Phuket restaurant in hot water over charging tourists high prices

By Eakkapop Thongtub

 

Officers at the Na Nork Sunset restaurant in Kamala today (July 8). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET:-- Kamala Police Chief Col Chaiyaphruk Phatiworakorn has intervened to diffuse a “misunderstanding” of a local restaurant charging a Thai tourist B3,000 just for cooking the seafood meals ordered, not including the ingredients.

 

Col Chaiyaphruk called the owner of the NaNork Sunset restaurant, Sitthithep Precha, 49, and the customer, Lalita Chaiyasit, to Kamala Police Station this afternoon (July 8 ) after a post on Facebook by Ms Lalita explaining the incident started going viral on Thai social media.

 

With Col Chaiyaphruk as witness, Mr Sitthithep and Ms Lalita apologised to each other, and settled their differences.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-restaurant-in-hot-water-over-charging-tourists-high-prices-76629.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2020-07-08

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Is this a misunderstanding or the shape of things to come. Trying to make up for a few bad months.

 

Or perhaps the end of dual pricing?

Just a 'mis-understanding' of course once they were caught out.

 

Admitting to dual pricing won't go down with local foreigners either. Not a good stunt to pull at a time like this. Plenty of other places want need our business.

Judging by the names, this seems to be Thai v Thai Tourist

23 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

has intervened to diffuse a “misunderstanding” of a local restaurant charging a Thai tourist

how many decades of this going on ? it is a thai sport to overcharge non thais

On 7/8/2020 at 7:06 PM, Oziex1 said:

 Trying to make up for a few bad months.

No, this is the same Phuket I quit visiting in 2003, always targeting the short term holidaymakers with scams. 

Pattaya became a better 2 week vacation even with the <deleted> beach.

Just shows that the foreigner scams, as many on this forum claim, are just a myth.............They scam their own ilk just as much.

The "misunderstanding" centered around Mr Sitthithep's failure to understand that he wouldn't be able to get away with ripping off Ms Lalita.

No sympathy from me for any Thai in Phuket. They have ripped of tourists and Thais for years. Karma is a bitch. 

Seriously ? A dozen coppers to settle a food bill ? Must be real slow day at the office ......or thoughts of a free meal maybe

56 minutes ago, Ron jeremy said:

 Karma is a bitch. 

Kamala is a beach.

Seems like an inefficient use of resources to settle a civil matter.

 

I was anticipating things like this happening I wonder how many others they have done it too?

Beware of ripoffs everywhere now as they are all desperate to get in some free money !

So why did the victim have to apologise?

Doesn't that apply to any business in rip off Phuket.

Same thing happened to me a long time ago on a southern island.

Caught a very nice red snapper on a day trip (4-5kg) and returned to our resort.

We asked them to cook it up (understood charge involved, based on experience was expecting 200-400) and that kitchen/restaurant staff could share the other half, as no way we could eat it all. We ordered some side dishes and drinks as well.

 

Was somewhat surprised when the bill arrived and we were charged a cooking fee of 2,000 (plus half a nice fish ???? ).

 

To be fair, we spoke with the resort owner in the morning and said we could pay what we felt was reasonable, so I duly gave him 200 !

14 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

So why did the victim have to apologise?

 

Obviously because by transparently and truthfully highlighting the shady behaviour of the restaurant on social media, they made them lose face ???? 

14 hours ago, YetAnother said:

it is a thai sport to overcharge non thais

And what connection does that have to this news?

So am i right to think if tourists are charged a premium the police will invite the perpetrators in for a talk, but what will happen after the talk,

if they overcharge you don't go back and tell them you will post on social media what scumbags they are it may only be a few baht but it is a form of racism

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

So why did the victim have to apologise?

Naming and shaming is too much for Thai people.

Try to ripp off and than make a big story about "Missunderstanding".... ....reminds me of the brake failure fairy tale!

When the customer complained we reduced the price 2-3 times, if any other Thais complained in the past we always offered a reduction 10%-20%

Rip-off merchants, hike up the bill and if they pay were ok, if not knock a bit off.!

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“misunderstanding” of a local restaurant charging a Thai tourist B3,000 just for cooking the seafood meals ordered, not including the ingredients.

That's Not an Misunderstanding, It's a Normal Rip off .

 

People must learn to ask the All In  price in Before Ordering. 

Same as when one goes to Parks an Venues  ,Ask the Thai price and the Farang price .Judge accordingly Go in / Go somewhere else / Go Home .

you can google "seafood bangkok tourist ripoff" and it's FUNNY how farangs pay 10,000 baht for their meals.  it really could happen to anyhow IF this is your first time to Thailand, and you want to be nice and trust everyone.  

 

8000 baht for one piece of lettuce, old fake crab meat and a coke.  

 

we have all been ripped off a little bit.  20 baht here, 100 baht there.  and then some restaurants give us way too much food.....whatever.  

“Before this, we always gave a 10-20% discount to Thai customers, if they asked for it,” Mr Sitthithep said.  “This customer is ruining the Phuket tourism image...."

 

But not me with my dual and racist pricing. Oh no, not me. 

Higher prices will be the new normal as Thailand caters for high end tourists.

Surprised that they didn't plea that they had to charge extra because of lack of customers. No farangs to overcharge so now have to overcharge Thai people!

6 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Beware of ripoffs everywhere now as they are all desperate to get in some free money !

yes indeed - note the name of this restaurant to avoid for "starters" (excuse the pun)!

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

When the customer complained we reduced the price 2-3 times, if any other Thais complained in the past we always offered a reduction 10%-20%

Rip-off merchants, hike up the bill and if they pay were ok, if not knock a bit off.!

But only price reduction for complaining Thai's. I'm sure International Tourists would never get this reduction......