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  1. #1
    I am in Jail
    Smeg's Avatar
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    Avoiding confrontation

    I have lost count of the number of times that an item or two on a restuarant bill have been 10 or 20 baht more than the menu price. Funnily enough I haven't lost count of the times a price was too low. Once, in over four years. So it is difficult to believe that every time this happens it is an honest (typically dumb local who can't add up more than 2+2 without using a calculator) mistake. Oddly shifty is a better description. Another fairly regular case is when an item you didn't order is on the bill. Yet I've never had an item missed off.

    These are tiny amounts of money and financially insignificant, but that doesn't stop it from always being unpleasant.

    And so it happened yet again today, in a Bangkok restaurant. In Thailand restaurants, unlike in the UK, I have learned to trust nobody and always check each item on the bill, and this time one of the four ordered items was labelled in the menu as pork/chicken/seafood fried rice 69/89 baht. As with most places, there was a premium for seafood. When the bill came the chicken fried rice was charged at 89 Baht. My bs tolerence is minimal these days (I sure am in the wrong country for that to happen) and I decided that I was going to get to the root of this, as so many times in the past I haven't bothered or simply sent the waitress away to sort it. I took the bill up to the cashier who was stood with a couple of waiters, and showed her the item in the menu. She scowled at me and told me only pork was 69 baht and the other two items, chicken and seafood, were 89 baht. She obviously thought the naive foreigner would fall for her typical crock of thai bs, and as with most thais with a problem to solve, the easiest laziest way to fix it is to lie. I told her that I had the same dish a couple of times there before and it was 69 baht. She flipped out at being caught out and shouted "ok ok 69 baht". I handed over a 500 baht note and she literally tossed my correct change onto the counter. A Thai who has lost face in front of her pals is a very ugly sight. Anyway, a couple of the coins rolled onto the floor. I told her to pick them up. She just stared at me and did nothing. I picked them up myself and said "why does this place have a crazy person working here" to which she said "farang cannot speak to a thai person like that". I was disgusted at her arrogance, called her a buffalo, and began walking away, at which time she shouted "fuck you" to me in English. That moment was one of the few times in my life that I have felt like slapping a girl. I didn't, for obvious reasons.

    The two Thais I was with told me that it was very dangerous of me to argue with this thai girl and call her crazy and a buffalo as she might have stabbed me with some cuttlery. Unbelievable.

  2. #2
    I am in Jail
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    I have only been in Bangkok for 5 months, but I noticed the bill often does no add up too. But It is half/half for something missing or the sum too low, once we got the bill from different table, which was much lower,maybe I am lucky. Of course we adjust when it happens, I do npot want to steal from the waiters who have to pay loss for themselves.Always give good tip after service.

  3. #3

    R.I.P.


    dirtydog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Smeg
    The two Thais I was with told me that it was very dangerous of me to argue with this thai girl and call her crazy and a buffalo as she might have stabbed me with some cuttlery.
    Yeah, you got to remember to take your camera with you, I know people that will buy the film of you being stabbed to death Hell, even just stabbed a little they would love it

  4. #4
    Hifaluten Member
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    Smeg, don't argue, just walk out without paying, that'll get em worked up a bit .

  5. #5
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Last bad experience I had was in British Bar in Soi Nana in Bangkok.

    As I don't go up to Bangers much now thought I would drop in to say hello.

    Four or five of my mates there and as you do run, point your finger around the group and then point at yourself. (Round for the boys plus me 5 drinks in all). Drinks arrived, everything fine.

    Couldn't hang around so I asked to gep satang. Bill arrived 2,480 Baht. I have never queried a bill in my life, especially in this bar but decided to so this time.

    The mamasan flew around the bar then the english manager turned up. All hell broke loose, claims that I had brought a round for all the girls as well, complete bullshit. I asked where were the girls drinks and why no Chog di. Called me cheap charley which I'm definately not.

    Put my hands in the air, paid the bill and left vowing never to return.

    5 minutes later the owner of the bar called me. Told him what had happened then he said he would refund my money. I told him not to worry I just would not drink in his bar anymore.

    Funny though. The mamasan opened a bar down the soi, the english manager started work at another bar and within the next 3 months.

    Confrontation never. Just never go there again.

  6. #6
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    If theres a mistake on the bill, which is not uncommon, I get it sorted out. Politely, but firmly.

  7. #7
    たのむよ。
    The Gentleman Scamp's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Smeg
    thais with a problem to solve
    I was in the Hua Hin branch of Bookazine today and I asked the friendly girl in the blue uniform if they had "MOVIE MAGAZINE... NAME, EMPIRE" and she looked confused, gave an inane nervous laugh and trotted off to get her colleague.

    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    5 minutes later the owner of the bar called me. Told him what had happened then he said he would refund my money. I told him not to worry I just would not drink in his bar anymore.
    I would have taken the refund and not drunk there again.

    buffalo
    cheap charlie
    Playground talk, I'd never call anyone a buffalo, it's on par with calling somebody smelly pants.
    "I'm an outsider by choice, but not truly. It's the unpleasantness of the system that keeps me out. I'd rather be in, in a good system. That's where my discontent comes from: being forced to choose to stay outside.
    My advice: Just keep movin' straight ahead. Every now and then you find yourself in a different place."

    George Carlin

  8. #8
    R.I.P.
    DrB0b's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Smeg
    thais with a problem to solve
    I was in the Hua Hin branch of Bookazine today and I asked the friendly girl in the blue uniform if they had "MOVIE MAGAZINE... NAME, EMPIRE" and she looked confused, gave an inane nervous laugh and trotted off to get her colleague.
    Next time ask her in Thai, smelly pants. You live in Thailand, remember? They speak Thai here.
    The Above Post May Contain Strong Language, Flashing Lights, or Violent Scenes.

  9. #9
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    5 minutes later the owner of the bar called me. Told him what had happened then he said he would refund my money. I told him not to worry I just would not drink in his bar anymore.
    I would have taken the refund and not drunk there again.

    The owner of the bar is a decent bloke and got scewed at the end by the scammers involved. Could'nt take the refund as he wasn't getting the extra profits I am sure.

    At the end of the day everything you put out there normally comes back at you.

    I will never go in the mamasans bar nor the english managers new place of employment. Nor will any of the other regulars who drank in that particular Soi Nana Bar.

    Owner sold it recently and I don't know how it is going now.

  10. #10
    ding ding ding
    Spin's Avatar
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    Avoid confrontation and negotiate as only a gentleman would

  11. #11
    たのむよ。
    The Gentleman Scamp's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dr Buffalo
    Next time ask her in Thai, smelly pants. You live in Thailand, remember? They speak Thai here.
    I did, but there's no Thai word for 'Empire' just as there is no Thai word for 'Harry Potterrr' or 'Dawid Beckham'.

    Besides, if they work in Bookazine, a shop specializing in English books and magazines in a tourist area and dealing with tourists and expats every day then they should understand the word 'movie magazine' for fucks sake.

    I wasn't asking for her opinion on thermo nuclear dynamics.

  12. #12
    R.I.P.
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp View Post
    I did, but there's no Thai word for 'Empire' just as there is no Thai word for 'Harry Potter' or 'Dawid Beckham'.
    So what's with the "MOVIE MAGAZINE...NAME EMPIRE" stuff then, sounds like pidgen-english to me. Anyway, are you crippled? Walk along the shelves and look for it yourself. If you had behaved like that back in Blighty you would have been told to go have sex with your mother's corpse in the ripest of colloquial Serbo-Croatian. Also, Empire is a magazine for pooves.
    Last edited by DrB0b; 15-06-2008 at 11:51 PM.

  13. #13
    たのむよ。
    The Gentleman Scamp's Avatar
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    Did you read beyond the first paragraph of my last post?

  14. #14
    R.I.P.
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp View Post
    Did you read beyond the first paragraph of my last post?
    I've never read beyond the first paragraph of any of your posts

  15. #15
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrB0b View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp View Post
    Did you read beyond the first paragraph of my last post?
    I've never read beyond the first paragraph of any of your posts
    Reads all mine, Gentleman. Even checks my speellingg.

    Strange one our Dr.

  16. #16
    I don't know barbaro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Smeg View Post
    I have lost count of the number of times that an item or two on a restuarant bill have been 10 or 20 baht more than the menu price. Funnily enough I haven't lost count of the times a price was too low.
    South East Asia is an airhead society.

    NCF - No Concept of the Future, also.

    We can at times, use this to our advantage.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    Nor will any of the other regulars who drank in that particular Soi Nana Bar.
    Only because his new place is nice. I would think that he wouldn't want most of the trash who drunk at the last place going to the new one.

  18. #18
    I am in Jail
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    Where vee drink is first class, they leave all empty bottles on the table until vee leave so vee know how many vee drink

  19. #19
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    Nor will any of the other regulars who drank in that particular Soi Nana Bar.
    Only because his new place is nice. I would think that he wouldn't want most of the trash who drunk at the last place going to the new one.
    Surprising you should say that Marmite. Amost exclusively English punters drank in bar mmmmmmm
    Nicer but empty. Should go over there for a quite drink anyway

  20. #20
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    I like the Camel bar in Bang Chang.

    Great system whereby, and when you become involved in a round of drinks they will offer you a drink or a chip and will keep you next drink on ice and until you are ready. You can also cash the chips in at a later date as well.

    Never even thought about questioning the bill there. Great food, nice lasses (particularly behind the bar) and nice atmosphere.

    Worth a visit

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loy Toy
    Amost exclusively English punters drank in bar
    Most ex SAS as well.

  22. #22
    សុខសប្បាយ
    EmperorTud's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog
    Most ex SAS as well.
    No that's a different bar, where I drink, with the regimental plaque behind the bar.

    The place to which you refer must have been full of Walter Mittys.

  23. #23
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    Phuket is the epicentre of self proclaimed ex - SAS- Green Berets- Foriegn Liegionarres at the moment - had 5 in the bar last night - what a bunch of wankers!!

    Had to put your wellies on to wade through the bullshit !


  24. #24
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by EmperorTud
    No that's a different bar, where I drink, with the regimental plaque behind the bar.
    I was talking about Chequers seeing as Peter has now got a nice place to run.

  25. #25
    I am in Jail
    Smeg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Milkman View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Smeg View Post
    I have lost count of the number of times that an item or two on a restuarant bill have been 10 or 20 baht more than the menu price. Funnily enough I haven't lost count of the times a price was too low.
    South East Asia is an airhead society.

    NCF - No Concept of the Future, also.
    There does seem to be an insanely high percentage of people here who think that lying to customers is clever.

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