Overstaffing in Thai superstores

[Jose]

everywhere I go is overstaffed, the reason is, is that Thai workers take 3-4 times as long to complete the same work a British person would, this is the same in professional environments as well.

Also they do not look beyond there own responsibility or assigned job role, so you could be standing there for 10 minutes with 4 of them ignoring you but they will not call a front counter person over as its not their job to it.

[SunandFun]

A lot of these super stores only hire college grads. Of course their is no requirement to speak english. They could hire bar girls and provide much better service. Please note that this is a compliment to bar girls and not meant to be degrading at all. Mush better english and customer service skills.

[VincentD]

Just to echo S & F's view re English skills of uni grads, I was at a roadside noodle shop on the way back to Klaeng coming from Mae Phim beach two weekends ago. There were two English girls eating there with an oldish Thai lady. The Thai lady was translating, and her level of understanding of English was almost fluent. As an observer who understands both sides of the conversation, the Thai lady also made sure there was no overcharging and even paid for her own meal out of her own pocket.
When they got up to go, they went off in a three-wheeler. It was then I noticed that the Thai lady was actually a motor tricycle for hire!

Sadly, locals with a university education usually let it get to their heads.

[midlandmike]

I am pleasantly surprised at the language skills of many bar girls. (No oral-skills jokes please, I'm being serious) A young lady in a bar that I visit has gone from minimal english to real conversational ability in 6-8 months. It is also a sign of the times that many BG in pattaya and phuket are learning to speak Russian.

[PeteC]

I am pleasantly surprised at the language skills of many bar girls. (No oral-skills jokes please, I'm being serious) A young lady in a bar that I visit has gone from minimal english to real conversational ability in 6-8 months. It is also a sign of the times that many BG in pattaya and phuket are learning to speak Russian.

There are plenty of intelligent bar girls, they just got the bad end of the stick when it came to opportunity here. Many aspects of that highlight could be debated though and we need a new thread in NC if anyone wants to go there. Pete

EDIT: New thread now open in NC.....

[Clivep]

As to the excessive staffing levels , I was told some are paid by the suppliers directly, obviously to push certain lines in the store.

This is indeed the case. I have investigated product / brand placement in two major Thai chains (Central & The Mall) who in addition to their flagship brand stores also own the likes of Thai Watsadu, HomeWorks, Power Buy, Power Mall etc. In meetings with their buyers 'Product Support' was an integral part of obtaining shelve / floor space for a brand in their stores - this includes, amongst many things, the provision of a dedicated sales person in each store (more for more space), employed by the supplier - with 'fines' payable to the store for any absences.

Selling stuff in department stores 'aint cheap!

This may go someway in explaining the large numbers of staff evident who have very little incentive in assisting customers with anything other than their own brand products.

[Bristolian]

Yesterday I had the need to visit Thai Watsadu. I needed to buy some light fittings and ceiling fans to match some that I had purchased earlier in the year. As usual it was difficult to walk down some of the aisles due to the large numbers of staff chit chatting and generally milling around.

I quickly found the items that I wanted but was told that there was no stock availability and it would take 3 weeks if I wanted to order them. I was then offered alternative brand goods, of a different design, which obviously I didn't want.

I wandered back to my chosen light fittings only to see that on a lower shelf there actually was stock. Clearly the assistant was working for another supplier and was attempting to sell me her products.

What also surprised me was the number of products that were clearly identified as consignment stock that would need to be ordered as the stock was not held in the store.

As my other half had long since wandered off to look at things she was interested in, and I did not have the inclination to go look for her, I meandered around the gardening section, mowers, trimmers etc. a good 60% of items on display had the same tags saying that these were consignment items.

[Name Taken]

Yesterday I had the need to visit Thai Watsadu. I needed to buy some light fittings and ceiling fans to match some that I had purchased earlier in the year. As usual it was difficult to walk down some of the aisles due to the large numbers of staff chit chatting and generally milling around.

I quickly found the items that I wanted but was told that there was no stock availability and it would take 3 weeks if I wanted to order them. I was then offered alternative brand goods, of a different design, which obviously I didn't want.

I wandered back to my chosen light fittings only to see that on a lower shelf there actually was stock. Clearly the assistant was working for another supplier and was attempting to sell me her products.

What also surprised me was the number of products that were clearly identified as consignment stock that would need to be ordered as the stock was not held in the store.

As my other half had long since wandered off to look at things she was interested in, and I did not have the inclination to go look for her, I meandered around the gardening section, mowers, trimmers etc. a good 60% of items on display had the same tags saying that these were consignment items.

That's cronyism.

[AhFarangJa]

actually, been in Watsadu a couple of times this week, every time I go with the other half we are questioned at nearly every aisle as to what we want, can they help, and we are often followed down the aisles too, with assistants hovering around wanting to help ( I think) ..or....maybe we look like a couple of shoplifters, or it could simply be my charm and elegance I do not know, But one thing I do agree with, product knowledge is not too high on the list of qualifications required...But, hey ho, go with the flow..

[Dannie Boy]

I live just a couple of km's from Thai Watsadu and when we were having our house built just over a year ago we were forever in there buying a variety of things and got to know a number of the staff. At first they were just as described - following you around and being more of a hinderance than a help. Over time they got to realise that we normally knew what we wanted so often left us to fend for ourselves.

The other day I was there on my motorcycle and spotted bags of what were labelled as "organic soil" at just 10 baht a bag, so thought that next time I was passing in the car I would buy 10-20 bags. I went there on Friday and the place they had previously been located was clear of anything and after asking the nearest assistant was told "all sold". My look of frustration must have been obvious, because a short distance away, another assistant who we knew came over and asked if we were looking for soil and when told yes, he explained that the pallet had been moved to near the exit. Not very technical I know, but still helpful.

[wpcoe]

Probably till the day I die, I'll not be able to fathom why saying "I don't know" or less directly "Wait, I'll get someone who knows" is considered a loss of face. Time and again, that's the reason I get when asking local Thai folks about it: Trying to save face.

To me, outright lying and saying "Sorry, no have" -- when in reality they have no clue -- would result in loss of face, but clearly I'm wrong.

[chopsticks]

Perhaps when they say 'Sorry, no have' they are trying to say 'Sorry, (I) (do) no(t) have (enough product knowledge to assist you...) '

[oakdale160]

I know one lady at HomePro--her English is excellent.I always go to her even if I have a question about things not in her dept. She is always busy as many farang know her.
Of course if I was the manager,I would put a desk at the entry and have her there as a 'customer service rep'

I MUST stop this--this thinking creatively will never do--- TIT

[gandalfinthai]

I generally try to avoid complaining about the little aspects of life here that get under my skin occasionally. Having made that disclaimer - I have yet to understand why so many store-staff here block the aisles completely when they are restocking. I was in a small Tesco Express today and three of the four aisles were blocked by staff with small carts. Whee!!!

[Bristolian]

I generally try to avoid complaining about the little aspects of life here that get under my skin occasionally. Having made that disclaimer - I have yet to understand why so many store-staff here block the aisles completely when they are restocking. I was in a small Tesco Express today and three of the four aisles were blocked by staff with small carts. Whee!!!

I agree, there is little point to argue or disagree. My earlier post was nothing more than an observation and not really a criticism but simply micro view of what happens when you are not prepared. Many things about the management and day to day operation of shops, here in Thailand, are vastly different to how things work elsewhere. We all need t get used t it.....things will change slowly if at all. Whee !!!!