Service in the Philippines (Split thread)

I don't think anyone complaining about the service here (specifically waitresses) are expecting to be seated, chair pulled out, napkin placed on their lap, and suggestion of entree with wine choice at a bottom of the pay scale eatery.

I also don't think it is too much to ask of those staff to know what menu items are supposed to look like and make eye contact with customers once every 5 minutes so they can motion for assistance if they want/need any and go ask what they need instead of treating their place of employment as their bedroom and customers as unwelcomed inconveniences to their FB updates.

Owners/managers are responsible for staff compliance, lazy staff who ignore customers can only act that way if unsupervised or management doesn't give a hoot either.

 

Next time I'm there I need to go on several beer and food runs with you guys.

 

Well it does say foreign born, which is a prereq for being an illegal.

More Than 4 Out Of 10 Farmworkers In These Three States Are Undocumented

Every place I've ever been it's cheaper to live in the country than a big city. Properties in Compton are more expensive (and more dangerous) than places where crops are grown in California. So not only does the unemployed guy get a job he also reduces his cost of living, all for the price of bus ticket. A true win/win.

Where are your statistics?

Beer:30.....cheers.

 

Does it really matter where the attitude comes from when it comes to getting, holding and keeping a job? There are too many people with years of experience of living without a job. They already know that mom, dad, aunty, granma won't let you starve or die of exposure so if you get fired, at least you had some party money for awhile.

For that matter, my family wouldn't see me out on the street either, but I have given them enough money and help in the past and they would know that it was only temporary and I would be helping them again in the future.

 

I'm wondering if you even live in the Philippines now as what you say is nonsense for anyone with real experience here.

Consumers here are NOT willing to negotiate on price or pay more for better quality or service. If the place next door has it 1 peso cheaper they will go there even if your product is much higher quality. I've seen this true from the bottom on up. I've seen BBQ stands where the one with much better bbq only starts selling after the stand next that is 1p cheaper per stick but really *ehh* in quality is sold out because that 1p difference means a lot to them, quality be damned. I've seen people walk to a futher sari-sari store because it sells something 50 centavo's cheaper than the closer store. I've seen people hound to disgusting Angel Burgers who even say themselves it takes like sh*t because they can get 2 sh*t burgers for the price of a decent bit bigger single burger next door. Price is everything and quality means utter crap here. Most Filipino's are more than happy to eat crap food if its cheaper, just dump some vinegar in it to kill bacteria and plenty of sugar to drown out some of the bad taste.

At my small restaurant my taco for example if fairly small but 50p. Its profit margin is extremely tiny virtually non existent btw. However if I raised its price to 60p so I could make a profit off of every taco I sell but over half my taco market is locals and quite honestly they would stop buying it. I raised my burger 5p as it was in the same boat and lost 2 of my local burger customers who thought 55p for a burger deluxe with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese was just to much for them. My prices are still dirt cheap because my overhead is small as its at my house.

You talk on paying workers more so they care? It may be that was occasionally where your from but NOT in the Philippines. At most they are less likely to steal is all. I've seen business's the employer offers a very nice well above average pay plus all benefits and 2 days off a week which for a local would be a cush posh job. Those workers didn't care one bit of the business surviving or making sure customers felt entertained and happy unless that specific customer was known for big tips and even then not all of them cared because they had to split the tips unless they could get away with pocketing it. In the end a good worker is going to care regardless because its a job and they agreed to it but good workers are a rarity to find here no matter the pay.

 

How about a restaurant that caters to foreigners? Are they equally as price sensative? Is the customer base there?

 

Restaurants are springing up on every street corners, like bakeries and petrol stations. Eventually, your customer base is so diluted, that you cannot function, yet your overheads are still the same. Unless you own the premises and are a friend of the local politicians, your chances of success are almost non existent. All restaurants cater for foreigners, you just have to get used to eating crap, most of the time.

 

There are restaurants that cater to foreigners, resorts. Customers at resorts are maybe less price sensitive, but those customers are mostly on vacation and living and eating at a resort in no way reflects everyday living in the PI.
If you want to live a happy life in the PI, accepting things as they are is an important part of being happy.

 

Are you talking foreigners that live there or just tourists? You can screw a tourist pretty hard because they aren't coming back anyway. I think Casablanca's prices compare well to a small restaurant in the US, probably because they need to keep local customers also. I never went to Andy's Golden Grill but I was told it was good, mostly by Andy himself when I ran into him at Hayahay. None of the locals with me had ever been there. The prices would have kept them away. As many foreigners as there are in the area, how many are going to drop 5 k php on lunch or dinner for a party of 4 on a regular basis? I think Hayahay has the widest appeal. If I have a business I expect to make money I don't just want the well to do peoples money, I want everyone's.