I ended up having a long discussion with them yesterday re prices.
After a lovely swim and lunch, and a couple of drinks time to pay the bill.
The 5tl on the menu Americano, small cup, and basically Nescafé that had been given a frothy top, became 9tl when they totted the bill up.
As was the 7tl on the menu Cappucino.
He argued that it was 9tl, at which point I went and got a menu and showed him what it said.
The blame was then placed on the new chef who had started that day ( lunch was delicious) and the fact that they have a new machine and Lavazza and the supplier told him that he should charge 9tl.
I pointed out that of course he would... He wants to sell a machine and give the idea huge profit will be made from it.
I pointed out that the coffee I had was not Lavazza in any shape or form, and that people won't pay 9tl.
I told him the best coffee in Calis is at the Eyna, 6 tl Lavazza and twice the size cup. Eyna is always busy with people drinking coffee, and if they're paying 6tl they will drink more than one, and may order something else to go with it, but if he insists on charging 9tl then he might as well put the machine in the bin as no one will buy it.
I have to admit to reading the riot act, and gave a lecture about continually being disappointed by places trying to con for an extra couple of tl, the short sightedness of people not realising that especially expats are a very useful income as we don't just visit once or twice during a 2 week holiday and bring other friends and family if we leave feeling happy.
Anyway.... He then went through the whole menu with me and asked my opinion on other prices.
Yes, correct, large Efes 8tl.
Bomonti 12tl, way over price as actually cheaper to buy in all the supermarkets so must be cheaper in bulk from their supplier too.
Steaks....he feels his are cheaper than elsewhere, again, I pointed out that everyone raves about Meeting Point steaks and its always busy and they're cheaper..
I also pointed out that in the Uk the process in customer service is that the customer is always right..so when I say, no it's 5tl in the menu, he should check the menu and apologise, not argue it and have to wait for me to get the menu and point it out... By this time a colleague of his , a young woman had come over and she was nodding and agreeing...
I said to them that they have a beautiful pool, and surroundings, but it's empty...and that I was telling them to help them and to make their business succeed.
I could have gone on about how we were there an hour and a half before anyone came to take a drinks order, but decided enough was enough.
I did say we're tired of leaving places feeling dissatisfied these days, it's not like the old days where they chatted and took an interest in customers and offered cay on the house.
Shame how things have changed.
Anyway, all in all a good discussion and my friend reckons I should hold seminars for all the restaurants and a bit of training, lots of hand shaking, and thank you's and we left.
Don't know about that, but I am so sick of the short sighted attitude around here
The end x
