Thai snake charmer fined for squeezing influencer with overpriced photos
The Ratchaburi Provincial Commercial Affairs Office fined a Thai snake photoshoot operator 1,000 baht for allegedly overcharging a South Korean influencer 2,500 baht for photos with his snakes at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the central province of Ratchaburi.
Esor News reposted part of a video recorded by the South Korean influencer during her visit to the floating market with a male friend. In the video, the South Korean woman discussed the cost of taking photos with snakes with a female worker.
“2,500! Wait, 2,500. OK, I thought it would be 500 or something like that. We don’t have that much cash.”
During the conversation, the Thai woman offered two payment methods: cash or credit card. She explained that the foreigners could hold the snakes and take as many photos as they wanted for the fee of 2,500 baht. It was unclear from the video whether the South Korean influencer and her friend agreed to the price and took pictures with the snakes.
The video drew widespread criticism of the operator and added negative perspectives on the market as its worker was recently spotted washing dishes in the canal.
Following the online drama, officers from the Ratchaburi Provincial Commercial Affairs Office visited the market on January 6 to investigate. They spoke with the snake photoshoot operator, 43 year old Ekkaphop.
Foreigners targeted
Ekkaphop admitted that his female worker informed the South Korean tourists that the price for photos with his four snakes was 2,500 baht. He claimed, however, that he later reduced the fee to 500 baht. Ekkaphop also asserted that the South Korean influencer declined the photoshoot and left.
Many netizens accused Ekkaphop and other operators at the market of placing snakes on the shoulders of unsuspecting foreigners, taking their pictures, and forcing them to pay for the service, even if they were not interested in the snakes.
Ekkaphop denied these allegations and insisted that he always informed customers of the prices and other details beforehand. He emphasised that he had never placed his snakes on anyone without their consent.
Officers from the Ratchaburi Provincial Commercial Affairs Office told Amarin TV that Ekkaphop’s store did not display a price list, which constitutes a violation of the law. Consequently, he was fined 1,000 baht.
Thai netizens mocked the officials, pointing out that Ekkaphop was fined only 1,000 baht despite overcharging tourists by 2,500 baht. Some commented that the operator could still profit 1,500 baht even after the penalty.
One Thai woman shared in the video’s comment section that her child wanted to touch the snakes, but even touching them required a fee. She was willing to pay but the operator ignored her and her child because they were Thai.
The woman claimed most of the snake photoshoot operators at the market focused solely on foreign tourists, as they could overcharge them more easily.
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