A stark reminder of Thai "hospitality"

[mike111]

I bought a pack of rubbish bags at 7-11 yesterday. Didn't open it & had the receipt.

Went back to the same shop today, approached the staff at the entrance to show I came in with the item & asked if I could exchange for something else. She said yes.

 

Good, collected a few snacks and headed back to the cashier. Out of nowhere she says "cannot". Surprised I asked why and she replied "more than 1 day".

 

WTF. I bought a pack of plastic bags less than 24h ago, never opened the pack & cannot exchange ? I didn't even ask for a refund.

Then I insisted and told her that the other staff said this would be possible. The gates of hell then opened wide ensuing with swearing in Thai, angry faces and what not. Eventually she said "I give you money back". I said I can just get other items instead but she insisted I just get the money & leave the shop, as a punishment for my wrongdoings.

 

I left determined not to place a foot in that shop again.

 

Moral of the story:

1. A reminder that foreigners are welcome in Thailand only while they're walking ATMs. If you're actually asking for something back, well...good luck.

2. 7-11 has ridiculous unwritten (at least in English) policies. Caveat emptor.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by mike111

[FritsSikkink]

9 minutes ago, mike111 said:

I bought a pack of rubbish bags at 7-11 yesterday. Didn't open it & had the receipt.

Went back to the same shop today, approached the staff at the entrance to show I came in with the item & asked if I could exchange for something else. She said yes.

 

Good, collected a few snacks and headed back to the cashier. Out of nowhere she says "cannot". Surprised I asked why and she replied "more than 1 day".

 

WTF. I bought a pack of plastic bags less than 24h ago, never opened the pack & cannot exchange ? I didn't even ask for a refund.

Then I insisted and told her that the other staff said this would be possible. The gates of hell then opened wide ensuing with swearing in Thai, angry faces and what not. Eventually she said "I give you money back". I said I can just get other items instead but she insisted I just get the money & leave the shop, as a punishment for my wrongdoings.

 

I left determined not to place a foot in that shop again.

 

Moral of the story:

1. A reminder that foreigners are welcome in Thailand only while they're walking ATMs. If you're actually asking for something back, well...good luck.

2. 7-11 has ridiculous unwritten (at least in English) policies. Caveat emptor.

 

 

Moral of the story, think before you buy something and don't bother people by:

1) buying something you don't want

2) bother staff to return your bought items

3) making a post in a forum blaming Thai hospitality for your own error of judgement. 

[chuang]

How much you paid for the bags that made you gone through all the troubles... Next time think twice or thrice before buying what you want.

[marin]

What does your misadventure have to do with hospitality?  

11 minutes ago, mike111 said:

Eventually she said "I give you money back". I said I can just get other items instead but she insisted I just get the money & leave the shop, as a punishment for my wrongdoings.

So you got your money back?

[digbeth]

so where's the policy written in English (or Thai) that you are entitled to return or exchange stuff you didn't want? 

 

It's understandably good service for most stores that do accept returns for no reason

 

defective or faulty goods is another matter

[VocalNeal]

19 minutes ago, mike111 said:

Moral of the story:

1) Shop staff have authority to take your money but not the authority to give you money .

2) Business electronic register does not a method for staff, without authority, to key in anything other than retail sales

[bignok]

Western laws are

Money back or exchange for faulty goods

 

If change of mind they can but dont have to

 

OP is being petty

 

[bbko]

25 minutes ago, mike111 said:

2. 7-11 has ridiculous unwritten (at least in English) policies. Caveat emptor.

In your home country do the stores have signs written in Thia?

[fredwiggy]

10 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Moral of the story, think before you buy something and don't bother people by:

1) buying something you don't want

2) bother staff to return your bought items

3) making a post in a forum blaming Thai hospitality for your own error of judgement. 

Most everyone buys things on impulse, or thinking they need them. It's not a bother to staff to return things. It's their job, and most everywhere has a return policy, including 7-11's. I've personally seen at least three occasions where people returned items, and they were all Thai's. Not about hospitality but common sense and not being prejudiced.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

Western laws are

Money back or exchange for faulty goods

 

If change of mind they can but dont have to

 

OP is being petty

 

I'm not sure what you mean by western, but in the US, most places will return, and many without a receipt. It's called better business, as it brings return customers. It's not a question of have to but will.

[bignok]

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Most everyone buys things on impulse, or thinking they need them. It's not a bother to staff to return things. It's their job, and most everywhere has a return policy, including 7-11's. I've personally seen at least three occasions where people returned items, and they were all Thai's. Not about hospitality but common sense and not being prejudiced.

By law they dont have to

[bignok]

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

I'm not sure what you mean by western, but in the US, most places will return, and many without a receipt. It's called better business, as it brings return customers. It's not a question of have to but will.

No receipt encourages theft

[fredwiggy]

Just now, bignok said:

No receipt encourages theft

Yes, it does but retailers also know that many people lose receipts, and people will return to stores that treat them well, even if they made a mistake.

[fredwiggy]

1 minute ago, bignok said:

By law they dont have to

All depends on the store. It's not a law.

[mike111]

For the kind souls who've decided it was an impulsive buying for something I didn't need: I planned to use the bags (as a protection some items) but eventually managed without them. Nothing impulsive.

 

Anywhere in the world I've been to, and I've been around, a shop would gladly exchange an item if it's unopened and a receipt is provided. I didn't ask for a refund, just to exchange for something else. Why is this considered "bothering" the shop staff is beyond comprehension.

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

6 minutes ago, mike111 said:

For the kind souls who've decided it was an impulsive buying for something I didn't need: I planned to use the bags (as a protection some items) but eventually managed without them. Nothing impulsive.

 

Anywhere in the world I've been to, and I've been around, a shop would gladly exchange an item if it's unopened and a receipt is provided. I didn't ask for a refund, just to exchange for something else. Why is this considered "bothering" the shop staff is beyond comprehension.

 

 

Just how much did you pay for these "bags"?

[jaideedave]

39 minutes ago, mike111 said:

I bought a pack of rubbish bags at 7-11 yesterday. Didn't open it & had the receipt.

Went back to the same shop today, approached the staff at the entrance to show I came in with the item & asked if I could exchange for something else. She said yes.

 

Good, collected a few snacks and headed back to the cashier. Out of nowhere she says "cannot". Surprised I asked why and she replied "more than 1 day".

 

WTF. I bought a pack of plastic bags less than 24h ago, never opened the pack & cannot exchange ? I didn't even ask for a refund.

Then I insisted and told her that the other staff said this would be possible. The gates of hell then opened wide ensuing with swearing in Thai, angry faces and what not. Eventually she said "I give you money back". I said I can just get other items instead but she insisted I just get the money & leave the shop, as a punishment for my wrongdoings.

 

I left determined not to place a foot in that shop again.

 

Moral of the story:

1. A reminder that foreigners are welcome in Thailand only while they're walking ATMs. If you're actually asking for something back, well...good luck.

2. 7-11 has ridiculous unwritten (at least in English) policies. Caveat emptor.

 

 

I appreciate your frustration.A few years ago I made a small purchase at Amorn shop in Tucom. I erred in that it was the wrong part I needed.

I returned it unopened with receipt and politely asked for a refund. It was only a couple hundred baht but I used to but a lot of stuff from them before online shopping became so convenient.

The sales guy refused and I tried to plead my case,He made a call and put me on the line with a Thai English speaker who grilled me good.After a back and forth of several minutes he very reluctantly approved the refund.

You would have thought I was returning a Rolex watch with fuss they made.

Moral of the story.In hindsight I should have just tossed the item into the nearest trash bin and had a cold beer.

[JimTripper]

They don’t like exchanges and refunds here like in other countries. They also don’t like you trying stuff on or testing things out, or in many cases even browsing too long. Most of what they are selling is cheap garbage from China with most always something wrong with it, especially clothing.

Edited September 10, 2023 by JimTripper

[bignok]

18 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

All depends on the store. It's not a law.

It is a law in most countries

[FritsSikkink]

23 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I'm not sure what you mean by western, but in the US, most places will return, and many without a receipt. It's called better business, as it brings return customers. It's not a question of have to but will.

Go back to the US then

[newnative]

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Yes, it does but retailers also know that many people lose receipts, and people will return to stores that treat them well, even if they made a mistake.

     That used to be the case but I wonder for how much longer US stores can follow a policy like that.  My brother-in-law manages a drug store in the US.  The local police have told him to not call for thefts under $150--they will not respond or investigate.   People stealing less than $150 worth of merchandise and then returning the next day, without a receipt, and expecting a full refund--how long can a store tolerate that and remain in business?  I might add that his store is in one of the wealthiest counties in the US--Fairfax County, Virginia, a suburb of DC.

     Even in the face of the 'woke' mentality in the US, several CEOs of major retailers, including Home Depot, have felt the pressing need to speak out and let the public know what has become an increasingly major problem for them--stealing by their customers.  Wal-Mart has left some markets altogether, unable to make a profit, largely due to this problem.  Walgreens has had to redesign some of its stores in some locations to put almost all the merchandise out of reach of the customers--I imagine there will be more of this in the future for some retailers in the US.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Go back to the US then

I am as soon as I can, trust me. The longer you stay here, besides the brown nosers, the more you understand the mentality of what goes on, and the more you miss what reality is.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, newnative said:

     That used to be the case but I wonder for how much longer US stores can follow a policy like that.  My brother-in-law manages a drug store in the US.  The local police have told him to not call for thefts under $150--they will not respond or investigate.   People stealing less than $150 worth of merchandise and then returning the next day, without a receipt, and expecting a full refund--how long can a store tolerate that and remain in business?  I might add that his store is in one of the wealthiest counties in the US--Fairfax County, Virginia, a suburb of DC.

     Even in the face of the 'woke' mentality in the US, several CEOs of major retailers, including Home Depot, have felt the pressing need to speak out and let the public know what has become an increasingly major problem for them--stealing by their customers.  Wal-Mart has left some markets altogether, unable to make a profit, largely due to this problem.  Walgreens has had to redesign some of its stores in some locations to put almost all the merchandise out of reach of the customers--I imagine there will be more of this in the future for some retailers in the US.

I was there 62 years, and know full well the advantages people take on retailers. happens worldwide also. Wal Mart used to do it all the time, but recently started taking not only the ID, but give a reduction of the posted price, just for this reason. The worse times get, the more this will happen. I worked for Home Depot, and people used to put things on carts and just walk out, and you couldn't stop them outside the store. Only call police and give them the tag numbers.

[hotandsticky]

7 minutes ago, bignok said:

99 baht on ebay

 

Free in most areas  -  if you apply yourself correctly!

[hotandsticky]

5 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I am as soon as I can, trust me. The longer you stay here, besides the brown nosers, the more you understand the mentality of what goes on, and the more you miss what reality is.

I doubt that you will be missed.

 

THIS is reality  -  Thai style. Surely you knew that when you came to these shores?

[bob smith]

yep yep.

happens all the time here.

 

Worst hospitality in the asia-pacific region.

It's fake hospitality at best.

[Sticky Rice Balls]

if you felt she treated you unfairly and still peeved contact corp office and give details...

 

Ive gone to the top of the ladder and had success....choose your battles wisely here....

 

and if you DO call corporate id find a new store to shop at...as she will be looking for u

[Celsius]

37 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I'm not sure what you mean by western, but in the US, most places will return, and many without a receipt. It's called better business, as it brings return customers. It's not a question of have to but will.

 

Yes, they will. This is why Amazon is called Scamazon because sellers on Amazon experience the most amount of scams as Amazon allows it. You can return anything for any reason, do a good old switcheroo and keep your $2000 item while returning your used underwear. This is why stores in SF are closing down. Thieves thrive while businesses are going down the toilet.

[fredwiggy]

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I doubt that you will be missed.

 

THIS is reality  -  Thai style. Surely you knew that when you came to these shores?

How could you doubt anything about anyone you don't know? Yes, I knew about Thai and it's ways, but came here to take care of my now ex wife and my daughter. Going back home to the US as soon as possible is because of seeing it more firsthand. It's not a good place for little, or for that matter, big girls. Thailand tries to learn from other countries for decades, and adopts some of their ways, but prejudice handed down from generations has slowed this progress. There's a reason thousands of locals have moved out and never came back. And it's not only because of money.

[JimTripper]

13 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I am as soon as I can, trust me. The longer you stay here, besides the brown nosers, the more you understand the mentality of what goes on, and the more you miss what reality is.

I appreciate your honesty. Why are you here? Is it because it’s cheaper?