THE WEEK THAT WAS Stick up for yourself in Thailand - remember the customer is sometimes right!

[rooster59]

 

Only a fool would say that a customer in Thailand is, as the saying goes, always right.

 

Many Thais when faced with a problem turn the other cheek and avoid conflict. They take it on the chin, grumble to friends but don't make a face losing scene.

 

The ones that buck the trend who rant or resort to physical violence, or who take to social media to get their own back make the news "dramas".

 

If they are lucky they might get a result. If not they might be counter sued for defamation. 

 

One such this week were complaints from foodies about a high end restaurant. The store was forced to apologize after admin staff sarcastically attacked customer complaints about the lack of lobster and the pasta not being al dente.

 

A storm in a teacup of course which the Thai media always excels in turning into a Storm Trooper in a Teacup for the benefit of their irate netizens. 

 

Rooster - like anyone who has lived in Thailand a while - has had his fair share of poor service, bugs in the food, sloppy tradesmen, corporate shafting, bank shenanigans and the like.

 

In such situations I have always relied on my two serious advantages - firstly I am NOT Thai and secondly I can speak Thai quite well.

 

I’ve read all the guidebooks about keeping your cool. But I always disagree in part because I am not Thai and never will be.

 

The trick is to realise this is in your favor not detrimental to your righteous cause. Play up to it. 

 

I’m expected to lose my rag. When I do - in a controlled manner - and when I use language that is appropriate for the situation (okay a little fruity) I invariably get my own way. 

 

One of my favorites is to intimate that I am Thai (while obviously looking and sounding anything but) and claiming that "rao pen khon Thai duay gan" (we're all in this together).

 

Thais in the vicinity are often on the verge of applause rather than critical. They won't actually clap by me! How they'd love to!

 

They wish they could be me!! But they can’t, they have to be Thai. Poor old downtrodden them! Not my problem.

 

Displaying a bit of controlled anger is a wonderful tactic and one that people expect of a foreigner. Don’t slip into the “it’s better where I come from” argument, however. Compare Thai with Thai. Like with like. 

 

No “Barclays is better than Bangkok Bank” or “Sainsbury’s is better than Lotus” - compare Thai banks with rivals and stores in Thailand with their competitors. Compare yesteryear's service with today's fiasco.

 

Stick up for yourself. Even if your Thai language capability is not the best, that can actually be a side issue to insistence and good body language. 

 

One of my first experiences of finding out how the customer is usually wrong was at the Thai Room restaurant in Patpong where we found a large cockroach in the lasagna. 

 

Rather than apologise and offer a free meal for all, the hapless waiter called a manager who pointed at the roach and smiled as they giggled and discussed excitedly as to how it got there.

 

It was removed and we were expected to get on with our meal and pay, which is what we did.

 

There is always the situation in Thailand that serving staff have to make up for mistakes and breakages so that should play into any decision.

 

Mostly if I get a poor meal I won’t go back. If it’s really slow I’ll walk out. 

 

Returning faulty products to stores and large shops I always call for the manager. If I continue to be unhappy I will do something a Thai would never do - ask to speak to the owner.

 

Yes, I want to speak to the owner of Central right now about this, yes I need to immediately talk with the chairman of SCB, or whatever. (Better still if I can name them!)

 

This absurdity throws Thai staff into a “what the hell do we do next’ conundrum as I wait for something that is not going to happen. 

 

It was based on advice given to me as a young adult in England. “When hard done by, seek out the organ grinder, not the monkey”.

 

This strategy usually results in Rooster getting my righteous way as a pain the rear end is usually better when off the premises.

 

One bank manager once changed his mortgage rules at the last minute - I had to wait but it was amusing to see him fleeing the branch to go to head office and sort things out in my favor. 

 

He lied about where he'd been - I smiled and enjoyed his discomfiture without comment. Itr had been a long but satisfying wait.

 

I always remind bank staff who are trying to put regulations over good sense, that I have been their customer since before they were born. I tell them I was the first foreigner to press an ATM in Thailand.

 

This nonsense usually strikes a chord and gets them on the phone to a superior who buckles. 

 

Returning faulty products to stores I will stick to my ground. If they say the date has passed or there is some reason to shaft me I won’t accept it. I’ll smile and get my own way because it’s easier for them than having a persistently grimacing but annoyed foreigner in their and other customers' faces. 

 

Play to your strengths!

 

Using the time delay tactic is also important as is not overreacting.

 

I once had a new carpet laid then just before the workmen were to finish I saw a neat cigarette burn in the middle of the room.

 

Better to relax just a little on this one. A man was sent for. He arrived with an M-150 bottle full of glue and a needle. 

 

Within minutes I could not tell where the burn had been. The carpet layers paid the miniscule call-out fee. I’d have told ‘em where to stick their shagpile!

 

On another occasion the CD changer and a large number of documents were removed from my boot while my car was in Honda service.

 

They caught a security man and recovered my case that had been dumped by the side of a building. After I rejected their plea for me to come in and discuss it I demanded 40,000 baht in cash.

 

Under threat of police action and exposure on a new phenomena - online media  - a senior official from the car company arrived at my school with the cash. We settled on 35K which was great as I never used the CD changer. 

 

I don’t really like music but I don’t see why businesses who do me wrong shouldn’t face it!

 

Never shout about the police and courts. Thais know that these are almost completely useless institutions that offer minimal if any help.

 

Rely on your own mettle. Stick to your ground. And don’t be ashamed to be a foreigner and adjust your Thai manners accordingly.

 

Here endeth Rooster’s Sunday sermon; now onto what was one of the most boring of news weeks of 2021. 

 

Lurgy news rumbled on. The TAT said they were waiting for the high season in Phuket after the Sandbox delivered only 38,699 foreign tourists in three months. 

 

Governor Yutthasak said a million would come by March. He really can't help himself and needs to be sacked immediately. 

 

Much of this pie-in-the-sky will depend on Russians. Yutthasak needs to stop plucking figures from the ether and make sure there is plenty of vodka on tap. He could even try and get restaurants and bars open to serve it.

 

Right now Phuket is still a ghost town and it’s only returning expats looking for a way back into Thailand who are making up the numbers.

 

Thailand needs to wake up, reopen without draconian restrictions and get the economy moving again. 

 

One restaurateur suggested that the CCSA plan to allow live music was pointless if alcohol was not allowed. Hilariously, band members have to wear masks though the vocalist can abstain while singing.

 

At some of the places I've been to a thick, solid mask would save the customers from the terrible noise they have to endure listening to "Yellow Liver". Not to mention my pre-existing condition "karaokephobia".

 

The government burbled on about vaccinating 50 million by November, easing yet more restrictions according to “Prayuth’s 120 day plan”.

 

Blah, blah ad nauseam blah. 

 

Still only about a quarter of the population has been double dosed though admittedly things are picking up pace with more vaccine options now available.

 

Business people in the private sector continued to slam the government for flip-flopping and mixed messages damaging potential tourist confidence. 

 

Friday was supposed to be the start of the Chinese “Golden Week” - that was impossible of course as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other places put off any foreign tourism for yet another month.

 

Still there was plenty of mirth. The TAT came up with a new slogan that was not quite as pithy as “Amazing Thailand”.

 

“Visit Thailand 2022 - Now Even More Amazing Thailand Has It All”, just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?!

 

Tourism bods in Chiang Mai rivalled this with: “Open Chiang Mai to the Next Pages”.

 

Sorry but I’ve long since closed the book on that "oop north" traffic infested, pollution rampant tourist hellhole. It was half decent in the 1980s until tourism ruined it.

 

One official said that Chiang Mai was ready and getting lovely and cool. Thanks; I'll stay in Bangkok and turn on the air-con.

 

BTW if the TAT is listening I am willing to offer my slogan services for a cut price rate. I’ve got some crackers just waiting to bring the millions back.

 

One is: “Please, pretty please come back! We’ll be even nicer next time and stop all tourism rip offs, unsafe transport and choking pollution”.

 

Catchy,eh! Really hits the nail on the head wouldn't you say!

 

The pandemic tedium was punctured by a shocking incident at a traditional massage shop in Khon Kaen.

 

A burly foreigner on a red off-road motorcycle was being sought for attacking and attempting to murder a 45 year old masseuse who is in hospital.

 

Police said the suspect also attacked a school girl on the same day. 

 

On Saturday it was announced that an American man named Robert Andrew was arrested in a condominium on Nana, Soi 3 in Bangkok.

 

He allegedly admitted to carrying out both attacks while high on drugs. 

 

Thai media revelled in suggesting that Bangkok might slip under the waters like in 2011’s “Great Flood”.They had zero evidence for this with everyone from governor Aswin to “experts in the field” saying 2011 and 2021 were two very different animals. 

 

Then it rained all year, this year is more like last year. Relatively dry despite a recent tropical storm.

 

The viral photo of the week that epitomized the hardship being faced by villagers in the floods upcountry, was of a dog clutching perilously to the head of a Buddhist image in a temple as flood waters swirled below.

 

Down in Pattaya one story said that the resort would have been great if they’d only listened to the Japanese back in 1974.

 

A bit late now. Those who think that Pattaya is going to rise like a post-pandemic phoenix have got a rude awakening coming.

 

The pandemic marks a watershed in the life of the city. It will never be like before. The lurgy actually gives the authorities more grist to the mill to knock most of it down and start again. 

 

It’ll be turned into a weekend retreat for Bangkokians and a holiday spot for Indians and Chinese on five day tours. If it isn’t already.

 

Pattaya has always needed a complete makeover, now there's every excuse to get on with it.

 

European and American expats - already feeling marginalised pre-pandemic - will eventually realize there are far better places in Thailand to live or have a holiday. 

 

Or far better places with less restrictions and easier paperwork elsewhere in the world.

 

Plod announced they are cracking down on loan sharks. The media didn’t point out that they already were cracking down since the start of the year. 

 

Yes, the RTP can always be relied upon for a bit of extra craic. 

 

The pollsters continued with their nonsense. I would suggest that all the polls in Thailand are completely worthless and not worth your time. 

 

ASEAN NOW will doubtless continue to report on them - have a laugh is the best I can offer. Don’t take their “findings” seriously for a moment.

 

It's not the sample size - it's the agenda of their owners.

 

In road news, one driver completely trashed his vehicle after hitting a wall of a section of the Bangkok expressway and plunging ten meters to the ground below.

 

He said survival was due to the Luang Pu Thuat doll on the dash and the same old “400 year old revered”  monk hanging round his wife’s neck in an amulet.

 

I’m offering an alternative scenario. The driver was a complete idiot checking GPS on a road not familiar to him. The airbags and how they fell saved them. 

 

Buddha, his followers or any of the related mumbo jumbo can do nothing to help and it’s mere coincidence or good luck if people survive their own idiocy. 

 

Mrs R hates it when I turn “militant atheist” and when I advise the children to reject religious nonsense. 

 

Both my grown up children followed the path of atheism rejecting the efforts of their mum. My latest brood will hopefully follow suit. Faith is pathetic. Science and facts are what is needed. 

 

That and decent ice-cream.

 

This I found in Svensons this week with their 99 baht Durian Season Special. 

 

The dish was a fair time in coming for the ice cream chain but when it did it was a masterpiece of yellow and green creamy goodness in the shape of the King of Fruits on a bed of crispy bits.

 

Absolutely no reason to complain - in fact I made a point of telling the waitress how yummy it was. 

 

Another satisfied foreign customer.

 

Rooster

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2021-10-03

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[Gandtee]

The durian ice cream sounds tasty. 99 Baht is not to be sniffed at.????

[fredscats]

Now Now Rooster,this is known,all of it in greater detail than even you could realise,its when some newly arrived nutter arrives just off the banana boat and puts his own spin on events that upsets the apple cart

 

anyway  "up noorf"  UK you sound like,from my immediate neighbourhood too

[ezzra]

What is it that compel people to write a mile long post? too long and winded for Sunday morning...

[Tropicalevo]

"Still only about a quarter of the population has been double dosed"

 

And quite a few of them with reduced dosage. 12 shots to a vial?

[Gsxrnz]

As always, Rooster is pretty much on point as regards standing your ground in the face of daily absurdities.  Although I would add perhaps one other method of attack (or defense, depending on your perspective), and that is humor.  Most Thais appreciate a good laugh, sometimes even at their own expense - though be sure you know enough Thai to get you out of trouble rather than dig the hole deeper.

 

I was once stopped by an elderly BIB for taking an apparently "unfree" turn at the red light, not wearing a helmet (because some lowlife stole it while parked earlier), and for daring to look like a tourist.  The BIB was disgruntled that I had a license, but had me on the red-light and the no helmet.  He told the GF that he wanted to check under the seat for bombs - it was when a few were being let off in Bangers.  I understood what he said and as I raised the seat, I told the GF in elementary  Thai, to tell him that " I didn't know I was supposed to have a bomb".

 

Not sure if it was me telling her to tell him in his own language that did the trick, or just the joke in itself.  Anyway, he burst out laughing and told her to tell me to <deleted> off as he nabbed two obvious tourists (fellows from the Indian sub-continent) paddling a 600cc sportsbike around the same corner with no helmets and definitely no license.  He even held up the traffic to let me merge.

 

It was a good day.

 

 

[HAPPYNUFF]

My wife     had bought  a pair of reading glasses from a well kn own Optometrists shop previously, so I went along to get  new frames  fitted to an old   pair of my glasses.      paid over 2000 baht,    couldnt get a set with  side hinges.

Within 3 months    end of one arm  fell off, snapped   in half    Back to the shop, which  had assured me    my purchase had a 12 month warranty.    "Oh yes"   said the manager,   "warranty covered, I give you address of manufacturer in Bangkok, you take  them there, they fix"      As I live in Nakhon nowhere, my reply was   "You see my face  now, because you will never see it again.:"     and walked out...  Wife later went to local provincial hospital that has  optometrist, b ought    better   pair, with hinges, for 800 baht.  Dont get  angry, just    deprive them of any future  sales/profit.

[Maha Sarakham]

Way too long of a post.  Try breaking it up into more readable sections.

[Doctor Tom]

No idea what this is about,  I lost the will to live after a few paragraphs. This is a forum, not a literary group. 

[Hummin]

I have been spammed with Messages by customer service from a shop selling trough Lazada. I gave them 3 stars for a product with an explanation, this product is ok, but not especially solid, and could need some improvements. Nice and polite review. 

 

Started with a nice try to give me vouchers to change my review to 5 stars and finely ended up with i loose my job if you do not change. Contacted Lazada customer service explained the story, and gave them screenshots. And all they said, this is between you and the shop ????

 

I tried to tell them this is bad for Lazada reputation, but no respons or understanding at all. 

[topt]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

What is it that compel people to write a mile long post? too long and winded for Sunday morning...

 

44 minutes ago, Maha Sarakham said:

Way too long of a post.  Try breaking it up into more readable sections.

 

39 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

No idea what this is about,  I lost the will to live after a few paragraphs. This is a forum, not a literary group. 

It is the same every week which you all know as you are not exactly new posters - so why bother to read and leave a comment? 

I actually found this weeks more interesting than usual but that's just me 

[toofarnorth]

40 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I have been spammed with Messages by customer service from a shop selling trough Lazada. I gave them 3 stars for a product with an explanation, this product is ok, but not especially solid, and could need some improvements. Nice and polite review. 

 

Started with a nice try to give me vouchers to change my review to 5 stars and finely ended up with i loose my job if you do not change. Contacted Lazada customer service explained the story, and gave them screenshots. And all they said, this is between you and the shop ????

 

I tried to tell them this is bad for Lazada reputation, but no respons or understanding at all. 

I know 'tis Sunday so not fully operational yet but what is trough Lazada and should I get one ?

[toofarnorth]

6 minutes ago, topt said:

 

 

It is the same every week which you all know as you are not exactly new posters - so why bother to read and leave a comment? 

I actually found this weeks more interesting than usual but that's just me 

I too thought it was pretty good.  Sunday and Maechan closed so a long read is ok.

[TheFishman1]

Way too long I stopped reading it after a few seconds just too many words on a Sunday morning TIT

[ThLT]

In other words, how to be a Karen in Thailand. ???? jk 

 

But in the end, if the thing you're fighting for is worth 20฿, is it worth making a whole scene, and make everyone lose face, especially yourself (and also all foreigners)?

 

[bbko]

Why is this posted in the news section?

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

I’ve read all the guidebooks about keeping your cool. But I always disagree in part because I am not Thai and never will be.

 

The trick is to realise this is in your favor not detrimental to your righteous cause. Play up to it. 

Always better to keep cool.  I am Thai but other Thai people will never actually think or understand that I am; I can use this to my advantage. 

[Flying Saucage]

Great piece Rooster, thanks!

 

Could be twice the length for me. ????

[clivebaxter]

 

 

8 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Way too long I stopped reading it after a few seconds just too many words on a Sunday morning TIT

Ditto. if you married a Thai with a backbone there is rarely need to bother with this sort of nonsense, just let her lose to sort it out, mine will not stand for any <deleted>, daft excuses, poor service or wrong prices etc ????

[clivebaxter]

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

No idea what this is about,  I lost the will to live after a few paragraphs. This is a forum, not a literary group. 

At least he did not mention how long he has been here, the name of the School he's at ( so prestigious!) or how well he speaks Thai, bit of a let off this week ????

[Neeranam]

7 minutes ago, ThLT said:

In other words, how to be a Karen in Thailand. ???? jk 

 

But in the end, if the thing you're fighting for is worth 20฿, is it worth making a whole scene, and make everyone lose face, especially yourself (and also all foreigners)?

 

Integrity has no monetary value. 

[George Aylesham]

43 minutes ago, topt said:

 

 

It is the same every week which you all know as you are not exactly new posters - so why bother to read and leave a comment? 

I actually found this weeks more interesting than usual but that's just me 

 

18 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Integrity has no monetary value. 

Me too. Sunday is a relaxed day and you have to the time to absorb more than just a soundbite (or wordbite).

[spidermike007]

I was recently at a French restaurant on the northern end of Koh Phangan. A fancy place. We ordered two bottles of wine. Both were disappointing, at 1,100 and 1,800 baht. The second more expensive bottle had turned. It was awful. Nothing there. And the French owner refused to take the bottle back. The owner had argued that it needed a little more time to breathe, and that the wine tasted fine to him. When I posted negative reviews on FB and Trip Advisor, he replied with snarky remarks about uneducated Americans not knowing anything about wine. When I started complaining online, I nearly started a social war on the island, with the petty provincial politics there. What can one say? A flaming idiot is just that. I have zero concerns about defamation. That is simply a law written by cowards, to defend useless cowards. I only backed off, when I realized my friend who lived on KP was being ostracized by the locals, for telling the truth. In a provincial environment, most often loyalty to locals and people who have been there a long time, will win out over truth. 

Nothing like an unrepentant chef or owner, to scare away future clientele. I own a business, and I know what good customer service looks like. Heaping scorn upon unsatisfied customers is never a smart thing to do. Improving your performance and quality, is what real men do. Wish we could call out these restaurants by name. Cowardly libel laws created by men who are bought and paid for seems to prevent such an action.

 

Some time ago when I was living on Samui I had an issue with an air conditioner that I had just bought from Homepro. I went into Homepro asking for service and got no satisfaction at all. I asked for the manager which is something that I usually do, when I am not getting anywhere, and she had a terrible attitude and was very unhelpful as well. Very arrogant. 

 

I had got her name, went home, looked up the head office in Bangkok, sent them a quick email explaining the situation, reminding them that I spend alot of money each year at their store, and calling her out by name. Within an hour I got a phone call from a vice president telling me that everything would be addressed, and he said that I should go back into the store the following morning! When I did I got a deep bow from the manager, I'm so sorry I misunderstood yesterday. What can I do to make you happy? It was the exact response I wanted the first time around but that I got after she had been scolded by the VP, and likely her job had been threatened if her attitude didn't improve. Sometimes we just have to escalate things to a more senior employee or manager, in order to get things done here, as sometimes the fools on the floor just don't know what service looks like.

 

My Thai wife was shocked when I first started doing this, as she tried to explain to me that they do not have customer service in Thailand. I explained to her that they sure do! Now she realizes that service does exist, can exist, and will exist if the right amount of will, force and action is brought to the table.

 

 

 

[AussieinThaiJim]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

I have been spammed with Messages by customer service from a shop selling trough Lazada. I gave them 3 stars for a product with an explanation, this product is ok, but not especially solid, and could need some improvements. Nice and polite review. 

 

Started with a nice try to give me vouchers to change my review to 5 stars and finely ended up with i loose my job if you do not change. Contacted Lazada customer service explained the story, and gave them screenshots. And all they said, this is between you and the shop ????

 

I tried to tell them this is bad for Lazada reputation, but no respons or understanding at all. 

One star works much better!

[big dendrobenaes]

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

No idea what this is about,  I lost the will to live after a few paragraphs. This is a forum, not a literary group. 

i lost track of what it was SUPPOSED to be all about !!!!

[Neeranam]

21 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I was recently at a French restaurant on Koh Phangan.

Amazed their is a French restaurant there. When I was there in 1993, one restaurant gave me a 'special' mushroom omelette  that was rather expensive.  It wasn't very nice, but I never complained as the owner had little horns which made him look like Lucifer. 

[Doctor Tom]

1 hour ago, clivebaxter said:

At least he did not mention how long he has been here, the name of the School he's at ( so prestigious!) or how well he speaks Thai, bit of a let off this week ????

I didn't get that far to care

[BostonRob2]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

What is it that compel people to write a mile long post? too long and winded for Sunday morning...

A salary.

[Speedhump]

Billy Big Boots says threaten police action because it works, and in the very next paragraph says don't bother with police because the store knows they're useless. Big man, little brain. 

[Pravda]

I miss danaboutthailand tidbits. They were much shorter and would always provoke reaction.