the issue with VAT and service chargd is that in shops like supermarkets and department stores, they can manage to include VAT in the price shown on shelves

if they were to add 7% at the till there'll be public revolt

 

restaurants are welcomed to add whatever percentage they want to make their overheads and pay staff, but not including in the price shown on menus is borderline deceptive - sayint it's industry practice doesn't help, it makes the price artificially low, but does it really? say a dish in a sit down restaurant is 220 on the menu, plus vat and service chage it comes to 257, would anyone balks at the price and walk away if it were listed as 260? 

 

by law they can get away with stating vat and service charge in a sign or on menus 

It's an Americanisation that is annoying. 

 

It's clearly deceptive. It's banned in the UK and the EU for that reason.

 

America is a nightmare as they add on tax on things you buy in a supermarket too !!!

Oh the joys of eating out, bad service, cold/uncooked food, diahreea, dirty utensils and high prices...now to add an enforced 10% tip, plus VAT and and extra 200 baht just for the privilege...hardley eat out in Thailand for years because of this...few weeks ago on the very rare occasion I did and guess what, Bangkok Belly within a few hours...I would hasten to add, this is not common to only Thailand 

I no longer Tip, and if the restaurant are showing net prices and then add 10 and 7percent, i dont eat there........simple as.

times have changed now.

i pay the price, and that is it.

get yourself a Thai woman, buy food from markets, Makro, etc, get her to cook, will be tastier and more healthy.  Tell her not to add MSG or sugar.  my food tastes great.

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

America is a nightmare as they add on tax on things you buy in a supermarket too !!!

Only 13 states have a tax on food bought from a supermarket. Those states can set their own tax levels. 

27 minutes ago, marin said:

Only 13 states have a tax on food bought from a supermarket. Those states can set their own tax levels. 

I think it's 16 now.

But by far the most fair tax system on food in the world!

"Among the 16 states that impose grocery taxes, the combined state and county tax rates range from 1% to 9%. High grocery sales tax rates have recently raised the public and political attention."

On 10/26/2024 at 1:21 PM, ColeBOzbourne said:

I went to a restaurant and the waiter recommended a dish. It sounded good, so I went with that. There was a 50 baht 'consultation fee' when the check arrived. 

I went to a restaurant and the cook took so long to bring me the food, they charged me an extra "long time fee".

Thankfully, most restaurants do not engage in this kind of piracy. In the US recently and a very weak and PC friend left a 20% tip on an expensive take out order. It made me sick seeing that and I told him what a weak move that was. 

 

Just say no to piracy. 

On 10/28/2024 at 1:51 AM, jippytum said:

I never patronise a restaurant that  enforces a fixed service  charge +++

I tip  staff for good food and service not a fixed payment to the owner. 

Years back I asked my favorite restaurant in Jomtien how they manage their tips.  The waitress said it all went into one pot and shared out between them at the end of the week. That’s fair, and I always leave a tip even if I go 5 times a week. They work hard, usually on the legal minimum age, if it’s clean and I get a smile , the food is good, I’m happy. 

3 minutes ago, geisha said:

Years back I asked my favorite restaurant in Jomtien how they manage their tips.  The waitress said it all went into one pot and shared out between them at the end of the week. That’s fair, and I always leave a tip even if I go 5 times a week. They work hard, usually on the legal minimum age, if it’s clean and I get a smile , the food is good, I’m happy. 

that's how it should be

I noticed this too recently and was surprised. One place chargedYeah, that sounds super frustrating — especially when they keep stacking on extra charges like that. A 200 Baht per person fee? That’s wild unless you're getting some kind of special service or entertainment included. It’s one thing to charge VAT and service, but a per-head fee just for sitting down feels a bit much. I’ve been to a couple of Orchard Road restaurants that are upfront with pricing, which I really appreciate. No one likes getting hit with surprises when the bill shows up. us 50 baht each just for sitting down, even before ordering. Seems more places are sneaking this in now.

Why would anyone use a vendor that charges you to enter, to spend money there ?

 

One thing no Thai vendor will get from me, an entrance fee, to spend money, to eat your food.   7-11 is looking better everyday ... 

 

We eat ~90% of our meal at home anyway.  We dined out 2X this month, I think, in over 2 weeks at home.  Less than one week on the road this month.  1 local restaurant, and Pizza Co. 

On 10/25/2024 at 6:42 AM, DonniePeverley said:

I got a bit miffed with my local to go place here in Bangkok, when they suddenly started to add VAT on their meals. Fine i let it go and continued to go there. 

 

Then tourism started to increase a bit more, and they added in a 10% service charge. 

 

Now the cheeky sausages, and my final straw, is they have added a 200 Baht per person charge !!! 

 

Absolutely ridiculously taking the biscuit with the per person charge, which i have only ever seen a few times in very high end restaurants in America. 

 

This americanisation of 'hidden charges' needs to be addressed. Or is Thailand now just purely on the lowdown for tourists and locals can go shove it. 

 

Was the 200 baht per person charge a 'minimum charge' per person ? or an additional charge per-person ?

 

Either way... name the place - its not defamation to simply name a place that Charges Tax, Service and a 200 baht per person charge.

 

 

Many bars charged an Entrance fee - 200 baht etc (with which you get one drink) its because of too many cheapskates to take up space without buying a drink etc.. 

 

But for a restaurant to charge like this is too cheeky...  especially if its an additional charge.

 

 

I've had many disucssions with many restaurants: 

Our Son is tall, and some buffet restaurants wanted to charge him as an adult rate when he was about 6 years old etc...   I pointed out that the other kids at other tables are older than him - charge child fees or we walk ! (always worked)....

 

The same goes for the 'Japanese restaurants that have a drink all you want for 2 hours promo'... I'd go with Wife and Son...   Then they'd insist that my Wife has to do the promo too....  I ask why not my son ?... (being flippant) then they the manager and ask why they are forcing a pregnant lady to drink alcohol ?...    But, I understand why some restaurants have such policies - to many people at some point have been cheating the system so the restaurant owners try and avoid this... 

 

 

 

We pay everything by card in most places that includes the 10% service fee.

If a smaller place we are paying by QR Code...  and will add on a tip - the issue of course is whether this gets to the staff....  (or Wife will hand some change over - in a small noodle stall etc).

 

Some places charge an Air-Con fee !!! (its been discussed here)... 

 

Simple option - dont like it, vote with feet.

 

 

 

 

 

I recall at a restaurant years ago...  a restaurant we went to charged 50 baht per cold tissue that we never used.. 

(those ice cold tissues from the freezer in a small plastic pack)

 

So next time, we said went to the same restaurant we told the staff we didn't want them when the put them on our table - we were told we 'had to take them'...   upon inquiry the manager reinforced this.. 

 

Simple solution: We left and never went back !!..