richard_smith237

Friends currently visiting Thailand... ... Encountered 3 accepted rides Grab, followed each by three cancellations. As a result they were an hour late to their destination - They'd planned ahead and booked a grab and attempted to avoid possible issues and delays due to traffic and taxi mishaps... This is an embarrassment for Thailand. Authorities really need to start 'cracking down' on these 'services' to ensure maintained professionalism....

I very much doubt his name is true... although it could be found out if there is a guy by that name within Thailand. I wonder how common the name is... I didn't think my (real) name was that common - it turns out that there are (were) at least 3 people with my full name in Thailand... (all registered at Samitivej Hospital !!!) - that coincidence surprised me !!!..

& thats where he is taking a huge risk if he's calling from a registered number (or one which can get traced to him, his company etc).

If I was the type to seek 'revenge' my response would be significantly more Machiavellian than that - I have rather high limits. That said - one expat women wasted my Wife's time once and then started getting antsy and aggressive with her. She was very lucky she stopped at that point as I'd reached my limit - I'd already lined up the response & it was going to cost her her future in Thailand. In this case, its just a mild irritation and easy to ignore - I'm just interested how many guys this character is cold calling - it seems that he's been able to get access to the contacts of a lot of people.

At 188cm tall..... Look for a 29'er... i.e. a Mountain bike with 29" wheels - it'll be solid and comfortable and stable. Kind of ideal for what you are looking for. These are your options. https://www.decathlon.co.th/en-TH/c/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes.html?size_en=XL+-+185-200cm%2CL

100% this - they'll also deliver.... Op can go and take a look... There is a Decathlon in Chiang Mai. Bikes are decent.... not really high end but good value IMO... IF I was buying another bike I'd get one from Decathlon. (I have a Specialized road bike and a Scott Mountain bike)

Thats just halfwitted trolls being... half witted trolls - though there are a few posters on this thread unworthy of any response other than disdain for their absense of any value....

Apologies, I've already given you more attention than you are worth bothering with....

Its just 'jeffing' irritating when something is supposed to be a convenience but ends up on so many occasions being a hinderance. Its getting to the stage where the original 'taxi radio' is a better option (if its still going). (*taxi radio - is the orignial system of phoning up for a taxi and they announce it over the 'taxi radio' and a taxi accepts the ride - the additional cost to flag fall was 20 baht). There are numerous occasions where I'm popping out to play football etc... and call a grab... none available or too far away, or accept the ride and cancel etc... I pre-empt this with an earlier booking, but they cancel last minute. I don't want to take the motorcycle or drive myself because I'll be having a beer afterwards.... So the Wife ends up taking me.

Apologies, I don't have the crayons to explain the point to you....

Friends nearly missed a flight because of a GRAB cancellation - They'd booked earlier in the day... then just before they were due to leave home, the GRAB driver cancelled and they were left stranded deep inside their Moobaan.... They had to drive to the front of their moobaan *(housing estate)... get a flag-fall taxi, ask him to follow them to their house, park their car, then get in the taxi with bags on their laps because the Taxi has an LPG tank and wouldn't fit all their luggage... ... a right PITA because of the atrocious levels of service which seem tolerated within this company. --------- Wife travelling next week (a very early start) I've advised her to forget about GRAB and just book an AOT Limo - more expensive, but at that time of the morning she'll want reliability and not worry that a a driver cancels the 'pre-booked' ride on a whim which then has a very negative knock-on effect to the start of the day.

Why is that? Most posters on here compare how cheap Thailand is compared to other countries, you like me to compare how cheap wine and cheese is in my country compared to Thailand? And by the way Uber is Grab over here. Becase the comparison in the Op is between GRAB and a regular Taxi. This would be the same as Comparing the price of a Burger King in Thailand to the Price of a McDonalds, then someone piping up and stating that their Big Mac cost them £10 in London. Everyone has the right to draw such international comparisons, but when doing so out of context they overstep the privilege of their response being considered sensible or intelligent.

No they don't... They only need your CC details IF you are going to use your Credit Card as a payment method. If paying cash - there is no requirement to input credit card details.

I don''t mind GRAB or BOLT being a little more expensive than a regular taxi... We are theoretically paying for a more convenience service where the 'driver comes to you' and there is a 'double layer of accountability' (as both passenger and driver are registered). The reality though - 'Thainess' has well and truly slipped in such that there is no added convenience at all. Last month, with a degree of urgency, I needed to get out and help a friend. I ordered a GRAB - One accepted the ride then immediately cancelled (once they could see the destination just 2km away). I ordered a second GRAB - One accepted the ride then immediately cancelled (once they could see the destination just 2km away). I ordered BOLT - No drivers Available. I ordered IN-DRIVE - Driver about 30mins away. I was forced to walk about 2 km's.... I've just 'evolved' or 'graduated' (whatever the term is) from travelling any distance longer than 50m in a wheelchair and am on crutches... I'm fit and healthy (other than one leg) so I virtually hopped all the way !!!... I'm relatively central in Bangkok (3km from Thonglor) and the taxi service's of GRAB, BOLT are atrociously unreliable to the point of being unusable... I'm also deep into a Moo-baan so getting flag-fall taxi is impossible unless I walk to the front, in this case I did (but none passed by the time I decided flook-it... lets push this re-habilitation as hard as possible and go for the 2km walk). In what Major capital city in the World is there such a song and dance about doing something so simple as getting a taxi. I don't know if its just my specific area, or if other 'residential but central areas' also have the same issue with reliability of getting a taxi.

In London a black-taxi costs.... In New York a taxi cost... In Monaco a private Helicopter is..... I think that makes the point - but for those who don't get it... The price differential of anywhere else but Thailand is completely irrelevant to this thread.

He knew my name... I didn't get that far before cutting off... What's the company name ? That's not something I can do.. It could be the school nurse, another parent, friend of my Wife etc or a call of potential value so I answer all calls. The gobby Londoner doesn't, he called from a local mobile number that he'd pick up if called back. I can't recall if I blocked his number from previous calls... But using the same number, especially if registered in his name (or his companies name) is a potentially risky game for him (especially if not work permitted and I expect that such sh!££y work is carried out 'under the work permit radar' - though I could be wrong on that).

I see what you did there, so cleverly adjusting context…. Mensa will be in contact soon.

yeah… but the only lottery I ever enter is whether or not to comment on the Wife’s cooking !!! 🫣

Is that you John Walsh? Do you have any second hand Cortina’s to sell (yes - it was a Thai number)

it’s 100% this guy…. He went under the pseudonym John Walsh today…. He’s got my name & number - so someone has sold his company personal data… That no surprise for here. Nothing I can do about it…. This is more of a rant on here - so I don’t end op boring the Wife !!!

Take a wild stab in the dark at what number I’ll get called from next ? Pretty much all cold callers rotate their numbers, often routing a number from overseas too. They’re already ahead of the game when it comes to avoiding getting blocked.

I’m polite but direct - no need to swear at the poor chap…. I kind of feel sorry for him - he must be financially desperate to feel no other option than to do this job. At the same time patience is now thin with this guy… surely he’d drop me of his list by now. Telling cold callers to fork off is also a risky game - they have our details, we don’t have theirs. While working in Qatar I received a cold call from the Ministry of Interior - but when pressed they couldn’t tell me my full name…. I had to be polite (just in case) but told them I’ll call them back on their official line & hung up (never called back)…

The usual cold calls I receive are from Thai folk & its immediately obvious what’s going on, I drop the call before they get to their pitch… The irritating part if that is the timing of the call sometime at 8am etc. BUT…. I also get cold called from a British male, London accent, quite brash sounding…. Same guy has called numerous times over the past few years to the point I recognize his voice immediately & tell him… nope & cut off - whatever he’s trying to sell or scam me for I’m not I interested - but the disturbance is annoying such that I’m 100% against what’s he’s possibly offering before his finished his intro. Anyone who else ??? His voice is very recognizable.

Yup... And the v-logger knew exactly what this scam was and was trying to capture it. The Tailor shop also knew that he was trying to capture the scam, otherwise there was no need to get him to turn off his camera, if they are offering an honourable and quality service, then they'd be happy for the free exposure. ----- With all the v-loggers and TikTokers coming to Thailand and embarrassing the Nation for all the scams it surely can't be long before Thailand tries to ban video's equipment (which is obviously impossible). So far Thailand has banned the 'targeting' videoing of individuals without their consent, even in public....

Dumb victim blaming post....