Boys

[Dodger]

Me: How do they buy expensive phone, when they are never sitting with any customers ?

Boy: They have farang or family looking after them.

This was a straight answer.

Many of the popular boys have at least one sponsor who sends them money regularly regardless if they're in-town or not. Boys like Suk that you know commonly have multiple sponsors.

Before I hooked up with Boy Special #2 who was a super star on the scene when we first met - he had four farang sponsors (from different countries) who all sent him money regularly (usually monthly).

The more average boys who weren't born with an abundance of sexual appeal usually carry cheaper phones, if they have one at all. Such is life.

[Gaybutton]

The more average boys who weren't born with an abundance of sexual appeal usually carry cheaper phones, if they have one at all. Such is life.

I have seen several times when boys have phones, but no top-up money in the phones. Oh well, can't have everything. I guess having the phone is more important than being able to use it . . .

[Jun]

This was a straight answer.

Many of the popular boys have at least one sponsor who sends them money regularly regardless if they're in-town or not. Boys like Suk that you know commonly have multiple sponsors.

I can see that with some of the boys and particularly the likes of Suk. Yet, looking at some of the others, I really wonder.
One has a nice smile, but rarely uses it and chooses to keep a permanent scowl. He's usually working behind the bar and I don't recall ever seeing him with a customer.
One or two others seem to show up at the same bar every day, but rarely get customers there.

I'll admit that iPhones are reasonably common among boys I meet. But with those boys, there is usually evidence of them picking up other customers.
Including boys who I regularly see with customers in the complex and some even get taken over seas and stay in expensive hotels.
Another, who I occasionally meet in Bangkok gets flown to Europe for holidays. In business class! That's not BS, as there is photographic evidence.

But on the other hand, there's the type of boy with no obvious source of revenue.

[Gaybutton]

But on the other hand, there's the type of boy with no obvious source of revenue.

Emphasis on obvious. One way or another they seem to usually manage to get what they need - emphasis on need.

Meanwhile, I've seen very many boys with no visible pot to piss in still managing to have expensive telephones. I suppose the status is paramount to them/

[Jun]

Meanwhile, I've seen very many boys with no visible pot to piss in still managing to have expensive telephones. I suppose the status is paramount to them

There are certain boys who regularly post pictures of their latest expensive phones, expensive shopping, flights etc.
Often the Lao boys. Even the Lao boys who don't use FB like that readily admit to flying.

Whereas, the Cambodian boys I know like to plead poverty. One claimed to be travelling here by bus from Phnom Penh, when it seemed likely he was flying. Eventually, he confessesed to using the airport. He also had to admit to flying when the land border was closed.

So when another Cambodian boy persists in using a smashed up phone, perhaps that fits the image he likes to present.
Also, I suspect he genuinely has no interest in phones, which is a very good trait in most circumstances. The exception being when the current phone could die any day & a little thought about the replacement could be good.

[Dodger]

I imagine it's a great disadvantage for working boys not to have a smartphone...at least a cheap one, especially with the growing popularity of the dating apps. In their line-of-work smartphones have gone from being niceties to necessities.

The Super Stars (top $$money$$ earners) also know the importance of "networking" in their line-of-work, thus the reason you see so many of them glued 24/7 to the screens.

This is a great Christmas gift idea if someone has a boy they really like who doesn't have a phone. Just make sure he's not fond of Yaba or the phone will end up in a pawn shop faster than Santa can guide his Reindeer out of town...555

[Gaybutton]

the phone will end up in a pawn shop faster than Santa can guide his Reindeer out of town...555

That is true. Pawn shops are a good place for those who want a good phone at an inexpensive price. That's for farang customers. The boys wouldn't be caught dead buying a used phone. They either pay to retrieve their pawned phone from the shop or buy a new phone - but rarely would even consider buying a used phone.

If you do buy a phone for a boy, make damned sure it's a new one - preferably an expensive one, the more expensive the better - or virtually guaranteed it's quickly off to the pawn shop. Their usual excuses for no longer having the used or cheap phone is it got broken, lost, or stolen . . .

[Jun]

Like it of not, phones are essential for many bar boys and they are usually smart enough to realize that.

Almost every single meeting at my room is arranged via a few Line messages. It's not just me either.
I'm sometimes persuaded to visit a bar via a Line message.
At the bar, translation apps get used when the conversation goes beyond language capabilities.
Then there's education. A Lao friend with quite good English capability is using apps to learn more. I found an ABC app for a Cambodian friend and he now knows the Roman alphabet and can read a few basic words.

My friend has no ambition to own anything more than a 3000 baht phone. If anything, I'm the one who thinks 4 GB of RAM is probably a limitation and spending 500~1000 more to get 6~8GB would be money well spent.

In contrast, one other boy I know likes a new top of the range iPhone every year, or preferably even more frequently. The only money he gets off me is earned.

[Gaybutton]

In contrast, one other boy I know likes a new top of the range iPhone every year, or preferably even more frequently. The only money he gets off me is earned.

Obviously he is getting the money elsewhere - and if he has to have a new phone every year, wasting it.

Years ago, back in the days when only the husband controlled the family money, my aunt wanted to buy something. I don't remember what - probably a piece of jewellery or something - but my uncle wouldn't give her the money. When she complained he said:

"You've lived without it for 67 years. What the hell do you need with it now?"

[Jun]

Obviously he is getting the money elsewhere - and if he has to have a new phone every year, wasting it.

Agreed.
I bought myself a Pixel for under 20,000 baht. I've had it over 2 years and hope to get 4 out of if. [I even make sure I enable the battery 80% charge limit].
Any boy who wants a new iPhone every year, or even more frequently can pay for such waste without donations from me.

On the other hand, if I see a boy really regularly and he has more modest expectations, I might contribute.

As for living without something for 67 years, well my mother managed more than that without an iPhone. With the bank branches closing and cheques becoming almost obsolete, she now finds the banking app quite useful.