Is It Standard Practice To Charge For Broken Glass At Restaurants?

[tartempion]

Only 45B for a broken ceramic bowl???

We stayed at the Khorat Sima two years ago and my wife broke a glass under the bathtub washing her hair (there was no "Heavenly shower" to rince your body/head)

We did not think much of just a small accident, checked out and went for breakfast in the basement.

There the detective on duty managed to find us and we were escorted to the cashier to pay for the damage: 100 baht for a broken glass.

Now if any hotel (and the Khorat Sima Thani attributes itself 5*) cant sustain some budget for broken items I for sure will not be back.

We stop overnight 1-2x year at Khorat and Sima Thani is no longer the place where we will lay down for the night and have dinner.

I vote with my feet and I am a big holiday spender.

I posted this incident on this same board, and the hang him high brigade was most certainly active enjoying their spree

[kurnell]

I have taken my kids to restaurants all over Thailand and they have smashed, scratched, stained and generally damaged many different things and we have never been charged.

Can l have a photo of your crew so l can avoid them at all cost.

Front cover of February 2010 Real Parenting magazine. Check it out.

[JurgenG]

Think the OP's point here is that in farang land it would not happen. BUT, in USA most restaurants add 15% service charge and indeed in some UK places they do similar, also most tip handsomely which would cover any breakages, Perhaps here they are used to tight non tipping customers.

Then i am sure the op's point is moot. The OP is not in "farangland"

We are talking about less than 2 bucks, my daughter as a two year old brushed against a top heavy cermaic sculpture that was the largest of a set of three. It was insanely precarious and about 2 meters tall in the center of the lobby of the president park which houses that crappy man u pub. You had to pass it to reach the toilet.

They held me until the police came and extricated 9 grand.

The statues are since gone. I once went back to ask the receptionist where the other two went and she said "They fall over too much. All broken"

Perhaps you should find somewhere else to eat. The staff couldnt care less how much you spend there, they dont see any of the money.

9 grands ? Was it gold plated ? How did they come with thiis amount ? Did they show you any invoice ?

The police here, and not only here, doesn't want any extra work. What they want is to solve the matter as fast as possible and go back to nap in their office until their duty end. The easiest way is you pay and the problem is over. I found the best technique is to make them understand you're not in a hurry, and make a reasonable counter offer. Now the pressure will be on the other party to accept. Most of the time it works.

And if it doesn't work, what is the value of your time ? We spent one entire afternoon in a police station following a minor crash with a motorcycle, but at the end we paid nothing. We could have pay 500 Bahts on the spot and go on with our schedule. I'm still not sure me made the right decision.

[craigt3365]

One post removed due to flaming. Please, keep this thread civil or warnings will be handed out next.

[dmax]

in the uk ? no !! thailand ? sure you know they will stroke you for almost anything !!

[Finlaco]

Been here 3 years

My experience is that a small THB30 restaurant wont charge for a small breakage but the bigger restaurants will.

I doubt if the staff have to pay for breakages for a single breakage (how to police this?, night counts of all utensils, bowls, etc)

Its the mai ben lei philosophy working in only one direction (Thai2Farang) and never Farang2Thai.

I would politely pay the bill minus the extra charge (exact change). I don't believe that the staff have to pay for such a small breakage.

[Finlaco]

The charge for towel gambit isn't that rare and they don't usually ask. It's OK for tourists who are one offs but I usually don't want the towel and it's a cause of stress to stop them before they pop the seal without asking, so I am less likely to repeat visit a place like that. Sometimes there is even a charge if you managed to stop them, they just assume you took it.

Even if the staff purposely opens the towel, I would say 'No Thanks' (in Thai or English, depending on which language the staff spoke with me), and enjoy my meal. When the bill comes I pay minus the towels, exact change and keep my Thai smile on my face, repeating nicely that I declined the tissues.

[grahamhc]

I went to a restaurant in Bangkok once. One of those outdoor Korean BBQ type places.

When we arrived they gave the misses and I a cool towel each, which was appreciated. Well you can probably guess that they added the towels onto the bill, what a cheek. If they had asked us first then we'd have probably said yes anyway.

Italian Restaurants in my home town in the UK have Bread Sticks on the table. They charges you for them, whether you eat them or not. I liked the food there, so when I sat daown, I handed the bread stick bowl to the waiter. They did not appear on my bill.

[doggie888888]

Is It Standard Practice To Charge For Broken Glass At Restaurants? No it is not. But it would be polite to offer to pay for it. In the old days, it was called "manners".

[Finlaco]

Is It Standard Practice To Charge For Broken Glass At Restaurants? No it is not. But it would be polite to offer to pay for it. In the old days, it was called "manners".

best reply so far

[IanForbes]

Parenting is a continual learning experience and the op has learned a lesson. As a father of 4 kids who went thru the terrible 2's both here and the real world, we learned to ask for a high chair at any restaurant. We carried biscuits for the kids when they were that age or gave them tidbits of what we were eating. The tray of the high chair was their landing zone for the fool and we sure did not give them anything breakable to eat from or play with. A metal spoon was about the extent of their playthings and that was removed when they started banging on the tray. When it was required we as parents would even take turns eating so one could watch the little quick handed varmints. As the children/parents grow up, instances like this will be eliminated or at least reduced. Saying this, the restaurants here probably see breakage by children quite often and their charging is a good reminder to the parents to keep the kids in check.

Good post, Slapout. I agree entirely. Your children are YOUR responsibility. My ex and I bipassed many restaurants when our children were growing up for the very reason you mentioned... we didn't want to inflict the children's behaviour on other occupants of a restaurant. Actually, my daughter was NEVER a problem. By contrast, my son wasn't so easy. There are different rules and standards here in Thailand and as westerners we have to adapt to the local customs.

[paulchiangmai]

IMO, you are responsible for your toddlers actions. Have him/her climb over the aquarium and tilt twenty half million Baht worth Koi's over across the floor would result in the action of making you responsible to the damage. Why would a minor event like breaking a glass which you allowed your todler to "play" with - and adult would have taken proper care - make you less responsible for your actions ? I'd even say, if I was the owner of a restaurant and watch you drop a glass in the middle of having a jolly good time, I would just neglect it on the bill. But if I watched you to pass things to a toddler who in my opinion is not trained enough to give proper care, I would even walk up and ask you to keep an eye and a chain to your still-stupid kid or pay the bill for broken things.

I am sorry I might sound a bit harsh but I was educated in such a way that we children were not allowed certain things to do my parents didn't think we were old enuff to perform. Like playing with things which don t belong to us, or pulling at animals, or like running about yelling like pirates on a attack, in a restaurant when we were not the only guests.

What you described can happen to you in any part of the world, depending on the view of the restaurant management. 45 Baht ? it is the equivalent of 1 and half a buck, if you rate it worth a discussion, sorry you are wrong in a restaurant, better eat at home where your kids are allowed to touch and smash things up to their like because you are such a coward not to educate them to some degree of manners

Jeez, It's easy to see how you came by your name at the top.

[Sydebolle]

I owe a restaurant and have seen almost everything and anything possible. Breakage can happen, by staff or customers alike. If it is interpretable as "can happen" then we do not charge. If it is easily avoidable, we charge and on the menu it is stipulated with "breakage can be charged".

Giving something breakable to a 2 year old tolder is "easily avoidable"; chances are tremendously high that the item breaks. So charge the parents for their ignorance or stupidity.

Ah, and "Took lae Dee" is a branded chain for fast food restaurants run by Foodland; and it translates into "Cheap and Good". It wraps it up nicely; the food is indeed very cheap and good fare for the money hence it does not allow for avoidable damage or breakage! Or am I completely wrong here ?

[xerostar]

I won't be holding my GREEK wedding at THAT restaurant!

[crazygreg44]

IMO, you are responsible for your toddlers actions. Have him/her climb over the aquarium and tilt twenty half million Baht worth Koi's over across the floor would result in the action of making you responsible to the damage. Why would a minor event like breaking a glass which you allowed your todler to "play" with - and adult would have taken proper care - make you less responsible for your actions ? I'd even say, if I was the owner of a restaurant and watch you drop a glass in the middle of having a jolly good time, I would just neglect it on the bill. But if I watched you to pass things to a toddler who in my opinion is not trained enough to give proper care, I would even walk up and ask you to keep an eye and a chain to your still-stupid kid or pay the bill for broken things.

I am sorry I might sound a bit harsh but I was educated in such a way that we children were not allowed certain things to do my parents didn't think we were old enuff to perform. Like playing with things which don t belong to us, or pulling at animals, or like running about yelling like pirates on a attack, in a restaurant when we were not the only guests.

What you described can happen to you in any part of the world, depending on the view of the restaurant management. 45 Baht ? it is the equivalent of 1 and half a buck, if you rate it worth a discussion, sorry you are wrong in a restaurant, better eat at home where your kids are allowed to touch and smash things up to their like because you are such a coward not to educate them to some degree of manners

Jeez, It's easy to see how you came by your name at the top.

I begin to find this thread highly amusing !!!!

[llso]

I came to this thread a bit late but can relate to the story. As I have mentioned before I spent a total of 7 years in the Kingdom. I have experienced just about everything that you could possibly imagine during that time.

The broken glass being one of them. I lived for the most part in Hua Hin in the unspoiled period of the early 2000's. I was a bit of a regular in town with some of my Mates about town.Disclaimer: I am a Yank by the way. There was one small bar that we used to frequent quite often run by a pleasant older Thai lady, incidentally that was married to a Farang before. We would probaly all together spend thousands of Baht per month in that bar. One night with a few friends "the horror" a 20 Baht glass was broken.

Upon chek Bin we saw a 40 Baht charge. Now, with lady drinks, beers, cocktail we could not reconcile the 40 Baht. It was standard practice because bill padding or poor math skills we always had to check our bills. When asking the Mamasan (older Thai ladt referenced before) about the 40 Baht charge. She replied it was for the broken glass. My mate went into his "Bloody Hell" tirade explaining that we spent thousands of Baht per month in her little bar and she has the audacity(sorry non English speakers) to charge us 40 Baht. She replied steadfastly , Yes!

We proceede to tell her that we would never set foot in her bar ever again and tell everyone we knew what a stupid bloody c#nt she was and F' off!

So... LLso and his mates would go and sit in the bar directly across thesoi from this bar and drink and, but lady drinks and "ring the bell". Anyone who has ever been to Hua Hin can tell you that the bar across the street is about 20 feet away.

The "broken glass bar" owner and girls woukd just sit there and scowl at us,while there little bar was empty. They just didn't get it they got 40 Baht for a 20 baht glass, but lost thousand and thousand of Baht business.

This is one on my favorite stories to tell to Farangs about the Thai business practices,

LL

Edited December 12, 2010 by llso

[TAWP]

Somebody broke the bowl.

Was it the staff? No.

Was it your child, under your supervision? Yes.

Who should pay? You.

One of the many costs of child-rearing....

So if I bring expensive China-plates to your kid and he smashes it right away [since he is 1-2 years old in this scenario], it is ok if I charge you 4 times the cost for the plate on your bill? Your kid broke it after-all... :whistle:

[juehoe]

I newer got charged for a broken glass. When I asked for a charge I always got the "mai pen rai" as answer. Normally I the rise the tip by around 100 Baht which is sufficient in a common restaurant for Thai people. Have a look what a drinking glass costs in Tesco Lotus.

Perhaps expensive Western restaurants with high-class tableware would charge for a broken glass. Otherwise - if the restaurant is really "high-class" they would charge either...

[wandrinstar]

Kids should be banned anyway.

[Arkady]

I have lived in Thailand for over 20 years and have been in restaurants and bars where there were accidental breakages caused by people at my table or even myself on quite a few occasions. I can't remember any occasion where we were charged for the breakage. Usually the response is a very polite "mai pen rai" to make the clumsy guest feel at ease. It is up to the restaurant management to decide their own policy but glossing over an accidental breakage with a smile is more likely to make embarrassed guests feel they want to come back. This restaurant is more concerned at its 45 baht and clearly doesn't think repeat visits from your family are ever going to be worth more than 45 baht in gross margin. So you must oblige them by never going back and recommending all your friends not to go there. That's their choice.

[Thongkorn]

For 45 baht You have probably spent more energy and worry than its worth ,Totally agree that it is bad business practice to charge for an accident from a small person , Don't take it personal , just move on easy come easy go , maybe you can put aclaim in against your insurance, just joking.

[true blue]

i was under the impression,most restaurants have a notice saying all breakages and damages to be payed for.

[Moonrakers]

i was under the impression,most restaurants have a notice saying all breakages and damages to be payed for.

What a wonderful way that would be to welcome your customers.

I think you have that a bit wrong, I have never seen such a sign.

[true blue]

i was under the impression,most restaurants have a notice saying all breakages and damages to be payed for.

Never seen one. Your thinking of Antique shops.

come to think about it,maybe it was a china shop,lol.

[richard_smith237]

I would have thought that if you run a restaurant business then you must factor in a certain amount of breakage as just part and parcel of professional business life.

You asked for plastic, they gave you ceramic. I don't think you should have been charged. I don't think the amount charged is the point, more the act of charging you at all.

I wouldn't have kicked up a stink about it though, I guess I'm one of those bad patrons that don't complain, just don't give feedback and never return.

I do like the idea that when paying the bill just don't include a tip and if you feel so inclined just hold up the amount you were going to tip and tell them it was going to be there's until they charged you for the breakage.

Mai pen rai.

Wallaby pretty much nails it IMO: The OP asked for a plastic bowl - there is perhaps a joint responsibility. But the OP should never be charged. The principle of charging the OP for a minor breakage is where the insult lies.

In another example: If its a good enough bottle, I don't trust the restaurant staff with my wine (depending on the level of restaurant)

The Example: Valentines night in Beccofino on Thonglor (Bkk), Bottle of Dom Perrignon and waitress staff who were clearly in on a one off night (due to it being excessively busy)... After picking up the bottle once, I wouldn't let the waitress touch it again. When the maître d’restaurant popped over to enquire why, I just offered that the waitresses hands were too small and it would create too much of a stir if she accidentally dropped the bottle - Potential Issue avoided.

What to do if you are out with your child? Should you bring your own plastic bowl ?

IMO: No one else other than the restaurant is responsible for providing crockery to a child.... A little creativeness (so long as it wasn't soup) and a banana leaf would have sufficed, however how would the OP respond if they said the child could not eat there due to risk of breakage to the crockery? The restaurant really should take the hit.

As a Partner in a couple of Clubs: I am also partially responsible for giving drunk people glasses to drink out of... We don't charge them as it's entirely our fault as we don't think they should drink out of plastic cups, want their return and accept that accidents happen. We have insurance for the major things.

[saakura]

I would have thought that if you run a restaurant business then you must factor in a certain amount of breakage as just part and parcel of professional business life.

You asked for plastic, they gave you ceramic. I don't think you should have been charged. I don't think the amount charged is the point, more the act of charging you at all.

I wouldn't have kicked up a stink about it though, I guess I'm one of those bad patrons that don't complain, just don't give feedback and never return.

I do like the idea that when paying the bill just don't include a tip and if you feel so inclined just hold up the amount you were going to tip and tell them it was going to be there's until they charged you for the breakage.

Mai pen rai.

Wallaby pretty much nails it IMO: The OP asked for a plastic bowl - there is perhaps a joint responsibility. But the OP should never be charged. The principle of charging the OP for a minor breakage is where the insult lies.

In another example: If its a good enough bottle, I don't trust the restaurant staff with my wine (depending on the level of restaurant)

The Example: Valentines night in Beccofino on Thonglor (Bkk), Bottle of Dom Perrignon and waitress staff who were clearly in on a one off night (due to it being excessively busy)... After picking up the bottle once, I wouldn't let the waitress touch it again. When the maître d'restaurant popped over to enquire why, I just offered that the waitresses hands were too small and it would create too much of a stir if she accidentally dropped the bottle - Potential Issue avoided.

What to do if you are out with your child? Should you bring your own plastic bowl ?

IMO: No one else other than the restaurant is responsible for providing crockery to a child.... A little creativeness (so long as it wasn't soup) and a banana leaf would have sufficed, however how would the OP respond if they said the child could not eat there due to risk of breakage to the crockery? The restaurant really should take the hit.

As a Partner in a couple of Clubs: I am also partially responsible for giving drunk people glasses to drink out of... We don't charge them as it's entirely our fault as we don't think they should drink out of plastic cups, want their return and accept that accidents happen. We have insurance for the major things.

Yeah ok but if it was a plate broken in Beccofino on Thonglor (never been there but obviously the hint here is that it is an expensive/exclusive restaurant), you wouldnt be charged as cost of such things are factored in. But not in cheap budget eating joints. Besides, if OP had say ordered soup for his child and they had brought him a hot steaming bowl of soup, what would he have done?? Obviously, he would have kept it very far away from his baby.

[richieudon]

The charge for towel gambit isn't that rare and they don't usually ask. It's OK for tourists who are one offs but I usually don't want the towel and it's a cause of stress to stop them before they pop the seal without asking, so I am less likely to repeat visit a place like that. Sometimes there is even a charge if you managed to stop them, they just assume you took it.

Come on. I think that some Thais will try anything on with a farang. My friend took his wife to a restaurant in Nong Khai last year and there was a 5o baht charge on their bill because the air-con had been turned on for them!

As far as the broken plate goes. It's up to them. Some people really do not see the bigger picture.

If it was me that were charged I would feel slightly aggrieved. I wouldn't make a scene but at the same time I wouldn't use the place again.

It's the same in my town. I go to a little store up the road because I don't want to drive 1km into town. I buy some whiskey that is maybe 40 baht more than the bigger, cheaper town shops.

The guy in the shop then deliberately over-charges me. I never go in there again, easy. One thing about Thailand is there is no lack of competition. He over charges me 20 baht because I'm a white man but loses a customer for life. Stops me being lazy and saves me money in the long run.... sabai sabai...

[ozzieovaseas]

I am just a little curious here, in writing your Post you acknowledge this is a restaurant that serves 500+ people a day, but you fail to add that the "restaurant" is indeed inside (or part thereof) of the Foodland chain of supermarkets, which other posters may not know.

After all, its a pretty significant detail to have left out?

Anyway, if your kid had broken a glass that he/she knocked off the shelves, would you have called the staff and offered to pay for the damage? seeing how they would also have to suffer the inconvenience of cleaning up all the mess, or would you have scampered off into the next aisle hopingly un-noticed? aka thai style?

Also if you had got to the checkout and found yourself 45 baht short of your shopping bill, do you think it would be unreasonable for them to be reluctant to let you off the hook for the mere 45 baht?

Also i wonder what you were doing for the 30 seconds you watched your child do what was always going to be inevitable? Dont parents usually hold breakables and hand feed the kiddy in this situation,thus foreseeing the obvious?

You sound like those sorts of parents that sits by and watches their kids break other kids expensive toys and say "oh gee whiz,look at that" and not do a thing about it

[Moonrakers]

You sound like those sorts of parents that sits by and watches their kids break other kids expensive toys and say "oh gee whiz,look at that" and not do a thing about it

More likely he was trying to teach the kid to play frisby by seeing how far he could throw the plates!

[ozzieovaseas]

The charge for towel gambit isn't that rare and they don't usually ask. It's OK for tourists who are one offs but I usually don't want the towel and it's a cause of stress to stop them before they pop the seal without asking, so I am less likely to repeat visit a place like that. Sometimes there is even a charge if you managed to stop them, they just assume you took it.

Yes JT, it is a cause of stress to get your seal popped without asking, but usually charges can be laid if you cant manage to stop them