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ringthebells
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withholding approx. 80'000 baht in service charges for broken glasses and tools??
rtb
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:40 pm on Jan. 23, 2007
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Livingstones
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Hmmm...
OK, some more comments on the issues of the past few posts:
Marketing Manager
We don't have one.
Negative Promotion
We are not really worried about a negative impact of that, because it is simply the way we run our business, and we know that we seriously care about our staff. Without having good and well-paid staff you will not be able to deliver a certain standard of service.
Service Charge
Bars and Restaurants are not necessarily adding service charge. Hotels usually do. All businesses with a certain turnover have to pay VAT to the revenue department, but the service charge model is an internal structure of the company. You may use it or not.
Many Thai managed companies who add service charge will only give a small part of it to the staff. But all major hotels here usually give 60% - 80% to their staff.
Tip
Tip to a specific service person is of course always appreciated. But - it is somehow also not fair for other staff members, which have no direct contact to the customer. There is no good service without well-prepared food or drinks, and a clean environment in the restaurant or bar. But tip is usually only given to the directly serving staff - not to all those others who also do a good job for the customer.
For that the service charge model is more fair for all the staff.
Broken Glasses and Tools
Broken glasses or tools, staff food, staff dresses/clothes etc. etc.. Btw. ringthebells, we thought you are also involved in the hospitaity business somehow, may be you explain your experiences and models to us.
The Management
Livingstone's Lodge Co., Ltd.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 1:40 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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Livingstones
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BTW:
TONIGHT, starting at 7 PM:
Champagne Night
We try something new.
All ladies dressed in long, and they drink Champagne.
Free snack buffet.
The Mangement
Livingstone's Lodge Co., Ltd.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:51 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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IBFarang
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You might view the service charge as more fair to the entire staff, but I view it as probably the most unfair to the customer. Good service, bad service, really bad service – no worries we are still going to stick you with a service charge – now shut up and eat your farking food.
It really burns me when I walk into a restaurant with a rather large group (typically more than 7) and informed that a certain percentage extra service charge will automatically be included in the bill because of the large group. Fairly typically now in the US. Fark me nothing like getting penalized for bring extra customers.
Here’s a novel idea, how about simply charging enough for the food/goods/service that there is no need for tips or a service charge?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 2:30 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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IBFarang
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Quote: from Livingstones on 4:15 pm on Jan. 24, 2007
All ladies dressed in long, and they drink Champagne.
Dressed in long?
Long what?
Strings?
Please say they will just be wearing really long strings. I have this thing for strings.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:33 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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ColoradoGuy
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Quote: from Livingstones on 4:04 pm on Jan. 24, 2007
Tip to a specific service person is of course always appreciated. But - it is somehow also not fair for other staff members, which have no direct contact to the customer. There is no good service without well-prepared food or drinks, and a clean environment in the restaurant or bar. But tip is usually only given to the directly serving staff - not to all those others who also do a good job for the customer.
For that the service charge model is more fair for all the staff.
The reason people tip directly to the staff is that this is the way they are sure it will not go to the owner. In many, many places in Thailand the tips left on the tip tray do not go 100% to the staff. This is because of policy or management practice (i.e. "1 for the staff, 1 in my pocket"). Does Livingstone's distribute the tips left on the tray 100% to the staff? Or do you distribute it in the same way you distribute your service charge?
BTW, thanks for being honest in this thread.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:39 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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Little Big Man
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Quote: from Livingstones on 4:04 pm on Jan. 24, 2007
Tip to a specific service person is of course always appreciated. But - it is somehow also not fair for other staff members, which have no direct contact to the customer. There is no good service without well-prepared food or drinks, and a clean environment in the restaurant or bar. But tip is usually only given to the directly serving staff - not to all those others who also do a good job for the customer.
For that the service charge model is more fair for all the staff.
___________________________
You say a service charge is more fair to all your staff, but I continue to feel it is most unfair to your customers. Instead of charging your customer a 10% service charge for tips, breakage, and providing supplements to all employees wages, why not do as any other business has do do and that is consider these expenses as "a cost of doing business". Set up your company expenses (ie. employee wages) and cash inlays (ie. room rents) to cover these potential expenses. That's exactly what I do in my business. This is not a flame, but just a criticism, but I think the hospitality industry's uses of the "service charge" is a copout, and what they really should be doing is protecting their customers by not using it. It may be a win win situation for management and employes, but it is a win lose situation when considering hotel management and the customer. Let the customer tip as he may and build the rest into your expense/revenue model.
As for the negative publicity from this discussion, I am sure it is an issue, but if you live by the sword you die by the sword. The internet via "thailand websites" appears to one source of your advertising, but for better or for worse, sometimes probing questions will be out there for all to see. You appear to be answering them honestly, but that does not make the issue or even your answer any more acceptable to me (us).
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:43 am on Jan. 24, 2007
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Livingstones
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Some final comments:
Firstly I found a thread "Tips and Service Charge" in which the issue is discussed, too.
Secondly the market prices we have to compete with are the gross prices. The customers are not really interested in the net prices, they want to know what they have to pay including service charge and VAT, and they compare this prices with those of other bars / restaurants / hotels.
Example: If in other bars / restaurants / hotels a beer price is THB 120.00 on the menu INCLUDING SERVICE CHARGE AND VAT it will be in our menu around THB 100.00. If you add service charge and VAT you are then at around THB 117,70 - nearly the same price.
We find the system with adding service charge and VAT more transparent for customers AND staff. Of course the costs for service is included in the price calculations anyway, in Livingstone's as well as in all other bars, whether it is clearly displayed or not. But the question is whether bars who display gross prices will distribute a part of that price to the staff.
The Management
Livingstone's Lodge Co., Ltd.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:32 pm on Jan. 24, 2007
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DaffyDuck
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Just a thought, but if the inclusion of a service charge essentially means the staff is being paid with an additional incentive for their work, and if this is widespread in Asia, it may explain why tipping (locally) is not a custom. Conversely, I guess it would mean that if service charge is included, then I'm neither expected, nor should I, leave a tip?
I'd have no issue with that... well, except if the girl has big tits...
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:18 am on Jan. 25, 2007
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JackTheStripper
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Quote: from DaffyDuck on 1:07 am on Jan. 24, 2007
I found out about this myself in similar circumstances at Absolut Seven - a girl I know that started work over there pointed out to me that she would prefer it if I were to give the money directly to her, in her hand, as otherwise she would be receiving none of it.
Taken for a ride there I guess.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:59 am on Jan. 25, 2007
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