Underhand tactics employed by Oishi Phuket
I’m treading over old ground here, but I learned something today that surprised me. The whole thing about one price for Thais and one price for foreigners is nothing new, but to my amazement, Oishi Phuket employs this tactic.
The Oishi buffet is one of my favorite things to eat for lunch, but I was taken aback to learn that Oishi, part of a large franchise, is basically set up to drain as much money from tourists as possible.
I always go there with Thai friends so always pay the Thai price. This is the price that is advertised on the Oishi billboards around town. They promote the figure in Thai so that foreigners can’t read it. The price for Oishi buffet is a little over 300 baht without tax and service charge – that’s what I paid today.
For foreigners who eat without the company of Thai people, the charge is more like 500 baht. The real kicker is tour companies who take large groups of people to the restaurant and earn a whacking commission because the groups are charged anything up to 1,000 baht per person!
From street vendors I’d expect this in some circumstances, but not from such a large franchise. It isn’t like this throughout Thailand, but in Phuket at least, those cheeky fellows at Oishi are making a mint off of unsuspecting tourists.
The location of Oishi, if you fancy trying your luck, is at the Index shopping mall, near to Central Festival and Big C.
September 9th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
At last, someone, like you, has mentioned this specific topic.
I have been wondering about the issue with one price for Thais and one price for foreigners for ages. I do not understand how foreigners manage to put up with this nonsense.
I once experinced this sort of thing myself. I and my friend, who is a Farang like you, went to a particular tourist place. We were charged differently for permission to enter the place. I asked an official who was in charge why we would have to pay a different price; this person just simply said it was the rule. I did not get it and I was not going to enter the place because of this unfair treatment. The friend of mine, though, did not mind being charged more as he thought it was not expensive. We both eventually got in.
A couple of weeks later, I sent an email to inform the TAT about this issue, but I have not yet got a reply from them, and I think I am never going to hear from them either; neither have I heard the TAT or any Thai authority trying to sort this particular nonsense out.
Let’s just not put up with this any more. It’s discrimination.
September 10th, 2007 at 12:49 am
It certainly is discrimination, but it’s also probably down to ignorance on the part of tourists. Those who cannot read Thai can only see the headline ‘English’ figures and are blissfully unaware of the Thai prices.
I can’t help but think what would happen back in the UK if Thai people, or tourists in general, had to pay twice as much as UK residents for food or admission fees to attractions.
The fact Thailand is cheap in comparision shouldn’t be an excuse for this sort of thing to be treated as acceptable. One story about this sort of thing in a British or American newspaper has the potential to do some serious damage to the Thai tourism industry. Those in charge should act to stop it - now !
September 10th, 2007 at 3:17 am
Rip Off. Better food at Zen in Central Festival anyway. if you want an all you can eat then try the Chen Long Gung Kata next to Big C - see here:
Chen Long Gung Kata
September 10th, 2007 at 4:15 am
@sooksiam: I couldn’t agree with you more. Even if you work here and pay taxes they will try and charge you more.
September 10th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
You could also enquire with resorts that practice double pricing with cheaper prices for “farangs” ! There was an article and several letters a few weeks ago in BK magazine about Thai being treated unfairly by these resorts as well as by Thai Airways.
In one case a Thai women was refused the booking at the special price because she was Thai. She then said her partner was farang and that he will make the booking. She was told that they could not garantee them the same price because at the checkin they will see that it is a mixed couple and that the price is for farangs only.
In the same line. Last year one of my thai friends was refused the renting of a motorbike by the farang owner or a motorbike letting shop on the ground that by experience he could not trust Thai to bring back the moto or to pay in case of damage (in this particular case he was wrong, my friend being owner of his own company…)
I would say that all in all there is a balance in unfairness in Thailand: you will always get your flat more easily if you are Farang than Thai, but you will pay more for some services…
Double pricing also exists in Cambodia. It is an unfair practice but so is life!
~R
October 26th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Oishi Phuket gave me the worst food poisoning i’ve had in years. Definitely won’t be eating there again. Fuji and Zen both much better.
March 1st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
About the topic of food poisoning here, I received a hellacious bout of food poisoning a few months back from The Pizza Company (1112). Horrible, horrible food poisoning. I advise people to steer clear from ordering delivery pizza from them. Perhaps Matt you could do your readers a favor and post a blog with a black list of restaurants known for food poisoning?? :)
April 29th, 2008 at 7:51 am
@Matt - hate the double pricing BS. I was quoted 4,000 baht for a one month membership at a gym in Patong while the Thai price is only 1,000 baht!
At most of the major tourist attractions, you can see the Thai price clearly stated in Thai script while the foreigner (farang) price in numerics is 10x the Thai price in some cases!!
@Joe - Same experience with food poisoning from 1112 Pizza in BKK - Dec 07.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:02 am
June 2008, been ripped off at OISHI Phuket!
Decided to try to the OISHI Buffet at Index Mall in Phuket for the first time since it was so highly recommended to me (by a foreign couple) as costing a bit over 300 Baht per person for all you can eat.
Came very late at night after a hospital visit, not very hungry anyway, just wanting to do a friends little girl a favour who wanted Sushi.
The 3 of us being two foreign girls and one 5 yo girl.
I am honestly not used to being ripped off, having lived in Phuket for 2.5 years and usually I am with Thai people and speak Thai.
At the door Thai staff pretended not to understand me speaking either Thai or English (when I asked for just a quick light snack, asking whether that was an option at all or if there was only the all you can eat on offer), and got quoted in bad English 600 something Baht, child free, me knowing the price I assumed that was the quote for us two adults but I was already a bit suspicious given the attitude of the staff at the door. Decided to go in anyway. I thought they can not possibly charge us 600 per person, close to closing time and the place not being crowded or anything.
In the middle of our meal a girl brings the bill to the table (I mean what is that anyway, disturbing peple in the middle of eating asking for payment??). I didnt even realize she wanted to get the cash right there and then. Seriously charged 699 Baht per person!
It was noisy, you have to get everything yourself from water to cutlery, running around all the time.
I will never go back there and will instead keep enjoying weekly meals at MK Restaurant in Central, where I get much tastier food (self cooked in a pot of boiling water on the table for those who don’t know MK), filling up two people and coming to about 400 - 500 Baht including roasted duck, free re-filled Ice tea and excellent and polite service at the table.