The Johnnie Walker Situation

vladimiro says on Feb 1, 2006, 08:16:

whiskey Its got nothing to do with Europe. Its just much cheaper to order a bottle than many individual glasses. They assume you are going to drink alot:) I wish you could buy a bottle in the US. The waitress may have misunderstood, or the people you were with might have told her to bring a bottle. Its more common to order a bottle of Rum, or Guato because Whiskey is so expensive.

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:06:

cam i'm not sure on this one....the waiter/ress might have understood you to mean a whole bottle, you might not have specified that you wanted just a glass. For what it's worth if you ask for a whisky/aguardiente/ron etc. they should clarify if it's the bottle or just a glass you want. 99% of the time you could let them know you wanted a glass with a smile and they'll oblige.....politeness works wonders.

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RUV says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:08:

Scam It is a scam. A rip off. The thing is that it happens more in Latin America then most places. I have seen the same scam in Mexico. The thing is you have to be clear when you order your drink. Ask for a glass of Johnnie Walker and ask how much it is. This way you know what you are getting into to. Also tell them to open in front of you. I also pay as a go. I do not let the tab get out of hand. This is another way they can screw with you.

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Wastelandlive says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:23:

Yep. Even considering taxes.

Of course, since the bottle was open you don't even know it was Walker.

Live and learn... always a new scam.

Wasteland

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:33:

we are no more hell bent on defending Colombia than you are hell bent on trying to prove every establishment is out to get the gringo.....let's step back a bit shall we?

#1. Please read Cam's post carefully.....you seem so sure what happened.....were you there with him? It sure seems like you know exactly what went down.
#2. I happen to "know" Cam is a black man...he would be less inclined to be thought of as a gringo than a blonde/blue eyed foreigner would be....plus the guys seems to have a very good grasp of the Spanish language.......why so quick to assume that they thought he was a gringo?

I don't know for sure what went on....it could have been a scam but it could just as well have been a genuine mistake, plus there was no need to tell them to stick the bottle up their arse....seems like you've been had a few times mate....

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seabass says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:44:

I like my women brown and my Johnnie Walker Red. jaja

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Miguel says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:45:

My experiences... I have ordered a drink by the glass as well as by the bottle. I look at being served an open bottle similar to being served a sandwich with a bite taken out of it, and would send it back.

GIB, are you referring to purchasing those 3 bottles on duty-free San Andres Island?

Glad I hate Scotch, have given up Marker's Mark, and now am just a poor but happy rum bum. Give me a cuba libre and a Polo Montañez cd, and I'm good to go.

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Wastelandlive says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:49:

The scam part is confirmed by the open bottle. See, that's the part is that is NOT an honest mistake in a bar.

It's the same principle cab drivers use when you fail to affirm the fare beforehand, and so they double it on arrival.

"Hey, you don't like the price, $80.00? But I've already provided the service, the bottle's open, I can't take it back... we've got a problem here, and YOU'RE going to solve it!"

Please. It hardly seems worth arguing about, quindioman.

Wasteland

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:52:

According to our macho culture specially on the coast
machos don't drink glasses they have bottles, have you heard "Traigame una botella de tequila, ron or wisky " vasos son para señoritas ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 10:57:

SORRY, I JUST SKIPPED EVERY OTHER COMMENT TO TELL YOU THAT ORDERING A WHISKEY, YOU SHOULD GET A GLASS, THIS IS A PISS TAKE!!!
AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T HAPPEN IN ANY EUROPEAN COUNTRY I'VE BEEN TO MATE.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:01:

LOL That was a good one, kat!

This has been most entertaining reading. Such a storm in a glass of water, oops, sorry in a bottle of whiskey.

I agree with quindioman; it might have been just a misunderstanding; did cam ask to change that order? The waitress may just have been trying to cover up for her blunder saying that it's a European custom to bring the whole bottle. I've been at a reataurant several times when whole bottles have been ordered; it's more like the rule than an exception, especially if the company is large. I've had a wine bottle brought to me in a restaurant in Cali, already opened by the waiter. Made no fuss about it. The serving personnel in Colombian restaurants are not always that savvy or well-trained.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:17:

i guess i was wrong! why then....torch the modefoquing place to the ground....bloody arepa eating spics...who do they think they are? Trying to rip us off....don't they know if it wasn't for us they wouldn't have a valde to piss in?
Yeah....stick the bottle up their arse...come to think of it stick the whole table if it fits in too.

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:20:

if you don't know how call the NYC cops....if you ask them nicely enough they might give you a few tips.

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:21:

The only people who order full bottles of whiskey are all dead now, George Best, Oliver Reed....jajajajaja

Ive drank in bars where the most hardcore of whiskey drinkers drink, Scottish Isles and even there a bottle is never served, no matter if there are 7 or 8 drinkers together, is always a seperate glass each time.

I smell a scam!

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:22:

GIB Have you heard the saying giving the person the "Benefit of the Doubt" ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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Miguel says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:31:

Uf Me duele la cabeza. Time for una cuba libre.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:35:

are we still in PBH "Friendly Talkzone? It's looking more and more like one of my battles in Age of Empires III.

Yes, MacGringo, a whole bottle and a separate glass (empty) to everyone in the drinking party. I certainly hope Mr. Cam got a glass too to drink his overpriced Johnnie Walker from. Me, I just pop in the corner grocery store for a shot of aguardiente blanco del valle, at 800 pesos. Hope the old guy who's known me forever doesn't charge me gringo prices this time.

Cheers,
Desi


Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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elmodefoque says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:36:

kat, I can’t imagine anything more arousing than you, me, and Johnny walker, lots of Johnny walker, sweating like pigs on top of a squeaky bed in a cheap hotel in moteria. heck, lets invite colombiche too.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:41:

Elmo I don't do threesomes ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:47:

i apologise if i offended anyone with my sarcastic rant....like kat i was thinking myabe why are we so quick to jump to conclusions that was all....but hey i get a load of crap for trying to defend something.
GIB....you got one hell of a crystal ball mate....I don't know the foggiest about you....I just know that I disagree with a lot of what you write.....somehow PBH is a place where I like to come and share my knowledge of things I might know about since I happen to be Colombian yet it manages to make me feel less Colombian....I should have known better than to post a comment on a thread concerning alcohol since I'm not much of a drinker and I don't frequent bars or clubs with any regularity.
I also apologise to the NYPD

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:51:

quindio I thought your rant was fine...want Lizzie the Pirate to join your cause?
Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:56:

thanks for the offer Desi but I have no cause, my only cause is to try and contribute something positive to PBH....most of the time I end up shooting myself in the foot however.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 11:58:

Quindioman I wasn't talking about you, sorry :) I was talking about the waiter. maybe he has made an originall mistake of his part. that is why I said gave him the Benefit of the Doubt.
Don't feel less Colombia, you are Colombian and you always be no matter how long you been away from the country.

engage brain before opening mouth

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:01:

Ah 'fuck it' I'm going for a drink....anyone comin'?

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:05:

yes kat... mistakes;...something that differentiates a human from a robot would be my definition, still I think the denotation might be quite different.
And don't worry I feel very Colombian...until I log onto PBH that is.

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:09:

if I were in Glasgow I would be very tempted by now Mac....I take it you are Glaswegian....(apologies if you are not)

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:12:

Be careful Quindioman they will know you are a foreigner and want to charge you more, uhm that scottish ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:13:

Quindioman, technically I'm Airdrieonian, which isn't too far from being Glaswegian.
I'm from a small town called Airdrie, about 13 miles from Glasgow.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:16:

quindio, I was just kidding, I don't have a "cause" either, if not trying to lighten up this crowd a little, hence Lizzie the Pirate. I'm with you and kat about the benefit of doubt. Maybe it was just a blunder and she was embarrassed and trying to cover up. I'd ask, politely, her to take the bottle back since I didn't order it. Works like a charm, in theory at least.

Cheers,
Desi

Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone
else's life.

-Kobi Yamada

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:16:

jajajajajajajajaa Kat, i like it.
Have the English been spreading bad stories about the Scots being tight with money again??

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Albatross says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:21:

. I'm #$% pissed right now...

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:23:

I don't know Mc Gringo but I heard that Scottish donates a lot of money to charity but they like to remain anonymous. they even forget to sign their names on the cheques. ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:24:

jajajajajajajaajjajajajajajajajjajajajajajaja

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Albatross says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:25:

{:-o Ever heard of the two gay Scots - Ben Dover and Phil McCrevice ?

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:28:

I once knew this English guy, he was so tight, he dropped a pound coin and it hit him on the back of the head!!

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:31:

Albatross, I have met Phil McCrevice's cousin.....Phil MacCavity

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:36:

kat I never knew you had gems like those....i'm in stitches!!!

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fugdis says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:45:

stories come on macgringo you know jocks are tight,you all keep your loose change safely locked up in a hairy bag you wear on the front of your skirts

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lockheed says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:48:

I love red lable This Crap happend to me in Venezuela also. In Colombia we went to some places where they will tell you that they don't sell certain liquers by the shot, but only by the bottle. But in Venezuela we got ripped off major.

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:56:

Nice one fugdis, I like it. But being totally honest , I have drank with many Scots, Irish, English and Welsh and the thing with the Scots being tight is a myth. The tightest really are the English in my eyes, I have seen English guys sitting in company, everyone else standing their round at the bar and then you get 'oh , i'm just buying my own....from the English guy'.....hahahahahaha
I experienced this quite a few times when visiting my brother.
Fugdis, you cant beat the feeling of wearing a skirt with no underwear, what other circumstances can a guy do this with out getting locked up or called a freak.....hahaha

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 12:57:

They are not skirt they are Kilts. don't they look sexy in them ;)

engage brain before opening mouth

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fugdis says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:03:

;;; Mr.macgringo,on your advice i am immediately going to don one of my wifes tartan mini skirts,leave off the underwear and head off to the pub to test out your theory on english tightwads.Actually i quite like the scots and their sense of humour.

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quindioman says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:06:

nothing like the feeling of tartan on bare cheeks huh gents?
Is that a bagpipe or are you happy ta see me...?

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:08:

hahahahahahhahhahahahhahaha.......I like your theory test mate.
Fugdis, make sure that the tartan mini skirt isn't, too mini.
Or else your small cock will be showing and everyone will automaticlly know you are just English trying to be Scottish.....

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Compadre says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:10:

Keep walking... When I ask for a bottle in a bar they gotta bring it to me closed. Otherwise I will demand for a new one closed and sealed.In many places they "marranean" a la gente; most time tourist. filling with cheap ass whiskey (or other liquor) a fine ass bottle. Maybe they did that to you Cam; maybe you paid for a bottle filled with burra's urine.
IF they refuse to bring a closed one then I will get the heck out of the Bar... and do What an old scotish friend said to me once...
KEEP WALKING..

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:14:

or Compadre, you could do what they would do in a bar in Glasgow if it was suspected they were taking the piss out of you, and put the bottle over their head....then....KEEP WALKING

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fugdis says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:15:

wot? wot you talking about,i dont even keep chickens

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:28:

'wot you talking about,i dont even keep chickens'.......this is a classic reply mate! Comedy genius.
Where are you from?

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fugdis says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:31:

,,, mr.macgringo i think your taking the piss

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:33:

No mate, I thought that was a really funny reply, I liked it.

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fugdis says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:36:

in that case from london

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caslug says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:50:

sounds like CAM got SCAM.. We'll never know, because he didn't complain, he simply bent over and took it up the ass(by paying). If you wanted a glass and they brought out a bottle, why didn't you ask them for a glass a second time? Or ask how much for the bottle and if it's too much, then tell them,"no, i'll take a glass". Since CAM spanish is decent, that should be have easy and straight forward.

I had restaurants in COL screw up my order and I simply told them to fix the order, they dont mind. Bars/clubs will sometimes try to upsell, BUT they'll tell you how much it cost BEFORE you place the order. Even at MANGOS, they told us the cost so if we didn't like it then we can change our mind.

Also, was you GF there? If she was, did she notice the mistake?

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MacGringo says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:51:

London, nice, where abouts?
I think with a sense of humour like that, that you have some jock blood in you....hahahahahaa

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 13:56:

CASLUG Have you been in one of those nightclubs in Cartagena, that said paid 20.000 entrance and everything you consume inside is free? well I did, and i tell you the wisky that my brother and friend were drinking it was mixed with water, we told the waiter that, and she said NO, it was the Ice melting, so we said to bring it with out Ice, and she got really cross and refuse. We insisted but still the wisky was mixed.

engage brain before opening mouth

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 14:18:

I've been busy for the last couple of hours, had no idea the thread would explode to 60 something posts so quickly. I'll read the whole thread in a few minutes when I have time, but I do want to say that I SAW the woman opening the bottle when she brought it to our table, but at that time I was maybe 10 or 15 feet away talking to someone else. She brought the bottle to the table opened it, and it was already open by the time I got to the table and put two and two together. I should have been more clear about that. But yes, the bottle was open before I knew I was in for 180,000 pesos.

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 14:26:

Yeah, as I read more and more of the posts, I see that I made a critical tactical error by not mentioning that we had our table, there were a group of us, I was the only non-Colombian, I was within eyesight of the girl when she opened the bottle, the guy actually sitting at the table when she opened it is a local politician, and in terms of quantity a bottle wasn't out of the question since there were several of us.

However, I still thought I was going to get a glass and each person would order their individual drinks of whatever they wanted.

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 14:30:

One other thing, it wasn't the waitress that told me it was a European thing, I was commenting on it with a buddy of mine who just spent some time in Belgium. Now, he may be grossly misinformed, but to him ordering the Johnnie Walker and getting the whole bottle, especially with a group of us, didn't seem strange. He just said you have to specify in those settings. Which is what led to my asking is this common bar etiquette for Colombia.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Feb 1, 2006, 14:41:

this Belgium huh? taking advantage of the gringos, what do you think GIB, despicable I think!!!!!

engage brain before opening mouth

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 14:41:

And caslug, I didn't just bend over and take it from the waitress. At the time the bottle was "ordered", or I should say at the time the Johnnie Walker was ordered, she couldn't possibly have had any idea which of us was going to pay.

Furthermore, it seemed everyone in the group knew that it was going to be a bottle except me. You know how it is when you go into a club, everyone's talking, it's loud, and you're kind of filing in. Those in the front had a bottle of Ron Medellin on their mind. They went in to find a table, I ran into the waitress and ordered the Johnnie Walker. I got in a conversation with my girlfriend's brother, some general conversation BS as everyone was settling in. A few minutes later I see the waitress bring a bottle of Johnnie Walker, glasses, ice, a bottle of Sprite, and water. She set the stuff on the table. Turns out nobody even wanted Johnnie Walker, but since I ordered it, everyone drank it in deference. I'm still chatting with Ubadel while all this is going on, but I'm looking over his shoulder as she opens the bottle and Simon places glasses around the table, one for everyone. I go sit down at the table like "WTF?", but by that time the bottle was open. Simon had just bought dinner for everyone at American Chicken, and refused my contribution. So I said to Simon "OK fine I'll get drinks at the club." And I AM the one that placed the order for the Johnnie Walker. So when the bill came, I got it, and it was 180,000 pesos. This is also by the way, why everyone drank it because I already told Simon that I would get the drinks since he got dinner.

Jeez things get blown out of proportion around here. First thing everyone wants to say is "You got scammed" like you're all so street wise. I didn't just fall of the turnip truck yesterday. All I really want to know is if I order, are they thinking bottle or glass?

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Tim Trimble says on Feb 1, 2006, 15:39:

Good Info... Now I know *another* good reason to bring my flask with me.

Save the Planet....
Kill your Children

a.k.a. Professor Loco

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caslug says on Feb 1, 2006, 16:11:

CAM, looks like the waitress didnt' scam you. because everyone at your table DID drink the JW(even, if they prefer something else). I guess you should either a) sent back the bottle to get a glass instead or keep the bottle(which you did) and pay for it. So it was miscommunication and not SCAM. You didnt originally mention you were with a big group and order stuff. THat does get confusing, I remember some COL "friends" i've met one time would order stuff and expect it to get paid "magically" at the end of the night.

What I do if I go with people I dont know well, is order and pay separately at the bar. I bought a bottle of RON for the group, but paid at the bar and brought it over to the table. Then the group order more bottles later, but stopped drinking by then. When I left the group early, some people asked me to chip in, I told them I pay for the first bottle which the waiter confirm. So there was no confusion.

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rocinante says on Feb 1, 2006, 16:23:

That's why I bring my own bottle and ask for a cup water. I drink the water in the john and then pour the Aguardiente in.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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caslug says on Feb 1, 2006, 17:11:

all of us who been to bars in COL know the score.. you come sit at a table, the waiter/waiteress come and tells you menu at some busy places, they tell you need to buy a bottle to sit at the table, and how much it cost, ie $25-30k for half bottle of ron/aguadentie or more. If you say you dont want a bottle, then you move to the bar. If you agree to order the bottle, they bring the bottle to your table and start to open it. Again you have an opportunity to decline if you think you dont want a bottle at this stage. Then they open it and pour into the glass. If you dont stop them and start drinking, then of course you have to pay.

Since CAM and his group drank the bottle, they paid. THe more fancy place the more the bottle can cost. I think at Mangos a bottle cost $100k or something, but we pay because we wanted a table.

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caslug says on Feb 1, 2006, 17:14:

i comes down to saying no.. Otherwise, people will take advantage of you. Anyone riding the bus in COL know they have people come on the bus, give out stuff to everyone, then come back and collect the stuff. If you eat or keep the stuff you pay, if you return the stuff unopen you dont pay. For me, i simply say, "no gracious" so they dont even give the stuff.

CAM simply forgot to say NO, and so end up paying 180k.

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Cerealkiller says on Feb 1, 2006, 17:23:

For the first time in ages I have to agree with GIB, people dont get confused like that, thats just plain dumb. You order a Scotch you get a glass, not a bottle and if you order the bottle, waitress HAS to open it in front of you. Its common sense, you dont do that here or in the states and I have never experienced that in Europe...Not even in Scotland where I once got free booze from the barman and since im a chica and only drink bacardi breezers I always made sure they were all closed and unspiked.
BTW, How can anyone say Scotts are stingy!!!! For goodness' sake Ive never had so much fun and free alcohol before I went to Scotland...Oh bless it, Land of the drunk and the liberals!!!

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 18:25:

You guys don't read. I said the bottle wasn't opened until it got to the table at least twice already. Simon was sitting at the table when the waitress arrived with the order. I was not at the table, I was standing 10 to 15 feet away, but looking right at her. Why are you guys still babbling about not taking a bottle that's already opened? For all I know, Simon told her to open the fucking thing when she got there. Whether the bottle was open or not is not even the point. The point is, La Candelaria in Cartagena (which pretty much makes all your Bogota experiences irrelevant), apparently serves alcohol by the bottle. What I have learned so far in this thread is that all bars in Colombia don't. Fine. That's all I was after.

To sit in the Velvet room at Las Palmas in Hollywood you have to buy a bottle. Same thing at the House of Blues' Foundation Room. Same thing in the VIP section of certain places in Vegas. Maybe, just maybe, if you want a table at La Candalaria you have to buy a bottle, too. So then MAYBE, the only question for the waitress at that point was "What are you drinking?" Maybe you people are used to drinking in dives, but sometimes upscale places have rules. Pain in the ass coming here just to ask a simple question, I'd be better off just calling Simon. I don't know why some of you have to make everything on PBH so difficult. Nobody's going to play the gringo card when one out of 7 people is a gringo and you're bringing the fucking bottle to a 45 year old cien por ciento Colombiano. If you would read I wouldn't have to repeat the details over and over again. And if you don't want to read, but prefer to capsulize, assume, and spew nonsense please stay off the fucking thread and leave it to people who can provide sensible answers to simple questions.

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Pete E says on Feb 1, 2006, 18:52:

Johnny Walker Well you cetainly could send it back,tell her you just wanted a drink.
Its kind of the WAY THEY DO IT HERE to order a bottle.It works out lots cheaper IF you will be drinking that much with a group.
Single drinks can be 15,000 pesos.Johnny Walker they would probably tell you no single drinks,you have to buy the bottle,if they did have a single drink it might be 25,000 pesos.
Most ordinary booze,RUM,Vodka,no name whisky maybe 40,000 to 70,000 for a full bottle.The same in drinks might be 8000.you can get about 20 of those 8000 drinks out of a bottle.
And,I think they are just lazy.They don't like the WORK of mixing and delivering all those individual drinks so they price them accordingly.
The other STRANGE thing in Colombia,all whisky is SCOTCH.They don't seem to even know about Bourbon.
I don't drink whisky,it all tastes bad to me.My brother in law drinks 20-30 year old scotch.To him Chevis Regal is cheap stuff.It still tastes bad to me.
I will drink rum and coke and they will bring you all of this coke and limes no charge with the bottle.

Pete

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cam0940 says on Feb 1, 2006, 19:39:

Well, it doesn't really sound like Pete E read what I said either, that the bottle was opened while Simon was sitting at the table and I was a little ways away. However, Pete E did bring up an interesting point:

Johnnie Walker Black label probably isn't a "top seller" at La Candelaria. They may serve it by the bottle only because if someone orders a drink, it might be six months before another person comes in looking for it.

Or then, maybe you have to buy a bottle if you're sitting at a table. I still don't know which it is, but I'll ask.

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quindioman says on Feb 2, 2006, 04:15:

cam it don't matter what you write in PBH....once people have an inkling of what THEY THINK happened , as datmodefoque would say foggedaboutit....they know exactly what happened, don't matter that they weren't there: they know exactly what happened. The bottle was opened at the table: no it wasn't you dumb gringo it was a scam you just got of the turnip truck you touron....try giving someone the benefit of the doubt and you're automatically labelled as defending the scammer...we live in a bubble.....we let people walk all over us....it's our fault that Bogota is in the shitter...we are no better than the scammer.....like I said dude's got one hell of a crystal ball in there...gringoinbogota....more like brujoinbogota....dude if you ever give up your day job you could make a killing ripping dumb Colombians as a fortune teller.....they love that stuff back home.....

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cam0940 says on Feb 2, 2006, 07:02:

Yes GIB, I did write that verbatim. Then I wasn't on PBH for a little while. When I came back, it was clear that I had to clarify exactly what happened.

The waitress brought the bottle to the table and it was already opened before I had a chance to ask "Why did you bring a bottle instead of a glass?". I wrote "of course" more in the spirit of Murphy's Law. If I had wanted a bottle, it probably would have worked out where I'd have finished with Ubadel and sat down by the time the bottle arrived. Since I DIDN'T plan on a bottle, naturally she got there in a flash with the bottle, started serving the table, and then I sat down afterward, just in time to be late.

But that's what I mean about having to be anal and precise. It was actually a yes or no question about bottles in clubs, but it became a "You got scammed" thread.

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Compadre says on Feb 2, 2006, 09:13:

GringoD 'The benefit of the doubt'
en español: 'El beneficio de la duda'

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Rubiazo says on Feb 2, 2006, 22:11:

My $.02 here in NYC it is common especially among Spanish nightclubs to be 'bottle service only' at the tables, meaning if you want to sit your ass down at a table, you have to order a bottle. And a $20 bottle is gonna cost you $150. Is it a scam, hell yeah! But it's one they tend to perpetrate on everybody here.

Queibracantos in Bogota had a 40k drink minimum per table. We used it up as best we could in beer and soda though. To tell the truth, I have never ordered a highball or a shot in a bar in Bogota. If we were drinking hard liquor we always went for the bottle service. Also in DR, generally if you are in a club you would order a bottle and not individual shots. It depends a lot on the place though. The hole in the wall on the corner will tend NOT to have bottle service, but most places where you would go to dance will!

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cam0940 says on Feb 3, 2006, 08:33:

Thank you Rubiazo, for probably the most accurate, helpful answer to a simple question.

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Rubiazo says on Feb 3, 2006, 21:08:

And... it only took 89 posts on the thread to get there! HAHAHAHAHAHAAH

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