Clefty Coffee Shop.

[Chocolate Eclair]

Yesterday I went to Karnak Temple to see a friend of mine, they were late, so I decided to use the coffee shop at the back of the Karnak Police Station and in a corner at the entrance for vehicles, where most of the temple workers go for refreshment, I had 2 Shisha,s I asked for Tawfar and got nothing resembling Tawfar, I also had 1 Cola. When my friend rang me to tell me they were just entering the Temple I asked for the bill. The Waiter came across and asked for 35le I replied Zabella, Shisha 3.5le or 4le and Cola 8le No No No was the reply, I got up and asked two coach drivers who were just leaving, How much did you pay for your refreshments the reply was 2le for the shisha's and 5le for the cola. I left leaving 12le and said that if he disagreed to fetch the Police. Nothing happened, but I did report the matter to the Police in Karnak Temple.

I was told by a Temple Guardian to use this coffee shop because it charges Egyptian prices, Yeah!!!! Egyptian prices plus the Guardians commission. I could not resist going back and telling the waiter he was a clefty and should be in the kalabush, the policeman in there heard me and asked what the problem was, I explained, and he had a word with the waiter, the policeman then told me that my bill had been paid in full and the waiter apologised for the breakdown in language barrier. Yeah!!! but if I had given him what he wanted he would have taken it willingly and not commented he had made a mistake. t turned out shisha was 3le and cola 4le so I was still 2le overcharged, B-----d

[Dusak]

No matter what coffee shop I visit, even with my hard negotiator friend, the first thing I do is ask the price of the item I want to order. Saves all the end hassle and high blood pressure. If you want high prices in that area which are none negotiable, take a stroll over to the big coffee house on the corner. But there is always a bright side to life, for at least your short respite wasn't spoiled by the unwanted attention of a moaning tourist.

[Who2]

I'm surprised you didn't make a citizens arrest and smartly escort him to the nearest local nick,
I 'donno what this Worlds coming to and you with your experience....

[dsaxelby]

That's true D, on the Thomson flight home, the amount of moaning that went on with the tourists, even being called to the gate early seemed a damned inconvenience.... We did get off earlier.

Apart from the group sitting next to me on the plane, there were a serious bunch of wingers

[Chocolate Eclair]

So it seems some of you would have been willing to pay this price without saying anything, no wonder they get up to these practices with everyone not in a galabaya. Bet if you go into Tesco's and get a bill for 100 pounds and you think it seems high you would not do anything, even check your receipt?
The problem is they do not seem to realise that they will not get any business from you again, in which case case why are they complaining of "NO Business, NO Food" For me I would no pee on the place if it was on fire, mind you I feel that way about a lot of coffee shops and places around Luxor.
But then you go to other places that charge you the same has locals and greet you with a smile, in the knowledge they will see trade from you again.

[carrie]

But like you said Dusak the price should have been asked first, CE has complained before on here about the dual pricing policy and is it really worth getting into such a faf about, don't visit again and make it very clear that you will put it on the internet and warn everyone about the place.

[Who2]

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[Bombay]

I am sorry but if you visit any place next to one of the main tourist sites and look like a tourist expect to pay more than a local place you have been here long enough to work that one out even to the extent of asking the price.
Most places around the attractions are leased from the City Government and they are not cheap so prices are going to be higher.

[Chocolate Eclair]

Most places around the attractions are leased from the City Government and they are not cheap so prices are going to be higher.

So charge the locals more, or at least the same price, that will settle the argument of taking in enough money to pay the rent. I think this place was built for the Temple Workers, Coach Drivers etc. Not for Tourist Use, and although for the want of argument i have a tourist visa, I have been here 5 years and should be able to use non tourists places at will and pay the same prices.

Its these places that tourists write about when they get home, or used to, they write "Rip off Luxor" Now the Rip off Luxor sign has vanished from many internet sites, but only because there are no tourists. Maybe a lot of the damage has been done....

Its places like this that give Luxor a bad name deserve to suffer.

[Glyphdoctor]

Did you ever consider that perhaps you ARE paying the standard price and it's just that the regulars like the bus drivers and police men who visit the coffeeshop day in and day out are getting a regulars' discount? Why do you assume they are putting UP the prices for you rather than DOWN for others?

Do you realize that restaurants and cruise ships give drivers, tour managers and guides etc. meals and rooms for FREE as long as they sit at a different table from the paying guests?

[Chocolate Eclair]

GD I never have a problem paying a little over the cost, maybe a couple of pounds, but to be paying 35le for products costing in most local places I visit 10 or 11 le, is what I object to, If he had come back to me with 15le I would not have said a word, its just excessive charges that annoy me. and if you talk to old tourists they say exactly the same thing. Its pitiful really when they do not understand that this practice is ruining business for them.

[Dusak]

Speaking personally, I get really peed off if I'm charged over 2Le for a cuppa at one of these usually dirty, grotty and grubby road side dives. Many the time I pay only 1Le when I'm with my friend. Now if, and it really is a mega IF they were to install really clean and fully functioning toilets, having a working lock on the door, a white ceramic pan instead of the usual multi shaded browns they seem to like in these establishments and not the ones with the sacred lake as you enter the box forcing you to do your Jesus walking on the water dance while balancing on the heels of your wet shoes, plus loo paper [dry] and a nice clean towel. Also if taking sugar, the sugar would be more exceptable if it was delivered in a clean and hygienic receptacle and was loose grained instead of a collection of varying sized pellets of light to dark balls of hardened sugar then I would up the anti to 5Le per cuppa. And use it regularly.

[Bombay]

Tourists don't go home and write "rip of Luxor" over coffee shop prices only expats write it. I was charged £3.75 20 years ago for an ice-cream from a van in Londons West End when at most it was £1 back home in the East End, in tourist areas anywhere you expect to pay more.
You seem to think just because you live here you should pay less than other tourists don't forget your visa still says "tourist visa" even when I travel with Egyptians they know where to avoid because the prices are higher than they will pay.

[Glyphdoctor]

When you live here on the tourist visa, you get to enjoy many benefits not intended for you-such as subsidized water, gas, petrol and electricity, even some real self-centered types buy the five piaster bread! To complain about paying what is really a reasonable amount for a shisha and a coke, when you could have just filled a bottle of water from a tap and brought it along and waited until you got home to smoke instead seems a bit petty. If you want a cup of tea or coffee, you could even make some at home and fill a thermos with it and bring it along. Since you live in Luxor, you have the option not to deal with these situations so you shouldn't complain if a lack of planning on your part is the reason you pay more than you want to pay.

[Chocolate Eclair]

I pay 2 times the amount locals pay for gas. Electric roughly 150le a month and water, well about the same has locals between 15-20 le a month, some people pay less than that, but those with the services included in their rent often pay more I have heard of someone paying 350le a month in their rent for electric and water and they eat out everyday.It does seem to fluctuate though between Summer and Winter. Every third bill I take my readings in because I have heard of people not doing this and getting huge bills running into the thousands.

[Chocolate Eclair]

Regarding the subject of this post, this shop is charging almost UK prices for its goods and is serving in and economy that just does not compare to the UK, after an e-mail to a friend the Shisha Shops are charging 1BP for a shisha and 75p for a cola, so my bill in the UK would have been assuming 12 le to the BP, 42le. Take a quick peak at wage differences for both Countries,and you can see the problem.

[carrie]

The answer is simple ask before you buy.
As for the cheapskates who buys the 50 piastre bread, I do, I also buy from Attar some times I make my own, depends on what type of bread I want not the price.
I also bought a can of cola at the station in London 1.50 english but the difference was the price remained the same whether I was a visitor or a local.

[Bombay]

Regarding the subject of this post, this shop is charging almost UK prices for its goods and is serving in and economy that just does not compare to the UK, after an e-mail to a friend the Shisha Shops are charging 1BP for a shisha and 75p for a cola, so my bill in the UK would have been assuming 12 le to the BP, 42le. Take a quick peak at wage differences for both Countries,and you can see the problem.

So where does it not compare its £3.99 in Tescos for 1K chicken breast its 49le in kzaman and 52le in Ragabs, could go on but won't.

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/ ... =258465837

Have you thought its all the others that are not charging enough.

[Glyphdoctor]

As for the cheapskates who buys the 50 piastre bread, I do

Was that a typo? Because if it wasn't, then that's not the kind of bread I am talking about. I am talking about the subsidized 5 piaster bread that costs the government 34 piasters to produce.

[Glyphdoctor]

Regarding the subject of this post, this shop is charging almost UK prices for its goods and is serving in and economy that just does not compare to the UK, after an e-mail to a friend the Shisha Shops are charging 1BP for a shisha and 75p for a cola, so my bill in the UK would have been assuming 12 le to the BP, 42le. Take a quick peak at wage differences for both Countries,and you can see the problem.

I still don't know where you shop and eat that you complain about 35LE for two sheeshas and a Coke. Your monthly food bill is already astronomical for reasons I can't fathom so frankly it sounds like you got a bargain.

In the end, it's simple. Can you afford it? If so, then it is priced right for the market.