles ********
Can I have his number?
Brett **********
Jesus, you can get a 12 month pre paid for $50. Please tell me it at least had some minutes and data included?
Istvan *********
I can help him and will just cost $100 😂
Oliver **********
Maybe they meant sin card. It gets you into heaven even if you're a piece of garbage
Steven ******
But you wouldn't even pay that in your own country...... 🤷‍♂️
Jonas *************
Often you're better off buying a simcard with 1 month data outside of usa. . To use in USA ...
Jonas *************
Simcards in usa are expensive...
Delvonte ********
@Jonas ************
not that expensive. Let’s not make An excuse for retardation
David *******
@Jonas ************
-Every thing in the USA is expensive.When I return there I will become an unrepentent and avowed miser.
Garrett ***********
7000 baht for a sim card? Wtf
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
He was as green as they get.
Bobby ********
James Mancusi. THAT is GREEN! Most people would get a couple of long times for that! (So I've been told 🤣)
Thai ******
Seriously 😂
Thai ******
@Bobby *******
or 7 short times haha
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