Some of you complained in another thread about facing a cover charge to enter Neptune II.

I presume they don't charge girls right? I also heard they tend to charge dark skin guys like me. I've never been charged but I've only been there on Sundays.

Even though I didn't think that I would support a bar that did this, it caused me to wonder how that affects the overall type of doods going in there. Perhaps it might actually be of help to us bros.

Would a cover charge keep the out "tire kickers" or the guys who just pretend but would never or could never punt or will it keep out good gentlemen like you bros?
Would this change the quantity, type of guys?  
Would this consequently change the quantity, type or quality of the girls?

I hope this does not become a trend (I actually doubt it will) among the WC bars because it does have a tendency make bar hopping (talent shopping) a bit more expensive. I especially find the racial part, if it is true, distasteful.

Has anyone who paid the cover noticed anything different?

WG's are not charged for visiting Neptune II,   they charge a 150HKD entry fee which includes one free drink.  I am a BBC and have only managed to enter Neptune II free of charge on one occasion, all other times, they have collared me.  The punters are mainly westerners /expats and not geared for locals.   I always refused to pay the cover charge and walk away but now, it does'nt bother me anymore.  The majority of other clubs like Escape, Traffik, Amazonia etc still do not levy entry charges.

Never paid entry fee in any of those bars. The weird thing is when you pass by and the guy right after you (last time it was an Indian) is asked to pay. If you ask me, thats the definition of racism... His money is worth the same as mine and money talks. Maybe its because they consider that we spend more on drinks and they want to make sure they get a mnimal return? In any case, thinks its wrong but am not in charge of the rules (and wont tell the 2 huge dudes at the door! ;) ).

A friend of mine actually works on the doors and he told me they charge 'certain guys' for different reasons...

Caucasians do not get charged entry as they are most likely their biggest customers.

Chinese (or Asians for that matter) sometimes get charged - some friends of mine have called me when I am in the bar to come and get them as they are being charged $150HK - I go up and they let me them in for nothing. But sometimes they do not get charged in...

My friend said it is because some Asian men go in and do not buy drinks, or sneak drinks in and just stare at the girls...

Nepalese guys get charged because (some not all) steal drinks, I have seen them do this. They walk past and swipe peoples drinks, get thrown out. 1 hour later they are back in again... They also apparently grope the girls a lot.

The only time I have ever been asked to pay in anywhere was one time in escape a long time ago. The Navy was in town and they tried to charge me 200 - I proved to them I live here so they let me in for nothing.

yeah, it has a lot to do with how busy they are

only the popular places charge

and even those, even on peak days, if you go before peak time you can get in free ... you'll be buying drinks in any event, if you're waiting for the crowd to arrive ...

Other way to get in free is to visit a few times, and be recognised.  
They like regulars, as long as you are a customer who buys.

There was a few years ago Carnegies was the trendy place to go (OK that was a looong way back), and for a while you could only get in on Saturdays if you were a regular.  
Then things change
and the crowd moves on

[ Last edited by  DArtagnan at 17-10-2011 10:41 ]

I've never been charged or ever seen any one charged ... But I'm western ... I was charged I would just move on plenty other bars around.

Had a black friend traveling with me and they wanted to charge him and look at a passport until he said "Hey I'm with him"  They let him enter with no charge after that.  I have traveled many places in this world, and it is just a fact of life.

Yeah,

I've seen it a lot at Neptune and even Makati occassionally.  Always seems to be the Indian or Chinese Bros (so odd, given we're in Hong Kong!).  It happened the last time I went to Neptune - 3 Indian Bros lined up being forced to pay while I just breezed thru.  

They tell me they do it for a reason.  (A racist stereotype obviously, so I am NOT condoning this in the slightest!)  But they say that the Indian or Chinese simply dont buy drinks.  And if they take a girl out without buying drinks the bar is actually in the hole (they've lost a girl, who is the magnet for the guys, and didnt even get a few drinks out of it.  This pisses them off).  If you go to Neptune a few times AND buy drinks while you are there the charges will stop for you...  they'll see you're a good customer.

So.., it seems to be all about money and a perception in the bars that gweilos spend more cash.

Again Bros --- I think getting tagged for a cover charge because of your race is pretty damn shitty --- so dont think for a moment that I agree with the practise.  I have seen plenty of drunk Chinese and Indians so they were obviously doing their share of spending!

Yeah it is some but not all.

For example:

Where I live - my local which shows the sports has a TV in the garden. This garden is situated right next to a path, Chinese walk past (some, not all) see the sport is on, sit down and watch. They do not buy anything, maybe just ask for a glass of water...

Now paying customer cannot sit there... This happens all of the time.

I told the owner, when sports are showing, he should charge $100 for a seat, and for good customers such as myself, give us the $100 back in drinks, because I am going to drink it anyway and it stops people sitting down and not ordering anything.

Totally agree with you. It is all about economics - whoever spends money at an establishment gets the vip treatment.

In LKF, some of the usually free-entry clubs will charge the young crowd (usually mixed-crowd of highschool/uni students) a few hundreds because they know the students will be leaving the premises to get their beer at 7-11 before returning to the club to dance for free.


Reply #9 petay's post:

Some Chinese cafes are wise to free-loaders and will request a minimum spending during important games broadcasts. To many bars/cafes, it is expensive (about $10K per month) to get Cable TV for commercial premises, that each seat has to be generating decent income.

You do see many freeloaders at McDonald's with their cup of water as they sell insurance or relax for hours in aircon comfort. Or I have seen ppl sit down in a Starbucks and take up the best seats and not order anything as they wait for their bus.


I like to believe that in karma that these ppl's lives are rewarded accordingly.

I went Neptune II  last night. I breezed right in with nice howdy do to the door monsters. I always say hello in a clear American accent - I think that helps. I am mixed race and I have pretty dark skin so I am always aware of how people react to me.

Once inside I was chatting with one of the girls (who later rocked my world) about how it worked there. I ordered her a couple drinks and later the waitress came back and tried to slip her something away from my sight. I peeled open her hand and she kindly showed me the 50 bucks she got back. "Good racket" I commented. I also tasted her drink. It had booze in it but it was a not good. It was a Kahluha and milk made with the nastiest white liquid shit to ever pass for milk. Disgusting, no wonder she drank them so fast.

I also asked her about the cover charge. She said when the do charge, they only charge Chinese and Indian men although I heard about the black guys as also noted above. She didn't go into much discussion but she pretty much described the scenario Wander previously detailed. After suffering enough of this racial shit at home (USA) this really is no surprise to me and no surprise that it happens worldwide. When ever I encounter it however, it still really pisses me off to no end. Usually because I'm on the "NO" end of the transaction.

At least in Neptune II, you get a drink with your entry ticket.  One club on Lockhart Rd tried to charge me 300HKD and I simply carried on walking to the next bar.

I guess a lot of you chaps benefit from me reinforcing the stereotype that gwailo drink a lot.

Perhaps racial profiling is a crude rule to run, but it is simple and probably 75% effective.

In the clubs in Dubai, the girls have to pay to get in, I think.  

SB

Yes you are correct.  When the  Cyclone Club in Dubai used to be open, non working girls were charged entry as normal.   Gwailo's do drink in volume more so that asians.  A mate of mine said that we asians lack a certain enzyme in our blood which prevents us from drinking on a par with gwailos.  I find that is bullshit though!

Not that BS but my rewding of this is different. Asians seem to be more resistant to strong alcohols than gwailos. This iswhy when going to Korea, I used to get pissed drunked while my mates were still not too drunk until I found out that they cpuld drink as much strong alcohol they wanted but could not stand... Wine! So now everytime we party in Seoul, I offer a bottle of wine. I dont know if its in my head, but it seems to work! ;)

I think it's a matter of practice makes perfect

I know (knew) some girls who could drink anyone under the table if they were on shorts, but a single glass of wine had them legless ...
and in my own experience, there was a time I drank quite heavily and was able to keep up with any of my mates, drink for drink and staying standing right up to the end.  And if I was really going for it I'd stick to neat whisky from start to finish, and not even have a hangover the next day.  

these days I'm more prudent, savouring alcohol more slowly, and it has a bigger impact

so I do think, whatever our underlying level of tolerance to alcohol, the body adjusts to whatever abuse we give it on a regular basis

I should have read it here first....sigh. It was my first time in Wan Chai and I just simply went in to have a quick look on one of those night club. Damm, the aunty was quick to tell me 100 for entry with one beer insisting there are already dancers.

Damm...no customer and no dancers. Shortly my beer came and the aunties ask me to buy a lady who came to chat with me LD at 240. I was like wtf....outside is advertised no cover charge + beer at 25 per can. Apparently, the girl told me that is only valid for caucasians for all the night clubs and bars around this area.

I got super pissed with this racist shit....gulp my beer and went off

Which club was it exactly?
....

In July, I was immediately stopped for cover at Escape.  I didn't go in.  Instead I stepped back onto the sidewalk and observed about twenty guys, many of them gweilos or at least buddy-buddy with the bouncer, stroll in with a friendly nod.

I am Chinese.  I am pretty nerdy looking.

Petay's remarks on confirmed racial profiling are much appreciated.  I really felt singled out, and now I know why!

To be completely honest, it's true, I WOULD just go in to perv at the girls and NOT buy a drink if I could avoid it.  So the bouncer strategy for "sizing up" the customer's likelihood of freeloading is probably an effective one.

I know some Mongolian girls who can drink me into their pants... Those girls can DRINK!