Phuket

Hansel · #1 13-04-2006, 09:39

Who does actually think that it is a rather nasty habit of some bars to charge you for your water refill on Songkran (something like 10 Baht, while a water bottle in 7-11 costs 5...). I do not remember that ever happening before last year -- does that not destroy the spirit of the whole thing?

Who is actually willing to pay such an extortion? And what would you do if you just refilled your gun and then some weasel comes afterwards and wants payment even though there was no sign on the bucket (a real life example from yesterday)?

And who rather boycotts those places and drinks in a bar that does not charge you?

Some opinions, please...

stevem · #2 13-04-2006, 09:52

Its life and business, any good business owner will try and profit from any situation. After all that water is not free!!!

Hansel · #3 13-04-2006, 10:04

stevem, you gotta be kidding me; charging extortionate prices just because the market has no choice but to pay (this time) does definitely not make this a "good" business practice. Example would be the extortionate leases and rents of the bars in Soi Bangla; bar owners will have to pay or close, but I would not think it a "good" business practice because in the long run it will destroy the whole marketplace (eg it gets passed on to the customer in the drinks prices).

how much does it cost a bar owner to fill a bucket from his tap; if even one of the guys who refills his gun until the bucket is empty drinks a beer at this bar, he should have made a healthy profit (and yesterday Shipwreck Bar in Soi Bangla was such an applaudable busienss).

Uhh, reading this, I sure got fired up here over 10 baht, but my excuse is, it is actually 10:00 in the morning...

Coolhand · #4 13-04-2006, 10:21

Personally speaking, I always used to fill my gun up with bottled water, under the premise that it should be cleaner. I would not want a gobfull of dirty tap water (Patong tap water is safe to drink at Songkran - ha!).

2 years ago my GF ended up in hospital with an infection which was the result of someone using dirty water at Songran. So if you are going to fill your gun up with tap water, at least have the courtesy not to aim at people's faces (bad form anyway, I think), and if you are paying for it why not by bottled water?

stevem · #5 13-04-2006, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hansel

stevem, you gotta be kidding me; charging extortionate prices just because the market has no choice but to pay (this time) does definitely not make this a "good" business practice.

And this is the only instance in the world where businesses take advantage of a situation!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hansel

Example would be the extortionate leases and rents of the bars in Soi Bangla; bar owners will have to pay or close, but I would not think it a "good" business practice because in the long run it will destroy the whole marketplace (eg it gets passed on to the customer in the drinks prices).

You dont have to tell me about the ridiculous rents and leases, been there done that for far too long.

LivinLOS · #6 13-04-2006, 10:35

2 years ago I caught Typhoid.. Had it for 10 weeks which the Doc told me was impossible (OK you explain it) and was pretty ill with a high fever for a long long time..

Already this year my GF woke up with one gummy eye.. Conjuntivitus eyedrops later today..

Standard Song Gran.

Nicke · #7 13-04-2006, 13:09

The problem is that there is almost no tap water available during peak hours so you need bottled water. But tap water should be available for free if available, and it used to be that way in the bars.

I was surprised to see a water tank truck filling up for people yesterday, havent seen that other years.

JayBee · #8 13-04-2006, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

The problem is that there is almost no tap water available during peak hours so you need bottled water. But tap water should be available for free if available, and it used to be that way in the bars.

I was surprised to see a water tank truck filling up for people yesterday, havent seen that other years.

Why is there not enough tap water? I've always had enough for showers and baths in Patong, and I take long showers!!

Why would people get sick from getting soaked with tap water. People bathe in it, take showers, get water in the their face and eyes, and brush their teeth with it, too(altho I use bottled for brushing). I think the infections are not from tap water, but from water collected from a gutter or some other bad source, like dirty barrels.

JayBee · #9 13-04-2006, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hansel
stevem, you gotta be kidding me; charging extortionate prices just because the market has no choice but to pay (this time) does definitely not make this a "good" business practice

And this is the only instance in the world where businesses take advantage of a situation!!!

I have to agree with Hansel. I don't know about the rest of the world, but in the US, for many businesses, there are laws against windfall profits. Charging bottled water prices for tap water is unconscionable. If the water sold is bottled water, then it's a different story, of course!

LivinLOS · #10 13-04-2006, 13:40

The water sources are not equal to clean tapwater.. Buckets of water on the street.. spray on every surface.. water flushed in old hoses and barrels..

Coolhand · #11 13-04-2006, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBee

Why is there not enough tap water? I've always had enough for showers and baths in Patong, and I take long showers!!

Just what is the water consumption in Patong during Songkran? Would anyone like to hazard a guess?

If I understand it, most of the businesses in Bangla don't have mains water and it is delivered by truck, so how many storage tanks get really empty, to the dregs. How many water tankers decide to fill up at illicit places?

LivinLOS · #12 13-04-2006, 19:10

Most patong businesses are on the mains water.. Only during dry season they turn down the water pressure.. so some places need to buy extra..

Also dont forget that the water in the system is running through Thai pipes.. I heard (could be totally wrong) that Thai mains losses 40% of its water through pipe leaks (europe loses about 5%.. Its part of the pressurisation to lose it so water doesnt leak in only leak out).. Now factor in that there much less pressure then normal as every tap in town is on full I susepct groiund water will leak back into the thai mains.. I know I get all kinds of grungy looking water at song gran..

Also why purify and work on quality water when its destined to be used for the soaking..

So water quality in general falls off for lots of reasons..

Crustasian · #13 14-04-2006, 03:11

Having just done a bar crawl around the streets today - you would not like to see where some of the water being sprayed in your face came from!!

As from your comment about being charged for water for your water gun - every bar is billed by the water company for their water comsumption.

Pherhaps a better arrangement would be for you to buy a drink in the establishment before stealing their water.

Hansel · #14 14-04-2006, 09:44

"As from your comment about being charged for water for your water gun - every bar is billed by the water company for their water comsumption. Pherhaps a better arrangement would be for you to buy a drink in the establishment before stealing their water."

Crustasian, as you might have overlooked that in my original statement, that was exactly what I was advocating should be the good practice.

Of course it would be right if you take your water from one bar then to sit there and have a drink (or in my case it was rather more like 5-6 and I was pretty "well done" in the evening).

dizbuster · #15 15-04-2006, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crustasian

...Pherhaps a better arrangement would be for you to buy a drink in the establishment before stealing their water.

55555 just make sure it's not a 40baht soda water !!