Bangkok Reports

[Balimassage]

Wow they want you to pay the difference on the price of the punchcard. That takes the cake.

That was my take of the conversation but it was only in passing. I'll have to see where I'm at in the progression but I must be close. I think they also used to let you get your freebie and pay the upgrade to a 2-girl for instance so maybe that's what they meant. That is called wishful thinking and being Thailand, and them having raised the price, I would be surprised if I get my wish. Hopefully I'm within a punch or two now to finally cash in my "10% off".

[Mayurp]

No, you can't officially bar fine them like we can do in gogo bars. But, if you show your charm and magic, you can still get one with you, I succeeded once last December.

Just asking?

I know anything is possible for the right amount and I'm sure they won't go with you until they're off shift, right?

[Tomasb]

Wow they want you to pay the difference on the price of the punchcard. That takes the cake.

I agree. I have a 10 punch card for a fish restaurant take out in my home country. So if it was $10 for fish and chips last week and they raise the price to $12 this week, then they would ask me for the extra $2 with my filled punch card? How totally Thai! Don't think that I would ever return.

[John Gault]

Today was my first visit to SOL. When did the price increase happen? 700 B is a steal, 800 B is still quite reasonable. You probably touched on why the price had to go up: new place and new higher rent. Anyway, service was great with Ms Nan, happy to pay the 800. Way better than the same price at Lolitas. I'd prefer a "private" upstairs room, although they told me the dog was quite keen to watch my session. Go figure.

To the guy who wants to reward loyalty: a little 4-person BJ bar isn't going to understand anything like that. A bigger spot, especially a GoGo, I'd hope they would be smarter. A few days ago at Akane, I got my "punchcard" for my sessions. In the past it was buy ten get one free. Since they raised their prices, they informed me I would get the free, but would have to pay cash on the price difference! Thanks for my loyalty!

Wow they want you to pay the difference on the price of the punchcard. That takes the cake.

[Danny Duck]

Interesting perspective. Indeed, for a business owner chasing after the small (and picky) expat market, offering loyalty promotions is a good idea at this time. They aren't getting much business from random folks wandering around, that's for sure. Unfortunately, I doubt many people in Thai nightlife industry think that way, they're used to completely different market conditions, and not exactly nimble or innovative.

Star of Light had great service as usual, decent new premises, all is just fine, and I'll be back eventually, but don't feel any urgency to do so anytime soon.



New place has lower rent, that's why they moved. Old one was asking 50k/mo, new one 30k/mo. That's still a lot of blowjobs just to make rent, especially given the dreadful footfall at a time like this. Price increase is due to fewer customers..

Price matters.

[Goferring]

Humor gets lost when my pic upload didn't work.

So I have to buy 5 girls to get a free plate of wings and a couple of beers? Doesn't seem to be good value to me. 😉 😁.

[MichaelSamuel]

Humor gets lost when my pic upload didn't work.

Apparently yes.

[Crocodilexp]

if there was ever a time for loyalty marketing this is it in thailand

Interesting perspective. Indeed, for a business owner chasing after the small (and picky) expat market, offering loyalty promotions is a good idea at this time. They aren't getting much business from random folks wandering around, that's for sure. Unfortunately, I doubt many people in Thai nightlife industry think that way, they're used to completely different market conditions, and not exactly nimble or innovative.

Star of Light had great service as usual, decent new premises, all is just fine, and I'll be back eventually, but don't feel any urgency to do so anytime soon.

You probably touched on why the price had to go up: new place and new higher rent.

New place has lower rent, that's why they moved. Old one was asking 50k/mo, new one 30k/mo. That's still a lot of blowjobs just to make rent, especially given the dreadful footfall at a time like this. Price increase is due to fewer customers.

While 100-200 baht isn't huge, with the 800 baht BJ price, I'm afraid they hit the psychological boundary of 1000 baht (when I add the 100 baht drink and a 100 baht tip I always give). At 700 (plus a tip), it's just a quick BJ on a whim, but at 1000, I'm considering if I really need to blow that money on what's 20 min of good fun, but still just the same BJ like I had 50 times before.

[Balimassage]

Star of Light, the infamous BJ bar has reopened. They have a new location, still on Patpong Soi 2, but a few doors up form the old place, closer to Surawong Road. As an aside, Patpong Soi 1 is nearly dead (on a Saturday night no less), while Soi 2 is somehow limping along.

They increased prices to 800 baht (from 700) for a BJ and to 1200 (from 1000) for full service. The good old "increase prices when demand is down" Thai trick. Now they're the same as any other BJ bar, and while still OK for a BJ, I surely won't be tempted by full service given that you can get a freelancer for a full hour for less.

The new location is brighter and cleaner, so that's good. It has a partition behind a heavy curtain for the BJ, and they no longer offer service out in the open in the bar. Good for privacy, but every place has that; doing it out in public and occasionally watching a few knobs being polished was the main, unique selling point. They seem to be scared of police now, I was told to keep my shirt on. Hoping this is temporary and that they'll be more relaxed in the future.

Today was my first visit to SOL. When did the price increase happen? 700 B is a steal, 800 B is still quite reasonable. You probably touched on why the price had to go up: new place and new higher rent. Anyway, service was great with Ms Nan, happy to pay the 800. Way better than the same price at Lolitas. I'd prefer a "private" upstairs room, although they told me the dog was quite keen to watch my session. Go figure.

To the guy who wants to reward loyalty: a little 4-person BJ bar isn't going to understand anything like that. A bigger spot, especially a GoGo, I'd hope they would be smarter. A few days ago at Akane, I got my "punchcard" for my sessions. In the past it was buy ten get one free. Since they raised their prices, they informed me I would get the free, but would have to pay cash on the price difference! Thanks for my loyalty!

[MichaelSamuel]

Apparently yes.

Just asking?

I know anything is possible for the right amount and I'm sure they won't go with you until they're off shift, right?

[MichaelSamuel]

I know I am dreaming, probably too optimistic about the business acumen of a bunch of business owners who generally have little, but if there was ever a time for loyalty marketing this is it in thailand. From the BJ bar to the gogo, to any and every business feeling the pain of the tourism downfall. In a previous life I was the head database analyst for loyalty marketing for MGM Mirage in vegas and this situation is prime for making sure you can maximize your customer relationships and loyalty. Just in this example even if they felt they HAD to raise prices now that they got you in the door you should have never been allowed to walk out with either a return special offer, or at very least a line contact to do so later. In normal times you could argue there is less need since it's all 1 week millionaires, but you absolutely know now that isn't happening for probably the next 6 months. Even Macao casinos had VIP clubs were memberships were free ore relatively inexpensive. Familia Nobre's for example was sometimes free or wasn't much more than 1000 thb. For that you got 1 extra 15 minute massage service when you took a girl, a little discount on the girl, and 50% off if you took another in the same night. That's simple math to A. Keep you coming back, and be. Keep you spending. Some places do a light job on their social media platforms but there is so much more opportunity being lost.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Just frustrating to be stuck in coronaville USA, bored as shit at work, and seeing opportunities not taken. If anyone knows a shop / bar owner who would be interested I would work with them for free just for the entertainment. Hope you lucky bastards stuck in country are enjoying yourselves.

Star of Light, the infamous BJ bar has reopened. They have a new location, still on Patpong Soi 2, but a few doors up form the old place, closer to Surawong Road. As an aside, Patpong Soi 1 is nearly dead (on a Saturday night no less), while Soi 2 is somehow limping along.

They increased prices to 800 baht (from 700) for a BJ and to 1200 (from 1000) for full service. The good old "increase prices when demand is down" Thai trick. Now they're the same as any other BJ bar, and while still OK for a BJ, I surely won't be tempted by full service given that you can get a freelancer for a full hour for less.

The new location is brighter and cleaner, so that's good. It has a partition behind a heavy curtain for the BJ, and they no longer offer service out in the open in the bar. Good for privacy, but every place has that; doing it out in public and occasionally watching a few knobs being polished was the main, unique selling point. They seem to be scared of police now, I was told to keep my shirt on. Hoping this is temporary and that they'll be more relaxed in the future.

There were 4 girls and the service was nice, with one of my old favorites.

While I understand both the higher prices and the precautions, understanding doesn't make me horny or eager to visit again soon.

[BackpackBrian]

Just asking?

I know anything is possible for the right amount and I'm sure they won't go with you until they're off shift, right?

[EihTooms]

I used to work with one of those men. We would do frequent business travel together and he insisted on selecting the bar/restaurant for dinner every night. We might look in a few places before he found his prey. More than half the evenings he would get a date with a girl from that evening. A couple of times he would bring the girl to breakfast the next morning at our hotel. He has the magic. Within a day or two we would be gone and he would do it again on our next business trip.

That would describe about 20% of the guys I knew since college and all through my working life. Some would tell the girls outrageous whoppers to convince them they had a real shot at a lifetime of committed or marital bliss and security for hopping into bed with them asap, that they were model agents, casting directors and they saw something very special about them, whatever it took. Others were so good looking and/or funny the status of being chosen by them for sex was irresistible to the ladies.

Some of those guys tell me they would trade their life in the states today for mine in Thailand in a heartbeat. Especially these days. But I did marvel at how good they were at bedding down the girls by playing on their hopes and dreams or impressing them with their looks and/or charms back in the day.

[HorseTrader]

...and there are even more men out there who get sex for no payment at all. They are good looking and glib and girls throw themselves at them.

I used to work with one of those men. We would do frequent business travel together and he insisted on selecting the bar/restaurant for dinner every night. We might look in a few places before he found his prey. More than half the evenings he would get a date with a girl from that evening. A couple of times he would bring the girl to breakfast the next morning at our hotel. He has the magic. Within a day or two we would be gone and he would do it again on our next business trip.

[EihTooms]

It appears that for you the entire world is a mongering world. You are resisting the thought that there are other types of men out there. Even though one is on this site one could be aware that the majority of men do not partake in our hobby and there are even more men out there who get sex for no payment at all. They are good looking and glib and girls throw themselves at them. Having never experienced that does not mean it never happens.

Yep, you got me. I should never have said 100% of the women of the world demand cash paid directly to them for sex and 100% of the men of the world pay cash directly to them for sex, no exceptions.

My bad. Man, I sure wish I could go back and delete that post of mine where I said that.

And, you're right. I probably had that all wrong because I have only had sex with a woman after promising to give her at least $100 in hard cash for it.

Happy?