Japanese Punters and Premium Prices
Japanese businessmen have a reputation for paying more for the girls' services than a lot of Western punters. That raises the ire of some posters on the Pattaya boards. But what is most interesting is the Asian side of the story. Why do Japanese men pay premium prices to TGs and what do the girls think of them? Here's a real-life story that gives some insight:
I know a girl very well who used to work as a show girl in Super Baby. One night an older Japanese man barfined her and paid upfront the standard 3, 000-baht fee for her services. He took her to a nice restaurant and then to a karaoke club, where he got so drunk he could hardly stand. She and the staff helped him to the private car with driver he had at his disposal. When they reached his hotel, he gave the girl 10, 000 baht and told her the driver would take her where she wanted to go. She was amazed at such a "tip" and told him it wasn't necessary as he'd already paid 3, 000 baht. He insisted she take it and apologized for getting so drunk.
A few nights later the same man came back to Super Baby, barfined her and paid 3, 000 baht. This time they skipped the karaoke club and went back to his hotel after the restaurant. He boom-boomed her once "very quickly" (her words) , then sent her on her way with another 10, 000 baht tip. Next night her barfined her yet again and she was his companion at a dinner with a group of other Japanese men. After the dinner, he explained to her he had to go "somewhere" with these men and other services wouldn't be needed that evening. He gave her another 10, 000 baht.
In less than a week, this girl had earned nearly 40, 000 baht for one quick boom-boom and keeping a man company on three nights. I asked her if she thought the Japanese man was stupid for giving her so much for so little. She shook her head "No" vigorously.
"Him have big money," she said."Him not care."
I asked her if she would expect such generous payment from other customers, at which she laughed.
"Not all customer have big money," she chuckled.
I then asked if she would expect me to give her more money than I had previously done. She replied, with a twinkle in her eye and smile on her lips,"You have big money- or not?"
My experience has been that TGs are very good at figuring out what is realistic to charge a customer. Anytime they name "silly" money, it's because they don't want to go with that particular customer. It's that simple.
That's why it always amuses me when a Western ex-pat or S / T visitor struggling on an inadequate income denounces Japanese executives who pay more than he does as "idiots," "mental cripples," or something similar. Japan has one of, if not the, most competitive educational systems and corporate environments in the world. Some Japanese are working in Thailand on hefty ex-pat packages, others are on trips with all expenses paid by their companies. Air fare, food, local transport, even visits to places like Baccara or Super Baby are picked up by their companies. And should they have to pay the girls themselves, it's not a huge expense viewed against the big picture. All of them know the value of money and how to negotiate, it's just that they don't worry about paying a few extra baht to enjoy themselves in Pattaya. They regard it as ignominious to bring a superior set of skills into play when dealing with girls who usually have very little education.
They don't begrudge the girls some extra baht because it isn't a big amount in their eyes. But what they don't have is a lot of time. Japanese ex-pats work very long hours and the guys on business trips or even reward trips have grueling schedules. They tend to bar fine earlier and send the girls home after S / T so they can get a good night's sleep. According to the ladies, Japanese customers aren't big fans of L / T. The difference between a 600-baht or 1, 000-baht bar fine is a piddling difference to them. They're not worried about premium payment to the girls because often the boss is picking up the tab. It's his way of showing his status, social standing and generosity by Japanese standards.
Do the girls like them as customers? They sure do. Not only do the Japanese pay well, but they tend to be polite and undemanding. If they take the girls out, it's to a karaoke joint or some other place the girls like, not another pussy bar. Very often they give the girls gifts (corporate give-away stuff mostly, but the ladies still appreciate it.)
Far from being fools, the Japanese punters have maximized their experiences in LOS through paying premium prices. They get the girls they find attractive at the times they consider convenient. From the Japanese perspective, it's the Western punters who spend big money out of their pockets on air fare to Thailand, then want to nickel-and-dime the girls, that are the fools.
Evil