Shop assistants......man!

[Spitfire]

Just a bit of grumble really, but why the hell am I shadowed by teenage fools that know nothing about a product everywhere I shop and have to 'go see their boss' every time I ask a question in Thai, even through the Mrs?

Are these 'wastes-of-spaces' just there to to deter thievery as I don't need a shadow when I'm browsing in the local home improvement story that actually knows sweet FA about anything. It puts me off buying something if I have some numpty minion monitoring me everywhere.

What's the freaking point of their existence in that space and time situation? And if you go to somewhere like HomePro then there are millions of them just hanging around ready to start preying anyone who comes in as if they are employed to prove their incompetence and uselessness to their 'overlord'.

Do Thais expect to just walk in to these places and be doted-over by fools in an exhibition of ego-massage on behalf of the staff as the staff believe everyone who walks in has no idea what they need and can be coerced into the possibility that they might spend some money?

One of the motivations for this post is that I went into one of the local home improvement places near where I live and wanted to buy an outdoor table and chairs for the patio to sit out on in the evenings. I inquired about several different ones and specifically told them I wanted one that was OK for outdoors....which to me means sun/rain etc resistant.......and was told it was fine on the one we liked (cost 17k baht). Got it home and then it rained a couple of times and it didn't look so good in a few areas and phoned them up about it and they said that it needed glossing every year if you are going to have it outside. I complained and they replaced it with a new one which I have put polyurethane on and it's Ok.

But why the hell does it have to be so complicated? Couldn't they just have told me that in the first place? And if they had, then I would have said for 17k that I shouldn't have to do anything with it at least for a year or two.

[hhfarang]

Ok, as long as we're griping about staff at shops, why the hell do all the supermarkets restock the shelves during the busiest shopping hours with boxes everywhere and workers always in your way and having to dodge rolling ladders and two wheeled hand trucks.

I worked in supermarkets for years as a teenager and the stocking was done in the middle of the night (I did it one summer) from midnight to 7 a.m. so as not to get in the way of the shoppers and that was in stores with 3 meter wide aisles... some of these have barely one meter aisles and they are totally blocked by store employees restocking all day long!

[barrys]

Went to the Nissan dealer in Pranburi yesterday with the gf.
We were looking at the Nissan March.
There was a young saleswoman there who immediately latched onto my gf and tried to persuade her that the new Teana would be a much better buy at 1.7 million
When I spoke to her in Thai and told her that we knew exactly what we wanted, her attitude became rather unpleasant.

I then asked her how much the March weighed and she told me it was 3780 kg
I told her that this surely could not be the case and I couldn't believe it.
She then told me very arrogantly that it was that heavy and whether I believed it or not I just had to accept it.
Turns out after reading the brochure when we got home that the March is 3.780 metres long - and the brochure is in Thai

[GLCQuantum]

I then asked her how much the March weighed and she told me it was 3780 kg
I told her that this surely could not be the case and I couldn't believe it.
She then told me very arrogantly that it was that heavy and whether I believed it or not I just had to accept it.
Turns out after reading the brochure when we got home that the March is 3.780 metres long - and the brochure is in Thai

All too familiar ... just diferent scenarios.

[ste860]

actually this happens quite alot ,but i only just noticed it the other day , when i was on the third floor in the old shopping mall,i was only looking for a lead but i think it was called it city,i notice a young guy assistant was following me everywhere so i led him a merry dance up and down the isles ,

the only thing i can think off is they are paid a bonus if the sell you something for eg power buy ,they walk to the till with you and get their card swiped i cant really see any other reason

[Nereus]

Ok, as long as we're griping about staff at shops, why the hell do all the supermarkets restock the shelves during the busiest shopping hours with boxes everywhere and workers always in your way and having to dodge rolling ladders and two wheeled hand trucks.

I worked in supermarkets for years as a teenager and the stocking was done in the middle of the night (I did it one summer) from midnight to 7 a.m. so as not to get in the way of the shoppers and that was in stores with 3 meter wide aisles... some of these have barely one meter aisles and they are totally blocked by store employees restocking all day long!

AARG!AARG!AARG!*******!!! believe me, I will end up in the monkey house because of this UTTER B.S.! It goes on in EVERY supermarket that I have ever had the misfortune to enter in Thailand. At first I used to think: "well, they are just kids doing as they are told", but it goes further than that! The "management" are as much to blame, but it must tell you something about the general mentality that allows it to continue to happen.

[ChelseaNY]

I was followed in seven successive stores at Siam Paragon . . . resulting in my not making a purchase. I'd feel better if I knew they didn't think I was a thief!

Generally, even when itis maddening, I try to remember I am a guest in Thailand and go with the flow. Just another odd (to me) thing to chuckle about.

[kendo]

The first thing they should be trained in is how to switch their mobile phones off and leave them in the staff room.
Kendo.

[johnnyk]

Home pro could cut its prices if they fired 90% of these pylons. But their daddy's were owed a favour so here you are. I have found the female staff much more helpful than the hair gel brigades.

[Takiap]

Went to the Nissan dealer in Pranburi yesterday with the gf.
We were looking at the Nissan March.
There was a young saleswoman there who immediately latched onto my gf and tried to persuade her that the new Teana would be a much better buy at 1.7 million
When I spoke to her in Thai and told her that we knew exactly what we wanted, her attitude became rather unpleasant.

I then asked her how much the March weighed and she told me it was 3780 kg
I told her that this surely could not be the case and I couldn't believe it.
She then told me very arrogantly that it was that heavy and whether I believed it or not I just had to accept it.
Turns out after reading the brochure when we got home that the March is 3.780 metres long - and the brochure is in Thai

Just to let you know Barry, the March is quite a nice little run around car, especially considering the cost of a new one. We bought one a while back, and have been very happy with it. Done about 60,000 km's already.

[margaretcarnes]

Ok, as long as we're griping about staff at shops, why the hell do all the supermarkets restock the shelves during the busiest shopping hours with boxes everywhere and workers always in your way and having to dodge rolling ladders and two wheeled hand trucks.

I worked in supermarkets for years as a teenager and the stocking was done in the middle of the night (I did it one summer) from midnight to 7 a.m. so as not to get in the way of the shoppers and that was in stores with 3 meter wide aisles... some of these have barely one meter aisles and they are totally blocked by store employees restocking all day long!

Asda in the UK is open 24/7 and they still do exactly the same - restock during the busiest day time hours. Leave their trolleys in the middle of the aisles etc. I can only put it down to the fact that the shelves need re-stocking regardless of time of day?

[barrys]

Just to let you know Barry, the March is quite a nice little run around car, especially considering the cost of a new one. We bought one a while back, and have been very happy with it. Done about 60,000 km's already.

Thanks for that Takiap - good to hear.
Do you know anything about the Nissan Almera? Same engine as the March but the size of the Toyota Vios - only 60 kg heavier and 40k baht more?
Was also thinking the Honda Brio could be a good buy - only a wee bit more expensive that the March!?

[margaretcarnes]

Just a bit of grumble really, but why the hell am I shadowed by teenage fools that know nothing about a product everywhere I shop and have to 'go see their boss' every time I ask a question in Thai, even through the Mrs?

Are these 'wastes-of-spaces' just there to to deter thievery as I don't need a shadow when I'm browsing in the local home improvement story that actually knows sweet FA about anything. It puts me off buying something if I have some numpty minion monitoring me everywhere.

What's the freaking point of their existence in that space and time situation? And if you go to somewhere like HomePro then there are millions of them just hanging around ready to start preying anyone who comes in as if they are employed to prove their incompetence and uselessness to their 'overlord'.

Do Thais expect to just walk in to these places and be doted-over by fools in an exhibition of ego-massage on behalf of the staff as the staff believe everyone who walks in has no idea what they need and can be coerced into the possibility that they might spend some money?

No they couldn't have told you in the first place for obvious reasons. One - the customer is always right. Two - they can't lose face. Three - they need to make a sale. And at 17 k what a sale! That is about 350 stirlng. On that kind of budget in Europe you would be going for aluminium framed garden furniture with a tough microfibre webbing that would withstand any weather conditions. If you were paying that for a wood table set it would be useless after the first winter outdoors.

One of the motivations for this post is that I went into one of the local home improvement places near where I live and wanted to buy an outdoor table and chairs for the patio to sit out on in the evenings. I inquired about several different ones and specifically told them I wanted one that was OK for outdoors....which to me means sun/rain etc resistant.......and was told it was fine on the one we liked (cost 17k baht). Got it home and then it rained a couple of times and it didn't look so good in a few areas and phoned them up about it and they said that it needed glossing every year if you are going to have it outside. I complained and they replaced it with a new one which I have put polyurethane on and it's Ok.

But why the hell does it have to be so complicated? Couldn't they just have told me that in the first place? And if they had, then I would have said for 17k that I shouldn't have to do anything with it at least for a year or two.

[Roel]

I also think the Thais are bad drivers. What do you think?

[Pleng]

Ok, as long as we're griping about staff at shops, why the hell do all the supermarkets restock the shelves during the busiest shopping hours with boxes everywhere and workers always in your way and having to dodge rolling ladders and two wheeled hand trucks.

I worked in supermarkets for years as a teenager and the stocking was done in the middle of the night (I did it one summer) from midnight to 7 a.m. so as not to get in the way of the shoppers and that was in stores with 3 meter wide aisles... some of these have barely one meter aisles and they are totally blocked by store employees restocking all day long!

Asda in the UK is open 24/7 and they still do exactly the same - restock during the busiest day time hours. Leave their trolleys in the middle of the aisles etc. I can only put it down to the fact that the shelves need re-stocking regardless of time of day?

I'm glad somebody got it!

You may be frustrated, hh, by people being in your way at busy periods but I can promise you it's not nearly as frustating as going to the supermarket for something just to find that shelf empty!

And remember, a lot of the local businesses do their shopping at Tesco. A shelf can be emptied in a matter of minutes.