Thai's and responding to questions via Email or Text - Why don't they respond?

[Thomas J]

I have noticed whether it is on Shopee, Lazada, Facebook, or Line many Thai's advertise and provide email or chat to ask questions.  If I do so in the USA on sites like EBAY or Amazon, or Facebook I virtually always get a response.  From Thai's I rarely get a reply.  I will typically ask my question both in English and Thai.  Its not like they don't understand and reply as such.  They just don't reply.  Is it a cultural thing not to respond via text or emails? 

[PatOngo]

Maybe your questions are TOO hard!

[Thomas J]

4 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Maybe your questions are TOO hard!

PatOngo

Something like do you still have this in stock or what brand is this? 

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, Thomas J said:

Something like do you still have this in stock or what brand is this? 

 

You get the "no hab" in bricks and mortars after walking past an item, not sure I'd hold my breath waiting for a reply online to be honest. Just have to smile and put it down to "cultural differences".

[Crossy]

It's possible they don't like the giant text.

[bkk6060]

I don't know of many in fact any Thais that use email for communication.

[Pilotman]

OP, I agree, many are particularly bad at responding to e mail questions, even on their published e mail address.  I take it as a sign of inefficiency , so I don't deal with any organisation, company, or person who doesn't have the skill or manners to respond. 

[Shot]

Send them a Tik Tok video, asking your questions in the form of a Thai Soap. Bad acting, with lots of yelling and crying. Believe me, they'll watch that. 

[Lacessit]

Asking a question here puts the potential responder in a quandary, because it is Asian culture to give an answer that they think the interrogator wants to hear. Part of that is reading body language. I suspect there are no answers because it is too hard by email or text.

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, Thomas J said:

PatOngo

Something like do you still have this in stock or what brand is this? 

Yes, too hard! They don't like being answerable to farang! 

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I think the concept of asking a question is beyond them, since they were taught in school never to ask a question of a teacher and make her/him lose face. Answer no hab. 

 

This non-reply thing just happened to me, twice recently, on Lazada. The result is, no sale. Another concept they lack. 

[bodga]

Its  not just e mails and texts, they dont even answer their  phones, ask for quotes on something and often never  hear anything back.........says the Wife

[samsensam]

 

people will do what they want to do... so maybe they are just not interested in you or what you have to say, or you're a low priority for them.

 

to be honest i have plenty of thai friends who are effective and punctual communicators, they are mainly from educated and professional backgrounds so maybe that has something to do with it.

[Cake Monster]

51 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I don't know of many in fact any Thais that use email for communication.

" Line  " seems to be the method of communication ( if you get any at all  )

Very poor English skills from Thais also seems to be a huge factor.

Not being critical, its just the way it is.

[Crossy]

A "grammar police" post has been removed.

 

[johnray]

Because the person reading the emails is a 6 year old girl sitting on a stool in a market.  She ignores the pop up and continues watching Peppa Pig.

[Susco]

I usually email them, then call them to inform they have an email, and stay on the phone till they read the first line of the email to me.

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

4 hours ago, Thomas J said:

 Is it a cultural thing not to respond via text or emails? 

No

[FritsSikkink]

4 hours ago, Salerno said:

 

. Just have to smile and put it down to "cultural differences".

Which it isn't

[FritsSikkink]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I don't know of many in fact any Thais that use email for communication.

I know hundreds

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Which it isn't

 

So it's just ignorance then? OK.

[bkk6060]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

I know hundreds

Wow, you sure know a lot of Thais good for you Frits.

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

I think the concept of asking a question is beyond them, since they were taught in school never to ask a question of a teacher and make her/him lose face. 

Absolute nonsense.

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

" Line  " seems to be the method of communication ( if you get any at all  )

Very poor English skills from Thais also seems to be a huge factor.

Not being critical, its just the way it is.

Try to speak Thai when you live in Thailand.

[FritsSikkink]

5 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

So it's just ignorance then? OK.

No, talking to the wrong people.

[BigStar]

To me it rather depends on the quality of the vendor. Those with good reviews and response rates usually respond within a day to a chat message. Other less, ah, enthusiastic vendors seem not to check their chat messages often, so could be a week if at all. They may not even have the item inquired about. Moral: try to deal with the reputable.

 

Same w/ Aliexpress, BTW. The best always respond promptly, most likely on the same day. Once I encountered a vendor w/ a well-reviewed product and good rep for prompt service, but he just didn't care to answer any messages. Too busy or too arrogant. Anyway I did order and it turned out very well. 

[richard_smith237]

Effort !!!... thats the reason. 

 

It takes more effort to read an E-mail in English and reply, it may be a language barrier thing - ultimately it comes down the the basic level of customer service, which, in general is extremely poor in Thailand.

 

Thai’s are much more responsive with Line Messenger. Its as if e-mail is too formal for them.

 

Additionally many Thai businesses have a very poor ‘Web presence’ and may just have a facebook page. 

[Thomas J]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Try to speak Thai when you live in Thailand.

I make my inquiry both in English and Thai.  They just don't respond.  Particularly true on Shopee and Lazada where it says to "contact" them with any questions.  Not difficult questions, like "is it in stock" or "what brand is it"  

[johnmell]

I have emailed Bangkok Bank and AIS a few times and always have had a good response. Not so lucky with government departments.

[FritsSikkink]

10 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Wow, you sure know a lot of Thais good for you Frits.

That is the advantage of having a proper job