PTT Station Launches Its First Self-Serve Fuel Service in Thailand

No one wants to stand in 40C pratting about with fuel. Mobile phones should be kept in the car, they won't be, people will be fanning about with them as they fill up. The app will glitch and queues will build up, some idiot will stand there with a fag in his mouth.

PTT will be a miss for me.

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I hope this does not become the norm. I like chatting to the service staff as they fill up my car, usually kids.

I like not having to get out of my car, too lazy.

1 hour ago, MIke B Bad said:

The app will glitch and queues will build up, some idiot will stand there with a fag in his mouth.

Like BigC, not have internet, must wait.

I just blipp my card, cashier loves it.

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I didn't know you speak fluent Thai, because those kids certainly don't speak English, and I have never even seen them stand around while they fill up the car.

They hang in the nozzle, then immediately move to the next car, and come back after the tank has been filled to remove the nozzle.

Self service certainly will also speed up the service, because most stations are underemployed, and you're sometimes waiting for minutes in front of the pump before your car is attended to.

But hey, we all know we are on the Asean Now Whinger forum, so every change is bad.

Are you kidding? I've ridden all over the country and met kids at gas stations who spoke limited English very well. It's a pleasure to see them happy and joking together and they're keen to practice English when I try to order in Thai.

I hate having others fill my tank but I'll gladly take it over people losing their jobs.

7 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

PTT may be breaking the unwritten social contract to maintain high employment within the Thai economy. There's a reason Thailand doesn't have self-service anything and all retail outlets appear (by western standards) to be grossly overstaffed.

The government maintains a low minimum wage and doesn't grossly overtax businesses in order to provide western style social support. In return the corporate sector agrees to provide high levels of employment to the public.

Automation is the beginning of the end.

Big C Extra Pattaya has some self service tills now so it was only a matter of time before the petrol stations become self service, shame yes, people need jobs

25 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Are you kidding? I've ridden all over the country and met kids at gas stations who spoke limited English very well. It's a pleasure to see them happy and joking together and they're keen to practice English when I try to order in Thai.

I hate having others fill my tank but I'll gladly take it over people losing their jobs.

Who cares? There are way too many attendants at each gas / petrol / service station and many are from neighboring countries. They're not even Thai. Some speak Thai quite poorly and Thailand has no obligation to provide jobs for them. If they're gone, why would I care? Myanmar/Cambodia/Laos need to provide jobs for them. I'm sure no Thai would be sad to see foreign workers leave, since they're the ones taking away Thai jobs and they're not Thai.

Also, how does saying "500 Baht" in English help them practice the language? Normally, one simply mentions the type of fuel and amount and that's the extent of the interaction they'd have with a fuel pump attendant. They're never going to learn English that way...if you speak Thai, then I don't see why you would be happy about speaking English...it means the locals are not respecting you as a person, seeing you as a tourist who is too helpless to speak Thai or they might not even understand you (which, if your accent isn't good, I can understand) but if you happen to speak Thai well, then it's basically a subtle form of discrimination. Personally, I shut down when someone does that to me, as I see it as a form of disrespect. I'm in Thailand, I speak Thai, I expect to speak it, unless the individual I'm speaking with isn't Thai or doesn't speak Thai.

Anyway, I'd much rather save some satang and fill up myself, as I've been using this system since I became aware of the existence of self-service gas/petrol stations back around 2017 or 2018. It's also easier to just use my app and control everything myself, without having to talk to anyone...saves a lot of time.

Previously, there were only a few self-service stations (barely 10 in the whole country, 2 in Chiang Mai and 5-6 in Bangkok) and you had to pay first then fill up (or in the case of one particular PTT self-service station, you would go to the cashier to tell them how much you want, they would activate the pump for you, then you would pay at the end). Of these, 2-3 in Bangkok were converted back to the normal attendant operated type and prices were pushed up to the same price level as the other ones, which happened before Covid.

Before this initiative was rolled out, the number of self-service stations in Thailand was down to just 6. Two Bang Chak stations in Chiang Mai, two PTT self-service stations in Bangkok along with one Bang Chak one, and one lonely Bang Chak self-service station in Nakhon Pathom. With this new system, the number of self-service stations in greater Bangkok increases to 30+ including the aforementioned ones, plus 1 in Ayuttaya and 1 in Rayong.

This new initiative by PTT is great; only some of the pumps are self-service and almost always empty, because most Thais don't know how to pump their own gas, leaving the rest as attendant operated. I've even seen a sign at one of them, mentioning how you need to have a debit or credit card attached as cash and QR codes are not accepted. Kind of amusing to me, seeing Thai motorists who then turn away because they don't know how to use an app or make payment by card.

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Big C Extra Pattaya has some self service tills now so it was only a matter of time before the petrol stations become self service, shame yes, people need jobs

Sorry, but why would I pay extra and spend extra time doing something I can do myself? The fact that so few Thais have ever pumped their own gas means they often lack this skill and when they go abroad and rent a car, they don't know how to do it, which makes for some awkward scenes at say American, Italian or French gas stations.

It's the same with new cars, which are increasingly designed so you can't do your own repairs and are dependent on the dealer to do it all for you. Even such simple tasks as doing an oil change are essentially no longer possible for some cars - they want you to bring your car into the dealer. Also for tire/tyre changes, in case of a flat. The dealer / service network will happily charge you a fortune for something you could probably do yourself.

We've already seen the phasing out of attendants at shopping mall / office parking lots in Thailand, in favor of automated systems. While I'm not entirely in favor of this (I prefer the parking card, where you can pay when you exit in case you aren't eligible for parking validation or the particular lot doesn't offer this). For short term parking, the system works quite well, speeds things up and frankly, it's a job that can easily be replaced by a machine, plus it's not good for the health of the employee, having to breathe in vehicular fumes all day.

Toll booths along expressways are increasingly being replaced by automated systems - on motorway 9 between Bangkok and Chonburi/Mapthaput, they've stopped handing out cards, replacing the workers in those booths. They're still needed at the cash booths, but are working on replacing some of them with the new M-flow system, which will eventually become the norm to enter all expressways and in time, it may become to only way to make payment upon exiting as well.

Better for Thais to upskill and try to get better jobs, than be nostalgic about very low skilled jobs that they often don't perform very well at, and even more amusingly, often hire workers from neighboring countries for.

In Malaysia, most gas/petrol stations don't have attendants to pump your fuel for you, though usually there's one or two who can assist if you need help. Instead of pumping the fuel, these workers are now working inside the cubicle where you go and tell them how much you need and make payment.

5 minutes ago, highrider said:

Also, how does saying "500 Baht" in English help them practice the language

Ok, there's the difference. I ride around on my scooter, so there is plenty of time to chat. It's true that quite a few of the attendants are Burmese and don't speak Thai at all, but those ones do speak enough English to do the job.

I care, actually. A great deal. My generation might have been the last one to get jobs during high school and be able to fund a fun life. Some of my friends bought muscle cars from their gas pumping wages. I've seen the misery brought on by the corporate greed back home and don't want it to take root here. Kids and young people don't want to be dead weight and living in their parents' basement. The jobs we did were either eliminated (gas jockeys) or taken by adult immigrants (restaurant kitchens).

2 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

No one wants to stand in 40C pratting about with fuel. Mobile phones should be kept in the car, they won't be, people will be fanning about with them as they fill up. The app will glitch and queues will build up, some idiot will stand there with a fag in his mouth.

PTT will be a miss for me.

For starters, at existing self-service stations prior to the roll out of this scheme (there are 6, about half operated by Bang Chak and the rest by PTT) in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom, you usually pay first, then fill up yourself. Haven't seen anyone ever "have a fag" while filling up in Thailand. It's Thailand, not Russia, France, Greece or China. Regardless, even if someone does have a cigarette, they could be doing that now at attendant operated stations, while waiting outside, watching the attendant fill up the tank for them. I'm sure some truck drivers do exactly that, so what you're saying makes no difference.

This new initiative, which is already in place at 30+ stations, the vast majority being in greater Bangkok (only 3 so far, are outside of Bangkok, one in Wang Noi, which is basically northern Bangkok, about 60km north of downtown, in Ayuttaya, Samphran before you reach Nakhon Pathom and the one furthest away is in Rayong) only have like TWO or max. FOUR self-service pumps out of the total number of pumps. All others are attendant operated as usual. Thailand has thousands of gas stations, only a tiny fraction are self-service and it's unlikely that we're ever going to see all stations fully converted to self-service.

The app doesn't glitch. Actually, I've not seen even one other vehicle ever use self-service out of the 20 times I've used it at those stations currently using this system; means it's not yet something people know about. At first I was a bit apprehensive, but it works well. You just need a debit or credit card. You rock up to the pump. You click on the prompts, decide how much you want to refuel, select card and pump number, hit enter, leave your phone in the car, then go outside and pump up. Once you're done, your card will automatically be charged with the DISCOUNT automatically applied.

It's fast (certainly faster than waiting for an attendant to come over) and it avoids misunderstandings or communication issues, which are common among foreigners and also if the attendants are non-Thai (many are). My Blue Card number is in the system and thus no need to waste time and risking a privacy breach or scammers getting a hold of my number by having to give the attendants my number every time I fill up, which they usually scribble on a small piece of paper, that is then placed inside the cubicle where the cashier is anyone with malicious intent could easily copy.

The app is in Thai (not sure if an English language version is available) but as I'm fluent in Thai, I don't need it to be in English, so it doesn't matter. It's obviously not targeted at expats anyway.

12 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Ok, there's the difference. I ride around on my scooter, so there is plenty of time to chat. It's true that quite a few of the attendants are Burmese and don't speak Thai at all, but those ones do speak enough English to do the job.

I care, actually. A great deal. My generation might have been the last one to get jobs during high school and be able to fund a fun life. Some of my friends bought muscle cars from their gas pumping wages. I've seen the misery brought on by the corporate greed back home and don't want it to take root here. Kids and young people don't want to be dead weight and living in their parents' basement. The jobs we did were either eliminated (gas jockeys) or taken by adult immigrants (restaurant kitchens).

Well, it's inevitable and it's already happening, even in Thailand. It's called progress. Kids and young people should be studying hard to get a better education. Who wants to become a gas station attendant? Come on now...it's not much of a job.

Plenty of time to chat? You're holding up the line. Most attendants don't have time for idle chit chat with customers they'll never see again. Maybe you should go somewhere where people go to meet people and form friendships that way.

Also, Thailand isn't America. You generally don't do chit-chat or small talk with service workers.

3 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I don’t do: ATMS—I like talking to staff, even better if they’re cute.

No self-checkout for me at IKEA, Tops, Mr DIY, Big C—they have to have staff to help because it’s inevitable every single customer will screw it up.

QR codes? Fuhgeddaboutit! Have you noticed the dimwit ahead of you and the cashier who just can’t figure it out? Card and cash, please!

Automation, served up by AI and monitored by CCTV is dehumanising. A machine prevents you from interacting with other people.

My grown son in the US thinks it’s terrible to talk to other people in checkout lines. He says they (or me!) only want to talk about themselves.

And it’s not true. Never been shown baby photos. Pointed to a lot of better brands and some good recipes, though. And a better way to hang a cupboard door.

I’d way rather stand in a queue with some good, misunderstood, crazy people than depersonalise my life.

The only full-serve gas states in the US are NJ and OR. I always make sure to fill up.

I don’t think Thailand really has an unemployment crisis. We like to keep people in work and off ya ba.

Get out of your shell. Make some meaningless conversation. Be human!

Well, at least people in the US talk to strangers in check-out lines. In Thailand, people would look at you weird if you did that. Thais don't even say hello to the checkout person, while quite often, the checkout lady or man upon seeing a farang, says nothing at all (not even the total) which is just plain rude. Like why don't they just say the total in Thai regardless of what you look like? No need to racially profile and assume all farang are dumb and incapable of understanding Thai. Anywhere outside of a tourist area, if a farang shows up, they're probably an expat.

I've seen supermarket clerks in Thailand get totally ignored by Thai customers, who wouldn't exchange a word, yet they still state the total, in Thai, but when a farang comes, says hi and then gets ignored by the clerk. LOL.

At least in America, they say hi, how's your day? And you can share a bit of small talk. In Thailand, the clerk won't say anything but ask for your store membership card or number and tell you the total. Very robotic.

As a consequence, I think what you're saying can't really be applied to Thailand.

I prefer human interaction but for some basic tasks, if I can do them myself and it's faster and it means I don't have to get served by someone who doesn't want to talk to me anyway, I'll take the machine. Might as well, given the human is acting like a machine, what's the difference?

Nope, I don't screw up at the self-service checkouts at Tops.

They're not hard to use. I still tend to use the manned checkout, but it depends. If a lot of people are in front of me, I don't have many groceries and I want to pay with a combination of cash and card? I'll obviously use the self-checkout since I can't pay half in cash and half by card at the manned checkout.

8 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

I don't remember which brand it was but in the late 90s/early2000s there was a self service petrol station on Rama 4. It didn't last very long. Hopefully this goes the same way - not only for convenience but also for the reasons @Gsxrnz mentioned.

You're wrong. Hopefully, this becomes the norm. Give the consumer a choice - at the stations where this is applied (except for a total of 6 entirely self-service stations in Thailand) 75-90% of the pumps are attendant operated and only a small number are self-service.

3 hours ago, MarkBR said:

Bad move, tourists & Thais would rather stay in AC

You have to turn off your vehicle when you refuel, even if someone else does it for you. Sounds like you've never been to a gas station in your life, nor have you ever operated a vehicle.

7 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I didn't know you speak fluent Thai, because those kids certainly don't speak English, and I have never even seen them stand around while they fill up the car.

They hang in the nozzle, then immediately move to the next car, and come back after the tank has been filled to remove the nozzle.

Self service certainly will also speed up the service, because most stations are underemployed, and you're sometimes waiting for minutes in front of the pump before your car is attended to.

But hey, we all know we are on the Asean Now Whinger forum, so every change is bad.

100% correct. I've noticed the same. Not only that, but many stations are full of foreign pump attendants who come from neighboring countries who don't even speak Thai that well, let alone English.

Since many Cambodians have been forced to leave the country, there are far fewer attendants at many stations and waiting times just for someone to come over have increased.

I've started using this service and always use it at the stations nearest to me. Makes sense to save time and money. It also means I retain the skill (I know, it's hardly much of a skill, but still) to do this simple task.

I can't tell you how often Thais struggle to pump their own fuel at the self-service stations that were in existence before this new scheme (which are 100% self-service), but those that went to such stations once, are happy to come again and over time, they'd get used to it.

12 minutes ago, highrider said:

Kids and young people should be studying hard to get a better education

Studying what? The same lot who use that messaging also say that AI is taking educated people's jobs. I doubt the kids aspire to being a gas jockey any more than we aspired to washing dishes, which paid for many of our post secondary educations as well as cars and fun. 'No money, no honey' has always been the reality for men.

I don't hold other people up. Most of the stations I've gone to were very quiet. It's an unusual strawman to prop up. You're correct, yet another category of employment will dry up for young people and your discount will disappear shortly after, but hey progress.

5 minutes ago, highrider said:

You're wrong. Hopefully, this becomes the norm. Give the consumer a choice - at the stations where this is applied (except for a total of 6 entirely self-service stations in Thailand) 75-90% of the pumps are attendant operated and only a small number are self-service.

What do you mean I'm wrong? How can I be wrong when I factually state there used to be one on Rama 4 twenty-odd years ago and it disappeared? And then I said I hope it doesn't become a thing. Again how can that be wrong? It stating my wish.

It's one of the things I really admire about Thailand is that there are jobs for everyone. I hope that continues.

Self serve will not catch on here. People might try it for the novelty but that will be all. That's my prediction which could, of course, be wrong - but I hope it isn't.

4 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Studying what? The same lot who use that messaging also say that AI is taking educated people's jobs. I doubt the kids aspire to being a gas jockey any more than we aspired to washing dishes, which paid for many of our post secondary educations as well as cars and fun. 'No money, no honey' has always been the reality for men.

I don't hold other people up. Most of the stations I've gone to were very quiet. It's an unusual strawman to prop up. You're correct, yet another category of employment will dry up for young people and your discount will disappear shortly after, but hey progress.

Not sure why all the moaning about 30-50 stations having a couple of self-service pumps, when the vast majority at all of these stations will continue to offer attendant operated pumps.

I think there are far bigger things to worry about. You don't want to save money, fine.

The discount has been ongoing for as long as these self-service stations (the 1st generation as I call them in Thailand) came into being around 2012 I think it was? While I only became aware of their existence later, perhaps around 2017, I recall that ever since I've started using them, there has been a 30-40 Satang discount, without exception. It will take many years before even a majority of stations are converted and since they're only converting some pumps at any given station, nothing changes for the majority of users. You have a choice.

I guess you're cheering on the fact that most new cars are now designed so that you can't make simple repairs or maintenance tasks yourself and you're dependent on the dealer to do these tasks for you (this way, more employment for workers right?), at a higher cost than you buying the parts (such as oil, an oil filter etc.) and doing it yourself. In the coming years, most new cars will be completely dependent upon dealer software identifying faults and using proprietary parts, not to mention the parts themselves are cheaper and more likely to break than in the past and the car itself (the engine, for example) is increasingly designed to last only 5-10 years to force you replace it more often.

Also, I'm pretty sure they'd employ robots in place of workers to pump people's gas eventually...so it's good that self-service is an option. There is already a shortage of workers looming, I guess you don't get out much and haven't noticed it. Better this than facing extended waiting times due to a dwindling number of workers at each station.

13 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

What do you mean I'm wrong? How can I be wrong when I factually state there used to be one on Rama 4 twenty-odd years ago and it disappeared? And then I said I hope it doesn't become a thing. Again how can that be wrong? It stating my wish.

It's one of the things I really admire about Thailand is that there are jobs for everyone. I hope that continues.

Self serve will not catch on here. People might try it for the novelty but that will be all. That's my prediction which could, of course, be wrong - but I hope it isn't.

I believe one of the 30+ self-service stations is on Rama 4 now. There were originally perhaps 10-15 self-service stations in Thailand beginning around 2012 and some of these reverted back to the normal attendant operated method, by around 2018 or 2019. However, 6 self-service stations remained and are now joined by this new type, which only converts one or two sections of the station to self-service, rather than the whole station.

Thailand is like every other country - it is changing, it is evolving. Automation is arriving here and has already changed from manned parking booths and toll booths to automated ones. This was largely accelerated by Covid.

Thailand now has the world's lowest fertility rate. There is a looming shortage of workers...thus many foreign workers were brought in to become pump attendants. How does doing that help Thai workers?

Thais don't want to become gas station workers nor do I see the point of bringing in foreigners to do this work. There will still be cashiers necessary. Pump attendants who need to be there in case someone needs assistance and like I've said in my other replies, because most of the pumps will continue to be of the attendant operated type.

So no, it's not a novelty...anyone who likes to save money, knows how to pump their own gas, prefers to do things themselves and save a bit of time, will be happy to use this service where it's available. I can see this expanding and other brands doing the same - rather than converting whole stations, only some of the pumps will be converted.

Also, with the stations where all pumps are self-service, they're VERY popular. You obviously don't get out much. The PTT station I often use, which I discovered by accident which is 100% self service, is loved by all the local Thais who go there and very busy. It's not a gimmick. It works well. Same as the Bang Chak stations in Nakhon Pathom and Chiang Mai. They're always busy.

4 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Aircon doesn't work when car engine is stopped, which is a requirement at gas stations

Not often enforced, even if sensible

25 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Studying what? The same lot who use that messaging also say that AI is taking educated people's jobs. I doubt the kids aspire to being a gas jockey any more than we aspired to washing dishes, which paid for many of our post secondary educations as well as cars and fun. 'No money, no honey' has always been the reality for men.

I don't hold other people up. Most of the stations I've gone to were very quiet. It's an unusual strawman to prop up. You're correct, yet another category of employment will dry up for young people and your discount will disappear shortly after, but hey progress.

You said you speak to the workers. I don't see how you can do this, when they put the pump in, go to another car and then only return when it's done. They're probably thinking "why is this farang talking to us beyond telling us how much gas he needs, we're busy". That's what I'm getting at...sounds like you're lonely and need company. Not sure a gas station is an appropriate venue for socializing, nor are poorly educated Burmese or Cambodian workers who struggle with their Thai (let alone English) is somewhere I'd go for a conversation.

Just do what everyone else does - tell them how much you need, state your membership number if you have one and be done with it. Also, if you're filling up a scooter, that takes literally 20 seconds. Not enough time to say or do anything beyond stating how much fuel you need.

Leave the socializing to the bar stool or perhaps find some nice barista to chat with at a lonely coffee shop up in the mountains.

6 hours ago, J Branche said:

And on day one they cancelled self service after someone left the nozzle in the fuel filler tube and drove off with the hose dragging from the car.

Or the man smoking the cigarette while refueling got a little to close to the vapors and created a fireworks shows.

What NONSENSE! Both of those things happen NOW when people use attendant operated pumps!

Funny to see all this opposition to something that is normal in other countries when here there are only like 35 or 40 stations in the whole country (soon, maybe 56) out of thousands, which even offer self-service to begin with.

Unless you're in greater Bangkok, then there's really only Chiang Mai and Rayong which even offer this at all (for all intents and purposes, Nakhon Pathom is essentially part of greater Bangkok). I don't see this scheme expanding very quickly beyond major stations in greater Bangkok and maybe some of the busier stations along major highways, such as Asia Highway to Nakorn Sawan and the Phahonyothin/Friendship Highway between Bang Pa-in and Saraburi, as well as Korat and even then...no one will notice, because only a small number of pumps will have self-service.

Yet these same folks will happily cheer on the end of manned immigration counters (where many jobs will be lost) in favor of using the autogates. So far, for foreigners, these are only available upon exiting the country, but will eventually also be used for arrivals (for Thais, Hong Kong and Singaporean passports, as well as PR holders who register, autogates can also be used to enter Thailand).

In fact, on any article about autogates, foreigners are cheering it on. They don't realize that what they're being prepped for is biometrics and eventually, things like "no vaccine, no entry", which the TDAC form can also screen for.

I'd much rather keep manned immigration counters and stamps (even though if my passport is getting full, I can see the value of saving some space) but allowing me to pump my own gas. Seems that bizarrely, most farang here feel the opposite way: "bring on the biometrics and passportless travel! But let's ensure those poor Burmese workers in Thailand pumping my gas keep their jobs".

1 hour ago, highrider said:

You have to turn off your vehicle when you refuel, even if someone else does it for you. Sounds like you've never been to a gas station in your life, nor have you ever operated a vehicle.

Most Thai customers leave their engine running and AC on while getting fuel. Usually on the phone as well.

Sounds like you've never been to a Thai gas station in your life.

9 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Great, as long as it doesn’t become the norm. One of the unsung luxuries here is having one’s vehicle fuelled up. Gawd forbid it ends up like the UK where there is no service and you actually have to get out of your car and do everything. Then if there is no pay-at-pump, physically walk into the shop, stand in line, then pay. Yuck! 🙂

Its super fun in the middle of winter in canada getting out of your car to pump gas. 😆

1 hour ago, highrider said:

You said you speak to the workers. I don't see how you can do this, when they put the pump in, go to another car and then only return when it's done. They're probably thinking "why is this farang talking to us beyond telling us how much gas he needs, we're busy". That's what I'm getting at...sounds like you're lonely and need company. Not sure a gas station is an appropriate venue for socializing, nor are poorly educated Burmese or Cambodian workers who struggle with their Thai (let alone English) is somewhere I'd go for a conversation.

Just do what everyone else does - tell them how much you need, state your membership number if you have one and be done with it. Also, if you're filling up a scooter, that takes literally 20 seconds. Not enough time to say or do anything beyond stating how much fuel you need.

Leave the socializing to the bar stool or perhaps find some nice barista to chat with at a lonely coffee shop up in the mountains.

That's exactly the attitude that makes the lowest class of workers invisible. I like to treat them as people. It's called inclusivity.

2 hours ago, highrider said:

Who cares? There are way too many attendants at each gas / petrol / service station and many are from neighboring countries. They're not even Thai. Some speak Thai quite poorly and Thailand has no obligation to provide jobs for them. If they're gone, why would I care? Myanmar/Cambodia/Laos need to provide jobs for them. I'm sure no Thai would be sad to see foreign workers leave, since they're the ones taking away Thai jobs and they're not Thai.

Also, how does saying "500 Baht" in English help them practice the language? Normally, one simply mentions the type of fuel and amount and that's the extent of the interaction they'd have with a fuel pump attendant. They're never going to learn English that way...if you speak Thai, then I don't see why you would be happy about speaking English...it means the locals are not respecting you as a person, seeing you as a tourist who is too helpless to speak Thai or they might not even understand you (which, if your accent isn't good, I can understand) but if you happen to speak Thai well, then it's basically a subtle form of discrimination. Personally, I shut down when someone does that to me, as I see it as a form of disrespect. I'm in Thailand, I speak Thai, I expect to speak it, unless the individual I'm speaking with isn't Thai or doesn't speak Thai.

Anyway, I'd much rather save some satang and fill up myself, as I've been using this system since I became aware of the existence of self-service gas/petrol stations back around 2017 or 2018. It's also easier to just use my app and control everything myself, without having to talk to anyone...saves a lot of time.

Previously, there were only a few self-service stations (barely 10 in the whole country, 2 in Chiang Mai and 5-6 in Bangkok) and you had to pay first then fill up (or in the case of one particular PTT self-service station, you would go to the cashier to tell them how much you want, they would activate the pump for you, then you would pay at the end). Of these, 2-3 in Bangkok were converted back to the normal attendant operated type and prices were pushed up to the same price level as the other ones, which happened before Covid.

Before this initiative was rolled out, the number of self-service stations in Thailand was down to just 6. Two Bang Chak stations in Chiang Mai, two PTT self-service stations in Bangkok along with one Bang Chak one, and one lonely Bang Chak self-service station in Nakhon Pathom. With this new system, the number of self-service stations in greater Bangkok increases to 30+ including the aforementioned ones, plus 1 in Ayuttaya and 1 in Rayong.

This new initiative by PTT is great; only some of the pumps are self-service and almost always empty, because most Thais don't know how to pump their own gas, leaving the rest as attendant operated. I've even seen a sign at one of them, mentioning how you need to have a debit or credit card attached as cash and QR codes are not accepted. Kind of amusing to me, seeing Thai motorists who then turn away because they don't know how to use an app or make payment by card.

That says it all. The “who cares” attitude.

The jobs done by Burmese are jobs the young Thai are too lazy to get out of bed for while their women work for rice.

Gas stations, construction, restaurants & plenty of others. Many already have expert level training and others get that training on the job.

We shouldn’t try to better our fellow man?!?

“…Unless the individual I’m speaking with isn’t Thai”, yeah, right, they’re Burmese! So teach them a few words in Thai or English. Do a good deed, or is that beyond you?

You’d rather “save time” than share a smile or a bit of banter—says a lot about you.

Please…use the pump-your-own aisle so you can save time and be alone with your so-important thoughts.

Me, I’ll be chatting with the gas-guys or -girls while they pump.

You may speak Thai but you sure have proved you don’t know how to be Thai.

Not to late :-)

Had in Norway 20 yrs plus.

Pay card at pump or cash inside.

Wife was "shocked" when had to fill herself, coming norway 2009 :-)

9 hours ago, CallumWK said:

I didn't know you speak fluent Thai, because those kids certainly don't speak English, and I have never even seen them stand around while they fill up the car.

They hang in the nozzle, then immediately move to the next car, and come back after the tank has been filled to remove the nozzle.

Self service certainly will also speed up the service, because most stations are underemployed, and you're sometimes waiting for minutes in front of the pump before your car is attended to.

But hey, we all know we are on the Asean Now Whinger forum, so every change is bad.

Speed Up ? Witnessing the dithering at ATMs gives me no confidence !

Off topic deflection posts and replies about golf and caddies have been removed.

There might be a subtle advantage to using the App for drivers who need a receipt in order to get reimbursed.

Currently they are hand written by the cashier in the booth. which takes extra time.