Black Canyon Restaurant Chaweng

[stephanbkk]

Just spent the week in Samui this being my 6th time there. I have always noticed the Black Canyon Coffee shop (Franchise) and thought cool maybe sometime I will have lunch there. Well anyway this time was with friends and decided since it was near our hotel (Central Resort) we ventured out for a quick bite.

Boy was I shocked. Same menu as Bangkok but the menu has little stickers over the prices with more than double and sometimes triple prices. Ok - I know things are more expensive in Samui but other franchises are the same price. Swensens, Burger King, McDonalds and even 7-11.

But it get's better. We were with Thai friends and they went and checked and what do you think? They are given the regular menu without the stickers!

Wow - is this some scam they are running? Anyway - if I am going to pay 280 Baht for noodles I'm not leaving the pool at the Central Resort! At least there I know everybody is paying the same price.

[Kringle]

Went to the Honda dealership for a bolt and was told it would be 70baht and this was with me knowing a guy there. He was the one who asked the boss and he told me pang mahk, so I asked him where else to go and he directed me to a shop not 100metres down the road and the exact same bolt was 10 baht. TIT and when they see farang, you pay more. Sad but true. I used to pay 5 baht more for my beer at a resturaunt in my town until I complained. My Thai speaking isn't too much better but I did get my point across. Speak up or let your feet do your talking and tell others, it'll hit them sooner or later when enough people say something or stop going to their place.

[maesai]

I would encourage everyone to go here http://blackcanyoncoffee.com/html/feedback.html and express your displeasure with this BS.

I did.

[Rinrada]

We use the Black Canyon Coffee places in Bangkok...Secon,Big C,MBK and Central a lot and even joined their club (BCCCC) and always been happy with their services (including BCCCC members discounts and free coffee mugs...but No Badge ...I want a badge )

Never been ripped off anytime but even if they tried it on K.W.would have given them "A LOOK".....which nobody in their real mind who wants a quiet life really needs.

Can only assume that the Samu Franchise is a Rogue and the boss man should be taken out and be beaten around the head with a plate of their own NOODLES

If this is another RIP OFF then lets hear their reply ....or else.

I will of course write and complain......and I still want a badge....

[Merlin]

I bet you don't get any reply even if you do write.

I filled out one of their customer comment cards once after some really slow service - no response at all...

[daveb1]

Like others here, allways had great service and food at black canyons in bith pattaya and bangkok must be a dodgy owner doing this! Its normally fantastic value for money

[Rinrada]

I bet you don't get any reply even if you do write.

I filled out one of their customer comment cards once after some really slow service - no response at all...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK sent off Complaint ...Lets See what happens.....

[maesai]

I bet you don't get any reply even if you do write.

I filled out one of their customer comment cards once after some really slow service - no response at all...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK sent off Complaint ...Lets See what happens.....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ya never know. I sent an email complaint to Tong Garden nuts. They were substituting some strange nut for the macadamias in their mixed nuts. The next day they replied asking for my address, explaining they had a problem with their supplier. They ended up sending me a case of nuts! I was shocked.

[britmaveric]

I love Black Canyon - far better than Starbucks. Mmmm frozen baileys/coffee - simply delicious on a hot day! Never notice said stickers either..must be a one off.

[maesai]

I bet you don't get any reply even if you do write.

I filled out one of their customer comment cards once after some really slow service - no response at all...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I received a reply from their International Franchise Director today.

[bino]

I bet you don't get any reply even if you do write.

I filled out one of their customer comment cards once after some really slow service - no response at all...

I received a reply from their International Franchise Director today.

So? What did he say / excuse did he make?

[maesai]

So? What did he say / excuse did he make?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"This practice is most definitely not company policy. The Samui branch is

operated by a franchisee. This accusation will be investigated, and if

found to be true it will be stopped immediately."

[Khutan]

So? What did he say / excuse did he make?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"This practice is most definitely not company policy. The Samui branch is

operated by a franchisee. This accusation will be investigated, and if

found to be true it will be stopped immediately."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And of course a refund and an apology ?

[Rinrada]

So? What did he say / excuse did he make?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"This practice is most definitely not company policy. The Samui branch is

operated by a franchisee. This accusation will be investigated, and if

found to be true it will be stopped immediately."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes to their Credit ...so did i...

Dear R.,

This practice is most definitely not company policy.

The Samui branch is operated by a franchisee.

This accusation will be investigated, and if found to be true it will be stopped immediately.

Regards,

Michael Holland

International Franchise Director

[stephanbkk]

Wow -

I'm impressed. I never expected such a response from the board and to receive a reply from Black Canyon is impressive. Let's see what happens. I am going back in two weeks and will report back about the Samui Branch! I'm wishing I had kept the menu - as I'm afraid they of course will deny it!

Thanks all!

[Rinrada]

I have a further update from Michael Holland and will post later today ....gotta meeting...

[Rinrada]

Found it....i suggested that I post it on line which he is happy about...

Update from Black Canyon and Full credit gota be given here.

Must admit I use them a lot so lets see what the final outcome might show...

from..

Michael Holland

International Franchise Director

Dear R (ME),

Yes, of course you may post this to ThaiVisa.com.

In fact, I've already heard from our Thai staff, and the Samui branch owner vehimently denies doing this.

Actually, I wonder how the branch could get away with it,since a menu is on display outside the restaurant.

It seems that either they'd turn away Thai customers or westerners would get a bit suspiscious if the menu inside didn't match the one on display.

We still haven't been able to check this out directly, so I can't say for

sure if this report is true or not, but it's sounding a bit fishy.

Regards,

Michael

[elfe]

hi

just got back from black canyon in chaweng... there were stickers on the prices on all food menues, also the one outside the restaurant. only some coffees did not have them. when i asked why the prices are higher than in the other bc branches the supervisor told me that in samui everything is more expensive because of delivery costs. she got a bit nervous but she assured the higher pricing is ordered by the head office in bangkok and even the stickers on the prices are sent from there!

so make out of that...

i kept a printed receipt of my higher-priced-than-in-other-branches food and also watermelon juice.

[britmaveric]

Elfe - shame u didnt take some digital snaps of the menu w/stickers. Now this would be the smoking gun.

[Rinrada]

Looks like we have a storm in a ....koffee cup

[rockhardbkk]

I also had some problems with BCC and wrote Mr. Holland.:

Farang Prices / Poor Service

--------

> Hello,

>

> A few months ago I went to the BCC in The Mall Bangkapi. After

> placing my order I waited and waited...and waited. I'd been there

> many times before and the service was always very, very slow so I

> just waited. After a half an hour I finally said something and

> guess what "we forgot your order" was the response I got and I

> got it with a giggle from the waitress. I didn't think it was

> funny. After all of the times I'd been there and service was

> extremely slow, this was the final straw. I told them to cancel

> the order and left. I vowed to never go back again to BCC.

>

> I took a trip recently to Koh Samui with my Thai wife and two

> children and upon pressure from my wife to get the kids some

> food, we went into the BCC. Guess what I found? Little stickers

> with higher prices throughout the menu. When I asked why the

> prices were so much higher, I was told this is how it is in Koh

> Samui. Now I know Koh Samui is more expensive because it's an

> island but it's pretty offensive to find prices three or four

> times higher than usual.

>

> I chalked it up to my poor judgement and not adhering to my vow

> but then I see a thread in the Thai Visa forum where others have

> had this problem. Believe it, it's all true!!! Somebody needs to

> light a flame under these Thais tails and get them to realize

> that because we are farang they can't just charge us whatever they like.

>

> So the deal is this....you can go ahead and not believe me and

> the others who have complained and do nothing or you can fire

> some people, chew some people out and get it into their heads

> this is unacceptable in business. If nothing is done and I

> continue to see and hear about these sort of pricing

> "discrepancies," I will make it my business to badmouth the BCC

> franchise with all of my friends, family and anyone else I come

> across. BCC isn't a street vendor and thus pricing should be

> fixed and not determined by ones race, skin color and bank account.

>

> Disgruntled customer,

XXXX

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear XCXCX

Thank you for your invaluable feedback. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate experiences with the Bangkapi branch. Your message has been forwarded to our operations team for follow-up with the store manager and franchise owner.

We are aware of the situation on Koh Samui and the activity on ThaiVisa.com. However, there appear to be some errors in the statements on that web site, which you've repeated here. We have obtained a copy of the menu from Samui, and most of the prices are less than 50% above our standard prices, not three to four times as stated. Also, the branch owner vehemently denies doing any dual pricing. All customers, both Thai and Western, pay the same prices.

Until recently, this branch was using our standard priced menu. However, due to rising fuel prices, the cost of many menu items now exceeds our standard price. The branch owner felt they had no option but to charge higher prices. We are working with the franchisee to try and find a better solution, but at this time, it appears that some of the accusations made against them are incorrect.

Although we're not happy about the situation on Samui, we have to agree that the owner has little choice. Our pricing strategy leaves very little room for the franchisee to absorb the significantly higher operating costs due to increased transportation charges.

Regards,

Michael Holland

International Franchise Director

Black Canyon (Thailand) Co. Ltd.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael,

I think you're missing quite a bit of information between the lines.

First - the service in every single BCC I've ever been to SUCKS. It's atrocious but as the food is good I continued to go well past my when my judgment told me to go elsewhere.

Second - Do you honestly think the owner would hand over a menu with prices that farang complained about? Do you think he's that honest and all the farang who are complaining have some vendetta? I don't. Yes, the tiered pricing is sometimes hard to understand and I like to think that my ability to speak Thai and my knowledge of the systems provides a small buffer against this but when it's done as blatantly as in Samui, ITS TOO MUCH. Yes, it's an island but that doesn't mean the prices have to be obnoxiously different...AND THEY ARE.

Not only have I seen information on Thaivisa.com but I've also spoke with a few friends about the place and all of them say the same thing. DONT go there if you are expecting decent service. I'm sort of wondering just how difficult it is to find employees who are willing to take the bill to a customer after the customer has been sitting for 30 minutes trying to get their attention. Perhaps in your opinion you think it's ok to hire Thais who would rather laugh and joke with their co-nonworkers than actually help a customer but I sure don't. I may live in Thailand but if I'm paying money to eat food., the least that could be done is have someone bring me the bill, a correctly priced bill no less, so I could pay and leave.

Word of mouth can be good or bad Michael....in this case the reputation of BCC is seriously challenged and has lost at least a family full of customers.

Regards,

XXXX

[taxexile]

just in case any of bcc customers on samui think they will get fairer pricing at the "will wait" restaurants , then be advised that the "will wait" restaurant in nathon operate a dual pricing policy.

they have a menu written in english , and a menu in thai (on the wall)

the pricing is different , at least it was last summer when i was overcharged there.

[Sturbuc]

just in case any of bcc customers on samui think they will get fairer pricing at the "will wait" restaurants , then be advised that the  "will wait" restaurant in nathon operate a dual pricing policy.

they have a menu written in english , and a menu in thai (on the wall)

the pricing is different , at least  it was last summer when i was overcharged there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, as long as i know by myself, the Chaweng Will Wait and the Lamai Will Wait (and it's branches) don't have different menues. Prices on the thai-written pages are the same as on the english ones.

But i've never been to the likely named restaurant in Nathon. Does anybody know if it's related to the Lamai or the Chaweng family?

Edited July 4, 2005 by Sturbuc