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

[Expat68]

53 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I seriously doubt you can get a free glass of water anywhere,  they will tell you that have to buy a bottle of water from their fridge.  

 

in the old days you could,  but not any more. 

You do in the city I live in Issaan, you even get a free glass of water with your coffee 

[Harrisfan]

53 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I seriously doubt you can get a free glass of water anywhere,  they will tell you that have to buy a bottle of water from their fridge.  

 

in the old days you could,  but not any more. 

Lots of restaurants have water containers and free ice. I've been to 5 in the last 2 weeks. You need to get out more. Very common in popular local Thai restaurants.

[newbee2022]

On 2/15/2025 at 2:22 AM, 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.

I think it depends on you.

If your approach is nice and respectful the staff will answer in the same way.

[Dan O]

On 2/15/2025 at 4:42 AM, 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. 

Naw the real bob smith would have worked in the cost for the meal and the loud rude russians at the next table. 

[Eaglekott]

On 2/15/2025 at 4:45 PM, chuang said:

Most staff are from Myanmar 

Yes and they do not understand or speak Thai well. Usually english works much better.

[JensenZ]

On 2/15/2025 at 3:58 AM, FritsSikkink said:

You shouldn't eat a steak well done to start with, it kills the taste.

And don't eat local Thai steak rare or you might end up with tapeworms. I got them from rare roast beef in Big C. There is a solution for people who want to eat rare Thai beef - freeze it for 24 hours to kill the cysts in the meat. Of course, this only works for meat you cook yourself at home. 

[JensenZ]

I haven't noticed any decline in table service in restaurants over the 19 years I've been here, in Pattaya, at the places I frequent. The franchise restaurants are just as friendly as they have ever been, and markets around town are still friendly, whether you speak Thai or not.

 

I did have a surprising experience yesterday at the main Fascino branch on Pattaya Nua. I went up to the counter to pay for my items, placed them on the counter, and waited for someone to serve me. I counted 9 staff behind the counter, most wearing bright orange uniforms. No one served me until I asked if there was someone who would. When I asked them if I was invisible, they apologized. I was the only customer there at the time. They seem way overstaffed. I don't know what they all do.

 

This is a one-off experience, but at Fascino they used to bug you when you entered the store, and I prefer to be left alone when shopping there.

[Thingamabob]

On 2/17/2025 at 5:45 AM, save the frogs said:

So 25 years ago, foreigners weren't hostile and abusive?

They were all well-mannered and polite back then? 

What has changed? It's a generational thing?

Is it because of Nirvana and more grunge music has changed people over the years or what? 

 

Foreigners were much better behaved 25 years ago, and even better behaved 50 years ago.

[DarthChuckler]

On 2/15/2025 at 2:22 AM, 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.

How about rude visitors ruining the happiness?  Deal with grumpy entitled tourists all day and see how happy you are.

[scottiejohn]

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Foreigners were much better behaved 25 years ago, and even better behaved 50 years ago.

They have probably got crankier with age.

If they were here 50 years ago they are probably in their 70's at least now!

😁

[Thingamabob]

27 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

They have probably got crankier with age.

If they were here 50 years ago they are probably in their 70's at least now!

😁

In my case 83, first arrived in Thailand in 1962. Less cranky than I once was according to my wife.

 

[diveasia666]

On 2/14/2025 at 8:22 PM, 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.

The Rolex prolly made the bad impression...even a soi dog wears a fake one in Thaiand.. lol

But I agree, they do get crankier everywhere.