Tesco Lotus

[Burger]

Jim wrote:

Sorry for this, as it is an ignorant and patronising comment, but I'm going to make it all the same. The thought of coming all the way from Reading to Hua Hin and going to Tesco makes me want to cry.

Know what you mean Jim, thinking about it, it is a bit scary the thought of getting remotely excited about a Tesco store, then again, that pales into insignificance at the scary thought of living in Reading

Wokingham however .............................

Burger

[Guess]

But come on guys there is no Tesco, Burger King or KFC in Wokingham.

Hua Hin beats them both. Even the heartland show town of Silicone Valley (Bracknell) would not match up to Hua Hin.

[Jim]

I take all the flack fired my way. Tesco Lotus in Phuket is one of the best strores I've been in: the shops have everything, are very well run, cheap and provide good local employment. And for the ex-pats, as you say it's a slice of home. And progress is good for Hua Hin, of course it is.

It's just that you can't get away from bloody Tescos. I hate bloody Tescos, they're everywhere. I would even be happy if they called the stores "Lotus" and I knew it was owned by Tesco. I just don't want to travel 6000 miles and go to shop with "Tesco" all over it.

And the Tesco Metro at Kings Meadow is the most soul destroying shopping experience I know.

Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Jim

[lomuamart]

Tesco has planned its expansion in SE Asia for ages. It has and will continue.
However, last week they announced they're going to try the west coast of the mighty USA. Their shares took a dive then as no British retailer has ever made it business wise over The Atlantic.
Tesco are an agressive company. That's why they're number 1 in the UK. However all supermarket chains and Tesco in particular are finding it increasingly difficult to get around the monopolies board - or whatever it's called these days.
So, expansion has got to be international, not national - other than their ever growing number of smaller convenience stores.

[ajarnfrank]

My next-door neighbor went yesterday. He's from Canada, and doesn't seem to suffer from ATC (Anti-Tesco Complex). I loved going to Tesco in Chiang Mai (okay; so I didn't love it exactly), because of the wide aisles, clean floors, adequate lighting, great inventory, etc. He said it was almost like a Wal-Mart in that respect, which ain't bad. We can't imagine that the place downtown will survive after high season. Perhaps we will all continue going to the merchants who have served us well, but I hate those cramped little hardware stores where only Clem or Satsakorn know where anything is. I will not cry over the demise of that crummy, crowded store in the center of town where parking's almost impossible, the clerks just stand in the aisle, it's dirty, the cashiers are about as cheery as prison guards (even when you smile at them), etc.

The neighbor did say that the covered parking for motorcycles was too cramped; the aisles are too narrow.

Guess I'll run over there on Saturday for the grand opening.

[Guess]

My next-door neighbor went yesterday. He's from Canada

The neighbor did say that the covered parking for motorcycles was too cramped; the aisles are too narrow.

From Canada. That's a long way to come for a Tesco's.

In answer to your second point here, the aisles a designed for slim Thai Ladies. Thai men usually have the good sense to send the wife to do the shopping while they sit around with their mates drinking.

I think anyone weighing 50 Kilos, 110 Pounds can park their bike with no problem.

[Guess]

My dissapointment was that I spent one hour shuffling around the store looking for Taboo and could not find one bottle of the stuff. This is disgraceful.

[Bamboo Grove]

Nice traffic jams there today, made me miss the easiness of travelling in Big Mango.

[Chas]

I will not cry over the demise of that crummy, crowded store in the center of town where parking's almost impossible, the clerks just stand in the aisle, it's dirty, the cashiers are about as cheery as prison guards (even when you smile at them), etc.

Frank, be VERY careful what you say about this store! The last time I brought the subject up (look for a previous thread on the "Chopping Maw") I got attacked by any number of folks who find the dirt and prison guards there just the most charming part of old Hua Hin. I dont think any of them actually LIVE here, but they loved the place and probably wont venture near the new Tesco Lotus. Well they are welcome to it.

I stopped going there just about the time I started that thread and now I wouldnt go in if I were starving. ( I had the temerity to ask a clerk, very politely I might add, for the price on a dog dish and received in return the rudest treatement I have ever experienced from a Thai person! She came very close to cursing at me, and nearly threw the dish back at me, for Petes sake.)Instead, I have been driving up to Big C every other week or so. I LIKE Big C. Whatever the nationality of the owners. . .and I confess to not knowing and frankly not caring. They run a great store.

Just to stave off those of you warming up your fingertips to lecture me again, I LOVE Thailand ( been here 4 years now and do NOT intend to leave), I love the wet market with all its smells, I love the old and the quaint and the way things were, I can appreciate local charm and beauty and I find it everywhere around me. My favorite restaurants are some of the smallest, quaintest places in town. I DONT find anything to like in this dismal excuse for a store. ( Try to get something gift wrapped there sometime ( it is a service they supposedly offer) "prison guard "doesn't begin to describe the level of surliness achieved by these girls. (Yeah Yeah, I know they only make 100 baht a day, but why are they taking it out on ME?)

When I want to shop for groceries, I appreciate friendly smiles, wide aisles, wide selection of goods, good lighting, organized display areas, helpful clerks etc. . .elements that somebody at Tesco must realize are important to customers. .at least to some of us anyway.

[Chas]

[

quote]Traffic on Petchakasem was fine but bit of traffic around the complex getting up to the main exit.
Lots of little men in big suits blowing whistles at you for no apparent reason. Bit like Premiership referees.

Have to laugh. Reminds me of the time my spouse and I were in the parking garage at Pantip Mall in Bkk on our way to get our car and this guard followed us down the stairway blowing his little whistle the whole way down! We still giggle about this.

[Governor]

And pray what is actually wrong with Prison Guards, I have worked with then for 38 years?

[Chas]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And pray what is actually wrong with Prison Guards, I have worked with then for 38 years?

Gov, it was not my term and I dont know any actual prison guards, but are they the kind of friendly, helpful, smiling person you would like to shop with? Come up with a better comparison?

[jambo]

govener wrote

And pray what is actually wrong with Prison Guards, I have worked with then for 38 years?

38 years what was your crime ? are you the kray triplet we wasnt told about?

[Guess]

And pray what is actually wrong with Prison Guards, I have worked with then for 38 years?

Governor,

Did your work involve a Dark Blue Uniform and a bunch of keys or did you wear a blue and white striped shirt and jeans and clean landings.

Anyway Bovingdon must be a good place to finish you sentence. You musr be midway between Tesco's in Amersham and Tesco's in Hemel.

[troopie]

I went to Tesco yesterday, like most of the region seems to have done. I was very impressed & as a result, we spent a lot more than we planned -- though we got a lot more for our 23 quid than we'd have got in my old Tesco in London! Maybe if there had been a Tesco in Japan, we'd have enjoyed shopping there more during our 14 year stay. As for HH Tesco, we shall return.
As for 'the Mall', if this new Tesco drives them out of business, I for one won't cry. For far too long, they have been screwing tourists with bad goods, bad staff & a who-gives-a-s**t attitude. Strange thing is how many tourist seems to love it!
Oh, & for those who can't bear the idea of using a Tesco in Thailand, my advice is -- don't use it! It isn't donwtown, so unless you live around the Marriot, you can easily avoid even seeing it. Of course it'll be sad if this drives the small corner store out, but I don't think that'll happen. People who like what those shops offer will hate Tesco, & vice-versa.
Oh, & the 'Fuji' japanese restaurant in the same development as Tesco seems very reasonably priced & popular. I'll let you know what my (Japanese) wife thinks of the authenticity later . . .