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The Gweilo Price

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  1. #21

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    Nov 2010
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    Quote Originally Posted by answerer:
    Would be interesting to report this to Consumer Council, Tourism Board, and Apple Daily and see which is most effective!

    https://www.consumer.org.hk/ws_en/co...ocomplain.html

    Haha, that's true. I've thought about it before but never did.

  2. #22

    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Gweilo price alive and well in Macau ... the other week I was heading back to the Cotai ferry, one of the touts outside was calling out prices for tickets...

    in English he said $150 ... in Chinese it was only $100!

    (I forget if it was Cantonese or Mandarin)


  3. #23

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    Again, that's the language tax rather than the foreigner tax!


  4. #24

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    Aug 2009
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    I have absolutely been quoted higher prices for services because I'm a gweilo. Recent example;
    Called an air conditioning company to get my air cons cleaned, they quoted one price and wouldn't budge when I said that it was too expensive. I though it was too high, so backed out. My wife (local) called without revealing that she was my wife and they quoted $200 less.

    This isn't the first time this has happened.

    Morrison likes this.

  5. #25

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    Mar 2009
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    Quote Originally Posted by Paxbritannia:
    Often the set menu is in Chinese only.
    That's the tax for being picky (which i think is deserved unless you really are allergic to something).

    I often choose the set menu and can't read Chinese. Just choose A, B, C or D. Its a nice surprise and it won't be bad whatever it is. the set menus are likely to be some of the most popular dishes rather than anything weird.

  6. #26

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    Nov 2010
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    That is possible, since of course there are always dodgy drivers. But it is just the percent of drivers that do it that makes me wonder. It happens to me almost half the time I take a taxi (when alone).

    It's usually taking longer route. I probably should tell them exactly where to go, but it is often stuff that I wouldn't ever assume they would do. Like driving from Causeway Bay (coming from through the Aberdeen Tunnel) all the way to the other end of Admiralty and then circling back to get to Wan Chai (the side that's closer to CWB). I wouldn't really think to tell them not to go through Admiralty to get to Wan Chai.... Or once I told a guy where I wanted to go in Cantonese then English then tried to show him the map on my phone (he refused to look although wasn't driving) but then "missed" the road and drove quite a few blocks before stopping and asking me where I wanted to go and then said he didn't understand me before (although not sure why he drove so long if he didn't know where I wanted to go). So...I don't even know.

    You're right though; I should be more proactive about reporting. My response has been to just try to avoid taxis.

    Original Post Deleted

  7. #27

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    Aug 2017
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    Kowloon
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    Quote Originally Posted by lighthse003:
    Chinese restaurants in HK are too busy to help non Cantonese or Mandarin speaking customers ordering.

    Mandarin speaking customers are ok. Many restautant staff can speak in Cantonese accent Mandarin.

    The extra "translation fee" is for their extra time and effort to deal with customers with language barriers.

    Know a few locals working in restaurants without many foreigners, located in very local areas, they said they don't want these customers or the customers should give more for the staff's extra time and effort. Remember in HK, time is money.
    Therein lies the problem with this place. Forget hospitality, forget doing one's job... No, they should be paid extra. Ffs.
    TheBrit likes this.

  8. #28

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    Mar 2007
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    1,674
    Quote Originally Posted by MerMer:
    Therein lies the problem with this place. Forget hospitality, forget doing one's job... No, they should be paid extra. Ffs.
    Kind of like tipping in the US.

  9. #29

    Service in Hong Kong is phenomenal. Just wave your hands and someone comes. I like how they work in teams.

    MandM! likes this.

  10. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by civil_servant:
    Service in Hong Kong is phenomenal. Just wave your hands and someone comes. I like how they work in teams.
    I think its great too. When i go back to UK, i realised every time i wanted to buy something i had to go looking for a member of staff who was usually hiding in the cupboard or in the staff room at the back.
    gigglinggal likes this.