Shame on La Bamba Bar- Pattaya- Pt1

[Viper]

La Bamba


It is with some sadness and some reluctance that I post a negative story about La Bamba Bar. First, I’d like to say some positive things about LaBamba. I like the bar. It has pleasant comfortable décor with generally a good atmosphere. Its got pleasant music that is not too loud. Most of the girls there are sweet and pleasant company and I know many of them very well- and Im not talking about only the bed department! Its generally a good place to chill out. And I also know the owner Sam and he’s a good guy.

So when I went to the St Patricks day party on Friday 14th March with a couple of friends, I was extremely distressed to be refused service by the cashier. I could not buy a drink in La Bamba. I had to stand at the bar and my requests for a drink were ignored. I felt even more humiliated when the cashier came out from behind the bar and standing with arms crossed over her chest and one foot tapping said loudly to me – “Why you take girl go work another bar?” This question was repeated by her many times over. I saw the English manager of La Bamba sitting at the bar not six feet away and I went over and asked him to intervene. He responded initially that it was nothing to do with him. When I argued that it was his responsibility to take care of his customers – he told me it was my own fault AND DID NOTHING.

I went and sat out on the Street with no drink. I do not drink alcohol as I am recovering from major surgery and I’m now also on Chemotherapy. Both these facts are well known to the English manager. But did he care? No way.

You may not know this but in Thailand, all persons entering another’s home are offered a drink. A drink of water or similar in Thailand is considered a life saver in the heat and an offer of a drink is always made as its part of their culture. So to be refused a non alcoholic drink in La Bamba in front of all the Thais and the customers is a GROSS PERSONAL INSULT OF THE WORST KIND in Thai culture. To have kicked me or shown me the bottom of her feet would have been an extreme but lesser insult. And that the drink was refused to me by a lowly cashier with the support of the English manager known to many on forums as Rossco, made it even more insulting.


I spoke to the Mamsan Alis – Sams girl friend. She went to the cashier and returned saying that I could now have a drink. I refused. I said before I pay further money to the bar, I wanted an apology from the cashier. Alice went to the cashier who refused to apologize. I therefore left and discussed the problem with many Western and Thai friends. They were all disgusted and horrified at my treatment. I explained what I was accused of and again I was told that I had done nothing wrong .

I returned to the bar again at 2 am and asked the cashier for an apology. Outcome - she started phoning the Thai police on Soi 9 to get me arrested. For what? I left!


Now, of course there is a background to this story. Let me share it with you as objectively as I can.

About 6 weeks ago, I bar fined a freelancer called Opor from La Bamba.. In the course of our evening together, she told me that she had been working at la Bamba for 10 days as a freelancer. She said that in those 10 days, I was her first and only customer and she currently had no money even for food. It was early evening and she wanted to look at the many ladyboy venues. We had drinks at various places. One was Stringfellows agogo. She said that 2 weeks earlier she had applied for a job there but they were full. I said well ask again – things change. And they had changed and she was hired immediately as a freelancer. She was bar fined 10 times in the first 9 days and was placed on salary. Good eh? No, apparently a dastardly crime! For someone to go from zero income to Bt 20,000 plus a month is awful isn’t it?

Because, some days later, I went to La Bamba and was refused a drink by the cashier and later the English manager Rossco, on the grounds that I had got one of his girls another job. A girl who had no income whatsoever and said she could not afford food. I went to La bamba for 3 days running and on each occasion I was refused a drink.

I spoke to Sam in America. He implied that he was horrified at my treatment. He said I had done nothing wrong in assisting Opor. I had not set out with any intention of moving any staff any where- shit I don’t own the bar where she went or any bar come to that. Sam arrived in Thailand a few days later and was very apologetic. He told me that he had instructed staff that they were never to refuse service to a customer and to refuse service to a regular customer who lives here was sheer stupidity and he would not tolerate it.

About 5 days ago, I was in La Bamba again. It was around 8 pm. A cute little LB called Emmy was cuddling up to me. She is an ex Temptations – Nana Plaza- agogo dancer. She says- I go with you. I say no I have to visit some bars on business. She still wants to come with me and I don’t want sex – my current treatment means that I am frequently very tired - so I says ok you can come but I only pay the bar fine and some drinks together. Bedtime I go home alone . OK. So again we went to various LB bars that I needed to talk to for business purposes. Part of my work involves promoting bars. At one we were waiting in the bar for the owner. Whilst waiting, she says I want work here, its beautiful and I can dance again. So she goes to talk to the mamasan alone, outside, and I wait for the owner. The owner comes, we talk for 15 minutes, business concluded, he leaves. Emmy returns full of enthusiasm at having apparently found a new job. Then she says that she wants to start tomorrow but she hasn’t got Bt350 deposit on the agogo uniforms. I say OK I will lend it to you- but coming to work here, is your choice and NOTHING TO DO WITH ME- Do YOU UNDERSTAND? YES she says. I told her not to go and tell them at La Bamba that I had anything to do with your decision to change jobs, because I have not and if she said anything maybe there will be trouble again – though Sam had already promised that it would NEVER BE A PROBLEM AGAIN. 2 nights later I did spend the night with Emmy – a very pleasant time and no problems whatsoever.

Now since Sam took over 131, I must have bar fined 20 girls from there or La Bamba and only 2 have obtained work elsewhere. What does that say? Certainly, not that I am a persistent stealer of staff.

[Viper]

Next day – St Patrick’s Day 14 March and a party at la Bamba. Emmy was present. What are you doing here? You have new job in new bar! She smiles and walks away.

I go to the bar and the cashier refuses to serve me and you know the rest.

I am appalled by the behavior of both Sams Thai cashier and Sams English manager. They both behaved in direct contravention of what Sam had told me, the last time he was in Thailand And remember it was Rossco, Sam’s English Manager that hounded Franck by posting so negatively all over and frequently about the conduct of Franck when Franck was a bar owner in 131. He has also had a lot to say about others behavior in Pattaya on the forums, condemning people for cowardice, and various forms of immorality. Well that was certainly the pot calling the kettle, black!

Shall I now do the same? No, I don’t think so. Because I think what Rossco did and how he did it to Franck and others on the internet was so wrong. And I have told him this to his face.

But I do say the same again to Sam as I have said before. In La bamba the lunatics have taken over the asylum. Why else can a manager and a cashier refuse me a drink against the owners express instructions.

Sam, I wish you and your bar well. I will not be going to La bamba frequently again without a full and abject apology from the parties concerned. And I certainly would not dare enter your bar alone again. It now a scary place with threats of police action and maybe later threats to my physical wellbeing. There are plenty of other bars to drink in, in Pattaya. I think I was spending around Bt 50,000 a year including BFs at your bar. Well never mind, you’ve plenty of money anyway ! And there are plenty of other ladyboy bars for me to promote via my business links as I don’t now have the opportunity to promote yours.

If I had been physically stronger, Rossco, Sams manger, who refused an ill man, and a regular customer, a drink, would have already received the smack in the mouth that he truly and richly deserves. And it would have been the first time I had struck anyone since I was a child at school.
Maybe, I’ll be stronger soon!


Viper

[stogie bear]

It has to be said that the treatment that you received was as a result of your behaviour and is in NO WAY typical of how anyone else gets treated.

Any perceived wrongs against you can be quickly fixed if you learn to bite the bullet and do things the Thai way!

[Viper]

I have to disagree with you. Its a bar thats western owned and supposedly western managed. The owner gave me is assurances that I would not be treated that way again and said in the first instance I had done no wrong. Even I went out of my way to say to Emmy that her new job was nothing to do with me.

[stogie bear]

You're missing the point.

All this lip service from the owners means fuck all if you are STILL getting refused service.

Your value as a customer seems to be zero and if it was worth anything you'd be welcome with open arms!

That's Thailand.

Stop looking for justice and start looking for peace!

[Viper]

You're missing the point.

All this lip service from the owners means fuck all if you are STILL getting refused service.

Your value as a customer seems to be zero and if it was worth anything you'd be welcome with open arms!

That's Thailand.

Stop looking for justice and start looking for peace!

Stogie, I think you are a hippy.

You are right about my value as a customer Bt 50,000 per year = zero.

So Im now Bt 50,000 a year better off. Wheres the peace bar? Soi 7 or Naclua?

[stogie bear]

Stogie, I think you are a hippy.

Dude you are soooooooo... erm... yeah, man! http://theladyboyforums.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/spliff.gif

[Otho]

You're missing the point.


Stop looking for justice and start looking for peace!

Sorry for butting in and just my two bahts worth, but I think this has nailed it.

There are two sides to every story and I'm sure the people at La Bamba would have their side to tell, as much as you do.

Mate, you pissed them off. OK, you didn't mean to, but surely you can understand why they ended up feeling that way.

I have people working for me and I work in a business (advertising) where talented people often get poached from one place to another. Happens all the time. I do it myself. I've had it done to me. When it does happen, I tend to shrug my shoulders and accept it, but don't expect me to go for a drink and say oh forget it to someone who's just pinched one of my people. Not for a few months anyway.

I think you have to shrug your shoulders, walk away and leave the dust to settle. As you say yourself, there are plenty of other places to drink.

And hanging onto your anger won't do anything at all to help your recovery from your illness. In fact it will likely make it worse. As the man said - peace.

[Sam]

Good Morning Viper

I read all the posts in this thread with keen interest, its not everyday I am embroiled in disputes pertaining to La Bamba.

Will try to be brief:

Yes, I own La Bamba Bar. The bar is run day to day by Alis and Porn. They are there every day but their english language skills are quite limited so I rely on my close friend and full time Pattaya resident, Rossco to translate what staff try to say to me. The arrangement works most of the time.

Rossco doesn't work for me or for La Bamba.

Staff have free reign when it comes to day-to-day decisions concerning ladyboys and customers so what happened with you on March 14 was something staff had every right to do. I stand by their decision and respect it. If I was to second guess everything they decide they would stop managing the bar and become uninvolved...that I don't want to happen.

In their eyes, Viper wants to poach LBs to work in other venues, so when something like that actually happened they pat themselves on the back and tell everyone "I told you so". Doesn't matter if it was planned by you or not. It happened.

The last time they refused you service, I intervened against their objections to overturn their ruling. This time I have no choice but take off my hat to their keen judgement and keep my mouth shut. I have to live with what they decide.

Next month I am in Pattaya again and would love to share a few drinks with you. Of course they will be on my bin. Damn why is it always on my bin? In the meantime I am really sorry that this keeps happening to you in La Bamba, because this doesn't happen to anyone else.

Cheers and be well,

Sam

[bigkev]

La Bamba
.

Now since Sam took over 131, I must have bar fined 20 girls from there or La Bamba and only 2 have obtained work elsewhere. What does that say? Certainly, not that I am a persistent stealer of staff.


it says you have bitterly disappointed 18 girls.......

[Viper]

IThe owner gave me is assurances that I would not be treated that way again and said in the first instance I had done no wrong. Even I went out of my way to say to Emmy that her new job was nothing to do with me.

And Sam, I really did go out of my way to tell Emmy that her change of job was nothing to do with me and it wasnt. AND I SPEAK THAI. So there was no misunderstanding.

But whats happenned to your assurances above now. You have done a complete about face as now you say.
"Staff have free reign when it comes to day-to-day decisions concerning ladyboys and customers so what happened with you on March 14 was something staff had every right to do. I stand by their decision and respect it. If I was to second guess everything they decide they would stop managing the bar and become uninvolved...that I don't want to happen."

As I said before- I do believe that the lunatics have taken over the asylum. Aliss- is a super girl and I like her a lot- but she has no management experience or skills. Porn well words fail me over this one- a real hariden- who I will now go nowhere near ever again- and to threaten the police?!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Thanks for your reply. I understand now that MY custom is not worth much to you and you choose to support your staff in this matter. My only sensible and reasonable response therefore is just not visit your bar again, which I wont.

That doesnt stop you buying me that drink or several, but elsewhere and preferably somewhere very expensive. :D

Viper

[Viper]

Sorry for butting in and just my two bahts worth, but I think this has nailed it.

I think you have to shrug your shoulders, walk away and leave the dust to settle. As you say yourself, there are plenty of other places to drink.

And hanging onto your anger won't do anything at all to help your recovery from your illness. In fact it will likely make it worse. As the man said - peace.

Otho- youre not butting in - its what a forums for. Thanks for the wise words - appreciated- I'll draw a line and move on. What else can I do? Viper

[Somchai]

I think Viper- you are right to move on.

It sounds like there are other agendas in play, which are probably nothing to do with you. :confused:

The truth tends to surface eventually. ;)

And Yea bigkev was right- what was wrong with fixing up the other 18 with a decent paying job? They were obviously good looking enough to bar fine. Thats discrimination isnt it? :D :D

Dont let the buggers grind you down.:rolleyes:

Somchai

[ozzie]

Given the first girl Opor was a freelancer (Not sure about Emmy but think she was too). Then you have done nothing wrong even if you deliberately set out to find her another job (Which it seems you didn't anyway). I mean she was not under any contract only good faith that she work out the bar and they take a cut of her lady drinks and get the bar fine.

Seems a typical Thai reaction to the problem in that if you the farang were not there, bar fined her and taken her for a drink at other establishments then she would not have moved bars which may be true in the short term but if she continued to get no bar fines then I am sure she would have started looking for greener pastures anyway.

The one thing I do agree with from some other posters is forget about and move on plenty of other places to drink in Pattaya so why go where you are not wanted.

[Somchai]

I agree Ozzie.
Seems like the motor bike accident ploy.

Its your fault ferang- if you didnt come here on holiday - you wouldnt be here for this pick up to run into - so its your fault ferang.

But what about the response of western management - the owner?

Somchai

[stogie bear]

My only sensible and reasonable response therefore is just not visit your bar again, which I wont...

Halleluyah. He has seen the light!

In the grand scheme of things surely this is no more than an annoyance and not worth the hassle and stress that it has clearly caused.

[Somchai]

[QUOTE=Sam;1310]IYes, I own La Bamba Bar. The bar is run day to day by Alis and Porn. They are there every day but their english language skills are quite limited so I rely on my close friend and full time Pattaya resident, Rossco to translate what staff try to say to me. The arrangement works most of the time.

But to my certain knowledge Rossco doesnt speak a word of Thai. So how does he do that?

Rossco doesn't work for me or for La Bamba.

So why does he go into the bar everyday and check the stock? Why does he post on forums about getting all your licenses in order so that you can re-open following police intervention?

Staff have free reign when it comes to day-to-day decisions concerning ladyboys and customers so what happened with you on March 14 was something staff had every right to do.

You refer to staff, not Alis and Porn. So the lunatics really have taken over the asylum. Staff have free reign . A bit scary that

In their eyes, Viper wants to poach LBs to work in other venues, so when something like that actually happened they pat themselves on the back and tell everyone "I told you so". Doesn't matter if it was planned by you or not. It happened.
The last time they refused you service, I intervened against their objections to overturn their ruling.

And you intervened before because? Presumably because you thought their actions were wrong! So why were they not wrong this time aswell.

This time I have no choice but take off my hat to their keen judgement and keep my mouth shut. I have to live with what they decide.

And you had no choice because? Whereas, last time you apparently did have a choice. So what changed between the first time and the second time?

Just asking Sam :D:D:D

Somchai

[stogie bear]

OK... I'll wade in with my thoughts...

So Rossco doesn't speak Thai? Hmmm.... So what? I'd say that having a trusted farang in that bar was an invaluable asset to the profitability of the bar. Also - even if Rossco can't speak Thai, just by being there he can get a grasp on problems and situations FAR MORE easily than Sam could ever do on the phone.

I bet Sam regrets even going over the judgment of his staff on the ground the first time, and I'm sure he only did it to acquiesce the demands from his friend Viper rather than believe his staff had got it wrong.

If you are in attendance at your buiseness all the time then you can overrule your staff. If you are managing from a distance then you better have the balls to stick by your staff even when they don't see things the same way that you do or even make mistakes.

I was there on the night that Viper was refused service. It was a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE time for everyone for quite a long time.

The fact that he returned in the early hours to further press his case shows poor judgment to me.

I know the person at the center of this disagreement and consider him a friend, and as such I told him that he could easily and quickly put this right...

He chose not to.

[Somchai]

OK... I'll wade in with my thoughts...

So Rossco doesn't speak Thai? Hmmm.... So what? I'd say that having a trusted farang in I was there on the night that Viper was refused service. It was a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE time for everyone for quite a long time.

The fact that he returned in the early hours to further press his case shows poor judgment to me.

I know the person at the center of this disagreement and consider him a friend, and as such I told him that he could easily and quickly put this right...

He chose not to.


As I understand it, your advise to Viper was to put things right by aplogising to the cashier. But Viper had done nothing wrong and also you say that he had been given "a VERY UNCOMFORTABLE time (for everyone) for quite a long time" by the cashier. Add to that the managers response and I think that Viper is the one that rightly deserves the apology.

Viper went back at 2am and asked again for an apology. You say this was poor judgment. I dont see why. Many bars in Pattaya are still in full swing at that time. The fact that La Bamba was ready to close at that time is down to the lack of customers at that time. If the place is full at 2am - no one I know would be calling "time" and asking them to leave. Well maybe they would in La Bamba-as Sam says that the staff make the decisions! Ive known La bamba to be open till 5 am.

The only way that I can see that it might be poor judgement - was that there were insuffiscient people to bear witness to anything that might have happenned. She- the hariden- could have accused him of anything and done anything. As I understand it, Viper also didnt realise that the bar was ready to close till he pushed through the curtains at the front door which were almost touching each other as there was no line of sight into the bar from ouside because of the curtains.

And I really think it is for Sam to answer the substantive points I raised 2 posts before this.

Somchai :)

[stogie bear]

Viper did nothing wrong and the management and staff don't want him here... Not only that they owe him an apology for not wanting him there!

Hmmm...

I suspect that this may be more down to a clash of personalities between the cashier and Viper, rather than any specific incident.

[Somchai]

Hmmm...

I suspect that this may be more down to a clash of personalities between the cashier and Viper, rather than any specific incident.

If thats the case, then the fault lies with the cashier and her management. Many working in the service industries dont like all their customers. Try working in a shop. I did when young and there were many customers that were a right pain for all sorts of different reasons. But they were all treated well by the sales staff. Not one customer was made to feel unwelcome.

A cashier in a bar is in the service industry. If you want to say that its Thailand and its different, I would disagree. Westerners who get bad service in bars wont go back there. La bamba operates in a niche market where there is a lot of communication between customers. It the treatment of Viper were repeated another few times then the place would probably be finished or relegated to Hi Boss status.

I wouldnt like to see that happen. Likewise I dont like to see customers mistreated as Viper surely was with no apology forthcoming.
Somchai

[Somchai]

[QUOTE=Sam;1310]IYes, I own La Bamba Bar. The bar is run day to day by Alis and Porn. They are there every day but their english language skills are quite limited so I rely on my close friend and full time Pattaya resident, Rossco to translate what staff try to say to me. The arrangement works most of the time.

But to my certain knowledge Rossco doesnt speak a word of Thai. So how does he do that?

Rossco doesn't work for me or for La Bamba.

So why does he go into the bar everyday and check the stock? Why does he post on forums about getting all your licenses in order so that you can re-open following police intervention?

Staff have free reign when it comes to day-to-day decisions concerning ladyboys and customers so what happened with you on March 14 was something staff had every right to do.

You refer to staff, not Alis and Porn. So the lunatics really have taken over the asylum. Staff have free reign . A bit scary that

In their eyes, Viper wants to poach LBs to work in other venues, so when something like that actually happened they pat themselves on the back and tell everyone "I told you so". Doesn't matter if it was planned by you or not. It happened.
The last time they refused you service, I intervened against their objections to overturn their ruling.

And you intervened before because? Presumably because you thought their actions were wrong! So why were they not wrong this time aswell.

This time I have no choice but take off my hat to their keen judgement and keep my mouth shut. I have to live with what they decide.

And you had no choice because? Whereas, last time you apparently did have a choice. So what changed between the first time and the second time?

Just asking Sam :D:D:D

Somchai


Not suprisingly, there is NO RESPONSE from Sam.

Theres no response from Sam because he cannot answer. And I suspect he is being given advice and guidance on if to respond or not and how to respond by those who have business in helping to promote bars on forums. Certainly my advice to Sam would be to say nothing further.

So it seems down to me to draw a line under this.

We are as yet a small, new but growing forum with as yet influence that reflects that. In a short time, this forum will be at least the size of its rivals, if not larger. I will move this thread accross to La Bamba and turn it into a sticky so all can read it over the next couple of years.

Let me return to the issues for a short time. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck the its a duck. Rossco does stock taking and stock checks at La Bamba. He also collects the daily sales information on forms of his design. He also instructs staff and nags staff about their proper completion. He acts as a conduit between Aliss and Porn and sam in America - sorting out what they are saying and relaying it to sam. Likewise he relays what Sam wants to the staff. Sounds llike middle management to me. Well this all quacks - he is a duck and he is a de facto manager. It immaterial that he hasnt got a work title and that sam is too mean to pay him ( or maybe he does, how would I know).

And this defacto manager has a beef with Viper- I know he has- I saw the email he sent when Viper came out of hospital, pretty nasty. And this Rossco then, over months shares his hatred of Viper with the cashier who then thinks she has Carte blanche to mistreat Viper.


Let me say something on the staffing issues. Given that Viper genuinely did not go out of his way to seduce staff into other jobs, why would they leave. Basically, because of piss poor incomes from La Bamba. Most are freelancers on no salary, only what they can earn off going short time or drinks and with la Bambas mininal customer base, the pickings are slim and getting slimmer.

When Rossco was pilloring Franck at the old 131 on a several times daily basis on LB forums- Rossco was insistent that Franck - and I quote " Come clean about the numbers and identities of freelancers". Rossco was also later totally self congratulary on LB forums after he had insisted that he had put working conditions on a new and fair basis in Club 131 later to become La bamba. Bullshit. If thats so why do so many of them now leave? Thats not counting the ones Viper is alleged to have assisted. And why do staff there owe me over Bt 10,000 that I have lent them to survive. Cant be because they are making money.


So out of a personal vendetta on behalf of the de facto manager Rossco -Viper is shamed and humiliated for what amounts to the poverty amonst the La bamba staff ( thats why they leave) which arises from the way that La bamba run their business. Shame on you La bamba. And lets see where this forum and you are in two years time.

And sam you still owe me a drink.

Somchai

[stogie bear]

And lets see where this forum and you are in two years time.

I can tell you right now where both this forum and La Bamba will be in two years time.

You wanna know? OK... Get settled in and I'll tell ya...

First the forum...

You'll have a base of about 6 regular posters who write start and sustain threads. These will probably NOT be myself, Viper and Ozzie who are the leading contributors so far.

After a few months the inactivity on the forum will start to cause a bit of frustration. You've done everything you can, right? You've made it easy to join and friendly to post on... what MORE do you need to do, right?

So - the promos will start and the free memberships will get distributed and the people who really want to get info and ask questions will have to wade through rubbish to find them, because no-one can be bothered to merge threads, delete posts and move things around and re-title threads so that people can find what they are looking for.

It'll be like the LB69 forum where basically a bunch of guys are having a private party and occasionally a newbie asks a question that everyone has heard before. He'll be welcomed with open arms but will soon get eye strain and board.

In a year the owner of the site will simply leave the message board to a few enthusiastic locals to do what they want with because there's no profit in spending hours trying to biggy up a forum that only 10 people a day see and frankly he's tired of deleting negative threads and kicking out members who don't toe the line.

Sorry - I'm telling you how I see it after years and years doing this.

As for La bamba?

No question - It'll be shut.

[stogie bear]

I will move this thread accross to La Bamba and turn it into a sticky so all can read it over the next couple of years.

For the sake of your forum and your readers I would urge you to reconsider this move.

Becoming embroiled in the murky waters of Pattaya business and trying to preach to the choir about how badly they are run will backfire badly.

By all means rant and rave and chuck stones, but if you make it a personal crusade to bash them then you'll lose all the members that like both your site and enjoy going to the bar.

Let's face it... there's a lot of forums and not many ladyboy venues you can have a chat in.

Viper can still fix this if he wants to, but throwing a wobbly because La Bamba don't fight fair and then whining about it on forums to anyone that'll listen isn't gonna do it.

Instead of having the desired effect of discrediting the bar you actually make yourself look a bit silly.

[Somchai]

I can tell you right now where both this forum and La Bamba will be in two years time.

You wanna know? OK... Get settled in and I'll tell ya...

First the forum...

You'll have a base of about 6 regular posters who write start and sustain threads. These will probably NOT be myself, Viper and Ozzie who are the leading contributors so far.

After a few months the inactivity on the forum will start to cause a bit of frustration. You've done everything you can, right? You've made it easy to join and friendly to post on... what MORE do you need to do, right?

So - the promos will start and the free memberships will get distributed and the people who really want to get info and ask questions will have to wade through rubbish to find them, because no-one can be bothered to merge threads, delete posts and move things around and re-title threads so that people can find what they are looking for.

It'll be like the LB69 forum where basically a bunch of guys are having a private party and occasionally a newbie asks a question that everyone has heard before. He'll be welcomed with open arms but will soon get eye strain and board.

In a year the owner of the site will simply leave the message board to a few enthusiastic locals to do what they want with because there's no profit in spending hours trying to biggy up a forum that only 10 people a day see and frankly he's tired of deleting negative threads and kicking out members who don't toe the line.

Sorry - I'm telling you how I see it after years and years doing this.

As for La bamba?

No question - It'll be shut.

No stogie you misunderstand- I was talking about this forum - not yours :p:p:p

Somchai

[stogie bear]

Ouch... touché, amigo!

(That's THREE languages for the cost of just a silly sentence!)

[Somchai]

[QUOTE=stogie bear;1404]For the sake of your forum and your readers I would urge you to reconsider this move.

Becoming embroiled in the murky waters of Pattaya business and trying to preach to the choir about how badly they are run will backfire badly.

By all means rant and rave and chuck stones, but if you make it a personal crusade to bash them then you'll lose all the members that like both your site and enjoy going to the bar.

Let's face it... there's a lot of forums and not many ladyboy venues you can have a chat in.

Viper can still fix this if he wants to, but throwing a wobbly because La Bamba don't fight fair and then whining about it on forums to anyone that'll listen isn't gonna do it.

Instead of having the desired effect of discrediting the bar you actually make yourself look a bit silly.[/QUOTE


Well make up your mind Stogie. The forum was going to be dead in a year according to you. So turning the post to a sticky will have no effect - positive or negative- you said so. And no wobbly is being thrown here. cool calm and collected me!

And whats your blether here "Let's face it... there's a lot of forums and not many ladyboy venues you can have a chat in". Theres very few Forums and TONS of LB venues. Admittedly, the ones left tend to be of the noisier kind but new venues come along all the time. Obsessions being one. And you did agree didnt you to go halvies with me on Litas bar so you could re-visit Walking St :D.

And looking a bit silly is fine by me - got the video and the T shirt - its the same colour as yours - remember?

People are free to enter any bar they like. Nothing to do with me. And I have said that I like La bamba apart from a couple of staff. So people please feel free to go to the bar- dont take notice of me- why would they.

You write "For the sake of your forum and your readers I would urge you to reconsider this move." What are you talking about? You put stuff all over your forum like this frequently! You have bistering arguments with people on my board. I think youre short of Chiang.Go and get another bottle. :D

Somchai

[stogie bear]

And you did agree didnt you to go halvies with me on Litas bar so you could re-visit Walking St...

That was supposed to be our bloody secret. :(

Well - it's only my opinion and like you say - I'm wishy washy. It changes every day, depending on who's winning.

Chang, you say... Hmmm... i just might!

Cheers! :)

[Sam]

[QUOTE=Sam;1310]IYes, I own La Bamba Bar. The bar is run day to day by Alis and Porn. They are there every day but their english language skills are quite limited so I rely on my close friend and full time Pattaya resident, Rossco to translate what staff try to say to me. The arrangement works most of the time.

But to my certain knowledge Rossco doesnt speak a word of Thai. So how does he do that?

The same way I speak thai when I am in Pattaya and have to speak with the Thai staff ...with my mouth, face and both hands...

Rossco doesn't work for me or for La Bamba.

So why does he go into the bar everyday and check the stock? Why does he post on forums about getting all your licenses in order so that you can re-open following police intervention?

Rossco doesn't come into the bar every day, you know that. You don't see Rossco during your Pattaya patrols every time, do you? As you know by now, Rossco is the Unofficial Mayor of Pattaya so he makes it his business to know everything that happens in every Ladyboy bar in town. I hope that isn't a crime in your book

Staff have free reign when it comes to day-to-day decisions concerning ladyboys and customers so what happened with you on March 14 was something staff had every right to do.

You refer to staff, not Alis and Porn. So the lunatics really have taken over the asylum. Staff have free reign . A bit scary that

I refer to staff and Alis and Porn interchangebly, This is a forum for fuck's sakes. You expect me to submit my posts to a editor before posting them?

In their eyes, Viper wants to poach LBs to work in other venues, so when something like that actually happened they pat themselves on the back and tell everyone "I told you so". Doesn't matter if it was planned by you or not. It happened.
The last time they refused you service, I intervened against their objections to overturn their ruling.

And you intervened before because? Presumably because you thought their actions were wrong! So why were they not wrong this time aswell.

To tell you the truth, the only reason I intervened the first time was because you made a stink about it and I considered you a friend who got caught up in a misunderstanding with the staff.

This time I have no choice but take off my hat to their keen judgement and keep my mouth shut. I have to live with what they decide.

And you had no choice because? Whereas, last time you apparently did have a choice. So what changed between the first time and the second time?

Just asking Sam :D:D:D

Somchai

I really believe you are showing a very ugly part of your character Somchai/Viper. How can you hate someone so much as you seem to do Rossco? You have turned this thread and maybe your whole forum into an anti-Rossco forum. This guy doesn't work for me or for the bar. Do you expect other BMs to join you in your anti-Rossco, anti-LaBamba feelings. Have anyone joined your crusade? I explained to you the first time this happened that Thais consider workers in bars to be attached in some way to the bar, whether they are salaried of freelancers. Maybe that is why bars have a practice of paying scouts commissions for bringing in good earners as bar workers. You have been in Thailand 10 years you know how things are.

[Otho]

Somchai and Viper are the same person?

Blimey. That's a twist in the tale.

[Somchai]

[quote=Sam;1423][quote=Somchai;1347]

]I really believe you are showing a very ugly part of your character Somchai/Viper. How can you hate someone so much as you seem to do Rossco?

I dont hate him at all. I just have very little time for someone who behaves as he does.


You have turned this thread and maybe your whole forum into an anti-Rossco forum. This guy doesn't work for me or for the bar.


No I havent- thats total exageration to save you answering the substantive questions. This thread barely occupies 1000th of the forum and Rossco is mentioned no where else except this thread. And in terms of working for you, Ive said already, if it quacks, its a duck, if it does stock control and all mannner of other tasks - its a manager unpaid maybe

Do you expect other BMs to join you in your anti-Rossco, anti-LaBamba feelings. Have anyone joined your crusade?

There is no crusade- except in your head. My last thread said, that I like your bar and did not expect peoples attendance there to be affected by what I say.


I explained to you the first time this happened that Thais consider workers in bars to be attached in some way to the bar, whether they are salaried of freelancers. Maybe that is why bars have a practice of paying scouts commissions for bringing in good earners as bar workers. You have been in Thailand 10 years you know how things are.


There was infact no explanation the last time it happened - just sincere appologies to Viper and an assurance that he had done nothing wrong AND that it would never happen again.Yea they pay scouts - are you suggesting that Viper is a scout? And such bars pay good salaries too! Your bar? So why do they leave? :(

And yea living here for a long time tells me that what Viper did was not considered bad by most Thais. Only your cashier and Rossco seem to hold that view. And you also did not hold that view on the previous occassion. Why the flip?
[/quote[/B]]

So far in all of this there has been no explanation for Vipers treatment that holds water- and no apology -just smoke and mirrors.

Truth of the matter is quite simple - your staff leave because of poor incomes. Staff leaving was blamed on Viper because Rossco and the Cashier dont like him. You have given the staff Carte blanche to do what they want- youve said so. If your manager and cashier dont want a particular person drinking in your bar - for whatever reasons - and thats the right of any bar owner- then let them have the guts to tell them nicely and privately.

Dont subject them to full on public humiliation and then try to justify it .:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek :

And this last sentence with the eeks has been my sole purpose in writing this thread. I have nothing more to say.

[Somchai]

The previous post oy Sams that the above replies to seems to have either disappeared or been substantially edited. However I think whats said stands.

Somchai.

[Thaibob]

Bars come and bars go! I have to agree with Big Kev etc, move on drink some where else and let the dust settle. It always does :)

[Somchai]

Bars come and bars go! I have to agree with Big Kev etc, move on drink some where else and let the dust settle. It always does :)

Good advise- So the partys not at la Bamba then?:eek::cool:

Somchai

[stogie bear]

That's news to me too. I thought that Somchai was the owner of the LBLB site and Viper was Sombat on the other site.

Now I feel a bit silly...

[laptop]

Ive met Somchai, Rossco and Sam. All nice guys. Why cant you lust get along?:D

It does seem fairly rude by the cashier and she should probably say sorry. But the logic of Thai's can be so frustrating. I think bad mouthing the bar wont do much good. If it lasts more than a year Sam has done a great job. But surely the chances of this would improve if the cashier just said forget about it?:confused: Nothing good can come from a forum being against a bar.

Group hug?:p

[Somchai]

Ive met Somchai, Rossco and Sam. All nice guys. Why cant you lust get along?:D

For the answer to the first question- ask Rossco. :D

It does seem fairly rude by the cashier and she should probably say sorry. But the logic of Thai's can be so frustrating. I think bad mouthing the bar wont do much good. If it lasts more than a year Sam has done a great job. But surely the chances of this would improve if the cashier just said forget about it?:confused: Nothing good can come from a forum being against a bar.

Group hug?:p
No - but I'll give you one when you get back!

This forum has nothing against the bar- Infact if you go to La bamba thread you will find we are positively supporting of it. There has been no bad mouthing of the bar. Only facts and analysis.

What I am against is people being publicly humiliated, especially when that humiliation is actively supported by a ferang.

But if you want examples of bad mouthing a bar- look no further than a thread on another Forum involving a diary and see who was calling who for months. And note that neither I nor viper posted or were involved in any way.

Cheers laptop :)

Somchai

[laptop]

No - but I'll give you one when you get back!

Only facts and analysis.

What I am against is people being publicly humiliated, especially when that humiliation is actively supported by a ferang.


Cheers laptop :)

Somchai

I agree. I hope its sorted.

Cheers,
Laptop

[khun.bkk]

Ah, lets add another voice Richie Vallens I think sang the song "La Bamba" a rather happy tune as I recall. I know it's played in many other Pattaya bars. I to have had to mend fences at a couple of bars: let's guess. Baht & LB's Sorry that it had to occur while you are ill. Peace 2 all.

[gradys]

Personally I like La Bamba. I have always been treated well there and always had a good time. I have been kicked out of better and worse places for whatever reason, and I just went somewhere else. Plenty of places to go. I gave up a long time ago trying to get everyone to like me and thinking the world is all about justice.

[TruthinLOS]

I have been in this bar and it never has any more than 1-2 customers.
It is always empty on each and every trip down the lovely soi.
This bar will not last too long unless Sam enjoys watching his money disappear quickly.

This man Rossco is claiming to be the manager or owner of the bar to everyone including myself every week. He even states he can set up a party for you in his bar. If he does not work for the bar in any way at all according to Sam's post here, then why is it he drinks free there and makes party plans and other claims?

The bar staff are very rude and hostile.

Most of the girls there are freelancing.

Mr. Rossco does work there for Sam.

Sam is never there and is missing the truth by doing so.

The bum bar is no 131 and Sam is no Frank, too bad.

[stogie]

Biggest pile of crap I've seen on this forum for a while!

[sev7en]

Few points i can agree with..

[Somchai]

Biggest pile of crap I've seen on this forum for a while!

Oh no Stogie- not again with your "piles of crap"! A very limited vocabulary indeed. :)

And I think your view might be considered more balanced if you let everyone know that you are payed by this bar to promote it on your forum ( and perhaps to defend it on others).

Anyway, its good to know that I am no longer the only one to be discriminated against. The sooner they ban all customers the better. :D

Oh - whats that? They have already but its not yet official till the cashier approves. OK got it now! :confused::eek:

[Sam]

I agree with Stogie on this... It is a pile of crap indeed. Who is this Angel of Truth? Have we ever met in the few times I have been in Pattaya?

Something has got to be said about someone that creates a profile on a website and proceeds to badmouth someone and then disappears. Why the games?

Just post as yourself, I say.

[ozzie]

To me it seems the truth in this lies somewhere in the middle of the stories that are being told.

Your experience in La Bamba or any other bar for that matter can be different on any given day and what some people find amusing others find irritating. Some like the music loud, others don't want any. Some like the hard sell others prefer to sit back and stalk their prey. Some like a Cheers like bar where everybody knows your name and others like to remain anonymous. Hey even a single person my change his opinion based their own mood at the time.

I think basically we should all take these kind of reports under advisement and try to go into these places without any bias to experience for ourselves. If it is true we will find out soon enough and not go back.

[stogie]

I think basically we should all take these kind of reports under advisement and try to go into these places without any bias to experience for ourselves. If it is true we will find out soon enough and not go back.

Amen... but this only works if you are allowed in! :)

[sev7en]

Information and opinions are what the boards are here for.
OP stated his opinion. Agree or disagree. No problems.

[stogie]

Correction: Agree or get booted off. No problems! :)

[ozzie]

Correction: Agree or get booted off. No problems! :)

Yes I know that feeling :eek:

[Sam]

It is with a heavy heart that I have to make the following announcement:

Its Party, Party, Party Time at La Bamba.



Why? BMs may ask do you have a heavy and weary heart when making the announcement? Surely you should be happy about it. Well the truth is that I will miss the party, I will miss making the last touch ups on all those bikini bottoms and my bottle of baby oil is now safely back in my travel bag, destined to spend another few weeks not on the smooth skin of Pattaya's finest.