Protest against Macro in Prachuab

[Chas]

I have rung in before on this very issue back when the "H H chopping MAW" was the only game in town. If I ever got a smile or a polite look from anyone or the feeling that my business was even welcome there it came as a shock.

My experience in the smaller mom & pop stores has also too often been unpleasant I'm afraid. And I am the type of customer who tends to have great "brand loyalty" when I find the experience pleasant. For example, my two favorite restaurants in Hua Hin are not especially great gourmet places, but the people are friendly and seem happy to see me when I walk in so I give them my business and return again and again.

Someone once made the point the many Thai business owners have no concept of "repeat business". They will cheerfully screw you over with no thought for the fact that treated kindly, you might return the next day to buy something else. There is a small "mom & pop" general store near our development, just around the corner from us in fact, where the people are so rude and surly ( not to mention the uncontrolled ankle-biters yapping at you the whole time) that I will not go there. I get in the car and drive out if I need something. If they had any business sense at all, they could have made a fortune off us over the last four years

I went through three lumberyards like this. The fact that I am remodeling a house and in the market for some major purchases off and on over the next few years meant nothing. The attitude was VERY clearly. ."Oh Damn it, here comes a farang! Lets get rid of him asap and get as much of his money as we can." .and this was even when I had a Thai translator at my side.

Now the OP here and the article seems to be about a blow up of Thai retailers against Thai policies. . but what about the Thai customers? What do THEY want and how are THEY treated by the smaller retailers who are protesting. I wonder.

There is a question for you all who have Thai connections/family/friends. Why do they prefer Tesco-Lotus or Home Pro to a smaller retailer. . .or do they?

I sure am a hell of a lot happier here since Market Village opened. Homepro is my favorite store and yes, many of the clerks smile and seem happy to see me and also glad to help me as needed. Probably just some company regulation, but it feels good and I always return.

[lomuamart]

Not meaning to bore you, but I will for a few words.
Something like 80% of "groceries" and 75% of all off-sales in the UK are sold by the big supermarkets in the UK.
I used to spend a bit of time talking to National Account Managers (the big sales people from the manufacturers) about what would help their cause.
Not so easy - the big supermarkets dictated the deal.
There were only some companies who held out and they included Nestle Rowntree, Mars, Heinz and a few others. And Cadburys up there in Bournville.
Whatever, they were being squeezed into the ground by the retailers.
"If you don't agree to our terms, you havn't got a product".
Simple as that.
So, I'm a bit partisan, however I'll always try to shop locally. Maybe I'll pay a bit more but I'll not step into Tesco Lotus, yet.
Variety is the spice of life. It's just unfortunate that all our choices are being restricted.

[sandy]

I live in a small town in UK not too unlike HH ie beach ,tourists and around 40,000 catchment area and like the worry of the Thais we have lost 60% of our family buisnesses and our protests were answered by Tesco thus we are so big if we want to come,come we will OK for many ex pats a taste of home may be welcome but who ever said the Thais want the western eating habits let alone the poorer quality goods as well?

[Norseman]

who ever said the Thais want the western eating habits let alone the poorer quality goods as well?

I don't know who said that, but westerners are by far outnumbered by Thais in Tesco.
As long as Thai small shop owners buy their goods in Tesco, reselling or work up the goods in their small shops, I guess most people are happy with the presence of Tesco.

[DawnHRD]

Chas, I loathe Homepro, for precisely the reason you say you like it. The serving staff won't leave you alone, but when you actually decide to utilise them, they have no idea what you're talking about & a wild goose chase around the store ensues.

Yes, my Thai should be better. I know that. But, Homepro is largely used by foreigners, so I think a course in English on the products they sell, might not be a bad idea. Otherwise, maybe the staff should just leave the customers alone & let them find their items themselves. I can't stand places with pushy staff. I will always use local hardware stores, when I can.

Norseman, you're absolutely right - Thais far outnumber farang in Tesco. I went yesterday for a couple of bits. Big mistake! I'd forgotten it was Mother's Day. Half the province must have been there as a Mother's Day "treat"!

Off topic slightly, can anyone tell me why a farang pushing a trolley filled to overflowing with chicken carcasses, dry dog food & rice is entertainment in Tesco? It's getting very embarrassing. I think I'm going to have to start doing what celebrities do & ask them to open early or late, especially for me

[Chas]

Dawn, I hate "sticky" sales people with the same passion you do. But 90% of the time the Homepro people don't bother me at all. (Do you think that being a woman has anything to do with it?) My worst experiences there have been with the paint people who do not have a clue what they are doing to be frank. I have learned to take my translator along when I have to deal with them and even then it is muddle city.

I do agree that they need to hire a few people who speak some English!! I see more farangs in there than Thais. The concept of DIY is not part of upper class Thai culture. (If you have any money at all, you hire someone to do the work. . .and he probably shops at the mom & pop stores!)

But yes, when you actually want someone to help you in Homepro, it can be a problem.

My love of Homepro is based entirely on the fact that I can walk around and easily fill my basket with what I need for DIY home repairs/renovation. Can't think where else in Hua Hin that I could do this. The small mom & pop hardware stores get very nervous if you "wander" away from the counter to look in a bin ( and I am often shopping for things which I would be hard-pressed to correctly name in English.)

[The understudy]

Hi there Chas

I can understand your resentment about the Mom & Pop shop right @ the corner. The reason why they are openly showing this rude behavior is that they feel they are inevtitable in for your housing project so they think they have right to screw you oveur. Think of another shop would open in near your Development with more variety and friendlier staff. The Mom & Pop shops would go bust.

In my point of view The protesters who protest against those big hypermarkets still want their kind way it has been for Generations they didn't seem to to realize that Times have changes really!

Your's the understudy!!!

PS: A Year has 365 Days It's the delicate balance of Making the most of Now and Chilling out after a period in Life's Battlegrounds and Trenches.

[STEVE G]

When Makro opened in Indonesia it wasn’t just open to anyone, you had to apply for a card and they only sold things in bulk so it isn’t really in direct competition with the local corner shops which I thought were all being killed off by 7/11 anyway.

[Nereus]

When Makro opened in Indonesia it wasn’t just open to anyone, you had to apply for a card and they only sold things in bulk so it isn’t really in direct competition with the local corner shops which I thought were all being killed off by 7/11 anyway.

It was the same in Thailand, albiet was not to hard to get a card. Do not know if they still have the same policy in Bangkok.

[STEVE G]

I can’t remember how locals obtained a card in Indonesia, I know they pretty much gave them to any foreigner but I think otherwise it was dependent on income.

[lomuamart]

It used to be the same in the UK as well.
A cash and carry, serving trade only, but it wasn't too difficult to get a card or even shop and not be asked for it. That was a number of years ago though, but their lax practices certainly didn't make the manufacturers happy as they had to keep the supermarkets "on-side" and needless to say the likes of Tesco etc weren't too happy that Joe Public was able to shop at a Makro and get prices similar to what the main players were able to negotiate and sell out at in their stores.

[PeteC]

As a side note, Tesco(s) over here remain stable. Carrefour has gone to the dogs and it's sad. I don't know if a management change from French to Thai but regardless, they should voluntarily place their head in the meat cutting machine.

Cockroaches all over the vegetables in clear sight of everyone. German roasted pig legs that are literally green, but with an expiration date of 3 days later. We popped the plastic off one and even the clerk turned red and quickly removed it. The smell travelled 5 meters in 1 second.

Constantly changing product location. Is this some kind of modern day ploy to make shoppers stay longer in the store to hunt for what they want. Bloody crap . Clerks constantly clogging aisles with product trollys. Don't most stores re-stock during the closed hours? Checkout clerks who by the laws of physics could not run an item over an optical scanner any slower than the do. Perhaps another ploy to get those waiting to buy gum, candy and condoms from the checkout area racks.

Previous really good European cheese selection cut to ribbons concerning choice.

Bakery items stale and small choice as compared to before.

This could all be due to 'low season management' but Foodland still shines and I'm sure Villa Supermarket will also when opened next year. Carrefour for farang food shopping is and will further go down the drain. Pete

[Nereus]

Clerks constantly clogging aisles with product trollys. Don't most stores re-stock during the closed hours? . Pete

This is my pet gripe with both Carrefour and Tesco. It is typical "Thai Style" managment that allows it to happen.

[The understudy]

Whazzup Y'all

did you know that the Brand Makro is a daughter Company of Germanies Metro Retail Group? In Thailand and Indonesia they have formed a Partnership with Thai or Indonesian Company repevtively. In Thailand It's the Siam Makro Plc. Same Apply for a card Cash'n Carry scheme just like in Germany. but in some Bangkok Stores do to very fierce Competition amnong Hypermarkets no cards have to be applied for these stores. to generate Trafic.

Your's The understudy!!!

[Vital Spark]

Off topic slightly, can anyone tell me why a farang pushing a trolley filled to overflowing with chicken carcasses, dry dog food & rice is entertainment in Tesco? It's getting very embarrassing. I think I'm going to have to start doing what celebrities do & ask them to open early or late, especially for me

I think you're allowed to go 'off-topic' Dawn with that comment.

It did make me chuckle. They think you're going to eat it all. And that night. We go to the local Talat Nat and buy stuff for the week - we freeze the meat and the veg. goes into the fridge. We often get asked, after a curious gaze at our rather large haul "What are you going to cook with using that?" They normally buy ingredients for their next meal - and that's all. We've certainly left them scratching their heads, trying to work out how we can eat three breasts of chicken, a fillet of pork, bean sprouts, a kilo of onions etc. in one meal.

Getting back vaguely on topic, I find Home-Pro (on the rare occasion that we go there) only good for finding out prices of things. We then go along to the local hardware shop, and usually find that their prices are considerably lower.

Chas: Some of the little shops will let you wander. I just love it. Got a rake for the garden for 150 baht the other day. It's built to last and the welding would make any schoolboy proud.

There's a great DIY shop on the Pala-U road out of Hua Hin, past the school on the left. The shop's on the right-hand side. The staff are really polite, the prices are good and they try their utmost to help (without being pushy). It's painted bright yellow - you can't miss it.

VS

Dawn: Just tell the starers that you 'Hew Khow Maak Maak'