Yeah, Bill has said it goes to the staff, so the intention is there, its not extra profits.
In thoery it should provide better service, staff are earning more and happier, they'll value their jobs there an give extra effort.
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YOBT - Big Boy review
To all of those people that are moaning about the service charge, other than it Thailand, what happens in your own country, do you pay surcharges etc for public holidays, weekends etc or when you regularly eat out.
All over Australia there is a 10% minimum surcharge in cafes, restrurants on all wekends (applys to breakfast, lunch and dinners), plus if it is a bank holiday weekend the charge goes up to at least 15%.
This is not a service charge to cover tips, this is a charge that the businesses are allowed to charge by the government to cover the extra wages that they have to pay for weekend/holiday workers.
They are also now allowed to charge upto 3% ontop of the total bill and any relevant surcharges for using credit cards to pay bills. This not only applies in eating places, but any business that accepts credit cards.
I would suggest if you all ever come to Australia you may go hungry at the weekends and public holidays if you apply your thoughts to eating out in HH in Australia.
I am sure if you check everywhere in HH or in any sort of tourist type spot that charges are applied, but only because someone has highlighted it in this particular place has it now become a problem for you all.
Perhaps Bill should abolish the charges and then just increase the food by 10%, at least you want be paying a service charge will you.
All over Australia there is a 10% minimum surcharge in cafes, restrurants on all wekends (applys to breakfast, lunch and dinners), plus if it is a bank holiday weekend the charge goes up to at least 15%.
This is not a service charge to cover tips, this is a charge that the businesses are allowed to charge by the government to cover the extra wages that they have to pay for weekend/holiday workers.
They are also now allowed to charge upto 3% ontop of the total bill and any relevant surcharges for using credit cards to pay bills. This not only applies in eating places, but any business that accepts credit cards.
I would suggest if you all ever come to Australia you may go hungry at the weekends and public holidays if you apply your thoughts to eating out in HH in Australia.
I am sure if you check everywhere in HH or in any sort of tourist type spot that charges are applied, but only because someone has highlighted it in this particular place has it now become a problem for you all.
Perhaps Bill should abolish the charges and then just increase the food by 10%, at least you want be paying a service charge will you.
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"
Hi Chelsea,chelsea wrote:Perhaps Bill should abolish the charges and then just increase the food by 10%, at least you want be paying a service charge will you.
Thank you for this post
After reading again all the full thread, I do think there is 2 main subjects :
- Shall we pay a service charge or not
- is YOBT a good spot for expats
I fully agree with you Chelsea. Bill should slightly increase the food price and maybe mention on his card that a percentage of the bill is given back to the staff.
Say for instance that this is the case. Right... You could have said, it was a bit expensive but I had good time and maybe you could have tiped the staff
Beside this, the question is if YOBT is a good spot for expats. How is the food, coz this is the main subject after all... Did you enjoyed, yes or not, to spent some time there ? Is the the time you spent at YOBT worth the global price you paid for (food, charges and tip) ?
And then, make your decision
François
And me, still the most self satisfied of men
I was almost as drunk as myself
(Jacques Brel)
And me, still the most self satisfied of men
I was almost as drunk as myself
(Jacques Brel)
Ozuncle perhaps I have been unlucky recently, but most of the places I have been to recently seem to be doing it.
My GF nearly died the other week, we went to the Subi Hotel on the last long weekend, had a great meal, a bottle of wine and a few beers (small bottles of Stella), and when the bill came they were $10.50 per bottle plus the 15% surcharge. She moaned about paying $9.00 a pint in the bar, did I cop it for drinking $12.00 small bottles.
Anyway lucky that she enjoyed her meal, but it will take a long time for her to get over paying $12.00 a bottle for my beers.
My GF nearly died the other week, we went to the Subi Hotel on the last long weekend, had a great meal, a bottle of wine and a few beers (small bottles of Stella), and when the bill came they were $10.50 per bottle plus the 15% surcharge. She moaned about paying $9.00 a pint in the bar, did I cop it for drinking $12.00 small bottles.
Anyway lucky that she enjoyed her meal, but it will take a long time for her to get over paying $12.00 a bottle for my beers.
Last edited by chelsea on Mon May 26, 2008 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"
Ozuncle I do not mind paying if the service and food is good. It was flat out that lunchtime as the football was on in the evening, but all in all was a good experience.
We had entree between us, main meal each, bottle of wine and some beers, and got out for $150.00 all up.
Although expensive, everything was spot on, so the pain of the bill was quickly forgotten.
It is the time that you pay that sort of money and things are not so great, that it tends to stick in peoples minds.
Hope business is going Ok for you, have not been over your way for a while, so will have to make the effort and get over sometime.
We had entree between us, main meal each, bottle of wine and some beers, and got out for $150.00 all up.
Although expensive, everything was spot on, so the pain of the bill was quickly forgotten.
It is the time that you pay that sort of money and things are not so great, that it tends to stick in peoples minds.
Hope business is going Ok for you, have not been over your way for a while, so will have to make the effort and get over sometime.
Always Borrow Money from a Pesimist. "They Never Expect it Back"
I agree with many of the above comments
I think the tip box is a good idea
As I've posted before quite often we frequent places and get special attention from a waiter/waitress and my wife ensures they get a tip delivered into there pocket
Knowing Bill as I do, he will appreciate the feedback and decide one way or another what is best for his loyal customers, passing trade and his business
I'm not in the trade and never have been and never will be, but I think I know a little about the problems of running a seasonal fluctuating trade.
I'd go with the tip box and any other tip for special treatment into the pocket of the boy/girl involved.
I think the tip box is a good idea
As I've posted before quite often we frequent places and get special attention from a waiter/waitress and my wife ensures they get a tip delivered into there pocket
Knowing Bill as I do, he will appreciate the feedback and decide one way or another what is best for his loyal customers, passing trade and his business
I'm not in the trade and never have been and never will be, but I think I know a little about the problems of running a seasonal fluctuating trade.
I'd go with the tip box and any other tip for special treatment into the pocket of the boy/girl involved.
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Don East Stand wrote:
. It'd be great to meet you if our paths cross again.
We'll be around for another 8 days yet - I won't change my sunglasses, so you should still recognise meMy second iisue concerns Big Boy!! It was Thursday night when we were in YOBT and we did notice a rather big lad in there with his family! Mind you it wasn't that busy so he was easy to spot. The problem is that it was only today when reading through the forum that I realised that it must have been Big Boy. To make matters worse we ate in the same restaurant as Big Boy on Saturday night!
. It'd be great to meet you if our paths cross again.Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd 
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
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Don East Stand
- Professional
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Cheers Big Boy,
I'll watch out for you, let's hope the sun keeps shining, I'm not sure I would recognise you without those sunglases
By the way we tried your recommendaton for the Khun Oy Tuesday night and really enjoyed it. It is now added to our list of favourites, and we will visit on a regular basis, that's for sure.
Just out of interest, our meal at YOBT was approximately 5 times the cost of Khuan Oy, and I know which one I enjoyed more
Enjoy the rest of your stay, and good luck for next season
I'll watch out for you, let's hope the sun keeps shining, I'm not sure I would recognise you without those sunglases
By the way we tried your recommendaton for the Khun Oy Tuesday night and really enjoyed it. It is now added to our list of favourites, and we will visit on a regular basis, that's for sure.
Just out of interest, our meal at YOBT was approximately 5 times the cost of Khuan Oy, and I know which one I enjoyed more
Enjoy the rest of your stay, and good luck for next season
Service Charge
I'd never come across it, or if I did never really thought about it, until I started working in the hospitality industry.
The service charge (most of the time) goes back to the staff. All of the staff. Not just the serving staff. Don't forget that there are alot of people behind the scenes for you to get your meal. If you leave a tip on the table, it will go to either one person or maybe their team.
Service charge (at all the hotels I've worked in) is split evenly across the board - the driver or the housekeeper, to the waitress to the finance staff, HR you name, get the same split. Sometimes this means that their salary is doubled (depending on the service charge).
You may complain about service charge, but for some people it dramatically improves their standard of living.
I'd never come across it, or if I did never really thought about it, until I started working in the hospitality industry.
The service charge (most of the time) goes back to the staff. All of the staff. Not just the serving staff. Don't forget that there are alot of people behind the scenes for you to get your meal. If you leave a tip on the table, it will go to either one person or maybe their team.
Service charge (at all the hotels I've worked in) is split evenly across the board - the driver or the housekeeper, to the waitress to the finance staff, HR you name, get the same split. Sometimes this means that their salary is doubled (depending on the service charge).
You may complain about service charge, but for some people it dramatically improves their standard of living.
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dtaai-maai
- Hero
- Posts: 14924
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
- Location: UK, Robin Hood country
Tipping v. service charges
This is going to be slightly off topic, as I've not been to Bill's place yet - but I will. But the thread's been veering to a tipping v. service charge debate, and I think it's interesting and relevant.
I always used to be anti service charges. I felt that I'd tip fairly, around 10% on average, and increase/decrease that according to standard of service and food. And if everybody did the same it would probably work out ok. But let's face it, there are many tightwads out there who probably leave nothing.
Anyway, since I've been in LOS I've changed my mind. My Little Font of Wisdom usually carries the dosh, on the basis that she's much more sensible than I am, an awful lot tougher, and has a bigger bag. But I've never seen her tip more than 20 baht, regardless of where we were and what we had. Occasionally I've had a trifling amount in my pocket and surreptitiously snuck it onto the table as we were leaving. More rarely, I've gone down on my knees and pleaded for her to have some sympathy for the children/aged parents/sick buffaloes, etc. of the staff in question.
MLFW wasn't impressed, and nor, frankly, were the ungrateful gits who I was trying to help out...
Anyway, it seems to me, after a lot of thought and a couple of large sang soms, that if a place is halfway decent a service charge is not a bad idea. Let's face it, if the service and the food are crap, you'd be a mug to go back anyway.
As Francois said earlier (have you noticed what sensible posts he makes?), is the total price worth what you got? Value for money, service charge or no? And that's relative to the individual. I get goosebumps and start shuddering when I read about people paying 3,000 baht or more for a meal for two. Hell's teeth, that's almost 2 weeks rent! But only from my perspective.
So I shall definitely go to Bill's place, in spite of the silly name, and if I like it I'll probably go back the following year!
Francois, do you fancy an evening out? We could have pate de campagne a la sang som as a starter!
I always used to be anti service charges. I felt that I'd tip fairly, around 10% on average, and increase/decrease that according to standard of service and food. And if everybody did the same it would probably work out ok. But let's face it, there are many tightwads out there who probably leave nothing.
Anyway, since I've been in LOS I've changed my mind. My Little Font of Wisdom usually carries the dosh, on the basis that she's much more sensible than I am, an awful lot tougher, and has a bigger bag. But I've never seen her tip more than 20 baht, regardless of where we were and what we had. Occasionally I've had a trifling amount in my pocket and surreptitiously snuck it onto the table as we were leaving. More rarely, I've gone down on my knees and pleaded for her to have some sympathy for the children/aged parents/sick buffaloes, etc. of the staff in question.
MLFW wasn't impressed, and nor, frankly, were the ungrateful gits who I was trying to help out...
Anyway, it seems to me, after a lot of thought and a couple of large sang soms, that if a place is halfway decent a service charge is not a bad idea. Let's face it, if the service and the food are crap, you'd be a mug to go back anyway.
As Francois said earlier (have you noticed what sensible posts he makes?), is the total price worth what you got? Value for money, service charge or no? And that's relative to the individual. I get goosebumps and start shuddering when I read about people paying 3,000 baht or more for a meal for two. Hell's teeth, that's almost 2 weeks rent! But only from my perspective.
So I shall definitely go to Bill's place, in spite of the silly name, and if I like it I'll probably go back the following year!
Francois, do you fancy an evening out? We could have pate de campagne a la sang som as a starter!
This is the way
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malcolminthemiddle
- Guru
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:56 pm
- Location: Here,there and everywhere
Bill is not around at the moment to post himself and probably he wouldn't tell you this snippet of info himself even if he was.
Keeping any staff, good or bad, in the restaurant business in Hua Hin is no easy task. Many of the Thai staff who started out with Bill (12 years ago) are still with him, they are more family than staff. Why? Because they respect Bill, they know, providing they are loyal to him, Bill will be loyal to them in more ways than one. Not only does he promise and pay a fair and decent wage at the end of the month. he provides his staff with many other benefits through out the year whether it be high or low season. The service charge, is used to help fund these benefits.
There is no need to believe me, just ask his staff if confirmation is needed.
Keeping any staff, good or bad, in the restaurant business in Hua Hin is no easy task. Many of the Thai staff who started out with Bill (12 years ago) are still with him, they are more family than staff. Why? Because they respect Bill, they know, providing they are loyal to him, Bill will be loyal to them in more ways than one. Not only does he promise and pay a fair and decent wage at the end of the month. he provides his staff with many other benefits through out the year whether it be high or low season. The service charge, is used to help fund these benefits.
There is no need to believe me, just ask his staff if confirmation is needed.
Service Charge
I am not targeting YOBT, but just making general comments about service charging. Bill's is not so bad now that I know it goes to the staff, but as I said in my last post, this is not the case in some HH establishments. I've asked and have been told in some that part of it goes to the owner and the rest goes to the staff and I suspect there are places that it all goes to the owner.
As in my previous post, I suggest that if a service charge exists, there should be a note at the bottom of the menu stating that fact, how much it is, and that it goes to the staff in it's entirety (if that is the case).
I am a big tipper. I'm married to a former server and she has explained how much they depend on these tips. If I enjoy a meal and the service is good I usually leave 20%, 25% in a case where the service really stood out or someone went out of their way to do something special for me.
Even when I see a 10 or 15% service charge, I still leave another 10% if the service was good because I don't know how much of the added charge is given to the service providers.
I just think a service charge is exactly that and should be left to the discretion of the patron. If the charge is automatically added, how do you show your displeasure if you got really crappy food and service.... by never returning I guess.
As in my previous post, I suggest that if a service charge exists, there should be a note at the bottom of the menu stating that fact, how much it is, and that it goes to the staff in it's entirety (if that is the case).
I am a big tipper. I'm married to a former server and she has explained how much they depend on these tips. If I enjoy a meal and the service is good I usually leave 20%, 25% in a case where the service really stood out or someone went out of their way to do something special for me.
Even when I see a 10 or 15% service charge, I still leave another 10% if the service was good because I don't know how much of the added charge is given to the service providers.
I just think a service charge is exactly that and should be left to the discretion of the patron. If the charge is automatically added, how do you show your displeasure if you got really crappy food and service.... by never returning I guess.