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[Lancelot]

Jingthing, on 2009-02-19 14:42:30, said:

BTW, WE are the consumers. We have the cash. We are the bosses in deciding whether to grant continued business or not.

Some times I wonder... I think its a badge of honor for many farangs to accept poor service, :D:D

[toptuan]

My "golden moment" when a restaurant lost my business was that moment with my head in the toilet, puking my guts out. Yup, food poisoning.

It gave me some consolation to see the microbe-infested joint out of business a few months later. Strange how a night "on the white throne" will stick in a customer's memory....

[Jingthing]

Quote

Pattaya is just the typical hard core tourist trap and they are here to take your money; its just the way it is

I agree. There are a higher percentage of restaurants here that don't give a dam_n, but certainly not all of them. The places for mostly Thais and the expat places who hope for loyal off season business are often the exceptions, especially as you get inland from the beach.

Quote

Some times I wonder... I think its a badge of honor for many farangs to accept poor service

Yes, I think many people think they are so culturally adapted for internalizing their twisted interpretation of "mai bpen rai" when really there is no reason to accept really bad treatment here anymore than in the west.

One thing that doesn't phase me: COCKROACHES!

Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-19 16:18:47.

[toptuan]

BugJackBaron, on 2009-02-19 11:16:22, said:

Here is something that gets me, though I sometimes still come back..

Take the Villa Market restaurant ...they have a "grandma's turkey" with a picture on the
wall showing turkey and COOKED VEGETABLES like brocolli..
When you get it you will get the Turkey but only a small salad with dressing on the side...
In the west we would call that misleading advertising...

That reminds me of the time I stopped at a little Isaan roadside eatery and couldn't believe my eyes when #1) they had a menu, #2) one item was in English, and #3) that item said "potato salad."
My thinking: "YUM! I hit the jackpot!"
Taking the bait, I ordered.

Result: French fries with a dolop of salad dressing on top.

I gave 'em 10 points for creativity!

Edited by toptuan, 2009-02-19 16:22:04.

[coxhoedave]

Back in the eighties whenever returned to Thailand we'd go see the In-Laws in Nakhon Sawan. We'd always stay at the Pen Neung hotel as it was basic but clean and friendly.
On this paticular visit there was myself, my Thai missus, and another Brit/Thai couple. We enjoyed a few days in NS before heading off to Pattaya for a couple of weeks. On our return we checked in and we were given rooms a couple of doors apart. About 10-15 minutes after checking in we heard a huge argument start involving my Brit friend and a number Thai females. When I went to see what the problem was I was amazed to find the maids were accusing my friend of stealing THE CARPET from the room from his visit a couple of weeks previous, despite the fact that he was only travelling with 1 suitcase! Maybe they thought that this magical suitcase had Dr Who Tardis like qualities but regardless we have never returned.

[bkkjames]

coxhoedave, on 2009-02-19 16:29:29, said:

Back in the eighties whenever returned to Thailand we'd go see the In-Laws in Nakhon Sawan. We'd always stay at the Pen Neung hotel as it was basic but clean and friendly.
On this paticular visit there was myself, my Thai missus, and another Brit/Thai couple. We enjoyed a few days in NS before heading off to Pattaya for a couple of weeks. On our return we checked in and we were given rooms a couple of doors apart. About 10-15 minutes after checking in we heard a huge argument start involving my Brit friend and a number Thai females. When I went to see what the problem was I was amazed to find the maids were accusing my friend of stealing THE CARPET from the room from his visit a couple of weeks previous, despite the fact that he was only travelling with 1 suitcase! Maybe they thought that this magical suitcase had Dr Who Tardis like qualities but regardless we have never returned.

hillarious.

[geeky]

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

Mid to low end Thai food place catering to farang tourists mostly. I arrive near their closing time. There are no other customers. I am very hungry. I order TWO dishes of Thai food plus rice. The first dish comes ... I eat it. As is common with Thai food, I figure the second dish is being cooked and will come when it is ready. I finish the first dish. I look over. The entire staff is socializing and drinking by the kitchen. They are fixing to close. They never got the order for the second dish. It was a bad waiter. Now if the place was exceptionally good, I would forgive one time a bad waiter. But they weren't that good in the first place so it didn't take much to kiss 'em bpai bpai. LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

you're an ungrateful, selfish whanker!

you should have thank them that they at least gave you one dish, you obviously have no idea how much extra work you gave to the kitchen as they most likely already cleaned the kitchen!

get over yourself and smile some more ... it's for free!

Edited by geeky, 2009-02-19 17:19:48.

[Jingthing]

Quote

you should have thank them that they at least gave you one dish, you obviously have no idea how much extra work you gave to the kitchen as they most likely already cleaned the kitchen!

There were about 7 staffers and one customer. They were well open for business when I arrived. For all I know, I was their only customer all night. So they may have thrown away half of their takings for the night because they couldn't focus on serving even one customer. If they don't care, I don't either.
BTW, the food was not that great at the place either, and also overpriced for what they offer, so absolutely NO LOSS on my end.

Smiling? I smile all the time, but surely you know that the Thai smile almost always does not mean what Westerners think it does, right?

Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-19 17:26:17.

[NaiGreg]

When I order Kaffe Sot Rawn (brewed "fresh" coffee) and then get a cup of lukewarm Nescafe with brown specs floating around in it ... I think to myself, are they really going to charge me 50 baht for THIS?


Mai ou khrup. duem bia dee gwa.


(yes, I can SEE the coffee machine on the bar before I order, just don't realize that it is out-of-order)

[mc2]

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

When the bill comes I point out that on the menu it says FRESH JUICES. They acknowledge I didn't get a fresh juice (as I am staring at a FRESH whole pineapple sitting in the fruit area) and they say it WOULD HAVE BEEN fresh if I had ordered a smoothie. No apologetic attitude.

wtf

these thai people make me laugh sometimes.
actually they are naturals at making bulls**t excuses like that

[Jingthing]

mc2, on 2009-02-19 17:51:52, said:

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

When the bill comes I point out that on the menu it says FRESH JUICES. They acknowledge I didn't get a fresh juice (as I am staring at a FRESH whole pineapple sitting in the fruit area) and they say it WOULD HAVE BEEN fresh if I had ordered a smoothie. No apologetic attitude.

wtf

these thai people make me laugh sometimes.
actually they are naturals at making bulls**t excuses like that

As some background, I had the same juice there once before, and it was fresh before, and the menu clearly stated in very large type FRESH JUICE, so there was no reasonable reason to ask them if I was going to get fresh juice. Bottom line, it was the "we don't care" bad attitude that did the goodbye trick for me.

Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-19 17:59:12.

[Miserere]

I went to an outside restaurant in Pattaya and had a big meal there sitting out in the sun.

Lots of delicious food and really enjoyed it, then as I was about to leave a fly landed on my plate.

LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

[Gaccha]

redscouse, on 2009-02-18 11:17:37, said:

A couple of days ago in a Thai restaurant in Central i was charged 5 baht ++ for ice in my water, I never knew there was a charge and they pointed it out in the menu (I never looked at the drinks page as I knew i would have water). I said I wouldn't pay it and the manager said he would have to pay it if I didn't, I said thanks for his offer and I let him pay it

I know its only 5 baht ++ but come on, it's ice ffs, the one and only time in 3 years I have seen a charge for ice in a restuarant

I can beat this!! In Central as well, I was charged 50 bahts for not having ice in my Cola...

[BigSnake]

For me I found hair(human hair) in my Cow pot, point it out to staff, offer another plate, free of charge, thanks but no thanks. On another occassion the wife and I were dining at a so call good up to do restaurant when her food was server ants were on the side and under the plate, call the waiter she took the plate to the kitchen brush off the ants and return the plate, we made our exit at that point.

Edited by BigSnake, 2009-02-19 18:26:51.

[redscouse]

Gaccha, on 2009-02-19 18:11:05, said:

redscouse, on 2009-02-18 11:17:37, said:

A couple of days ago in a Thai restaurant in Central i was charged 5 baht ++ for ice in my water, I never knew there was a charge and they pointed it out in the menu (I never looked at the drinks page as I knew i would have water). I said I wouldn't pay it and the manager said he would have to pay it if I didn't, I said thanks for his offer and I let him pay it

I know its only 5 baht ++ but come on, it's ice ffs, the one and only time in 3 years I have seen a charge for ice in a restuarant

I can beat this!! In Central as well, I was charged 50 bahts for not having ice in my Cola...

if its not bottled or a can this means they have to give more cola to fill the glass


50 baht for no ice

[Jingthing]

Miserere, on 2009-02-19 18:01:34, said:

I went to an outside restaurant in Pattaya and had a big meal there sitting out in the sun.

Lots of delicious food and really enjoyed it, then as I was about to leave a fly landed on my plate.

LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

Grade C sarcasm. Well done!
BTW, please name the place. Sounds really good!

Edited by Jingthing, 2009-02-19 18:27:35.

[girlx]

there is a lot of bad service in bangkok, i've noticed of late! i normally shrug it off, and just don't return.

but the things that irritate me the most are the "followers". i know they think they are giving good service but i can't stand it. paragon gourmet market's wine cellar is one example. i had a funny little trip in there the other day. as soon as i walk in i can see a girl making a beeline for me, to stand an inch away from my face making suggestions and not allowing me to take my time and look. so i started walking really fast and made it to the other side of the room with several shelves between us. the girl actually ran around the shelves to be next to me, so i ran around to the opposite side again. she ran around again and was there next to me in a matter of seconds. i repeated the circle a couple more times until it became ridiculous. finally i said "please stop following me!" so she stepped back a foot or two, but then every time i would pick up a wine bottle she would say "miss- what you want?" and give me suggestions of other things which i was not interested in. i said "i want to look without you hanging over my shoulder please". it made no difference. i finally just grabbed something and got out of there. i will still of course go back but they just don't get that farangs like to take their time and browse, alone! rrrrg!

the other thing i hate is when you ask a question in a shop and you get an immediate "no have" or just a slack jawed shrug. 9 times out of 10 you end up searching for the item yourself while the clerk flounces back to her soap operas and you find it on some back shelf.

i think bad service is becoming a matter of course in bangkok. but there are some places with amazing service and i always make sure to leave them a big tip.

[Scalawag]

Went into a Thai restaurant where the TV was blaring as in common. We were the only customers. Asked the manager to please turn down the tv so that my wife and I could hear each other talk. That was done but the Mgr. gave me one of the worst looks I've ever had.........Won't go back.............

[shochu]

i regularly go to a vietnamese rest. and pretty much always order the same thing. however , most of the time, the checkbin is different - varies no more than 10 baht. at first i thought - what the @#$%! but since the food is good, always packed and reasonably priced - i never complain. i just make sure i get a good look a the bill so i never underpay and leave a small tip.

another place i always go to because they have this sweet,spicy crunchy fish i love - one time there was a baby cockroach mixed in my food. i pushed it to the edge of the plate and finished eating. WHY - because i have come to the conclusion, there r not many good places to eat anywhere (pick any city) and when i find a place with good food, i add it to my routine and i make do. most of the time it is a small thing every once in a while if at all.

i know some people will have a sissy fit BUT let me explain about bugs in the food. most food products have an acceptable amount of bug and other matter in them and since i used to do a lot of outdoor stuff, sucking in a bug is not such a big deal. and have u guys ever seen how food is processed and made in some places?

and whenever i have some doubt - as with the cockroach thingy - i just eat sprinkle a couple of little chillis on the food and never have any problems

of course there r many places that never get the pass

but if i find a good place - and i don't get sick - it's otay!!

[Yaaklenmai]

Went, with my Thai G/F to a rooftop bar in the hotel where I have lived for the past two years. (before anyone asks my rate makes it a very sensible choice - 3* UK hotel for 400 Baht).

There were 5 staff and we were the only customers.

Ordered a jug of beer and a Bacardi Breezer.

The beer arrived after (about) 15 minutes but 15 minutes later the BB had still not arrived, so I decided we should leave (I refused to drink until both drinks arrived, so had not touched a drop!

Walked back over to the main hotel and was pursued by an angry member of staff insisting that I should pay!

Involved the duty manager and the matter was resolved (I paid nothing) but will never go there again!

[Yaaklenmai]

geeky, on 2009-02-19 17:18:17, said:

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

Mid to low end Thai food place catering to farang tourists mostly. I arrive near their closing time. There are no other customers. I am very hungry. I order TWO dishes of Thai food plus rice. The first dish comes ... I eat it. As is common with Thai food, I figure the second dish is being cooked and will come when it is ready. I finish the first dish. I look over. The entire staff is socializing and drinking by the kitchen. They are fixing to close. They never got the order for the second dish. It was a bad waiter. Now if the place was exceptionally good, I would forgive one time a bad waiter. But they weren't that good in the first place so it didn't take much to kiss 'em bpai bpai. LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

you're an ungrateful, selfish whanker!

you should have thank them that they at least gave you one dish, you obviously have no idea how much extra work you gave to the kitchen as they most likely already cleaned the kitchen!

get over yourself and smile some more ... it's for free!

That reply has to be an attempted wind up!

[sunreader]

I went to an Italian bistro on the seafront in Pattaya, it was a beautiful evening and I initially enjoyed a bottle of Chianti wine, wonderful.

I ordered a spaghetti bolognaise and some garlic bread.

The bread was delicious and the meat so well cooked, but what spoiled my meal was the spaghetti instead of being long straight and crispy was all soft as if it had been left in hot water!

Disgusting.

LAST TIME THERE!!!!

[MyphuketLife]

geeky, on 2009-02-19 18:18:17, said:

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

Mid to low end Thai food place catering to farang tourists mostly. I arrive near their closing time. There are no other customers. I am very hungry. I order TWO dishes of Thai food plus rice. The first dish comes ... I eat it. As is common with Thai food, I figure the second dish is being cooked and will come when it is ready. I finish the first dish. I look over. The entire staff is socializing and drinking by the kitchen. They are fixing to close. They never got the order for the second dish. It was a bad waiter. Now if the place was exceptionally good, I would forgive one time a bad waiter. But they weren't that good in the first place so it didn't take much to kiss 'em bpai bpai. LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

you're an ungrateful, selfish whanker!

you should have thank them that they at least gave you one dish, you obviously have no idea how much extra work you gave to the kitchen as they most likely already cleaned the kitchen!

get over yourself and smile some more ... it's for free!

What thai restuarant do you know that has .... a "clean" kitchen.......... please

Also if they are open for business they should not have done the nightly cleaning yet.... That should be done (if ever here) after the doors close...

Edited by MyphuketLife, 2009-02-19 20:10:31.

[basjke]

BugJackBaron, on 2009-02-19 11:16:22, said:

Here is something that gets me, though I sometimes still come back..

Take the Villa Market restaurant ...they have a "grandma's turkey" with a picture on the
wall showing turkey and COOKED VEGETABLES like brocolli..
When you get it you will get the Turkey but only a small salad with dressing on the side...
In the west we would call that misleading advertising...

Then how you call the pictures at Mcdonalds or burgerking.

[dumball]

geeky, on 2009-02-19 17:18:17, said:

Jingthing, on 2009-02-17 22:20:38, said:

Mid to low end Thai food place catering to farang tourists mostly. I arrive near their closing time. There are no other customers. I am very hungry. I order TWO dishes of Thai food plus rice. The first dish comes ... I eat it. As is common with Thai food, I figure the second dish is being cooked and will come when it is ready. I finish the first dish. I look over. The entire staff is socializing and drinking by the kitchen. They are fixing to close. They never got the order for the second dish. It was a bad waiter. Now if the place was exceptionally good, I would forgive one time a bad waiter. But they weren't that good in the first place so it didn't take much to kiss 'em bpai bpai. LAST TIME THERE!!!!!

you're an ungrateful, selfish whanker!

you should have thank them that they at least gave you one dish, you obviously have no idea how much extra work you gave to the kitchen as they most likely already cleaned the kitchen!

get over yourself and smile some more ... it's for free!

This comment is some of the reason poor buisinesses stay in buisiness , better to say "Sorry sir we are closing " than do a half-ass job . It is not the clients option to be concerned how restaraunts operate other than the quality of food and service , a doubtfull 'Duo' in many establishments .