Is It Just Me, Or Are Thai Staff Getting Ruder By The Day?

[Briggsy]

Try to avoid tourist areas.

 

Later this year I will move out of a tourist area. I didn't live in a tourist area for my first 20 years in Thailand. I don't know what possessed me to move into one.

[Negita43]

8 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

“Excuse me, khrap, steak mai suk, fries yen mak mak na khrap.” (For you lot who don’t speak Thai, that means “undercooked steak, very cold fries.” See? Polite. Respectful.)

Are you she was Thai??

[justaphase]

Yes, of course. We taught them all they know.

[Baht Simpson]

2025 is the year everyone will be upset by everything.

 

[MalcolmB]

Personally I find service in Thailand much better than in the UK.

 

If I gave the barmaids back home a little touch up I would be arrested. Here they encourage it. Buy them one drink you can go the full grope and they will give you and nice little fondle on the tackle. Sexually charged jokes and banter is a lot of fun.

 

And in Thai pubs the “pretties” constantly keeping my beer full.

 

In restaurants they give the menu and patiently stand by the table waiting for you to read the menu and decide what to eat instead of giving you the menu and telling you to call them over when you have decided.

 

I have never had some scantily dressed young hottie ever give me a wipe down with icy cold perfumed cloth on a hot day in a pub in the UK either.

 

Very nice people the Thais.

 

If you don’t like it here you should leave and go and complain in another country.

It is pretty disgusting the way some foreigners are always bitchin.

 

[MadAtMatrix]

Ask to have it packed up to go. Pay the bill. Leave her a two baht coin for a tip, then stand in front of the place and feed it to some street dogs. 

[NoshowJones]

7 hours ago, safarimike11 said:

Best to give that restaurant a body-swerve then.

If anyone names that restaurant, can they get charged with defamation? No one knows your real name. I can't imagine AN giving your real name or anything about you to anyone.

[NoshowJones]

7 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Very rarely had this issue. What do you look like? 😋

Having said that, some of the poorest food I’ve had here was on Koh Samet and that must’ve been 15y + ago. Agree above though; don’t send food back. If blatant rudeness, just chuck your money on the table without taking a bite or saying a word and walk. 

 

Why not just walk out without chucking your money on the table? That's what I would do, it's not as if you are in a bar and there are bouncers about.

[Peterphuket]

7 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I'm not white, black, Russian, Indian or of Middle East descent. 

"I'm not white, black, Russian, Indian or of Middle East descent.  "

Wonder if you do not fall under this it cannot be otherwise than you are an Albino.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't find that to be the case overall. But in areas where there are alot of tourists, you do find creeps who are jaded. 

 

I was in Hua Hin recently, and encountered a real vermin. I've stayed at this place a few times in the past. I booked two rooms for my friend and I, and for the first time in the 19 years that I've been living in Thailand, and the nearly 50 years that I've been coming to Thailand I was asked to show a visa stamp. I don't carry my passport unless I'm leaving the country or going to a bank to make an important transaction. I did have a color copy of my passport with my visa stamp on the back, however they said that they required one of my friend also, even though the booking was entirely in my name and paid for by me. 

 

I feel that the man at the counter was simply flexing his muscles and asking for something that is not required. I will now have to fight to get a refund with Agoda. I asked the hotel for a refund and they said no. The man was very rude, very arrogant, very obnoxious, and totally uncooperative. 

 

This hotel knowing that they have a very unusual policy of requiring a visa stamp should be willing to offer a credit for a future stay at a minimum, on the spot when they are turning away a guest. I started raising my voice and screaming at the man behind the counter because I was getting no cooperation, you cannot stay here, we will not give you your money back, and get lost. That arrogance set me off, and the man actually threatened to call the police. Is this how you treat a customer? 

 

The only mistake I made was not getting his name. I sincerely hope he loses his job over this, he doesn't deserve that job. Neither does the manager.

 

This was a dreadful way to start a vacation. We were left scrambling for a room at the last minute for the same day. Not only will I never come back to this hotel, I would encourage every single person who reads this review to not book with this hotel, as they have no idea how to treat customers properly. I know I cannot call them out by name, but the letter B appears at the beginning of their name, and a very low digit follows that. Ha! 

If you did name that hotel here on AN, maybe I'm wrong but I don't see how you could be charged with defamation, they would need your real name and probably your address. Where are they going to get it?

[Harrisfan]

Tourist islands are not known for good service. 

[hotandsticky]

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Tourist islands are not known for good service. 

 

 

 

.......or, in many cases, good tourists.

[hotandsticky]

54 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

 

 

In restaurants they give the menu and patiently stand by the table waiting for you to read the menu and decide what to eat  

 

 

 

...instead of asking you what you would like to drink and leaving you to peruse the food menu,

[newbee2022]

Depends on your behaviour 

[maechanman]

Easy don't ever go back, tell all your mates about them and if they're on Tripadvisor then give them a negative review.

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, maechanman said:

Easy don't ever go back, tell all your mates about them and if they're on Tripadvisor then give them a negative review.

 

 

They won't care...............unless you write a negative review - then they will sue you.

[Harrisfan]

8 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Very rarely had this issue. What do you look like? 😋

Having said that, some of the poorest food I’ve had here was on Koh Samet and that must’ve been 15y + ago. Agree above though; don’t send food back. If blatant rudeness, just chuck your money on the table without taking a bite or saying a word and walk. 

 

Why not eat it first then walk out? Beef is beef. Hard to get food poisoning so undercooked to taste is no big deal. A chip is a chip. Just eat it. Pay no tip. 

 

I had a Boston bbq in Udon. Was so nice. About 300 baht. One of the best meals Ive had in Thailand. Udon also has French and Spanish food. Sure no beach but they have hotel pools. If you want to experience great food at cheap prices and nice locals go there. Also some of the best coffee and cakes Ive had.

 

I would never both with Samet again. Small dull island with obviously crap food and people.

 

 

[ignore it]

I stay away from "tourist" restaurants.

 

Seems they intuitively know your a one shot customer .

 

Good food, bad food you probably ain't coming back.

 

 

[GmailJen]

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

some places are like that,  some places are ok. I think they just have a bad attitude and are not customer friendly.  If that happens I don't go back. 

same here !  many lack etiquette and attitude to customer service - wrong attitude has a negative impact   

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, GmailJen said:

same here !  many lack etiquette and attitude to customer service - wrong attitude has a negative impact   

 

 

Apart from the educational deficiencies it comes down to skill and training - both are usually lacking, except at high end establishments.

[Harrisfan]

Last night ordered 4 dishes took 2 hours to serve all 4. Was busy but that is so slow. 45m, 25m, 25m and 25m. All spread out. Staff was friendly though. Cute waitress with twin pony tails (the thoughts going thru my mind)

 

[Lacessit]

38 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

If you did name that hotel here on AN, maybe I'm wrong but I don't see how you could be charged with defamation, they would need your real name and probably your address. Where are they going to get it?

I guess by suing ASEAN as the publisher.

[jaideedave]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't find that to be the case overall. But in areas where there are alot of tourists, you do find creeps who are jaded. 

 

I was in Hua Hin recently, and encountered a real vermin. I've stayed at this place a few times in the past. I booked two rooms for my friend and I, and for the first time in the 19 years that I've been living in Thailand, and the nearly 50 years that I've been coming to Thailand I was asked to show a visa stamp. I don't carry my passport unless I'm leaving the country or going to a bank to make an important transaction. I did have a color copy of my passport with my visa stamp on the back, however they said that they required one of my friend also, even though the booking was entirely in my name and paid for by me. 

 

I feel that the man at the counter was simply flexing his muscles and asking for something that is not required. I will now have to fight to get a refund with Agoda. I asked the hotel for a refund and they said no. The man was very rude, very arrogant, very obnoxious, and totally uncooperative. 

 

This hotel knowing that they have a very unusual policy of requiring a visa stamp should be willing to offer a credit for a future stay at a minimum, on the spot when they are turning away a guest. I started raising my voice and screaming at the man behind the counter because I was getting no cooperation, you cannot stay here, we will not give you your money back, and get lost. That arrogance set me off, and the man actually threatened to call the police. Is this how you treat a customer? 

 

The only mistake I made was not getting his name. I sincerely hope he loses his job over this, he doesn't deserve that job. Neither does the manager.

 

This was a dreadful way to start a vacation. We were left scrambling for a room at the last minute for the same day. Not only will I never come back to this hotel, I would encourage every single person who reads this review to not book with this hotel, as they have no idea how to treat customers properly. I know I cannot call them out by name, but the letter B appears at the beginning of their name, and a very low digit follows that. Ha! 

Good code..got it. Bad luck..had a similar experience in Kanchantaburi a couple years ago at a chain hotel the (moves like a bunny) lol

They f around around for over half hour at check in about a PP copy. Very rude and arrogant treatment from the front desk lady.

 

[Expat68]

Extremely unlucky 

[cjinchiangrai]

Another pointless Thai bashing thread. I have no problems. Maybe it is time for you to leave?

[Gandtee]

Never send food back. You don't know what they will do to it. Piss on your chips? 'There you go. Chips warmed up.' 😉

[Suitcase]

11 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

A heartfelt fable and a tribute to the Real Bob Smith, wherever he may be. 
 

Alright, lads, I need to get this off my chest. What has happened to customer service in Thailand?

 

Back in the day, when I first came here, you could walk into a bar or restaurant, be greeted with a smile, a cold beer would show up right away and you would actually be treated like a paying customer. Now? You’d think I’d walked in and personally insulted the entire family of the restaurant owner just by sitting down and smiling.

 

Case in point is last night. I went to this so-called “expat-friendly” bar on Koh Samet, just looking to unwind with a cold one and a plate of food after a long day. Ordered a simple meal of steak, well-done, side of chips, nothing fancy innit. I even asked politely in Thai (I always make the effort, you know me right), and what do I get? A blank stare, a half-hearted grunt, and the waitress shuffling off like I’d just asked her to solve a physics equation.

 

Food comes out. Steak’s bleeding, chips are ice cold. So, as any normal person would, I politely call her over and say, “Excuse me, khrap, steak mai suk, fries yen mak mak na khrap.” (For you lot who don’t speak Thai, that means “undercooked steak, very cold fries.” See? Polite. Respectful.)

 

And then, BAM! Full not having it attitude. Eye roll, huffing, snatches the plate away like I’d personally offended her ancestors. Ten minutes later, food comes back. The steak? Burnt to a crisp.The chips? Same cold, soggy mess. And to top it off, she practically slammed the plate down on the table like she was about to challenge me to a Muay Thai fight. No apology, no “sorry for the mix-up Khun Bob,” nothing.

 

Now, I get it that times are tough and people are stressed, but why is it that farangs like me seem to get treated worse than the local soi dogs these days? I was polite. I was patient. I even spoke their language! And yet, this is the treatment I get?

 

It’s not the first time, either. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had similar experiences. Is it Tik-Tok poisoning their minds? Economic stress? Just a general hatred of handsome, well dressed farangs like me now? I had the Rolex on. They could see I'm not a slouch. I don’t know, but Thailand is not the same place I first fell in love with mates.

 

So I ask, is anyone else experiencing this, or am I just extremely unlucky?

 

Bob.

Guess you need to find a new bar to hang out

[WDSmart]

Your experience sounds very bad, but I've never had any problems like this. Of course, I usually eat Thai food, not Farang food, and I usually go back to the same places I've been before. Anyway, I hope you are treated better next time.

[WDSmart]

Your experience sounds very bad, but I've never had any problems like this. Of course, I usually eat Thai food, not Farang food, and I usually go back to the same places I've been before. Anyway, I hope you are treated better next time.

[spidermike007]

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

I find it strange that yelling at someone here does little and usually makes the situation worse,  yet when a thai woman is arguing with someone they will scream at each other to see who is the loudest. 

 

They will always threaten to call the police in any tiny or big situation,  that's their answer to all confrontations ....   they will call then at the drop of a hat as they know the cops will take the Thai's side over farang. 

I completely agree, and saying to a long-term loyal customer I am going to call the police because you are raising your voice at me is the act of a man with a very cowardly nature, no heart, no soul, no substance, and no idea about customer service or just simple respect. He was an absolute goon, who should never be allowed within a hundred meters of a hotel much less hired to work behind a reception counter.