Two or three times a week I have breakfast at this huge nasi kandar restaurant somewhere in Ampang. The food is OK, the place is clean, the service is quite acceptable. But there’s something I just don’t understand about that place.
Every time I go, I order the same thing. Two roti kosong (they chop it up) and one ‘teh ais’ (I can eat this stuff 3 meals a day).
But every time I got and pay at the counter, I get a different price. Sometimes RM3.10, sometimes RM3.20. The cheapest I got was RM2.40, the highest was RM3.60.
Every time it is different. There can’t be a mistake in the tab, since they use mark out your order on a bill and pass to you.
Today I asked the guy manning the cash register (It’s the same guy everyday). This guy has a perpetual look of boredom on his face (Why? Isn’t it an exhilarating job?).
So I said in Malay, “Boss, do you know that each time I come here, I order the same stuff, but the price is different every time?â€
“Huh?†came the reply (no change in glazed expression).
So repeated the question (He may need a ‘talian hayat’ to understand the question, folks!).
He replied, “You mean at this shop?â€
No, I meant the Lobby Lounge at the JW Marriot, you genius.
When I said yes, he took a few seconds to digest the info, at the same time giving me this baffled look as if I just explained Fermat’s Last Theorem to him.
Anyway, I didn’t have all day, so I just asked him for the ‘price of the day’ (today it soared up to RM3.60 again).
Since there is no price list anywhere (or one that I can see), I’m guessing the correct price should be RM3.20. Or maybe it IS like the share market.
11 Comments
Jason
Brader, is either you kena conned kaw kaw, or the price varies every day depending on the mood. 😛 In Malacca, one roti kosong is RM0.60 and one teh ais is RM1. So, total should be RM2.20. Perhaps add in another plus minus RM0.20 for error.
Simon
aiyo… ampang cannot find that kind of price already la… i think its 0.80 + 0.80 + 1.60 = 3.20…
jedibaba
roti canai too susceptible to market forces. A lot depends on the price of Wheat in Paraguay on any given day.
zyrin
hmm.. teh ais is around RM 1-RM1.20, roti kosong also about 80 cents – RM1, so paling mahal shud be RM3.20, lah… unless they have service charge, hahahahahaahaha…
5xmom
Mamaks are very genius wan. They charge according to their mood and also how you look. If you look richer, they hike up a few cents. Usually, I comfort myself when I get a plate of nasi kandar that costs RM9.90 with this – Poor guys must have wives here and in Pakistan. So, let them earn a bit more never mind la. Because when I alone go to mamak with 4 kids, prices seem to be cheaper. They kesian me balik. Robin Hood, they are.
anjali
That’s why I still prefer my mamak in old klang road. Standard price of RM2.80 for 2 half boiled eggs, 1 Roti Banjir (actually with me keep on asking for more dhall – think I should call it Roti Tsunami!) and 1 Nescafe Kaww Panas. And the best service ever – the owner know my order by heart!
tiuniasing
If I were you, I would have asked the cashier to tell me the price of each item that I ordered. If he couldn’t get me the correct figure, just show him “nln”!!
Simon
jedibaba – no wonder so expensive!
zyrin – service OK only la, should not charge ,me la…
5xmom – if they know you famous blogger, then they’ll charge you kaw-kaw!
anjali – dun eat so much eggs, cholestrol…
tiuniasing – good idea!
J�rgen H�sch
At least you don’t have the problem that you are european.. Beeing a white bastard like me, you are automatically “considered rich”. Although I don’t earn that much money doing an internship here in Malaysia. Going out with locals they always get a better price…
Simon
yeah, some shops are really out to get every extra dollar… i think i should only go to places with price lists from now on.
tiger
Bro, I think it’s the teh-ais that’s making prices fluctuate. They must be charging you for ice on a per-cube basis. ;P