Korean Job Discussion Forums

discostar23 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004 Location: getting the hell out of dodge

Ok I was wondering if this happens to everyone or just a few people. When my friend and I go anywhere we get discounts on everything from clothes to food to beer. We both have blond hair and blue eyes so we call it (the politically incorrect) "Whitey" discount. Does this happen to you??

peppermint · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject:

I get discounts once in a while, but more often I get stuff "service"- I buy milk, they give me cookies etc

VanIslander · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject:

Hongje-dong Joe · Joined: 17 Feb 2004

I regularly get discounts off the inflated price.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

I have been charged the "Korean price" when other foreigners are charged the inflated price at the same place.

Homer · Guest

Get service at many restaurants...

Discounts at my local public bath.

Usually get a discount from cabbies (don't really know why).

peppermint · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:58 am Post subject:

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

blah · Joined: 08 May 2003 Location: Ulsan, Korea

I get an extra bun thrown in at the bakery, etc – nothing particularly noteworthy. But my Filipina wife rakes in the freebees. I was afraid she might get treated poorly when we first arrived eight months ago. Wow, was I ever wrong! Her are a few examples:

A lady she has never met flags her down on the street and gives her a free hairdo at her salon.

The guy that goes door to door handing out promo slices of baked goods to everyone else gives her an entire pie and two loaves of bread.

After shopping at Home Plus we like to get a hot dog at the vendor. I pay for mine, and the lady hands back my wife��s money to her.

People she has met only a few times give her brand new designer clothes.

��And it goes on and on. I think this is proof that Koreans worship good looks. Like I said, I get pretty much nothing and my wife��well, she loves it here Wink

.

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

I get some freebies from my motorcycle mechanic now and then. Usually free labour or used motorcycle gear.

But then I've built up a relationship with him. Brought him beer and taught him how to say "spark plug," "carburetor," "rich fuel mixture," and other useful English.

As with everything else in Asia, it comes down to relationships. If they know you, they will help you out.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

the local stationary shop gives me discounts....i think it's because everything i buy is on the top shelf at the back and covered in dust. the fruit selling dude gives me extra oranges....i think he belives me to have scurvy....my smile isn't so bad when used. frequenting shops seems to earn some gratis stuff....the bakery around the corner offers me free, oddly-shaped, leper-cakes sometimes...really....they are all spotty and pieces fall off so easily...

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

I've had a few freebies here and there although it used to happen a lot more when I was a newbie, maybe I haven't got the right attitude anymore?

CanadaCommando · Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Location: People's Republic of C.C.

Eazy_E · Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada

Freebies from the bakery and a discount at the eyeglass shop near my school. It strikes me as more of a "neighbour" discount than a deal for whiteys.

little mixed girl · Joined: 11 Jun 2003 Location: shin hyesung's bed~

uhh...the dudes at the LG25 didn't charge me 20won for a plastic bag....

some dude almost tripped over himself trying to give me a free sample of pomogranate(sp) juice...or something like that.

nothing special... Confused