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

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

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

Very, very lame comment. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. 

 

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? 

 

Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I guess by suing ASEAN as the publisher.

If that was possible it would have happened long before now.

[Presnock]

10 hours ago, hankypankee said:

Well done. Very much like a real Bob Smith post. He will surely be honored by your shout out to him. As we know, he has no ego. Maybe he's on the beach in Spain right now reading your tribute. 

Probably just a case of over tourism - seems now every day  another article surfaces with the govt touting the more and moree tourists coming plus how much money they are spending!  Ride the BKK trains and you will seldom  find an open seat anywhere!

[Andycoops]

It's definitely you!!!

[chuang]

12 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

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

Rainbow 🌈 

[chuang]

Most staff are from Myanmar 

[GinBoy2]

I have to agree sending food back just makes it worse.

 

Do that in the West, and generally they try to make it right and are apologetic for the mistake.

 

In Thailand, tends to be 'Fu====ck' him and the gloves come off.

 

Not sure if it's gotten worse, I think it's always been like this

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, chuang said:

Most staff are from Myanmar 

 

have 500+ employees at my work.... 80% are imports from surrounding countries !

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Very, very lame comment. Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues. 

 

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? 

 

Please. Next time you make a post, try to devote at least two moments of thought to it.

In principle you and OP are right however tourist zones are known for rude service, bad food and rip off prices. In Korat the people were so friendly I couldnt believe it. It was like everyone took kind pills. 

 

 

[Harrisfan]

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

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

Maybe time to leave Chiang Rai and visit a few islands. See for yourself.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

If that was possible it would have happened long before now.

ASEAN is not as pubic as something like TripAdvisor or Google reviews.

 

First, the owner of the business also has to be (a) someone who is an ASEAN member (b) actually reading the adverse mention of their business .

 

Pretty long odds.

[cjinchiangrai]

43 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Maybe time to leave Chiang Rai and visit a few islands. See for yourself.

Been there, done that. Everyone was very nice.

[theblether]

57 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

I have to agree sending food back just makes it worse.

 

Do that in the West, and generally they try to make it right and are apologetic for the mistake.

 

In Thailand, tends to be 'Fu====ck' him and the gloves come off.

 

Not sure if it's gotten worse, I think it's always been like this

 

Last time it happened to me I paid the bill and binned the food. 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

If you are in a very touristy area, especially one where the customers are likely to be drunk and rude - it would be only normal for the waitresses to be fed up and treat the customers in a similar manner.

[1FinickyOne]

16 minutes ago, theblether said:

Do that in the West, and generally they try to make it right

assuming you like their spit in your food. 

[scorecard]

14 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I know how you feel but I no longer send food back.  The second time is usually worse and who know what they did to the food.  A friendly greeting and good customer service is rare. I have had to lower my expectations a lot in the last few years.  

Me too, food not acceptable I immediately ask for the bill, pay it and walk out. 

[Sandboxer]

Nobody likes a criminal, especially murderers, so don't be shocked at being treated like one.

 

Steak murderers are an especially vile sort. Belong in the same bucket as vegans.

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

6 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

"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.

No.  What part of the world is Thailand in? 

[OJAS]

11 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Linked to cancer and kills vitamins. Steak should be rare or med-rare.

 

Yeah, right. And catch food poisoning from undercooked meat instead.

 

[hotandsticky]

15 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Yeah, right. And catch food poisoning from undercooked meat instead.

 

 

 

No....... and a poor attempt at scaremongering.

 

That would not happen from 'under-cooking' which is not under cooking if the internal temperature is 125 to 140 degrees - which is the rare/medium rare range.

[Andre0720]

10 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. 

"as they know the cops will take the Thai's side over farang. ''

 

No they don't, well not always perhaps.

Many years ago, my gf called he cops because of a dispute over who should get the apartment that we were sharing. She wanted me to just leave the apartment, and to not take anything with me. She told me that I was in big problems.

Cops came over, asked the landlord who was paying for the apartment, the answer was 'the farang". Cops put her belongings in their truck, and drove away...

[Cardano]

17 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.

So why didn't you just get up and walk out?

[Somjot]

17 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

 

17 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

 

Back in the day, when I first came here, you could walk into a bar or restaurant, be greeted with a smile, would actually be treated like a paying customer. Now? .

 

, 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.

 

 I was polite. I was patient. I even spoke their language! And yet, this is the treatment.

 

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

 

Bob.

 

 

Maybe you did, I mean insult her ancestors. You wrote that back in the day you have been treated much nicer then on this occasion and I assume that back in the day you did not speak Thai but in English to them.

As much as they appreciate it, when we show respect towards their country and culture by learning the language yet there are some obstacles.

Look, I speak read and write Thai and I know quite a few people who are much better than me but still I never met a person, who learned Thai after the age of 30 who would pronounce it correctly.

As easy as their grammar is as difficult it is to use those five tones together with short or long vowels properly.

I give you an example.

In January 2020 I was invited to the international Congress of implantologist which took place in Chiang Mai.

After the lectures the professors had invited me for dinner and as I had just arrived from Germany asked me how it was over there.

While answering them I also mentioned that huge amount of snow, that had been falling in those few days before my flight and it is usual in our language to emphasize something by speaking the word longer than usual like "everywhere I looked every building every car everything was full of snooooow".

They suddenly broke down in laughter which I didn't understand first but later that evening when some of them asked me to repeat that story especially the part about the weather and every time I did they laughed again, I got suspicious.

Long story short snow in Thai is HIMA and it is very important to use a short "i" and a short "a".

Change that into long vowels and snow turns into the genitals of a female horse spoken in gutter language AKA horse c***. So again maybe you did insult her ancestors.

[Harrisfan]

55 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Yeah, right. And catch food poisoning from undercooked meat instead.

 

Since when? Its beef not chicken

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, Sandboxer said:

Nobody likes a criminal, especially murderers, so don't be shocked at being treated like one.

 

Steak murderers are an especially vile sort. Belong in the same bucket as vegans.

 

 

Steak murderers 

[Somjot]

11 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! 

 

Look, I have read quite a few posts from you, especially in the political sub forums and I think you are one of the most reasonable members in here, so I'm not trying to oppose or criticize you and maybe I'm just missing something.

 

But in the recent years when they started with that TM 30 thing Hotel receptions must see your passport and check your legal stay in the country so they can complete TM 30 by presenting your data to the local immigration, which they must do by law within 24 hours. Some hotels might not be very serious about and some might accept a copy or a photo on your smartphone but from a strict legal point of view the guy had to do that by checking your passport and that of your friend too. It does not matter who did the booking for how many people. According to law the hotel must complete a TM 30 form for each and every foreigner who wants to stay at their place. If the Foreigner refuses to present his identifications, the hotel staff actually is obliged to inform the authorities.

[BangkokReady]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed.

 

It's easy when your self-esteem is attached to your perception of Thailand, and your mind literally won't allow you find a single thing wrong with the place.  Unfortunately, this also means that you have to attack anyone who does make any negative observations.

[Harrisfan]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

ASEAN is not as pubic as something like TripAdvisor or Google reviews.

 

First, the owner of the business also has to be (a) someone who is an ASEAN member (b) actually reading the adverse mention of their business .

 

Pretty long odds.

Google has bad reviews. Lots of them in Thailand. Not everyone is scared.