Sauna Talk 3

Received from a reader:

Hi FIM

I suspect that Hutong is trying to take a chance to rip customers off based on the closure of Alexander, and the bad reviews from Arena. Not only the official admission is increased from $179 to $199, but also the promotion prices of Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are all raised from $129 to $179, a staggering 40%. In fact, the sauna market in HK is not healthy at the moment. I realize how I miss the time when Alexander was on its hay days. At least they didn't do door policy or that many different tiers of prices.  

Arena is really a big shame and probably the last chance that the ABC-Gateway group could've had to re-gain its momentum. However, Arena is a mistake and I can just see the collapse of the once legendary ABC-Gateway group. 

There's a rumour that Action is going to close up too. Can you verify that? 

I also find that in order for a gay sauna to be successful, the location has to be in Mongkok. Since the opening of the Kwun Tong line extension and South HK Island Line, it's much easier and quicker for residents travelling from East Kowloon and South HK Island travelling to the Kowloon Peninsula. Mongkok has been the most convenient place to other areas of HK compared to TST and the HK Island, it has now cemented its position as the "Gay Sauna Capital" of HK and this advantage will further be strengthened when the other lines are opened to service ( East West line ,East Rail Line HK Island extension, West Kowloon High Speed Railway, etc). 

What's your opinions?
Yours 
A loyal reader


FuelMix says:

1.   We smirked on learning about Hutong's 40% jack of its "promotional" prices on Mondays - Wednesdays from HK$129.00 to HK$179.00.  Presumably, no explanation was given.  It's a well known law in Business that those who price gouge, run a higher risk of going out of business.

2.  By contrast, a small but very well known barber shop in Central was faced with a stiff rent increase.  It's haircut prices went up by HK40.00.  They published a letter and placed it on the Reception Desk, fully explaining what had happened, that the landlord refused to negotiate, that they had looked for alternative premises and that they were forced into raising their prices.  The result was that all their clients stayed - and they got additional business.  Simply by being straightforward and honest.

3.  Being straightforward and honest in pricing is NOT something that describes many Hong Kong gay saunas. Publishing their online prices in Chinese only, then replying to customers' email by saying, "show up first and then we'll tell you the price promotion in English," is guaranteed to piss people off.  The only saunas that are straightforward and honest in their pricing are Galaxy and KK Fitness.  Both cater to older customers.

4.  We do not miss Alexander.  We miss Towel Club in Causeway Bay for the size of its premises and the hot guys.  It collapsed in Hong Kong and in Singapore (and like California Fitness, scammed a few guys out of prepaid cash).

5.  We have not heard anything about Action closing.   

6.  We agree that the sauna market in Hong Kong is not healthy.  It is very, very suspicious.

7.  Mong Kok might have been the "Gay Sauna Capital of Hong Kong" when it had 4 saunas in a cluster : Alexander, Big Top, Club Houzz and Double.  Not now.  It has 2: Hutong (formerly Double) and Big Top.

(b)  To put it more accurately, we would say Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok are the gay sauna zones in Kowloon. Yau Ma Tei has the popular Jungle and Rainbow, both open 24 hours (although we are not hearing good things about Rainbow, especially staff attitude and the small size of the premises).

(c)  On Hong Kong Island, Causeway Bay is the zone with Action (not open 24 hours) and My Way (open 24 hours).

(d)  Tsim Sha Tsui with 3 saunas namely Arena (24 hours), Birds (not open 24 hours) and Galaxy (not open 24 hours) is a major disappointment and at the moment, has completely lost out on a potentially lucrative tourist market, given that so many hotels are within walking distance.

(e)  Our view is that in the absence of a really fantastic sauna opening up, Big Top, Hutong and My Way will be the places to go.  (The majority of whites will as usual, huddle in Central Escalator).

8.  Hong Kong has totally fucked itself in the Asian gay sauna scene. The official moniker of "Asia's World City" means nothing in this context.  Talking around, here are some Asian cities ranked by gay sauna quality and the hot guys who show up:

1. Bangkok;
2. Singapore,
3. Taipei;
4. Kuala Lumpur;
5. Seoul;
6. Hong Kong;

9.  We invited readers to submit sauna reviews from any Asian city so that everybody could benefit from their observations.  We have NOT received any Asian city sauna reviews for years.  What does THAT tell you about commitment to share information.....??

"Ohh.." squeals the fag, "we can find out on Utopia and Gaysia...!!"

"Gee...that's funny" says FuelMix, "readers told us our Hong Kong sauna reviews are far better and more accurate than anything written on Utopia and Gaysia..."

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