rchapstick

HEADS UP

I brought two of these for flights on the 24th April, the tickets cost 9900 Baht when taxes and fuel surcharges were allowed for etc. but have just recently had to cancel due to medical reasons.

When I finally got through to the airline they told me that they will not grant refunds on these tickets, despite there never being any mention anywhere of this policy.

In fact their own website states that refunds are available and that you can cancel bookings provided that you give advance notice (which i have done). Of course there is a penalty fee for refunds of THB 1200 per ticket (as it states on my e-ticket), and Im fine with that.

However they insist "no refunds".

I have given serious consideration to lodging a complaint to the DTI under the 1990 consumer protection act, although I doubt that it will do much good but I feel that I have to do something. I can't just let it lie.

Any advice or insights anyone can offer?

If you used a credit card:

1. Print out the page allowing for 1200 baht refunds

2. Contest the charge with the credit card issuer, and provide them witht he documentation from step 1

I usually take an Ambien and sleep the whole way. That way I don't notice the ancient UA Trolley Dollys.

I travel about the same and I use United, for the following reasons:

1. Once you hit 25,000 miles in a calendar year, you become "Premier" which gives you access to Economy Plus (with about 3 more inches of legroom) and a 25% mileage bonus.

2. Once you hit 50,000 miles, you get a 100% mileage bonus. So those 60,000 FF miles per year are now 120,000 miles. And you get business class lounge access on your international flights.

3. Currently, a free ticket in 60,000 miles in coach, 90,000 in business. You only pay taxes on the free ticket, no fuel surcharges.

4. FF award ticket redemptions are never easy on any airline, but with United you can also book Star Alliance airlines as well as United for your freebies.

Speak to the service manager and ask him to explain. If he does not immediately refund the 3000 baht, explain that you will be disputing the charge, AND you will writing to Nissan corporate offices (Thailand and Japan) to resolve the issue if he is not willing to do so.

BKK = Swampypoon

If BKK is Suwannaphum, what's the code of Don Muang?

DMK = Don Muang

this flight is out of which airport?

BKK = Swampypoon

Talked to a VC about this recently, thinking that Moore's Law would drive down prices over time.

The problem is that the semiconductor manufacturing capacity (current and projected, worldwide) is sold our for at least 18 months. No reason for manufacturers to decrease prices.

Beyond that, price reductions (less likely) and conversion rate increases (more likely) are possible.

Again, I do not know the process in full, but my understanding is that FM and CP require their franchisees to set up as limited partnerships, and not corporations. So no non-thai's allowed. And you may be right that while they may prefer a partnership, a Thai corp is OK and thus minority foreign ownership is ok.

GF's english is good, but not that good for me to decifer legalese.

One of these days I'll sit down with her and translate the relevant docs to share here. Seems like there is lots of interest.

According to the GF, CP and Family Mart will not allow the 51/49 structure. Must be 100% Thai.

Have no reason to doubt her, as she is interested in doing it with 100% of her money. I just asked the question.

Perhaps one could get around it by not telling CP or FM, but I am not sure of the process.

I'm pretty sure that 7-11 and Family Mart will NOT allow foreigners to own, or even partly own, franchises in Thailand. Only possible if you have a GF/spouse/partner who would own the franchise, with the OP as a passive observer. Even then, a farang could not perform any work int he shop.

How did you come to these assumptions?

Cheers

GF works for CP, and has talked with FM about a franchise.

I'm pretty sure that 7-11 and Family Mart will NOT allow foreigners to own, or even partly own, franchises in Thailand. Only possible if you have a GF/spouse/partner who would own the franchise, with the OP as a passive observer. Even then, a farang could not perform any work int he shop.

I guess I had caught him early enough that he had not passed out BEHIND his desk

Will give Sunbeltasia a go.

Good luck!

I once contacted Sunbelt to inquire about an aquisition. Sent off requests for info on three companies, after about a week, with no response, I sent an email asking why no response. I got a reply saying 3 was too many, and to only request 1 (<deleted>?). So I requested 1, and got EXACTLY THE SAME INFO as was listed on the website, but with a fancy Sunbelt logo. Then I decided to stop by their office on Suk Soi 11 in BKK, and found my "Senior Aquisition Speicalist" sound asleep and/or passed out at his desk at 11am. Just Brilliant!

Since I cannot recall the name, does anybody know? It's right at Khao Takiab, about 2000 baht per night I think, no more than three stories high, ultramodern. A restaurant on the premises, and a one minute walk from the front gate to the songtaew terminal. And an infinity pool.

Sounds like "The Rock"

Also in Khao Takiab is Kaban Tamor, a nice boutique hotel

Everyone here is on the wrong track. The MD was CLEARLY ascertaining how far along the the child was to calculate the departure tax. As the woman was carrying 5/7ths of a child, the child was appropriately charged 500 baht departure tax.

What would be a "good" retailer?

My approach would be to get the landlord to do it at your expense, thus no arguments from that direction, however, you may have problems removing it when you leave, which may be a problem anyway.

In my own house, I had my water heaters installed by a major appliance retailer who have "engineers" on staff that install and maintain the appliances they sell.

Whichever heater you choose, strongly recommend you buy one that has a temperature adjustment feature prominently displayed on the front of the unit and easy to use.

Then your estate can sue the landlord when you die in the shower

My thoughts exactly!!!

Gas is not an option here, so If I am gonna have a warm shower, its going to be from one of those small electric heaters.

I did a search, but these things are not very targeted, and I got pages and pages of horror stories ... hence my concerns.

If ANYONE has a recommendation or two, I would be most appreciative

I am getting an apartment near On Nut, and I will need to install an electrical water heater for the shower. I've seen lots of discussion on the board about bad wiring jobs ... enough to be very concerned. I have not found a post specifically on point for this, so I am asking ...

1) Can anyone recommend a competent electrician to do the work?

2) What brands and/or speicifications should I be looking for for the heater?

3) What should I be specifying for the wiring with the electrician (e.g. grounding, GFI, etc)?

4) As this is an apartment, are there some issues (e.g. no ground wire) that can be worked around, or would I need to give the place up and look elsewhere?

I really do not mind spending on the high end to have this done right. Thanks for any and all help.

Hi

If you can stretch to 7500฿ bangkokeddy has one a few posts down at On Nut

Hope that helps

Warwick

I emailed bangkokeddy, but no response ... probably gone.

I'd like to keep it around 5k, but I could go a bit higher (not much though)

AT least you folks were able to FIND the F&B vendors. I arrived for my 6am UA flight (double ugh!) and hoped to at least pick up a cup o' joe. Lord knows I walked far enough, and I could have all of the Rolex's, Cross Pens, and Bulgari jewelry my heart desired. But alas, no coffee!