Make life better with your own Win rider

[Old Curmudgeon]

In Bangkok, Win motocy riders are everywhere.

In Chiang Mai, I've never seen any.

But they can make expat life so much better, more convenient.

I will explain and suggest how.

 

But first: some readers here in Chiang Mai may not have any experience with Win motocy, so I'll give a bit of detail.

 

 

Most expats, when they think of Win motocy at all, think of them as a cheap taxi service.

True, but they can do much, much more:

• go shopping at the local market, TOPS, BigC, etc.  Just give them your shopping list and money.
• pickup prescription at pharmacy
• go to HomePro, Thai Watsadu, Global House to search for hardware or tools.
• help with moving house, (but you'll need a truck).
• take children to/from school or other activities
• take items in for repairs: such as mobile phone for new battery, fan for repairs, etc.

 

I've learned from my years in Thailand, when I need something from somewhere, I think first of getting a Win to do it rather than go myself, because rain, traffic jams, air pollution, tourist crowds, police stops, etc.

 

But here in Chiang Mai, no Win system that I know of.

(If there are, please post here where to find them.)

 

LineMan and Grab have motorcycle services: taxi for people plus some messenger services.

Here in Chiang Mai, I've been impressed with good service from LineMan, and use them often.

Mostly food delivery, but also for the kind of general errand services that I'm describing in this post.

 

For example:

On this forum a few weeks ago, one man posted an offer for a group buy on a floor sweeper.

I took him up on that.

When the product arrived I could have gone to his condo, paid the money, and returned home.

But lazy, old, curmudgeon that I am, I called a Win to do that for me.

Gave the money due to the rider -- 2,000 baht -- and said, essentially, "go fetch".

About an hour later, he returned with my new floor sweeper.

 

2,000 baht !

To a stranger??

Aye, there's the rub: he wasn't a stranger.

He is my regular Win rider.

Whenever I need something delivered, instead of using the app, I contact "my rider" directly.

So convenient that way.

 

Almost any errand or shopping I can think of, I will try to arrange for him to go, instead of me.

When the visa agent handled some extra paper work for me recently, my Win went to pick up the documents at the agent's office, not me.

I stayed home, relaxed and air-conditioned.

 

My Hatari air cleaner died recently.

Instead of hunting around town myself for a service center or local repair shop, I just called the Win.

He picked up the Hatari this morning.

Where is he taking it for repair?

I actually don't know.

But I have enough experience with him to know he can handle it, and better than I could.

 

So how did I find him in the first place, and how could you find a Win of your own?

I use LineMan a lot.

Most riders bring the food, or whatever, then, "sawatdee krap" and they're gone.

But once in a while, maybe 1 in 20, a rider will do something extra, beyond the basic duty.

Perhaps carry my parcel to the front door, rather than just handing it to me at the front gate.

Perhaps provide plastic bags for stores that no longer offer plastic bags.

Perhaps send a message saying something like, "Big accident at Iron Bridge, bad traffic, but I'm on the way.)

Something like that tells me he puts some "heart" into his work.

 

So I ask for his phone number and his LINE ID, and problem solved.

Actually lots of problems solved.

 

Could he get into trouble for taking on "side jobs" like that?

Hah, this is Thailand !

 

If you are a lazy expat like me, living in Chiang Mai, I recommend finding your own Win rider.

And, if you can't find one, or your Thai language isn't quite up to the task, I may be willing to "share" mine.

He's very good and I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra "private duty" work.

 

 

[JBChiangRai]

Could you expand on that, it's a bit short on detail.

[Denim]

4 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Could you expand on that, it's a bit short on detail.

Tight wad.  Just pay for the next three volumes.

[Dante99]

6 hours ago, Denim said:

Tight wad.  Just pay for the next three volumes.

Extra volumes are free with Dinning Club memberships.

[radiochaser]

On 12/10/2024 at 11:37 AM, Old Curmudgeon said:

In Bangkok, Win motocy riders are everywhere.

In Chiang Mai, I've never seen any.

But they can make expat life so much better, more convenient.

I will explain and suggest how.

 

But first: some readers here in Chiang Mai may not have any experience with Win motocy, so I'll give a bit of detail.

 

 

Most expats, when they think of Win motocy at all, think of them as a cheap taxi service.

True, but they can do much, much more:

• go shopping at the local market, TOPS, BigC, etc.  Just give them your shopping list and money.
• pickup prescription at pharmacy
• go to HomePro, Thai Watsadu, Global House to search for hardware or tools.
• help with moving house, (but you'll need a truck).
• take children to/from school or other activities
• take items in for repairs: such as mobile phone for new battery, fan for repairs, etc.

 

I've learned from my years in Thailand, when I need something from somewhere, I think first of getting a Win to do it rather than go myself, because rain, traffic jams, air pollution, tourist crowds, police stops, etc.

 

But here in Chiang Mai, no Win system that I know of.

(If there are, please post here where to find them.)

 

LineMan and Grab have motorcycle services: taxi for people plus some messenger services.

Here in Chiang Mai, I've been impressed with good service from LineMan, and use them often.

Mostly food delivery, but also for the kind of general errand services that I'm describing in this post.

 

For example:

On this forum a few weeks ago, one man posted an offer for a group buy on a floor sweeper.

I took him up on that.

When the product arrived I could have gone to his condo, paid the money, and returned home.

But lazy, old, curmudgeon that I am, I called a Win to do that for me.

Gave the money due to the rider -- 2,000 baht -- and said, essentially, "go fetch".

About an hour later, he returned with my new floor sweeper.

 

2,000 baht !

To a stranger??

Aye, there's the rub: he wasn't a stranger.

He is my regular Win rider.

Whenever I need something delivered, instead of using the app, I contact "my rider" directly.

So convenient that way.

 

Almost any errand or shopping I can think of, I will try to arrange for him to go, instead of me.

When the visa agent handled some extra paper work for me recently, my Win went to pick up the documents at the agent's office, not me.

I stayed home, relaxed and air-conditioned.

 

My Hatari air cleaner died recently.

Instead of hunting around town myself for a service center or local repair shop, I just called the Win.

He picked up the Hatari this morning.

Where is he taking it for repair?

I actually don't know.

But I have enough experience with him to know he can handle it, and better than I could.

 

So how did I find him in the first place, and how could you find a Win of your own?

I use LineMan a lot.

Most riders bring the food, or whatever, then, "sawatdee krap" and they're gone.

But once in a while, maybe 1 in 20, a rider will do something extra, beyond the basic duty.

Perhaps carry my parcel to the front door, rather than just handing it to me at the front gate.

Perhaps provide plastic bags for stores that no longer offer plastic bags.

Perhaps send a message saying something like, "Big accident at Iron Bridge, bad traffic, but I'm on the way.)

Something like that tells me he puts some "heart" into his work.

 

So I ask for his phone number and his LINE ID, and problem solved.

Actually lots of problems solved.

 

Could he get into trouble for taking on "side jobs" like that?

Hah, this is Thailand !

 

If you are a lazy expat like me, living in Chiang Mai, I recommend finding your own Win rider.

And, if you can't find one, or your Thai language isn't quite up to the task, I may be willing to "share" mine.

He's very good and I'm sure he'll appreciate the extra "private duty" work.

 

 

How much do you pay them for their service?  I have seen the motorcycle taxi guys delivering documents and other things before.

[Old Curmudgeon]

On 12/12/2024 at 8:43 AM, radiochaser said:

I have seen the motorcycle taxi guys delivering documents and other things before.

 

You have?!?

Here in Chiang Mai?

[radiochaser]

On 12/13/2024 at 11:06 AM, Old Curmudgeon said:

 

You have?!?

Here in Chiang Mai?

No, the guys I saw delivering documents and packages were in Bangkok. 

[Old Curmudgeon]

12 hours ago, radiochaser said:

the guys I saw delivering documents and packages were in Bangkok. 

 

Yes, in Bangkok, WIN riders (in their colorful vests) on almost every major street, all day long, in every kind of weather.

But in Chiang Mai, I've never, ever seen any.

 

Today I have my WIN rider working on two more projects.

(Both are topics I posted about here on the Chiang Mai forum.)

 

One is for mobile phone change of operating system.

He "knows a guy" and will ask at the shop.

WIN riders know a lot about a lot of things in Thailand.

 

Another is where to buy a Pixel brand mobile phone.

That brand is not popular at all in Thailand.

But WIN is searching.

Any time he goes into a mall, he'll ask around at mobile phone shops there.

 

Meanwhile, I'm relaxing at home.

Yes, I pay for this, but that's better that than me running around chasing the solutions.

 

Pay how much?

No fixed price for anything like this; not that I know of.

So I just guess and hand him money.

If he smiles and wai's with a bow, my guess was correct.

If he doesn't smile, well, I'll make it up on the next errand.

So far that method has worked out well.

Is there a better way to know how much to pay?

 

 

[scottiejohn]

1 minute ago, Old Curmudgeon said:

But in Chiang Mai, I've never, ever seen any.

 

Today I have my WIN rider working on two more projects.

(Both are topics I posted about here on the Chiang Mai forum.)

Are you living in CM?

If so are you using a "WIN" rider in CM?

If so how come you have never seen any in CM?

Your post are very confusing!