Food order robbery
Re: "Panel mulls online food delivery fee revamp," (Business, June 7).
Food ordering platforms charging exorbitant fees are a perfect example of the proverbial "highway robbery". There is no value added to the experience that deserves a charge of 25-35% of the purchase. VAT tax is only 7%.
Restaurants and vendors would be better served if they just handled things the "old-fashioned" way and deal directly with the customers while contracting independently with the delivery service.
The service provided by food ordering platforms is not much different than credit card services and they charge roughly 5%. But then this is Thailand where corruption and cheating abounds. The victims of this scam are the customers who are keeping the economy afloat by ordering food to be delivered during Covid restrictions.
Darius Hober
Registered at last
Re: "Mixed messages," (PostBag, June 7).
In an update of my efforts to register for the Covid vaccination in Bangkok, I was able to register today with my passport number using ThailandIntervac.com "Foreigners get jab next week" (BP, June 3).
I haven't been given an appointment date yet, which no doubt is dependent on vaccine availability, but it is nice to be in the queue and it feels like a step forward.
Robert Darlow
Underlying silliness
Yes, 94% (sic) of people who are classified as having died of Covid had other underlying issues. Point is that they wouldn't have died (for a while at least) if they had not contracted Covid. It's like saying people die of pneumonia even though they have full-blown Aids?
Chris Allen
Jab perfection
Re: "Mixed messages," (PostBag, June 7).
A few weeks ago we applied via Mor Prom for an appointment for June 7 which was confirmed by SMS for 9.30am.
We arrived at the vaccination centre at 9am, were vaccinated at 9.24 and could leave half an hour later.
Besides my wife and myself there was one more farang in the large crowd. No unnecessary waiting -- perfect organisation!
Lung Q
A racist Thai state
Re: ''Mixed messages," (PostBag, June 7).
Most foreign residents in Thailand have found it impossible to register for the Covid vaccine.
Covid knows no boundaries. The Thai government realises this so it must be willing to allow foreigners to catch the virus and some of them to become sick and some to die.
This is especially galling for me as I am a UK citizen. The Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine was paid for by British taxpayers and the formula given to Thailand at cost.
Imagine the outrage if the UK government, or any other civilized government were to deny foreign residents, including Thais, access to the vaccine. Indeed all of my Thai contacts in the UK are now fully vaccinated.
This situation shines a clear light on Thailand as a racist state, unwelcome to foreigners.
A situation which confirms what most foreigners have long suspected.
Quietus
