Anything that keeps me out of shops has to be good. I hate it when I go into a shop to buy something, and am repeatedly told that I don't want what I want, but I want something else. I usually just walk out with nothing.
I had an unusual experience in one of Hua Hin's supermarkets only last week. I know as much about wine as I know about golf - absolutely nothing. We are throwing a huge party soon, and I had to buy wine. I asked a friend what wines were decent enough to be acceptable for the event. She wrote down exactly what I needed.
I walked into the supermarket quite confidently. I went into the wine section and had to run the gauntlet of 5 different assistants. FFS, my friend had told me what I needed - I didn't need help. I eventually thought I had escaped the hired help, and found the red wine on my bit of paper. I bent down to select it, and bang. "No Misser, you don't want that, go here." Surprise, surprise, she wasn't pointing me to a different wine, just a shelf with more of the same, with easier access. I was actually pleased with help. I loaded my trolly with the red.
Then it was time for the white wine. Having won my confidence, I asked my little helper for wine by name (forgot now), told her it was Australian and even stated the price. First effort - this one is from Italy. My Geography is poor, but I know Italy is a long way from Australia. So I say, "No, I want Australian."
Bottle was returned to the shelf. My requirement was re-stated. This one is from Chile - very nice. I'm looking at the price, my wallet is in a cold sweat, and I'm thinking how do you know it's nice? This bottle was probably more than a week's wages for my little helper. Several further attempts, with me repeating my requirement (because she'd impressed me with the initial help, and she knew what I was looking for, I was sort of tied in to accepting her help).
I tried a different tack - I emphasised the price per bottle, without stating the type of wine. I think she realised she wasn't going to sell me what I presume was top quality wine, and she threw in the towel - she went straight to the wine I was seeking. I loaded it into my trolly and made my way to the checkout. In her favour, she did bring some empty wine boxes to the checkout for me to pack my purchase securely and did seal the boxes also.
By Thai standards, she probably thinks she did a pretty good job, and overall, I'd rate her service as about 7/10. However, this service in shops is what drives me away. I like to browse on my own. If I select the wrong item, sh*t happens - I live with the mistake. With online shopping, I can browse away, pick the item that I think I need and it arrives a couple of days later. Nobody telling me I don't want that one, I need this one (actually Mrs BB may try that, but that's married life
).
I detest the little helpers, and while they exist and won't leave me alone, I will use online shopping wherever I can. I don't care about who is paying what taxes. I want to be able to spend my hard earned money buying whatever I choose.
