Wine connection has gone downhill

[gfunk1]

All that you mention is very admirable, and I am sure that you do treat your staff very well. I eat at your Kata location quite often and the staff are always very warm and friendly ( despitre a challenging clientele ) and they seem very happy at their jobs.

My " negative response " was solely in regards to your Service Charge policy, which you fail to address.

It is dishonest and not caused by " foreigners giving moral lessons ".

Money for Service should go to Service, not to Company expenses.

This is as true in Thailand, as in any other country.

[IrishIvan]

For those who think we are not being fair to staff, you are mistaken. You have to look at the whole package we are offering. Starting with a pretty high fix salary. We also offer a service charge guarantee to make sure staff gets enough income even in low season. We offer provident fund to all of our staff. Also full private insurance for staff staying with us over 1 year, this means they can go to any international hospital even outpatient treatment will be free. Many foreigners on the island do not have this kind of insurance. In high season the lowest level staff in our restaurants will get around 18 000 THB at the bottom of his pay slip. A simple wait staff would have more than that.

 

Anyways I guess the title of this thread will mostly attract negative comments. I see many foreigners giving moral lessons and explaining how it should be done in Thailand. My question to those is what have you achieved in this country and what qualifies you to judge our practices ? This business is a Thai business with over 1000 people and 48 outlets who are actually trying hard every day. Our shops and restaurants are busy in Phuket, Bangkok and Singapore. I am proud of what we are achieving. I am proud of our dedicated staff members. Personally I will unsubscribe from this thread as I want to keep being positive and enthusiastic about what we are achieving. I thank our numerous patrons, we will keep trying hard for you ! 

You seem to forget you are just an employee also, what have you acheived? You got a job hoohaa...no doubt through a friend. An expat customer base is your bread and butter so you should probably listen and accept criticism.

[stevenl]

snip>

My question to those is <snip> what qualifies you to judge our practices ?

<snip>

Being a guest in your establishment. And I don't like being lied to, service charge is for service, not for breakage.

[steelepulse]

For those who think we are not being fair to staff, you are mistaken. You have to look at the whole package we are offering. Starting with a pretty high fix salary. We also offer a service charge guarantee to make sure staff gets enough income even in low season. We offer provident fund to all of our staff. Also full private insurance for staff staying with us over 1 year, this means they can go to any international hospital even outpatient treatment will be free. Many foreigners on the island do not have this kind of insurance. In high season the lowest level staff in our restaurants will get around 18 000 THB at the bottom of his pay slip. A simple wait staff would have more than that.

Anyways I guess the title of this thread will mostly attract negative comments. I see many foreigners giving moral lessons and explaining how it should be done in Thailand. My question to those is what have you achieved in this country and what qualifies you to judge our practices ? This business is a Thai business with over 1000 people and 48 outlets who are actually trying hard every day. Our shops and restaurants are busy in Phuket, Bangkok and Singapore. I am proud of what we are achieving. I am proud of our dedicated staff members. Personally I will unsubscribe from this thread as I want to keep being positive and enthusiastic about what we are achieving. I thank our numerous patrons, we will keep trying hard for you !

You seem to forget you are just an employee also, what have you acheived? You got a job hoohaa...no doubt through a friend. An expat customer base is your bread and butter so you should probably listen and accept criticism.

Actually, he is not an employee but the person that started the company. Pay attention IrishIvan before you make yourself look more foolish in saying things you know nothing about.

[IrishIvan]

 

For those who think we are not being fair to staff, you are mistaken. You have to look at the whole package we are offering. Starting with a pretty high fix salary. We also offer a service charge guarantee to make sure staff gets enough income even in low season. We offer provident fund to all of our staff. Also full private insurance for staff staying with us over 1 year, this means they can go to any international hospital even outpatient treatment will be free. Many foreigners on the island do not have this kind of insurance. In high season the lowest level staff in our restaurants will get around 18 000 THB at the bottom of his pay slip. A simple wait staff would have more than that.

 

Anyways I guess the title of this thread will mostly attract negative comments. I see many foreigners giving moral lessons and explaining how it should be done in Thailand. My question to those is what have you achieved in this country and what qualifies you to judge our practices ? This business is a Thai business with over 1000 people and 48 outlets who are actually trying hard every day. Our shops and restaurants are busy in Phuket, Bangkok and Singapore. I am proud of what we are achieving. I am proud of our dedicated staff members. Personally I will unsubscribe from this thread as I want to keep being positive and enthusiastic about what we are achieving. I thank our numerous patrons, we will keep trying hard for you ! 

You seem to forget you are just an employee also, what have you acheived? You got a job hoohaa...no doubt through a friend. An expat customer base is your bread and butter so you should probably listen and accept criticism.

 

 

Actually, he is not an employee but the person that started the company. Pay attention IrishIvan before you make yourself look more foolish in saying things you know nothing about.

 

Sorry I thought he said CEO.

[hansgruber]

Wine connection is nothing more than a tourist trap for the traveller who doesn't know any better.

All the food is below par, the service is worse.

Why did you stop doing breakfasts?

I'm sure because people stopped coming.

[IrishIvan]

Anyways based on the service charge distribution I wont be going back. I dont see the CEO waiting on tables so why should I line his pockets?? Money for breakages and uniforms are business expenses. Not service charges.

[wtk]

Yeah thanks for clarifying the service charge. I wont be going back there. Its not a 5 star hotel. The service charge is just another rip off. And youre only paying 50 percent to the staff

I dont see why some of you are getting your panties up in a bunch over some small things.

He probably has a good reason for a service charge. Thai staff are EXTREMELY nonchalant and will break stuff all the time. The service charge is a way to keep prices down on the menu/overall.

Where else in Thailand can you get a pretty decent pizza for 160b-200b in 5mins? Where can you get a great salmon stuffed pasta plate with free bread for 200b with a good selection of cheaply price imported beer or wine?

fk seriously in the west for 200b you barely get 4 snails in 2 ml of cheese in a cheap chain restaurant.

WC isnt a 60$/plate restaurant and it isnt trying to be. For their prices its QUITE amazing the quality you get. At least at central.

If this was in the west i'd also get mad at a 10% service charge but the bills are always small at this restaurant so 10% isnt massive and even if the staff only gets 50% of it they still get more than if they worked solely on tips. People dont tip much here unless they are trying to bang the waitress.

Like others have pointed out already, when the menu says the 10% service charge will be added on top of the menu prices, I am assuming, as a customer, that that money goes to the people who are serving me. Not in the pockets of the owner.

Michael the CEO wrote:

Service charge is shared 50% to ALL employees and 50% to the company to support items such as breakage, uniforms, food allowance to staff and 2 different kinds of bonus to staff.

His staff are saying a different story so before you believe him, next time you visit your local wine connection, you could ask around from the "1000 staff" he has in his restaurants/outlets.

I don't really have any experience in the restaurant industry but to me it doesn't really sound right if the service charge covers things like customer breaking a plate or a glass? Or if it's just used to cover if the staff breaks something? If you make your staff wear uniforms, I think you should pay for them.

Service charge should go to the staff 100%, in my opinion.

[patongphil]

Wow looks like I have been hoodwinked here in that I have always believed service charge went to the staff 100%. To now hear otherwise, especially from the boss of a fairly large chain, certainly puts a different light on things.

Whay call it a service charge if it isn't really?

Edited September 15, 2013 by patongphil

[LivinginKata]

Over the years I have heard lot's of chatter about how the 'service charge' and even tips, are distributed in various eateries and bars. Quite honestly I had not believed reports that the management take a share. So now the CEO of a major eatery chain confirms they take 50% of the service charge (usually 10% of the total bill ). This just reinforces my habit of trying to frequent establishments that have no service charge where I decide how much tip to leave, and it's usually more than 10% where they offer exceptional service. I guess I just have to hope the tip is distributed fairly.

[IrishIvan]

I wonder how the Phuket News or the Phuket Gazette would react to the admission of Wine Connection's CEO that he pockets 50 percent of the service charge that is tacked onto customers bills. Now there is a newsworthy story

Edited September 15, 2013 by IrishIvan

[steelepulse]

Over the years I have heard lot's of chatter about how the 'service charge' and even tips, are distributed in various eateries and bars. Quite honestly I had not believed reports that the management take a share. So now the CEO of a major eatery chain confirms they take 50% of the service charge (usually 10% of the total bill ). This just reinforces my habit of trying to frequent establishments that have no service charge where I decide how much tip to leave, and it's usually more than 10% where they offer exceptional service. I guess I just have to hope the tip is distributed fairly.

I agree. I am not a fan of service charges at all. I think that a built in service charge makes staff take for granted that they are going to get some extra money, whether their service is good or indifferent., leading to poor service.

[hansgruber]

So customers foot the bill for breakages.

That will do me. Trip advisor will be shared a link to this thread.

[niceandfriendly]

Reading this thread has made me want to go to wine connection...

salmon stuffed pasta? pizza in 5 minutes? decent cheap(ish) wine?

arrghhh i'm hungryyyyyy

[bearpolar]

Its insane how you guys go over the important parts.

Insurance AND minimum 18k/m salary for a monkey's job.

seriously? You know how much they make at other restaurants in central?

[LivinginKata]

Posts removed. Bickering/baiting will not be tolerated.

[wtk]

Its insane how you guys go over the important parts.

Insurance AND minimum 18k/m salary for a monkey's job.

seriously? You know how much they make at other restaurants in central?

He said 18k/m during high season. That sounds high but I hope it's true

The average for the whole year will even out a lot, though.

[crafty1]

Classic service tonight at Junceylon!

Ordered a cheese burger and a lime soda.

What I received was the cheese board and a lamb shank!!

Must have been my northern English accent?!

[Somtamnication]

Classic service tonight at Junceylon!

Ordered a cheese burger and a lime soda.

What I received was the cheese board and a lamb shank!!

Must have been my northern English accent?!

[LivinginKata]

Posts removed. Bickering/baiting will not be tolerated.

And 2 more posts removed.

[xylophone]

Reminds me of the Spike Milligan classic when he went over to France and tried to impress:

"I ordered my meal in French..........and the waiter brought me a cup of Fairy Liquid and a plastic replica of the Pope covered in custard".

[jocko]

Classic service tonight at Junceylon!

Ordered a cheese burger and a lime soda.

What I received was the cheese board and a lamb shank!!

Must have been my northern English accent?!

Bon Appetit.

[laban]

As the original poster of this thread, I would like to add the following:

1. I think it admirable that the CEO of Wine Connection read and responded to the thread. Most owners would probably pose as a customer and say the restaurant was great. He has given a fair explanation. I have run businesses in Thailand and know it is not easy. To give WC credit, food always is on your table within 10 mins.

2. The service charge comment has unfortunately been hijacked and should be a different thread. I know of many hotels and restaurants in Thailand who keep the 10% SC.

3. I have since returned to WC Silom, even though the service was slow due to lack of staff, the food & wine were fine.

I just hope Michael has taken on board the constructive comments, and will improve the services and food. I for one will carry on going to the branches that I enjoy. WC is still excellent value for money, for wines and with reasonable food. Just try to get a bottle of wine + 2 courses for under 1000 baht.

[INCOGNITO146]

Hi,

My girlfriend worked at the wine connection shop in Chalong around two years ago as a waitress.

She earned around 8k bht per month not 18. If she earned 18k she would still be there.

We used to eat there around three times a week as we lived near by and the food was great.

When the prices went up a couple of years ago we went there less but the food was still good.

We noticed after a while the food was going downhill and my girlfriend was told by the staff that the food is now prepared elsewhere and only reheated in the restaurant.

The combination of the price increase and the food together was no good so we have stopped going there.

I do not think it is fair blaming the thai staff. We always found the service excellent and couldn’t fault the thai staff.

It is the prices and the food that stopped us going. If things improved then we would maybe give it another go.

:-)

[bearpolar]

the food is prepared by thai staff. Are you also lying about salaries?

[IrishIvan]

8000 a month or 18000? Someone is lying here

[bearpolar]

seeing as what minimum salary is in thailand and also what the minimum a thai would work for. 8000 makes no sense for a waitress. She'd get enough 20b tips to make way more than that.

Even the burmese make 5-7k

Edited September 19, 2013 by bearpolar

[wtk]

8000 before tips, I'm guessing.

[wtk]

Also, Michael the CEO claimed the waitresses make 18000 during high season and that obviously includes tips and half of the service charge as the company keeps the other half. They don't get 18000 as their base salary each month.

I could believe some of the waitresses making up to 18000 a month during the busiest months when you include tips+50% of service charge but not as an average for all the restaurants.

But obviously he is going to use that number as it looks the best

Edited September 21, 2013 by wtk

[IrishIvan]

Also, Michael the CEO claimed the waitresses make 18000 during high season and that obviously includes tips and half of the service charge as the company keeps the other half. They don't get 18000 as their base salary each month.

 

I could believe some of the waitresses making up to 18000 a month during the busiest months when you include tips+50% of service charge but not as an average for all the restaurants.

 

But obviously he is going to use that number as it looks the best

18000 is a sugar coated figure. No way the waitresses are getting that