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'Please leave me alone to look at menu! Overseas restaurant touts' blog discussion
Comments
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Overseas / with curry house-type places in the UK this 'encouragement' is probably cultural ie if they don't have hassle-wallahs doing that, they wouldn't get any business.
But you are right, it is irritating.
And what REALLY gets me is when you go into a fast food place or any other kind of shop and get accosted with "can I help you / you alright there / what can I get you?" etc etc as soon as I'm over the doorstep without giving a chance to read the menu.
When I go in I know I want something, but I don't necessarily know as soon as I set foot in there that I want a 1/4 pounder double frappuccino with cheese and marshmallows on top with medium fries and a diet coke.0 -
I agree 100%!!!! Especially mobile phone shops, OMG they are so annoying. Insisting on taking all your details when all you want is a quick rundown of the features of a particular phone. I just leave straight away!
As for restaurant touts, they drive me away as soon as they come over. I can't STAND them.Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.730 -
I also hate sandwich shops where there's a big queue and about 5 counter staff, and I'm asked what I want before I've even reached the menu board/glass display thing with all the fillings to choose from. It makes me so cross! I try to explain that I want to see the board first and usually get a dirty look and a theatrical sigh from the person behind the counter.
Thankfully this is VERY rare as I am far too MSE to buy sandwiches more than a few times a year... I always take my own lunch to work.Saves me money and stress!!!
Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.730 -
Gosh, this has got me all worked up! :rotfl:Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.730 -
In Marmaris some years ago, we were in an indoor mall, the leather shop salemen were pestering everyone as they walked past and wouldn't take no for an answer.
When one of them tried to collar me, I replied 'I'm a vegetarian'.
That stopped him dead in his spiel and the look on his face was priceless, he was still looking puzzled when we walked past later.
BTW I'm not a veggie and love leather:rotfl:
Again years ago we were on an island off the Yugoslavian coast, there was a lovely little restaurant with the menu outside, the owner came out and invited us in, but before we entered I asked him if they had chicken, he said 'Perhaps' That made us laugh so we went in, guess what? No chicken, but a lovely meal anyway.0 -
We had to choose somewhere to eat in Montmartre (unfortunately) and strolled up and down the street being accosted by various restaurants, eventually choosing the one that left us alone to look at the menu in peace. After the five of us had sat down, it suddenly filled up; the management just knew it would, I suppose, so didn't waste their time touting for clients. It was a cheap place so the food was good without being special, but it was lively and busy and great fun to spend an evening in.0
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In addition, I dislike the upselling spiel given, especially in chain restaurants.
If I wanted fries, drinks, deserts, a receipt or similar then I would ask for it...!0 -
the worst pressure me and the OH have ever been under was in Jamaica, where we stopped on a cruise.
Now I understand that we are "money" to them, but pulling the taxi infront of us and yes I mean on to the pavement to ask us if we want a taxi when we are less than 100yrds to the port entrance is a bit extreme. They offered us "a little something" to make the day even better, which of course we refused and then did I want my hair braided! I'm very, VERY fair skinned and have short hair, not really my style.
All the other islands we visited, yes we was asked but when we said no thank you, they just said "enjoy our island and have a great day" No hassle/ offence or anything.
Just adding my 2 penny worth in
On holiday in the Dominican Republic and we left our resort by coach to visit somewhere. In the traffic I got all the Dominican prostitutes openly propositioning me:
"Sir like a goooood time?"
"Sir look like good lover!"
"Sir, I do things your wife don't do!"
Mrs V. sitting next to me was not impressed. :rotfl:The man without a signature.0 -
vikingaero wrote: »On holiday in the Dominican Republic and we left our resort by coach to visit somewhere. In the traffic I got all the Dominican prostitutes openly propositioning me:
"Sir like a goooood time?"
"Sir look like good lover!"
"Sir, I do things your wife don't do!"
Mrs V. sitting next to me was not impressed. :rotfl:
Was it because they didn't proposition her too0 -
As someone else has mentioned, this is standard practice for Indian/Bangladeshi restaurants Brick Lane in London. I've also come across it in the Balti Triangle in Birmingham and with some middle eastern restaurants Edgware Road and Vietnamese ones on Kingsland Road too.
And the Italian restaurants on Lygon Street in Melbourne, in Playa Del Ingles in Gran Canaria, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Thailand etc.
Basically anywhere where there's lots of competition between restaurants. It must be necessary to attract enough business, otherwise they wouldn't do it.
I think that where there's too much competition between restaurants in a small area, the quality of the food often suffers and you're better locating restaurants via restaurant recommendation websites.0
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