Attitudes of Waiters & Waitresses in Thailand.

[WineOh]

Morning all,

now maybe its just me but I have noticed a really steep decline in the level of service in many bars & restaurants here in Thailand.

no smiles, no hello how are you today,

just pay and get the hell out as quick as you can.

i have noticed this from big fancy places down to small family owned restaurants. 
it seems they cannot be bothered anymore and have forgotten how to make customers feel welcome. Just the other day i ordered a pizza and after 40 minutes of having me wait the waitress came over and said the chef had messed up the dough and would i like to order something else. When i said no just give me the bill her reaction was like it was ME who <deleted> up the pizza! 
 

Good service is essential to an establishments being a success or not. 
to be honest im sick of being treated with contempt everytime i go out for a meal or a drink. Think i will cook at home in future.

has anyone else noticed this steady decline in the attitudes of waiters and waitresses in Thailand?

[Tropicalevo]

No decline here on Samui. Polite and friendly where I eat and drink.

If anything - more polite and friendly with the absence of foreign tourists.

[WineOh]

Just now, Tropicalevo said:

No decline here on Samui. Polite and friendly where I eat and drink.

If anything - more polite and friendly with the absence of foreign tourists.

Funny because I was in samui around christmas and I thought the service was atrocious. 

[ChakaKhan]

This isnt still about that drink tab I hope.......Im happy to swap seats with you as Im stuck in the dumpster fire...a dumpster that was made great again.....sigh

[bwpage3]

7 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

Funny because I was in samui around christmas and I thought the service was atrocious. 

Well mate you chose Thailand, they didn't choose you!

[Keyser Soze666]

I honestly don't think you can generalise country by country with this sort of thing, think it just depends on how the staff are trained in establishments, and the mood of individuals on any single day.

 

I do however think Thai's smile less now though, 100% certain of that.

Edited August 1, 2020 by Keyser Soze666

[WineOh]

5 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

Well mate you chose Thailand, they didn't choose you!

Typical attitude of many locals here. Never want to change, always someone elses fault!

[bwpage3]

1 minute ago, Liverpoolfan said:

Typical attitude of many locals here. Never want to change, always someone elses fault!

What to you expect?

 

Thai people doing these types of jobs have nothing, make little money, etc.

 

I wouldn't be happy either

[transam]

12 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

I honestly don't think you can generalise country by country with this sort of thing, think it just depends on how the staff are trained in establishments, and the mood of individuals on any single day.

 

I do however think Thai's smile less now though, 100% certain of that.

Perhaps they got to know you........????....................????

[Jingthing]

Well I wouldn't know but I have found that the delivery drivers for the various apps are very polite. Perhaps word is out that I tip well. 

[Henryford]

I didn't think attitudes were that great even before Covid, but then on 300 baht a day i wouldn't be happy either.

[Pilotman]

Could they ever be bothered?  Thailand is not noted for the high level of its customer service, unless you are in a 5 star hotel.  The people in bog standard hotels and restaurants are badly trained, if trained at all, paid a pittance and couldn't care less. Mind you, give me Thai customer service over the US false smiles and stupid greetings version any day.  I find US restaurant staff in Cities intensely irritating and their tip system ludicrously over generous. 

[Keyser Soze666]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

Perhaps they got to know you........????....................????

Man, you really are dull. Seriously...

[Keyser Soze666]

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Could they ever be bothered?  Thailand is not noted for the high level of its customer service, unless you are in a 5 star hotel.  The people in bog standard hotels and restaurants are badly trained, if trained at all, paid a pittance and couldn't care less. Mind you, give me Thai customer service over the US false smiles and stupid greetings version any day.  I find US restaurant staff in Cities intensely irritating and their tip system ludicrously over generous. 

Very good customer service in Japan, pilot old bean.

[Keyser Soze666]

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Well I wouldn't know but I have found that the delivery drivers for the various apps are very polite. Perhaps word is out that I tip well. 

Still hiding behind your sofa, then?

[scorecard]

18 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

I honestly don't think you can generalise country by country with this sort of thing, think it just depends on how the staff are trained in establishments, and the mood of individuals on any single day.

 

I do however think Thai's smile less now though, 100% certain of that.

 Could it be something to do with many many folks all countries are worried 24/7 about getting the virus and worried whether they have a job tomorrow and can feed their kids etc., etc. 

 

You need to chill and get a hobby.

 

[Jingthing]

Just now, Keyser Soze666 said:

Still hiding behind your sofa, then?

I don't think eating in enclosed restaurants is really safe. I did eat at an outdoor table yesterday and the service was functional though not friendly. 

[WineOh]

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 Could it be something to do with many many folks all countries are worried 24/7 about getting the virus and worried whether they have a job tomorrow and can feed their kids etc., etc. 

 

You need to chill and get a hobby.

 

Service was bad even before covid. 
 

if they are not happy in their job and dont make enough money etc then quit.

 

servers are the shop window of any food and drink establishment and if they are lousy then that is a bad sign. 

Edited August 1, 2020 by Liverpoolfan

[scorecard]

Just now, Liverpoolfan said:

Service was bad even before covid. 
 

if they are not happy in their job and font make enough money etc then quit.

 

servers are the shop window of any food and drink establishment and if they are lousy then that is a bad sign. 

As said, get a hobby. Or perhaps you should move to another country where service always excelllent regardless of anything. 

[ChipButty]

Given the amount of pay they get and the hours they put in like 12 to 13 hours a day 6 days a week can understand them to a point but dont take your attitude out on the customers,

I went to a Italian restaurant last year ordered the food and a bottle of wine so off the girl goes and comes back with the wine and just plonks it on the table and walked away again, after 5 minutes I asked her are you going to open that bottle, she wasn't happy

[Logosone]

Things have gotten worse in Thailand since the virus, no doubt about it.

 

They took away the condiments in Central Food Court, no more power banks or free strollers.

 

At the superb I Din Klin Krog they just took complimentary peanuts off the menu. Two days ago a forgetful waiter there forgot my Lychee Mint Cocktail, then after a reminder, brought a Ginger Punch.

 

And of course most waiters now wear the face nappies so maybe the oxygen starvation is impairing their mental agility.

 

It also makes for an unwelcoming atmosphere.

 

 

[Susco]

3 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Very good customer service in Japan, pilot old bean.

Maybe you can remind us of the wages and the price of a beer in Japan

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

Service was bad even before covid. 
 

if they are not happy in their job and dont make enough money etc then quit.

 

servers are the shop window of any food and drink establishment and if they are lousy then that is a bad sign. 

I've come to the conclusion you just bring out the worst in people

[Saltire]

Haven't been in a proper restaurant in 5 months so no complaints here, no bars or restaurants so no waiters and waitreses to deal with????

 

However we did eat at a new roadside place in the nearest town a week ago and all 4 staff were every friendly. Turns out they were former bar girls who had given up on Pattaya, came home and set up shop. Their atire and tatoos sort of gave the game away ????. Good on them for doing somethng positive, and the food was great.

 

 

Edited August 1, 2020 by Saltire

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

They are friendly and very polite to me too, while I do not tip.
Waitresses, shopkeepers and officials too, even the cops.

But I smile at them first, and I have never behaved like the master among his servants.
Here is...

I think people dealing with the public deserve more money in these times. Probably more so in hot spots like the USA, but the service people here have helped prevent Thailand from being a hot spot at least so far. So I think people should consider tipping more than they have in past during this pandemic era, if they can afford it of course. 

[BigStar]

Yet another "Thais ain't kissin' me butt enuff" whinge. Never gets old.

 

Haven't noticed any "decline." I'm always treated well. It helps to initiate a smile and a polite, friendly greeting in Thai that helps distinguish one from the idiots they usually have to deal with.

 

What I have noticed, however, is a widespread but entirely understandable gloominess. I share that to some extent, too. Like most worldwide, I miss the old pre-COVID days.

 

Edited August 1, 2020 by BigStar

[Keyser Soze666]

3 minutes ago, Saltire said:

Good on them for doing somethng positive, and the food was great.

 

 

And it only cost you 30 baht. Win win!

[Keyser Soze666]

3 minutes ago, BigStar said:

 

 

What I have noticed, however, is a widespread but entirely understandable gloominess. I share that to some extent, too. Like most worldwide, I miss the old pre-COVID days.

 

Yep it's over. Done.

[transam]

14 minutes ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Still hiding behind your sofa, then?

You been looking through key holes...?    ????

[BigStar]

8 minutes ago, Susco said:

Maybe you can remind us of the wages and the price of a beer in Japan

But then the cost of living in Japan. Next.