How to speak with food delivery guy

[Nordude]

Could someone walk me through how a normal conversation with a food delivery guy goes?

 

I order Grab, Get, or Foodpanda every day, but I don't know how to speak with them. That's a shame because I know quite a few words by now.

 

Everything from I pick up the phone and say Hallo (or whatever is appropriate), their typical response, and how I can say I'm coming down to pick up the food.

 

How can I say "keep the change"? Or if I pay by card and give an extra 20, what should I say then?

[donnacha]

13 minutes ago, Nordude said:

how I can say I'm coming down to pick up the food

 
"Okay, okay"
 

 

13 minutes ago, Nordude said:

How can I say "keep the change"? Or if I pay by card and give an extra 20, what should I say then?

Hand them a 20 baht note. Never tip via the apps.
 

 

13 minutes ago, Nordude said:

Could someone walk me through how a normal conversation with a food delivery guy goes?

Just smile and say thanks. They will already appreciate that you did not keep them waiting too long, and the tip is a nice gesture too.

I occasionally get "Where you from?" and, in return, I compliment their English, which seems to please them.

I am grateful for these services. Along with the taxi apps, they have made living in Asia far more convenient and will only become more important over the coming years of lockdown.


 

Edited April 4, 2020 by donnacha

[timendres]

21 minutes ago, Nordude said:

How can I say "keep the change"?

"Mai Ben Rai" when they reach for the change.

[Puccini]

Keep the change

ไม่ต้องทอน

mâi tông thon khráp

[NightSky]

When they try to be sneaky and keep the 500 baht change owed from the 1000 baht that you handed to them thinking that you just got off the plane, tell them this..

 

wheres my freaking change you thieving moose!

 

They wont have a clue what you said but they will <deleted> their pants and hand the correct change over. 

[essox essox]

use a translation app on your android phone !!! (if you have one!!)

[1FinickyOne]

33 minutes ago, NightSky said:

wheres my freaking change you thieving moose!

your efforts to assimilate know no bounds... 

[AlQaholic]

When speaking on the phone, you say "Hello", they will answer "Hello", you say "yes, Hello", they will say "Hello", then you say "Hello", they answer with "Hello?", then you answer with "Hello?" and they will answer with "Hello", you answer with "Hello" and so on, you get the idea.

[BritManToo]

On 4/4/2020 at 9:21 PM, Nordude said:

Could someone walk me through how a normal conversation with a food delivery guy goes?

You put the money in their hand, take the food and they leave.

No need to talk with them, unless you're excessively lonely.

[AgMech Cowboy]

1 hour ago, NightSky said:

When they try to be sneaky and keep the 500 baht change owed from the 1000 baht that you handed to them thinking that you just got off the plane, tell them this..

 

wheres my freaking change you thieving moose!

 

They wont have a clue what you said but they will <deleted> their pants and hand the correct change over. 

Uum, if you have that sort of problem, you live in a bad place.  Maybe your former Country will take you back.

[recom273]

I applaud your sentiment - I always had a little part time business delivering fish to London restaurants late at night, you need those times or interaction, when people say, “Grab a beer from the fridge”.

 

How about 

thung li-yang - are you here? ( he will reply - thung lay-o)

Gam-Lang maa - I’m coming!

Pep Neung - Must a moment

Law Sa-kool ( like a disjointed “school”) na Krup - ok, Can you wait a moment.

Mai dong thawn ( like a “torn” ) - don’t return the change / keep the change

Cap rot dee dee na krup - drive safely 

 

Preview with a Thai person, because there’s a good chance you will interpret them wrongly and the food guy won’t have a clue what you are saying, he will just sit, smile and agree with you. 

 

[Krataiboy]

I just smile, say "Cap kuhn cap" and give them a tip.

[armadillo215]

1 hour ago, AlQaholic said:

When speaking on the phone, you say "Hello", they will answer "Hello", you say "yes, Hello", they will say "Hello", then you say "Hello", they answer with "Hello?", then you answer with "Hello?" and they will answer with "Hello", you answer with "Hello" and so on, you get the idea.

Who's on first??

 

[BORRISGOODENUF]

May I suggest you practice using the translator on your phone, it is also possible to conduct a conversation.

 

regards!

[Dexxter]

On 4/5/2020 at 1:31 AM, donnacha said:

the coming years of lockdown

What???? I hope not.

[berrec]

On 4/8/2020 at 1:32 PM, BORRISGOODENUF said:

May I suggest you practice using the translator on your phone, it is also possible to conduct a conversation.

 

regards!

Yes excellent idea, Google translate for all it limitations (well free so I really should not complain) can keep you in the conversations game. 

 

There is an interactive conversation feature; you can practice your Thai to Eng translations

 

Also you can use it at your food pickup.....

 

After many years of using it the secret to getting the most accuracy out of it is common words and short sentences.

 

If you can keep each sentences down to 5 words or less each time it's usable buy both parties.

 

Start rambling on with elongated sentences and it's garbage most of the time.

 

Don't get frustrated practicing your Thai with Google translate because the Thai words toning is critical and as you don't I suspect have the natural Thai sounding skills you will be challenged. 

 

[bkk6060]

I always just give him 1000 b and hope for change.

[EricTh]

On 4/8/2020 at 10:05 AM, recom273 said:

I applaud your sentiment - I always had a little part time business delivering fish to London restaurants late at night, you need those times or interaction, when people say, “Grab a beer from the fridge”.

 

How about 

thung li-yang - are you here? ( he will reply - thung lay-o)

Gam-Lang maa - I’m coming!

Pep Neung - Must a moment

Law Sa-kool ( like a disjointed “school”) na Krup - ok, Can you wait a moment.

Mai dong thawn ( like a “torn” ) - don’t return the change / keep the change

Cap rot dee dee na krup - drive safely 

 

Preview with a Thai person, because there’s a good chance you will interpret them wrongly and the food guy won’t have a clue what you are saying, he will just sit, smile and agree with you. 

 

 

It's better not to speak Thai if you can't get the tones and pronunciation right. 

 

They can understand simple English alright. Just don't use slang words that they didn't learn in school,.

 

Instead of saying 'keep the change' just shorten to 'keep money'.

'Change' might mean changing money which might be confusing to them.

 

After all, they took 11 years to learn English whereas most foreigners didn't even take 6 months to learn Thai.

 

Edited April 15, 2020 by EricTh

[Hawkeye Newman]

On 4/7/2020 at 9:24 PM, AlQaholic said:

When speaking on the phone, you say "Hello", they will answer "Hello", you say "yes, Hello", they will say "Hello", then you say "Hello", they answer with "Hello?", then you answer with "Hello?" and they will answer with "Hello", you answer with "Hello" and so on, you get the idea.

Lazada deliveries via Kerry and DHL work the same way. Here's how it plays out:

Your phone rings.

You: Hello?

(10 to 15 seconds of silence will then ensue.)

You: Hello? . . . Hello? . . . HELLO!

(Another 5-10 seconds of silence. Then a static crackling voice will announce, as if from the depths of Hades, Hello?

You: Yes, yes, hello?

Him: Hello.

You: Okay?

Him: (A litany of crackling Thai gibberish not even a native speaker could understand. However, you, being the well-prepared individual that you are, are anticipating a delivery for today, and you don't normally have Thai men calling you, so safe to assume it's the delivery guy.)

So you say, I come now. I come now. Okay?

Hopefully he says, Okay.

And then, if you live in a condo, as I do, the hunt begins.

If you find him all else is moot. Hard part is over.

 

[colinneil]

5 hours ago, Hawkeye Newman said:

Lazada deliveries via Kerry and DHL work the same way. Here's how it plays out:

Your phone rings.

You: Hello?

(10 to 15 seconds of silence will then ensue.)

You: Hello? . . . Hello? . . . HELLO!

(Another 5-10 seconds of silence. Then a static crackling voice will announce, as if from the depths of Hades, Hello?

You: Yes, yes, hello?

Him: Hello.

You: Okay?

Him: (A litany of crackling Thai gibberish not even a native speaker could understand. However, you, being the well-prepared individual that you are, are anticipating a delivery for today, and you don't normally have Thai men calling you, so safe to assume it's the delivery guy.)

So you say, I come now. I come now. Okay?

Hopefully he says, Okay.

And then, if you live in a condo, as I do, the hunt begins.

If you find him all else is moot. Hard part is over.

 

I do not have that problem, when Kerry or what ever delivery company driver calls, i just say farang u bahn.

Never a problem, did that only yesterday, 5 minutes later driver at the gate.

Helps if you learn directions to your home in Thai, so if a new driver i explain to them how to get here.

Edited April 29, 2020 by colinneil