Shopping For A Newbie Ex-Pat

[Big Boy]

I've been reading this forum for many years now, and have read many times about the trials and tribulations of being an expat in Thailand. Obviously it was going to be a bit different for me this time i.e. I wasn't buying T Shirts etc to take back to the UK. this time I would be buying a home - still have many things to buy I must add. I thought that I would pass on a few of my observations from the past few weeks.

To start with, I'll mention the overall shopping experience when buying large household objects. Why can't I browse in a shop alone? Do they think I'm incompetent? In every shop (with the exception of Tesco) at least least one assistant feels obliged to tag along. In Home Pro, I seem to walk around with an army of little helpers. I try to leave them talking to my wife, and break away from the main party, but I think they can smell my wallet (or me - it has been hot) and soon tag on to me again.

When I decide that I want to buy something, I don't think there has been one occasion when they have not tried to persuade me that my decision is wrong, and I need something different. I'm an old man, most of these 'assistants' are young kids. Why would they know what I want better than I know myself? My choice is generally made through years of experience and already having made mistakes. They go to the extent of saying that my choice is no good whatsoever (so why are they displaying it/maybe selling it). On several occasions, I have simply walked away - no sale.

I mentioned Tesco earlier. The only large item I've bought from them has been a fan. We needed one quickly, and we were in Tesco. We chose the fan, loaded the box in the trolly and were on our way to the checkout. Some guy ran after us with a box in his hand. I naturally thought that he's seen us make our choice, and now he's going to try to sell me what I really want. On this occasion it turned out that the fan came in 2 parts, and we'd only taken the pedestal - he was chasing after us with the actual fan .

Now the delivery/fitting service. With one exception (incidentally the from the store that has the best reviews on this forum), the delivery/fitting service has been excellent. Very cheap, very efficient and very quick. As an example, when they came to fit our automatic washing machine there was not even a water supply. The guy surveyed the property, shook his head and sucked air. I asked what he needed to make it good. He made a few measurements, wrote a few things down and said that if I gave him 1000 Baht for the bits, he would sort it. He came back about half an hour later, and gave me 410 baht change. The machine was plumbed in very expertly at no additional cost - all part of the delivery service. Yes, we did give him a decent tip. I hear people moan about this shop and that shop, but compared to the UK, the delivery/fitting service is second to none - very impressive, and well done Thailand!

Get rid of the superfluous 'assistants' and IMHO Thailand is a great place to shop.

[Terry]

Welcome BB - finally as a resident - apologies for not doing so before.

Your experience sounds just about right and it's typical here.

As for the hoard of assistants following you - it's quite simple. Most of them will want to get a sale to boost their commission. The more expensive the item - the more commission they get.

Do they know what they are selling? Most of the time - no

Get rid of the superfluous 'assistants' and IMHO Thailand is a great place to shop.

Agree totally

[Pleng]

As for the hoard of assistants following you - it's quite simple. Most of them will want to get a sale to boost their commission. The more expensive the item - the more commission they get.

While that is a big part of it, it also has to do with the Thai view of service. In the same way that if you go into an restaurant, if they aren't busy they'll hand you the menu and hover until you make your choice. While that feels awkward to us, like a hurry up, it's their idea of customer care.

Of course, in the restaurant you don't tend to get the "Hmm this dish is fine, but I think what you're really after is this one"!

[bonnielass]

BB,

I agree the number of shop assistants can be annoying. However, I actually did get some good advice from an assistant in Homepro when buying a set of stepladders. The assistant showed me a better product for the same price.

For the most part, I have had very positive shopping experiences while buying household goods. Delivery has been free, same day or next day service and they always turn up when they say they will. I cannot fault any of the stores I have used.

If I compare trying to buy a sofa set in Europe where I have been quoted a 12 week delivery!!!! Or "we will deliver your washing machine but you have to take the whole day off work as we can't give you an exact time".

I also take my hat off to Thailand - job well done.

[Siani]

BB...I say "Looking first, want to look alone please" if they cannot get that, I walk out. I hate it, I also say..."please leave me to look alone"...
I think what it is "Boss" says "sell the item"...it is as if we cannot make our own minds up

[usual suspect]

If I want anything from nails/screws..to paint, rollers for my big gate..tools and hardware then my fave shop is on the Pala-U Road..before Casa Mia on the right as you leave town..it's normally got a line of wheelbarrows outside, each a different colour :-) Always a 'greeter' outside..she meets you with a smile and assesses your handful of broken bits, then guides you inside the shop while jabbering in Thai what your needing.
(The boss-man does speak some English).
The price is always right (got some drill bits+ cutting discs there last week..15B each), and willing to
serve you as a customer..not just a stoopid Farang who knows nowt.. :-)

[margaretcarnes]

BB - I'm really surprised that you find shopping in the LOS so different to shopping in the UK. Didn't you ever have the same 'customer care' issues in places like Currys, DFS, Staples etc? If not you were lucky.
But there - the LOS - like here in the UK - I find the easy answer is to use small specialist shops rather than the big boys every time. Especially when buying big items like TV's or washing machines.
Would you go to Curry's for a cabbage?

Sorry - Currys is maybe a bad example - there are much more reliable electrical retailers here in the UK. And the same goes in HH.

[Super Joe]

Would you go to Curry's for a cabbage?

No, they all work at Lidl's.

SJ

[Homer]

Get rid of the superfluous 'assistants' and IMHO Thailand is a great place to shop.

Nothing I've done to make them leave me alone has worked. Thought about turning to a shop girl, do my best demented Jack Nicholson leer and ask her if she has daddy issues.

[Big Boy]

BB - I'm really surprised that you find shopping in the LOS so different to shopping in the UK. Didn't you ever have the same 'customer care' issues in places like Currys, DFS, Staples etc? If not you were lucky.

I must admit, I can't decide if this is humour, or whether you are serious. Yes, in the UK they will approach you, but if you let them know that you're just browsing, they will leave you alone.

[STEVE G]

Nothing I've done to make them leave me alone has worked.

Try telling them that you only came in to cool down because the shop was air conditioned!

[Siani]

BB - I'm really surprised that you find shopping in the LOS so different to shopping in the UK. Didn't you ever have the same 'customer care' issues in places like Currys, DFS, Staples etc? If not you were lucky.

I must admit, I can't decide if this is humour, or whether you are serious. Yes, in the UK they will approach you, but if you let them know that you're just browsing, they will leave you alone.

Sounded serious to me BB. I however think that in the UK, if they do approach you and you tell them you are just browsing, they will leave you alone to do that, every time. They will say, quite correctly.."well give me a call if I can assist in anyway". In Thailand....in some shops..it's like a game of Tag...they walk 3 paces behind you like a shadow. Even if you tell them...Please, I want to look.............they still tail you like as if what you say does not matter. This is the point I leave. We do go to large shops for electrical goods etc mainly because they have a larger selection. Even in the IT in Market Village, all the sellers are all small retailers, not one big shop. They leave you alone in general up there.

Mags...cabbage in Curry's?? Never tried to buy one there On the other hand I have not tried to buy a TV in my local greengrocers