northernjohn

I never hear anyone talking about stocks at the breakfasts, except maybe chicken stock when talking about food.

I wonder why people have to make up stories that are not true as an excuse. I suspect some of them are afraid of people and don't want others to know that so they make up an excuse when they don't even have to reply. Kind of like the guy who rides around on a horse pushing immigration agents.

Had an enjoyable breakfast there this morning. I think Jobin might for some have a point about eating in the heat. But he fails to understand this is only a twice a month 12 months of the year event.

I don't blame any one for not going to the riverside for breakfast. But the twice a month River Market is in a class of it's own.

As for is the food like the Dukes? No it is mainly breakfast food.

As for the man who runs it. That would be the same from start to finish. Dave and he has learned on the way as the one today was far and away better than his first one which was a good one any how.

I am upset Don't know how many times uptheos has been there but I have been there about 75% of the time and not got any discussion about the stock market.

All in all a great western breakfast with some Thai dishes in a great setting. It has no program just come in and sit in a chair that is not being used and meet some in my experience very nice people.

You really don't need an excuse not to come it is just being offered as a nice alternative to other ideas.

I have been there twice in the evening and liked it very much.

Buffet breakfast's are just not my scene, that's all, nothing more.

I have no problem with your post except for the

"listen to a load of people babbling on, mainly about their stocks and shares."

As I said I have been there about 75% of the time and never heard a word about it. I agree about stuffing one's self. I personally only go to the Ex Pat twice a month. I stay away from the others. If it was not for the quality and type of food being offered I wouldn't go there either.

As I said earlier it is just an alternative that is not offered in any other place that I am aware of.

Lots and lots of buffet's but none of them that heavily weighted towards the western foods and the social side just come in and sit with people you don't know and just share information or chit chat.

Besides that I need a break from cereal. They no longer carry the brand I like. It was Organic not that it makes a difference but I really liked it.

Have never done a TM30 as every time I travel out of country I pay the rent ahead for where I live. It never changes.

I know some people do but I am not sure it is necessary if you have a lease and the rent has been paid before you depart. Maybe I am wrong and have just plain been lucky.

Most of the time my landlord has not even known I went and came back.

Had an enjoyable breakfast there this morning. I think Jobin might for some have a point about eating in the heat. But he fails to understand this is only a twice a month 12 months of the year event.

I don't blame any one for not going to the riverside for breakfast. But the twice a month River Market is in a class of it's own.

As for is the food like the Dukes? No it is mainly breakfast food.

As for the man who runs it. That would be the same from start to finish. Dave and he has learned on the way as the one today was far and away better than his first one which was a good one any how.

I am upset Don't know how many times uptheos has been there but I have been there about 75% of the time and not got any discussion about the stock market.

All in all a great western breakfast with some Thai dishes in a great setting. It has no program just come in and sit in a chair that is not being used and meet some in my experience very nice people.

You really don't need an excuse not to come it is just being offered as a nice alternative to other ideas.

Very nice and concise report. I'd have told the guy in the wheelchair to take his place at the back of the queue. Being disabled doesn't give you special privileges everywhere; sometimes it is appropriate, but other times it is not. The queue for visa extensions falls into the latter category.

Totally agree. I myself have a partial disability yet I ask for no favors or am I given them. I have seen people there in wheelchairs waiting that had much better seats than the rest of us. I don't envy them getting there. That in some cases could be a trifle hard but just sitting there is no big deal.

Yeah, it's cheap processed meat and cheese, just like the ham and cheese at 7/11. A real sub sandwich has fresh cuts of meat,ham,corned beef,pastrami not processed, I'd pay 200 baht for that, not for a spam sandwich though.

Ham, corned beef and pastrami are all processed meats.

as is spam,chicken mcnuggts and potted meat, really no difference at all is there.

Contrary to your statement, they are all processed meats.

Lets face it Ladies and Gentleman here we are in Thailand arguing over quality food. Now if we were in France or say Italy it might make sense. But to live here in Thailand where the keeping of foods is not that well regulated it is ridicules. Go to any Thai Market where a lot of the food we eat is purchased then come back and tell me how bad the pickles at Subway are.

Had to laugh at the people talking about them not looking at the signatures. A long time ago I knew people who were forging checks. Some of them signed them you have been <deleted>---d.

Here every now and then I will just give my foreign credit card to the wife to pay for some thing while I am talking to some body. Never a problem with it. She can't write English so she does it in Thai.

I have to agree that the tech is so far advanced now that they need never see your card to use the number. They can tap into many different places.

I would like to admit I made a mistake. In post number 255 I mistakenly posted an answer that could very easy been considered an answer to HM1367 and Nancy.

It was actually a post number192 by yang123 that I was referring to. One where he was siting number 9 in the line for his yearly extension with 5 agents ahead of him and three people representing them selves. Yet he got queue number 13 rather than 9. Once again showing that makes no difference an agent can represent more than one to get a queue number. According to Nancy the agency next door doesn't have to do that they just slip in at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Must be the other agencies.

We all know that most mornings it is rather hectic and some people get there extremely early.

I for one find it highly unfair that one queue number can be used by more than one person both in the yearly and the 90 day reports.

But it seems to me that in the afternoons things aren't that bad. I just talk about the several times I have walked through there in the afternoons and looked at the numbers on the desk to see how many people had been served. If I don't want to do the 90 day report I will fill the form in and send my wife with it. She knows how it is done. She will get a number and just sit in line until it is called.

Okay let me see how folks vote (at least the Americans who are familiar with these chains).

Which would you prefer:

1) Subway

2) Quiznos

3) Blimpie

4) Schlotzsky's

*Note: I know there's many more chains but these were some of the popular ones around when I was last living in the USA.

BTW, my choice is #4.....

Not familiar with 3 and 4 Number 1 hands down best of the remaining 2.

hml367 -- you're right. I didn't read the previous threads properly. You used an agent, but you did observe how one person can obtain a retirement extension and account for needing several queue numbers because there are dependents tied to his retirement extension: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/881962-immigration-promenada-one-stop-service-2016/?p=10744307

NancyL,

You need to broaden your perspective. I never said the person was getting a retirement extension. As a matter of fact, the person did not look old enough to be eligible for a retirement extension. My opinion is that the person was not getting a retirement extension. And I repeat - I have no idea what the person or the people with him (presumably family, and all farangs) were getting. If it was not a retirement extension, as I believe it was not, there would not have been any dependents tied to a "retirement" extension.

In my experiences at Immigration at the airport road location (remember, this was my first experience at Promenada) families normally do all of their passports at once. Even international schools used to process all student passports at once.

The only reason I noted them in my post was because there was someone at that desk signing whatever was put in the passports. That same person signed my passport which was for a retirement extension and a reentry permit. In reading threads in the Chiang Mai forum it seemed to be that people were saying passports could not be signed at Promenada at the same time the paperwork was done. Mine was and every person that went to the desk I went to while I was there had their passports signed.

The whole thing is being misrepresented. I pointed out that if you are number 8 in line you should get number 8 queue number. I don't care if you have 1,000 relatives. They are no better than you. The gentleman should have received number 8. If indeed it was a family. It was obvious that they were getting an extension as that was the line they were in. If there is other things getting queue numbers in that line makes no difference. They should get in line the same as the rest of us do except for those of us who speed the system up by getting known qualified agents who take far less time thereby allowing the officers to handle more people in the same amount of time.

I repeat it is not a one queue one customer system. As for the one officer signing both documents perhaps he was the man responsible for that job and he was helping out that day.

IMO, the only reason why some people dislike Subways id because it is an American chain store .

If there was an individual Thai guy selling exactly the same product on Ko Phan Gan , the same people who dislke Subways would be marveling about how good they were .

Well when you stop to think about it the whole thing is funny. People looking for organic foods and complaining about processed foods moving to Thailand.

Not trying to rain on the whiners and criers parade. But this is reality. I went in there at 10:47 for my 90 day. I was given number 83 I went in and looked they were on number 70. One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent. Regardless I was out of there at 11:10.

When I arrived and got my queue number I noticed they had only given out 17 one year extensions. I walked around and noticed that they were processing number 10 at the time. I talked with a lady who was getting a permission to enter 1 time. She said she got there and they took her right away.

Those are the facts as I experienced them and witnessed them for today in between 10:47 AM and 11:10 AM May 17 2016. Had a nice lunch at Ragu saw a movie did a minimum of shopping at Rimping got a free shuttle home and was home at 3:30.

I will admit if it had looked like it was going to be a long day such as people lead some to believe I would have walked next door paid the agent 300 baht and enjoyed my day. Then again I had forgot to bring my book. I was just about to talk to a guy when they called his number.

As we all know and has been posted many times

It depends on the day

Also the time of the year

It is like Russian roulette

Just like the air conditioned bus service

maybe Promenade was created to use agents

As far as im concerned its all old hat now

No good whining about it or constantly posting about it

We just have to accept it Chiang Mai is different

Plus i am entitled to my opinion

I don't past much anymore

as too many posters just post for the sake of it

i have better time than post

life is short we have to enjoy every day here

i feel better now i got it of my chest

I completely agree with you that is why I posted the facts with no opinions.

One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent.

It is one customer to an agent in the early morning queue for retirement extensions, except for a certain favored agent. Your report is about your 90 day report and anyone can submit your 90 day report for you, NJ -- you don't have to do it in person. That's why one agent can do 4.

Get your facts straight.

So Nancy if they give out 150 queue numbers they may have 600 applications. I know any one can file it for me. I just pointed out that they can get one number and go in and represent many people.

It is not a 1 queue 1applicant system. Check back on the one where there was 5 agents 2 people for them selves in the line ahead of a fellow and instead of number 9 he got number 13 that was for a yearly extension. I noticed you didn't comment on that.

As I said I was an eye witness to the one at the 90 day and am relying on the honesty of the poster who got queue 13 when he was eighth in the line for the yearly extension.

I had a turkey 6" the other day, think it was something like 149 bht. Seemed like worth maybe 1/2 that. And they have no idea how to make a sandwich, held it like opening a book, piled up all the veg in the middle, poured 5 dashes of black pepper in a pile on top and wrapped it. Total mess and when I hit the pepper I couldn't taste anything afterwards. Don't they even have a manual of how to build a Subway Sub??

I got to love it a quality food critic going to Subway a international fast food franchise to check out there food. I have to agree the price is high That is why I only go for the Monday special.

Can you get back to us with an up-to-date critique on McDonalds, Burger King and KFC?

Not trying to rain on the whiners and criers parade. But this is reality. I went in there at 10:47 for my 90 day. I was given number 83 I went in and looked they were on number 70. One agent sat there with 4 reports. So much for the myth one customer to an agent. Regardless I was out of there at 11:10.

When I arrived and got my queue number I noticed they had only given out 17 one year extensions. I walked around and noticed that they were processing number 10 at the time. I talked with a lady who was getting a permission to enter 1 time. She said she got there and they took her right away.

Those are the facts as I experienced them and witnessed them for today in between 10:47 AM and 11:10 AM May 17 2016. Had a nice lunch at Ragu saw a movie did a minimum of shopping at Rimping got a free shuttle home and was home at 3:30.

I will admit if it had looked like it was going to be a long day such as people lead some to believe I would have walked next door paid the agent 300 baht and enjoyed my day. Then again I had forgot to bring my book. I was just about to talk to a guy when they called his number.

People are clinging onto "69 Baht" when in fact that's a promotional price for a sandwich from a list of "cheap to make" sandwiches. The last Subway I ate in Thailand was over 200 Baht for a 6 inch sandwich. I will freely admit that this was at an airport on an island so probably slightly more than the usual price but a Subway is no more 69 Baht than a pint of Guinness would be 50 Baht because of a St. Patrick's day promotion.

You might want to read the previous posts. the specials have been mentioned but for the most part the prices have been quoted as higher by most posters.

Thank you for your honesty about where you got the one at an airport. Most of the others would claim it is the standard price in such away as to make it look like it is the same at all the Subways.

Subways can vary quite a lot. Been in some great ones in Thailand; and I've walked out of a few (without buying), including the one at the Night Bazaar.

What didnt you agree with about the Night Bazaar one ?

unbelievably small quantities of tuna on the tuna sub...I've seen more generous portions of cake icing.

Two scoops, I think that its the same in all Subways

That is only one out of about 10 different subs+ the different vegies you can get. Haven't tried that one but a friend of mine is a Cheap Charlie and he is there every Wednesday to get the Tuna one.

Yeah, it's cheap processed meat and cheese, just like the ham and cheese at 7/11. A real sub sandwich has fresh cuts of meat,ham,corned beef,pastrami not processed, I'd pay 200 baht for that, not for a spam sandwich though.

Haven't been in a lot of subways but yet to see a spam sub in one.

Yeah, it's cheap processed meat and cheese, just like the ham and cheese at 7/11. A real sub sandwich has fresh cuts of meat,ham,corned beef,pastrami not processed, I'd pay 200 baht for that, not for a spam sandwich though.

Four times people people have posted that the Subways subs are 69 Baht and not 200 Baht, like you have posted three times

I noticed that also. But he claims there is a spam sub there. Notice he had to be told how much Tuna was on one and still couldn't get the cost right. My friend pays 138 baht for a 12 inch one.

I wonder if he has ever been in a Subway.

.

I thought Subway was healthier than McDonald's...until I did some research.

And what did your research show ?

No offence, but I prefer not saying anymore. Google is your friend.

Pretty well shows what his research showed. 0+0=0

I get the daily special every Monday for 69 baht for the 6 inch one and 138 baht for the foot long. I consider that a decent price. But unless it is the special of the day it is in my opinion overpriced for all of them. I used to eat quite a few of them when I was in Canada as my ex managed one so I would get extra on them. Even at that they were high priced. Even higher than here and that was years and years ago.

I read some of these posters and I wonder if they have ever eaten in them. Maybe they ate in them once or twice and know every thing about them. As has been pointed out a lot of the vegies cannot be frozen. Why would they think or expect us to think the tomatoes, olives and pickles are frozen. I never get them but I doubt the onions are frozen.

I would also like to mention that the chocolate chip cookies are the best you can find in Chiang Mai. Unless you are really good and making them your self. If that is the case make an extra batch for me.

You should file a complaint with your credit card company about them making a false charge.

This is why we always book expenses of this kind with our Visa card issued by our U.S. credit union. We get a refund immediately. We've had similar problems with Thai airlines booking "phantom" flights and then cancelling a week or so before the scheduled trip, but after we've made hotel and other bookings. Sadly, you won't get compensation for car rental, but at least you'll get your refund right away with a foreign credit card.

Is there an easy, inexpensive way to contact the credit card company. I don't like calling internationally and having to go through a phone tree and waiting on hold. Can't call the 800 number from my mobile.

Usually you can call collect.

I have credit cards for the states and Canada. They all have a call collect international number on them. I use Skype on my computer to call them. Have not had the need to use my cell phone so don't know about that.

Hi E/S,are you on commission from a particular agent ?,an agent for an agent,so to speak,

you really push your views on this subject very forcefully,12 hours at immigration bit of an

exaggeration on your part, and 1 hr with agent is another.

Its all about choice, if you cannot get out of bed in the morning,if you are afraid of going to

immigration alone,if you have no idea at all what to do, engage an agent,I am sure E/S

could put you in touch with a decent one, but it is not cheap 7K THB?,not sure current

going rate,

If all of above is not a big deal to you,just get there sharp in the morning,get a ticket,

you dont have to sit in the queue all the time,mark your stool with a bottle water,coat,

anything,then go home,recline the seat in your car,till about 8.00,and get a ticket.

you should get your extension done,(if you came early) by 10-11 at latest,go home

return at 2,30 claim your passport,time to do reentry if you wish.

With the chaos at CNX ,there is money to be made,I don't think this is happening at

any other office ,just reading reports from Pattaya,Phuket,Bangkok, and one from

Samui,went to office for extension at 8.30,done and dusted by 9.30,

Thats just my view on the subject,its all about choice,maybe a choice we should not

have to make.

regards worgeordie

You pretty well covered it all there including E S being on commission. Most people already know they can get an agent. They choose not to. Last year I choose to use The services of G4T before I had done it myself. Unlike many people who complain about it I enjoy reading and talking to people. I take a book and talk to others there are some really nice people there.

I hear people like E S always hyping agents (Funny part is many of them condemn G4T who do not pay a commission just give good service) and I some times wonder if they have a fear of people. They do seem to go out of there way to put people down who do it them selves. I know it is a real fear and is treatable but I don't know if there is some one here in Chiang Mai that treats that particular fear. Nancy might know about that. Chances are they passed up a chance in there home country to have it treated and came here.

For myself I have most of the time done it myself just the last time I choose not to. I find that many of the anti do it your selves over inflate the negative part of it.

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

I recall that last year you used the agent a few doors down from the immigration office - is that your intention this year too? Cheers

Read the black part of the message.

I only used the agent for a yearly renewal.

Nowhere does it say I used them for any thing else.

NJ --you took the easy way out and used them for your annual retirement visa extension knowing that they enjoying preferential accesses to the Imm. office and that they wouldn't be there to help you if you had a problem later on. Hey, that was you decision. That's the decision you make when you decide to use a "queue jumper" vs. a full service visa agent.

Try to keep up with the posts. Just a few back a man was in line with 5 agents in front of him and two people for them selves He got number 13 How did that happen if the agents only represent one person. LOL

Besides I did not come to Thailand to clean it up to be the way I thought it should be. I came to retire and enjoy my life.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

NJ -- you've always been able to get re-entry permits "on the spot". What you haven't been able to get on-the-spot is your retirement extension. When you used G4T last year, you came to their office to submit your forms in the morning and were told to come back later in the day to pick up your passport with your visa extension stamp, right? That is what appears to have changed if I understand hml367's description correctly.

I have absolutely no idea what you and ataloss are talking about. I went in last year to get my single reentry and got it in I recall about a half hour. That was before they had the page system and the guy just came out and mumbled. I had number 41 and the lady two down from me had number 42. The fellow was standing right in front of him and she had to ask what he had said he motioned her in so I followed and when she got hers they then looked through my papers and gave me mine. In the airport I used to get a multiple reentry at the same day. I got the 365 day and then did the multiple reentry. Obviously the fellow had got his passport back before he applied for the reentry. If you are there at the right moment it can be done. It might have been the signer was there that day and the agent like the agent at G4T could just skip due process and go to him directly.

As for me I went to immigration for my yearly at 1:30 in the afternoon. The girls out front checked my papers said they were good but could not give me a Queue number. I inquired if they went through all the queue numbers that were handed out and the office was still open could I get one they told me no. I thanked them went next door and gave G4T 3,000 baht they checked my papers they were not complete so much for the girls out front.I had forgot to sign one spot. Told me to have a seat. I did in a bit a girl came and took me next door they took my picture and I was out of there at 2:15. Had to come back later to get my passport. As it was I had a movie to see and a meal to eat before I went home. I passed by their office and that were still open so I grabbed my passport then. I have since done two 90 day and waited about an hour at the max for them.

sS you can see I have absolutely no idea of what you and ataloss are talking about. Not my experience. But who is to know what the future holds. LOL If you don't believe me check back on my posts.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

I recall that last year you used the agent a few doors down from the immigration office - is that your intention this year too? Cheers

Read the black part of the message.

I only used the agent for a yearly renewal.

Nowhere does it say I used them for any thing else.

I don't know what these oeople were getting but all the people that went to the same desk while I was waiting received their passports signed by the same person that signed mine. They walked out with their passpoets. One group looked to me like a family - husband, wife, and 3 children - they all left with their passports.

Maybe it was my lucky day!

I got a single reentry last July and it was an on the spot thing. Am going in again to get another one next month. Hope they haven't changed it.

If I might interrupt the gleeful missionary bashing, does anyone know why GIS is losing its present location? Did they knowingly squat on someone else's property? Were they sold false title by a crook? Is a developer with court connections stealing the land out from under them?

The link does not give background information.

The full story has been discussed on TV several times. One of the problems seemed to be GIS acted as if their position was absolutly correct and claimed ownership to what they did not buy or subsquently owned. They denied access to others who were entitled to same. No one is stealing from GIS, seemed they were trying to do a little themselves.

Probably more about incompentent people being given authority to make a deal and then to tell the public, supporters / employers, etc what they wanted to hear instead of the real facts and conditions. Time to ask the back home folk to fork over more money as their intial cost for faclities is gone and they have some money to find or make other plans.

Exactly they need more money go to the people who sent them here in the first place.