Shopping and getting the stuff home.

[gandalfinthai]

I have only been living here for a month or so and I am still trying to figure out the best way to shop for stuff and get it home. My motorbike won't do the trick for a lot of stuff or large items. I know some stores deliver (if you buy enough) but the markets don't.
Any suggestions?

[Ginjaninja]

Gandalf,
I use a backpack and for bigger items I used bungee straps to secure on the back of the bike.
You make a good point though, anything larger e.g. bottles of water; it's a challenge. Fortunately for me the girlfriend has a car.
You could commandeer a tuk tuk?? Of course extra expense.
Alternatively make a few trips on the bike.
Regards,
GN.

[Takiap]

Gandalf,
I use a backpack and for bigger items I used bungee straps to secure on the back of the bike.
You make a good point though, anything larger e.g. bottles of water; it's a challenge. Fortunately for me the girlfriend has a car.
You could commandeer a tuk tuk?? Of course extra expense.
Alternatively make a few trips on the bike.
Regards,
GN.

Alternatively, get a side hack fitted to your bike, or to an old secondhand bike. I had one fitted a year or so ago, and I honestly wouldn't want to be without ever again. In fact, now that I have it, I see no reason why I would ever need a pickup.

Honestly, it has proven to be so practical, although you do get wet when it rains, even with a canopy on, unless you pull over and sit under the canopy until the rain stops. It's my sole mode of transport, and I'm quite happy with that. When my old Honda Wave dies, which will be soon I think, the side hack is going straight onto the new bike.

Great for carrying passengers; great for taking the dogs out, great for taking the rubbish away, great for carrying groceries; for carrying another motorbike that needs to go for repairs......well, I guess you can see I love my side hack.

[Big Boy]

I must say that when I've seen you on it, it looks great fun to drive as well.

[johnnyk]

Takiap is your man!

[migrant]

Pictures please!!

[margaretcarnes]

When you buy larger items from the independant shops - electricals - bits of small furniture etc - they'll usually arrange a pick-up for you and take you straight home with the stuff. Of course that means getting to the shop in the first place by motorcike or TukTuk but at least you get a lift and get your stuff straight away. For gas bottles I used to just get a motorcike to the shop and a lift home with the bottle on the sidecar.
It can get a bit hairy depending on the item. One shopkeeper wanted me to get on a motorcike with the driver and a huge teracotta water pot I'd bought - I passed on that one

[poosmate]

Instead of dangerous,illegal and uninsured risk - Buy or rent a car

[Takiap]

Instead of dangerous,illegal and uninsured risk - Buy or rent a car

Spend nearly a million baht or more just to get groceries home? With a car you're also more likely to get a fine, and don't forget, if a guy on a motorbike rides into you, you'll be the one paying compensation. Or at least that's how it works most times.

[richard]

I'v seen people do a mega shop at Tescos and then get a van just near the exit from MV to load the goods AND motorbike. If the motorbike is too big I think they will drive it home for you

[margaretcarnes]

I'v seen people do a mega shop at Tescos and then get a van just near the exit from MV to load the goods AND motorbike. If the motorbike is too big I think they will drive it home for you

Gawd strewth i couldn't even get them to sell me a fridge here Richard - let alone deliver it!

[Big Boy]

I have only been living here for a month or so and I am still trying to figure out the best way to shop for stuff and get it home. My motorbike won't do the trick for a lot of stuff or large items. I know some stores deliver (if you buy enough) but the markets don't.
Any suggestions?

Is shopping and getting things home in Thailand any different to your home country? How did you manage there?

[poosmate]

Spend nearly a million baht or more just to get groceries home?

New cars are from 400kish. If this is too much a car can be purchased for as little as 100K ( maybe old but safer than a home made side car IMO).
As for fines why are you going to get any if legal? I have driven here for 9 years and never received a fine ( been stopped and asked for documents and waved on numerous times) except getting caught by a speed camera ( 400 Baht posted to the Police).
I would have thought driving an illegally registered motorbike and sidecar contraption with dodgy brakes and lights would attract more attention. Apart from risking major personal expense if involved in an own fault accident beyond the scope of the pitiful compulsory insurance ( if it even covers this type of vehicle).
Cars on the other hand can have first class comprehensive insurance for around 15k.
As for always being in the wrong in an accident this is total rubbish and will be confirmed I am sure by Matt from AA insurance and many others who I am sure have had more experience.

[Pleng]

I have only been living here for a month or so and I am still trying to figure out the best way to shop for stuff and get it home. My motorbike won't do the trick for a lot of stuff or large items. I know some stores deliver (if you buy enough) but the markets don't.
Any suggestions?

Depends where you're going. But if I don't have any friends with a car who are able to help me I tend to ride my bike to, say, Market Village, do my shopping and then get it in a TukTuk who will take me home to drop off the stuff, then bring me back to Market Village (where they are heading anyway, to rejoin the rank, so they usually don't charge any extra) so I can scoot back home on the back.

[usual suspect]

Big Kiang used to deliver furniture in a cut down Tuk-Tuk..(pick-up bed behind the cab)..brilliant little tool, they've brought us wardrobes, queen-size mattresses..any number of things with that trusty tuk-tuk..