I understand that in Asia, bargaining is a way of life. And it's usually a fun and entertaining exchange if done the right way: politely and with smiles from BOTH parties. But the logical rule is, if it's an outdoor market or second hand material purchase go on and bargain fairly; however if it's an established shop with amenities like rent, electricity, and staff....well then keep into consideration that the cost is set to cover overhead and daily expenses in order to keep a small business running.
(Also, I would like to point out one small fact. Here in Railay Beach, we charge just $27 USD for a 4 hour introductory sport climbing course in one of the top 5 world destinations for rock climbing, which is nearly 1/3rd the price you would pay for the same service in your home country...give us a break, it's cheap enough already!)
Here tourists are pushing so hard to lower the cost, and I would like to point out that here we have a contract. All the climbing schools have set the same prices for every course offered, and for this very reason as it prevents competition from getting too ugly on the bay we live in, which is roughly the size of a large shopping mall in Bangkok. We also believe quality should matter and corners should not be cut when it comes to sport climbing, where there is always a risk of injury and accident if unsuspecting tourists are left in incompetent hands.
Can you imagine this scenario? You cut the cost of your tour, which means the operator has to find a guide who is willing to work for less than the usual going rate of work. No self-respecting qualified guide would work for less than what he deserves for his hard work, which leaves only the 'troubled' and 'undesirable' (usually self-trained and un-certified) ones available for work. When it comes to sport climbing there are a lot of safety risks to assess and check before you 'climb on' and I can't imagine why anyone would want to cut corners when it comes to hiring someone directly responsible for protecting your life and limb on the crag!
More troubling, I have seen tourists offering to pay foreigners (amateur to seasoned climbers themselves) to take them climbing. Who in their right mind would be silly enough to take on that risk? Nearly all of the climbing accidents and injuries we see on Railay are from self-professed pro-climbers not clipping in correctly. Sometimes they get too cocky, or cut corners and don't clip in at every bolt, and then that's when things get sloppy and accidents happen. Most times the accidents are more commonly due to misuse of gear, i.e. when the quick draw fails because the rope or carabiner gets tangled incorrectly.
Check out this safety video for details on how to prevent such accidents: The Dangers of Using an Open Quickdraw
Safety and quality should matter to every tourist planning on traveling through foreign countries; especially in countries where safety standards might not be as strict and regulated as your home country's standards....think twice before you bargain for your adventure tour, because the end result may cost you a whole lot more than you bargained for!
Signing Out,
Stefanie
Real Rocks Railay
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