7 eleven general rant

[scorecard]

20 hours ago, champers said:

You think too mutt. Don't sweat the small stuff. 

An alternative might be to talk to god.

[najomtiensun]

I'll just file this under "things I didn't know I needed to worry about so I won't category". 

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I think they are doing everything they can to stay alive, we have had 3 close down near me

Very poor show, only 997 left in the square mile now then

[tifino]

and, going back to basics...

 - heaven forbid the potential rage coming from a stall holder; if I were to double park in front of his stall - inside a 7-11 carpark trying to go shop in the 7-11

[sirineou]

I love thailand worts and all. I also often get frasurated by of the thing we all complain about it. But I take deep breath and remind myself  

"It's par for the course" 

One of the things we all love about Thailand is the Freedom that we did not have back in our own country.  But with freedom there are dangers, there are always those who will abuse, or misuse that freedom.   

We can wish the Government to  provide some regulation and control some of the freedoms  some abuse, or misuse   and we don't like. but together we will lose some of the freedoms we like.  It is already starting. I have been in and out of Thailand for over 25 years and I have seen the changes. 

So let's all take a big breadth . Practice the mantra "Its all par for the course"  and hope things don't change very much. 

[ross163103]

On 3/12/2021 at 8:04 AM, Kenny202 said:

Like most things here probably no logical answer.

Exactly; logical to Thais but not to farangs. The key to understanding Thailand is; try not to understand, makes life here a lot simpler.

[boonchu]

I asked the 7/11 franchise owner  in our village and she states that it is the land lord who rents out the side walk/pathway to the noodle and drink shops.

The carts on the road are supposed to be controlled by the local khet officers.

[polpott]

On 3/12/2021 at 3:26 PM, Kenny202 said:

No, not looking to make waves or change the world here. It is what it is and it seems to be like this everywhere. I just find it hard to understand why the Thais tolerate seemingly intolerable things. Maybe its lucky for us they do. I doubt any of these stores are  franchises. I'm in a large city albeit a few k's out. I was under the impression it was only smaller country 7 elevens were franchised.

All 7/11 s are franchised. Chap across the street from me in Pattaya has 4. The nearest 7/11 to me is relatively new and has a large car park which is ringed by food stalls. They sell excellent cheesy kebabs and every evening a guy barbecues a whole pig. Delicious.

Its used as a meeting point for the local youngsters at night, who zoom from 7/11 to 7/11 looking for girls. Reminds me of my youth zooming from late night cafe to late night cafe for the same reason. It was the main reason for the curfew, to stop these gatherings. They're very much the heart of the community, it even has its resident homeless old guy who I always drop 20 baht on when I pass him.

All this activity creates custom for the 7/11, why would they want to change it? Don't bemoan it, embrace it, its a little bit of the real Thailand.

[bojo]

On 3/12/2021 at 10:27 PM, dbrenn said:

Sounds like you miss the boring orderliness of home

and perhaps 'ordinaryness' as well................

[brewsterbudgen]

15 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

imo Tesco has been the worst brand/store in Thailand for years..

Gone now, thank goodness.

[NoshowJones]

On 3/12/2021 at 10:26 PM, Kenny202 said:

No, not looking to make waves or change the world here. It is what it is and it seems to be like this everywhere. I just find it hard to understand why the Thais tolerate seemingly intolerable things. Maybe its lucky for us they do. I doubt any of these stores are  franchises. I'm in a large city albeit a few k's out. I was under the impression it was only smaller country 7 elevens were franchised.

The vast majority of Thai people are very unconfrontational, in my 15 years here, I cannot remember being confronted by a Thai person ever, so surely that has to be a good thing.

The only thing I can remember confronting any Thai people about are the queue jumpers, and that has never been in any nasty way, and I have done that regularly.

Back in the UK it is the exact opposite, so with the exception of the Thai road behaviour, and the regular coups which I knew nothing about until the one that ousted Thaksin. I am glad to be here.

[NanLaew]

On 3/13/2021 at 5:59 AM, PatOngo said:

On 3/12/2021 at 9:30 PM, Kenny202 said:

Anyone have any insight into this apart from Thais seemingly boundless tendency to tolerate without question?

It's a cultural thing Kenny, ingrained for generations, you can try changing it but it may be somewhat difficult!

Is whining about it cultural too?

[NanLaew]

14 hours ago, hkt83100 said:

A regular one in front of our 7/11... For sure NOT disabled. Grrr.

 

Why so upset? Are you disabled?

[PatOngo]

3 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Is whining about it cultural too?

What do you think, Long Time?

[NanLaew]

17 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

What do you think, Long Time?

I was thinking more about OP and other foreigners whining about things they either don't understand or can't change here. It could arguably be a cultural thing but I wasn't whining about them or the locals. I was just wondering if it's something in some foreigner's culture to whine?

As some others have alluded to, maybe the longer you stay here, the easier it gets? Sort of like the 7-year itch? If you get past it, you can probably have a less stressful life here. If inconsequential stuff still boils your pish after 10+ years, then maybe it's the guests 'cultural thing' that's misaligned?

I hear they have some half-decent mechanics here that can sort that out but don't hold your breath finding a good sparky.

[NanLaew]

6 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

On 3/13/2021 at 4:22 AM, RichardColeman said:

What's all the fuss - there's a 7/11 every 100 yards

And a Tesco Express next to every one

We also have a Mini Big-C so that's the perfect trifecta! but *none of them have fresh lettuce for my BLT.

* This is NOT a whine, it's a cultural observation.

[PatOngo]

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

As some others have alluded to, maybe the longer you stay here, the easier it gets?

I found the first 25 years the easiest, it seemed to more difficult from there on! ????

[1FinickyOne]

On 3/13/2021 at 3:42 AM, sirineou said:

You can not have Thailand à la carte,

It might be heaven but it is not Burger King... 

I never understand why people come here and complain abt Thai customs and laws... can they change laws in their own country?

The gravity of gravity... can't do much about it. And such trifling issues too.

[DaLa]

On 3/13/2021 at 2:31 AM, sanuk711 said:

My 7-11 has 5 girls on the check outs, until it gets really busy, 

.....then they have  2..........

I think you are being a little over critical there. I doubt the 3 girls that receive phone calls from their family and pictures of their friends dinner on facebook knew for certain that the shop would get busy at that point in time.

 

And still better than in the west where finding a shop assistant is akin to winning the lottery. Finding a shop assistant that knows the answer to your questions is akin to winning the lottery whilst being struck by lightening.

[elgenon]

You thought the manager got the money? Is that the way it would work in your country of origin? Curious.

I would think it was the owner of the property or of the franchise.

[scorecard]

16 hours ago, najomtiensun said:

I'll just file this under "things I didn't know I needed to worry about so I won't category". 

Or file it under F  (file and forget).

[scorecard]

50 minutes ago, DaLa said:

I think you are being a little over critical there. I doubt the 3 girls that receive phone calls from their family and pictures of their friends dinner on facebook knew for certain that the shop would get busy at that point in time.

 

And still better than in the west where finding a shop assistant is akin to winning the lottery. Finding a shop assistant that knows the answer to your questions is akin to winning the lottery whilst being struck by lightening.

But having an answer doesn't mean the shop assistant understands the answer. 

[scorecard]

51 minutes ago, DaLa said:

I think you are being a little over critical there. I doubt the 3 girls that receive phone calls from their family and pictures of their friends dinner on facebook knew for certain that the shop would get busy at that point in time.

 

And still better than in the west where finding a shop assistant is akin to winning the lottery. Finding a shop assistant that knows the answer to your questions is akin to winning the lottery whilst being struck by lightening.

When the number of 'visitors' in a bigger 7/11 that I often visit reaches a certain point (many in the shop) 3 assistants quickly change their roles to seriously monitoring the back/side wall of the shop to stop shoplifting.  

[orchis]

On 3/13/2021 at 6:03 AM, PatOngo said:

Welcome to Planet Thailand! 

At left: Kenny202 calling for rescue. 

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I found the first 25 years the easiest, it seemed to more difficult from there on! ????

Interesting. With that sort of mileage, one would expect to be well over the (cultural) hump. What happened after 25 years?

[PatOngo]

Just now, NanLaew said:

Interesting. With that sort of mileage, one would expect to be well over the (cultural) hump. What happened after 25 years?

I started taking notice.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

We also have a Mini Big-C so that's the perfect trifecta! but *none of them have fresh lettuce for my BLT.

* This is NOT a whine, it's a cultural observation.

Any subs?...how about shaved cabbage..slaw style for crunch? as iceberg is the trash lettuce of the lettuce family....I just do bacon--mayo and tomato on toast

I guess I got a bit spoiled over the cooler months with grandma's allotment just across the street being the source of an endless supply of succulent, green, leaf (non-trashy) lettuce and other veggies. Sadly, the 'farm' is all a bit sunburnt and crispy already.

BTW. you're talking about a toasted bacon tomato sandwich, not a bloody BLT.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

And still better than in the west where finding a shop assistant is akin to winning the lottery. Finding a shop assistant that knows the answer to your questions is akin to winning the lottery whilst being struck by lightening.

Have you tried HomePro lately?

[NanLaew]

9 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Interesting. With that sort of mileage, one would expect to be well over the (cultural) hump. What happened after 25 years?

I started taking notice.

Ah, so you changed.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Have you tried HomePro lately?

Not my favorite, several times over the years I've indicated that I like a product and asked 'what colours do you have', with instant response 'see deow, see deow' (essentially 'this colour only').

But at the same time I or my family have noticed there's more colours on the shelves'.

A different example, in a hyper mart, son is looking for a bigger LG clothes washer and noticed the exact sized LG he wants, but asks 'what big washers do you have can take X kg of dry clothes?'

Instant response is a different brand and 'this one only machine can take X kg, when do you want it delivered'.

Bottom line, the machine recommended is the one the salesman get's the best commission on.