Is the closure of your favorite bar or restaurant imminent?

[SidJames]

54 minutes ago, polpott said:

You clearly don't know any bar owners or police officers here. I socialise with both. You spend too much time socialising with the barstool brigade.

Do you socialise with the bar owners or the people who lease the bars as there is a big difference?

Maybe you could ask the police that you socialise with what the major difference is between the two as they would definitely know ????

You should take a moment to admire the saving skills of senior officers around town as their wages are not very impressive relatively although some have great apparent entrepreneurial skills

A lot of the bars & clubs that have managed to stay afloat have some generous backers which is the whole point of this tread, closures of bars etc.

I'm not accusing anyone of anything just making some comment about some observations I've made close quarters around this town.

 

 

 

 

 

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, rott said:

Sorry but that isn't true. 

I am not saying bungs are 100% the norm but I know bar "owners" who've been told to pay up or......... 

That I can believe.

[Leaver]

22 hours ago, polpott said:

I know of more than one bar owner in Pattaya who have always refused to pay the police. It hasn't affected their business in any way. I'm afraid the brown envelopes are an urban myth/barstool BS.

I remember witnessing a corrupt payment for the first time. 

 

I was having a beer with the owner in his bar. A Thai guy pulls up on a bike and enters the bar.  The owner excuses himself and makes his way to the bar and cashier.  Money was handed over in the middle of the bar.  Thai guy pulls out a small book and makes and entry, then walks out.  Bar owner returns and tells me that was the monthly payment to police.  I asked was that guy actually a police officer, or a third party "bagman."  He said he was a police officer. 

 

He wasn't in uniform, but accepted the cash with staff as witnesses and with CCTV all around the bar. 

 

I suppose when police are collecting on behalf of police, you don't have to worry about the police.  ????

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by Leaver

[Leaver]

14 hours ago, Oldie said:

Perhaps you watch too many Mafia movies. Why should they pay if they don't do anything wrong. There is no protection money like at the Mafia. 

The police are the mafia.

 

It's protection money, not only for the bar owner doing any wrong, but someone doing wrong to the bar owner.  

 

I know one bar owner that had to call up his BiB guy to go and collect on a food and beverage tab after a falling out between the owner and the customer over the tab.  The customer was arrested and escorted to the nearest ATM and payment collected.  Unknown if the BiB took extra for himself.  

[Leaver]

14 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Like I just said, they WILL find problems with your business if you don't pay...I guess if your business is squeaky clean you could avoid paying MAYBE.... 

Sometimes it's not the business with the problem, it's the building.  They always find something.  It's the way the laws are made here, for corruption and selective enforcement.  

 

Example:  

 

Police:  "Where is your hotel license?"

 

Bar Owner:  "Right here, Sir."

 

Police:  "Where are the fire escapes for the hotel?"

 

Bar Owner:  "There are no fire escapes."

 

Police:  "We can overlook that issue for 5000 baht a month."

 

Bar Owner:  "Thank you, Sir."  

 

               ????

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, SidJames said:

It's very hard to be a real fiscal success here without the 'help of a local partner'.

Correct, which unfortunately means, "tea money" is passed onto the customer, which means we all pay it.  

 

It can be a vicious cycle.  To make a profit you have to break more laws.  Break more laws and you must pay more "tea money."  All of this at a time when western tourists are in decline, pre Covid, and exchange rates to the baht are down.  Between the Thai landlord and the police, a bar owner is left with the crumbs, if any profit at all.  

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, polpott said:

You clearly don't know any bar owners or police officers here. I socialise with both. You spend too much time socialising with the barstool brigade.

Did you ask your police friends how they can afford two investment condo's, a BMW, and two mia noi's, on a 15k baht salary a month?  ????

[HashBrownHarry]

6 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Did you ask your police friends how they can afford two investment condo's, a BMW, and two mia noi's, on a 15k baht salary a month?  ????

Not all police officers have what you mention, only the ones at the top.

[Leaver]

1 minute ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Not all police officers have what you mention, only the ones at the top.

They all get a cut out of the "tea money" but yes, it's a pyramid scheme. 

[polpott]

7 hours ago, SidJames said:

Do you socialise with the bar owners or the people who lease the bars as there is a big difference?

I don't know of one bar in Pattaya where the bar owner owns the property. Virtually all bars are leased/rented.

[polpott]

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

Did you ask your police friends how they can afford two investment condo's, a BMW, and two mia noi's, on a 15k baht salary a month?  ????

Another urban myth. They don't. One lived next door to me with his family when I first rented in Pattaya. House was worth around 1.5m baht.

[redwood1]

54 minutes ago, polpott said:

Another urban myth. They don't. One lived next door to me with his family when I first rented in Pattaya. House was worth around 1.5m baht.

 I bet most of posters on this subject have had many years each of ground time in Pattaya, and we have seen or heard about protection money so often that for you to say it does not exist is simply laughable .....  

 

Next you will be telling us the Jet Ski scam was a urban legend....

Or......When ladyboys would hug Indian tourist and their gold chains would go missing was just pure coincidence.........

 

Sometimes you have to man-up and see unpleasant truths.........  

[Oldie]

On 10/10/2020 at 8:40 PM, AbeNormal said:

and the police closed absolutely everything at 12, not even the selected few few that have remained open after 12 were open, everything was completely shut down, really good idea when all these places are struggling for what few customers are left

I just want to give you an update. After this great police show the bars cared about the legal closing times for 2 nights. After this the bars did not care again and I expect the same for the next nights. So a great show of the police for obviously absolutely nothing. I have no idea why the police did this if in the end they don't REALLY care. Otherwise the bars wouldn't do again what they want. It is easy to see and often to hear which bar is still open after the legal closing times - if you really want...

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by Oldie

[scubascuba3]

8 minutes ago, Oldie said:

I just want to give you an update. After this great police show the bars cared about the legal closing times for 2 nights. After this the bars did not care again and I expect the same for the next nights. So a great show of the police for obviously absolutely nothing. I have no idea why the police did this if in the end they don't REALLY care. Otherwise the bars wouldn't do again what they want. It is easy to see and often to hear which bar is still open after the legal closing times - if you really want...

 

Good, let them earn money, restrictions should be dropped anyway as no covid. If cases increase then makes some sense for mask wearing and other restrictions

[polpott]

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

I bet most of posters on this subject have had many years each of ground time in Pattaya, and we have seen or heard about protection money so often that for you to say it does not exist is simply laughable .....  

Seen and heard about it from your barstool and reading TV. I never said that it doesn't exist, simply that not all bars pay it.

[SidJames]

1 hour ago, Oldie said:

I just want to give you an update. After this great police show the bars cared about the legal closing times for 2 nights. After this the bars did not care again and I expect the same for the next nights. So a great show of the police for obviously absolutely nothing. I have no idea why the police did this if in the end they don't REALLY care. Otherwise the bars wouldn't do again what they want. It is easy to see and often to hear which bar is still open after the legal closing times - if you really want...

 

Apparently the top brass & some navy bods where paying a visit so the old bill made sure everything was locked up nice & tight.

[kinyara]

Is it really worth bars staying open past midnight in the current climate, I don't see that many customers around in the evenings. I think the only certainty in the next 3 months is continued closures unfortunately. 

[jacko45k]

18 minutes ago, kinyara said:

Is it really worth bars staying open past midnight in the current climate, I don't see that many customers around in the evenings. I think the only certainty in the next 3 months is continued closures unfortunately. 

If  empty, of course not. But if the place is going strong at midnight very disappointing to have the lights put on and be chucked out... happened to me 3 times in the last few months. And later than midnight....

Edited October 13, 2020 by jacko45k

[Oldie]

25 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

If  empty, of course not. But if the place is going strong at midnight very disappointing to have the lights put on and be chucked out... happened to me 3 times in the last few months. And later than midnight....

Such bars that don't care about closing times often also hope that customers from bars that care about closing times will move to them and continue their night there. Sometimes they make a lot of noise so that they are easier to find. But if the police doesn't enforce laws for whatever reason why not...

[rott]

8 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Not all police officers have what you mention, only the ones at the top.

The ones at the bottom who sell the illegal lottery, do they keep all the profit or does it work it's way up.? 

[rott]

7 hours ago, polpott said:

I don't know of one bar in Pattaya where the bar owner owns the property. Virtually all bars are leased/rented.

I do know one but he is very much the exception to the rule. 

So these people you socialise with, they are the property owners not the bar "owners".?

[polpott]

14 minutes ago, rott said:

I do know one but he is very much the exception to the rule. 

So these people you socialise with, they are the property owners not the bar "owners".?

Bar owners. The bars are officially in their wives names which is also the norm.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, rott said:

The ones at the bottom who sell the illegal lottery, do they keep all the profit or does it work it's way up.? 

don't know.

[Oldie]

1 hour ago, rott said:

The ones at the bottom who sell the illegal lottery, do they keep all the profit or does it work it's way up.? 

The illegal lottery - there are no (government) laws. They can do what they want. I read the local agent gets a percentage and about 60 percent is paid out. The rest goes to - I will send you a PM.

 

No, they will not tell us... 

[swissie]

On 9/25/2020 at 8:02 PM, Leaver said:

That's where you, and many others, are soooo wrong.

 

I see people stuck here due to emotional and financial ties. 

 

People losing money in failing businesses. (pre Covid)

 

People who have been fleeced by a Thai women. 

 

People worried about their seasoned money and dates for their next visa. 

 

People worried about their fixed pension not providing for them in Thailand, in 2020 and beyond. 

 

People heartbroken because their Thai partner has just upped and left them. 

 

I read about the frequent farang suicides here.

 

The list goes on and on.

 

I have NONE of these issues, and NEVER will. Eg, I didn't buy a worthless 6 million baht condo here.  

 

Life is simple and fun for me here, and that's by design.  There is no weight on my shoulders.  I have been told by many of the above they envy me.  

 

Instead of trying to get this thread shut down, why don't you go and start a thread about Pattaya's bright future for tourism? 

 

I can relate to all of the above mentioned paragraphs.
-------------------------------
But still:

"Instead of trying to get this thread shut down, why don't you go and start a thread about Pattaya's bright future for tourism?
-------------------------------
I will, I oblige.

What will end the general business-misery in Pattaya?

 

- As soon as a vaccine is available and the 77 different Thai Authorities that have a say in it, can finally agree on an "opening-modus", Pattaya Tourism will likely take off in no time at all. Much to the surprise of many.
Often underestimated, but the "self healing powers" of capitalism will inevitably come into play quickly. Especially the unique "very agile" form of capitalism in Thailand will make a re-start of Pattaya possible within 3 months. Surely, some financially "strong hands" are in the process to gobble-up the businesses, currently in financially "weak hands" at a heavily discounted price.
Not to forget, that there is a lot of "pent-up" demand by people from Europe that miss the "Pattaya-Experience". Especially as the Hostess-Business in Europe has gone from bad to worse.

 

Looking beyound Covid19. If I was 35 years younger, I would gladly join the Chinese in their quest to look for "weak-hands" in Pattaya, imitating their 1000 year old business-concept of "buy low, sell high".

All on a positive note. Not trying to hyjack the thread. People, trying to explain the difference between a Cod and a local Fish have already tryed.

[AbeNormal]

On 10/13/2020 at 12:29 PM, kinyara said:

Is it really worth bars staying open past midnight in the current climate, I don't see that many customers around in the evenings. I think the only certainty in the next 3 months is continued closures unfortunately. 

I agree there will be continued closures but those that are seeing customers need to be allowed to have that choice, I have seen busy or packed venues having to dump their customers onto the street and the customers are either going home or being forced to continue their after 12 adventures in places they would rather not

[champers]

Interesting article in the Thaiger about some bars making big amounts of money from providing a virtual bar experience online from live streaming. Punters; those abroad earnestly wishing they were here; are able to view the girls and chat with them and will view pop-ups on screen urging them to "buy lady drink for 150 Baht" and even "ring the bell for 900". Cherry's and Destiny bars were quoted as 2 examples.

You have to admire the survival spirit and for many it seems they are staying afloat as a consequence.

P.S. Sorry no link provided; it is beyond my ken.

 

[Oldie]

12 minutes ago, champers said:

Interesting article in the Thaiger about some bars making big amounts of money from providing a virtual bar experience online from live streaming. Punters; those abroad earnestly wishing they were here; are able to view the girls and chat with them and will view pop-ups on screen urging them to "buy lady drink for 150 Baht" and even "ring the bell for 900". Cherry's and Destiny bars were quoted as 2 examples.

You have to admire the survival spirit and for many it seems they are staying afloat as a consequence.

P.S. Sorry no link provided; it is beyond my ken.

 

This is correct. I have seen this here already in Pattaya in the Soi that goes from Made in Thailand to Soi Buakhao. But for sure they will provide there account numbers too if you ask so that you don't have to disturb them so much. 

[polpott]

19 minutes ago, champers said:

Interesting article in the Thaiger about some bars making big amounts of money from providing a virtual bar experience online from live streaming. Punters; those abroad earnestly wishing they were here; are able to view the girls and chat with them and will view pop-ups on screen urging them to "buy lady drink for 150 Baht" and even "ring the bell for 900". Cherry's and Destiny bars were quoted as 2 examples.

You have to admire the survival spirit and for many it seems they are staying afloat as a consequence.

P.S. Sorry no link provided; it is beyond my ken.

 

Its a double edged sword as it drives the real punters away. No one want's to be filmed live on the internet when groping the local ladies. One Nightwish bar on Soi 6 allowed a notorious vlogger to do it and has got hammered on the internet for it. Many expats vowing to never go in that bar again.

[DrTuner]

7 hours ago, champers said:

Interesting article in the Thaiger about some bars making big amounts of money from providing a virtual bar experience online from live streaming. Punters; those abroad earnestly wishing they were here; are able to view the girls and chat with them and will view pop-ups on screen urging them to "buy lady drink for 150 Baht" and even "ring the bell for 900". Cherry's and Destiny bars were quoted as 2 examples.

You have to admire the survival spirit and for many it seems they are staying afloat as a consequence.

P.S. Sorry no link provided; it is beyond my ken.

Thai chaturbate, eh?