For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

Maybe ask one of them why didn't appreciate the food

13 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted. 

Whatever happened, something went wrong.

And I think it does not make any sense to try to speculate what exactly went wrong.

I think in principle you didn't do anything wrong.

 

They like rice.

 

Just hand them a plate of rice, and a bottle of Lao Khow.

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe ask one of them why didn't appreciate the food

Thought about that but I doubt I would get an honest answer.  I see them everyday and most keep their heads down and do not look at the residents. One of of the older ladies will knock on the doors and say "room cleaning".  I was trying to be nice and they do not want to engage in any kind of conversation with the residents. 

I have heard from other Thai people that they love KFC. 

If what you did for them goes unappreciated then don`t bother again...simple

8 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

You got that right.

 

Yes, cash always works, but if you don't give enough you'll be a stingy ******* and if you give too much you'll be regarded as a rich boaster flaunting your wealth in their poor faces.

 

Ask the Thais in your building what they give, and don't be surprised if they say "nothing".

8 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I have heard from other Thai people that they love KFC. 

Yes Thais that have illusions of grandeur love to show themselves in western style eating places, but lowly servants probably prefer their own variety depending on where they are from.

Were those "other" Thais well off or poor like the cleaners?

 

Where I come from KFC etc is regarded as junk food eaten by poor people, or by others in a hurry, but I never saw a Maccers regarded as a premier dining restaurant till I arrived in Bkk.

Perhaps the OP gave them original recipe rather than spicy.....

9 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I was trying to be nice and they do not want to engage in any kind of conversation with the residents. 

In my condo the Juristic Person tells them not to interact with residents.

 

Just don't bother buying anything for them

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yes Thais that have illusions of grandeur love to show themselves in western style eating places, but lowly servants probably prefer their own variety depending on where they are from.

Were those "other" Thais well off or poor like the cleaners?

 

Where I come from KFC etc is regarded as junk food eaten by poor people, or by others in a hurry, but I never saw a Maccers regarded as a premier dining restaurant till I arrived in Bkk.

I used to go to a great massage shop and some of the ladies were a great source of infomation on what Thai people like and don't like.  All said KFC would be appreciated.  These ladies were mostly lower class.  Maybe they were wrong? Anyway I was just trying to show a little appreciation for the New Year for people who do jobs most would not want.  I alwasy try and show appreciation to the security guards and clearners at apartmen buildings.  The security guards are appreciative for just bottle of M-150 or a can of Nestle coffee.  

Are you sure they are Thai?

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Where I come from KFC etc is regarded as junk food eaten by poor people, or by others in a hurry, but I never saw a Maccers regarded as a premier dining restaurant till I arrived in Bkk.

Yes! It is baffling...

They, Thais, took me to worse place first: Cafe Amazon! So expensive junk. Full of upper class young Thais.

Same with Chocolate Factory - always full, hi prices, not good tasting.

KFC, McD. Burger King  etc are masters of marketing!

Sometimes it's hard to tell exactly what little detail they don't appreciate. A poor family (Peruvian) asked me to bring them their favorite soda (Inca Cola) when I came back from town (Iquitos). I returned with five large bottles, and they looked at me like I wanted to poison them all. I had bought cold sodas instead of room temperature. Everyone knows a cold drink will give you instant pneumonia resulting in a painful, agonizing death within three days. That was the evil curse I had put on those poor, poor people. They pouted, moped around, gave me dirty looks, felt the bottles occasionally for temperature changes, then set them out in the sun. After the soda warmed up they all loved me again and we were one big happy family.

5 hours ago, rwill said:

Are you sure they are Thai?

I think at least the senior cleaner is Thai because I can hear her speak Thai. The entire crew on most days has about 6 to 8.  Possibly a few are Burmese? Most of the lower rank cleaners do not speak much. Anyway I just wanted to express to them I know what it is like to be a cleaner because I was a janitor while I struggled to finish college.  The other job in LOS I really empathize with are the numerous security guards because I also did that job when I was in my early 20's.  Those experiences motivated me to never do those jobs ever again. 

I would venture a guess the cleaning crew had no idea what you had given them. Some grilled chicken, somtom, and sticky rice would have gone down a lot better IMHO. But they should not have more or less rejected your present. 

20 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

They're probably fed up with all the nasty foreigners in Thailand and may think you one of them. 

 

19 minutes ago, marin said:

I would venture a guess the cleaning crew had no idea what you had given them. Some grilled chicken, somtom, and sticky rice would have gone down a lot better IMHO. But they should not have more or less rejected your present. 

You are right. I should have kept it really simple.  

6 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

They're probably fed up with all the nasty foreigners in Thailand and may think you one of them. 

 

I can understand how they could be thinking like that. 

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

I can understand how they could be thinking like that. 

 

Especially after reading the comment to which you replied.

57 minutes ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

Especially after reading the comment to which you replied.

Guilty as charged because the actions of a few will impact the perception of the many. It just takes one negative contact with a foreigner for many to believe we all like that. 

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Guilty as charged because the actions of a few will impact the perception of the many. It just takes one negative contact with a foreigner for many to believe we all like that. 

 

Staff at my condo were very grateful for my Christmas/New Year gifts. Though I took the time to give them individual gifts they could take home.

23 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

For New Years I bought two buckets of KFC for the cleaning crew at my apartmet building.  I had the chicken delivered at 1100 becasue this is when they normally start their lunch break.  I presented the two buckets to the crew in their break room.  I said "happy new year and enjoy".  They looked insulted.  I got a nod and one of them accepted the chicken and I quielty walked out. Is giving fried chicken insulting?  A few months ago I bought the crew two boxes of chocolate brownies as an after lunch treat and I could definitely tell they did not like the brownies.  This was my mistake.  Obviously this was not their kind of desert. They are a good bunch and do a good job in cleaning the rooms and the common areas.  My guess is I truly do not understand Thai people and have no idea what they prefer when it comes to what they prefer as a token of  appreciation. 

 

Is giving cash the only thing most Thai people actually appreciate?  

 

We played safe and gave our guards two boxes of Leo......all happy campers after that.

 

No idea why, but wife would frequently buy juristic and whoever was on the gate breakfast???

10 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

We played safe and gave our guards two boxes of Leo......all happy campers after that.

 

No idea why, but wife would frequently buy juristic and whoever was on the gate breakfast???

Great idea. Maybe next time. 

18 minutes ago, Centigrade32 said:

 

Staff at my condo were very grateful for my Christmas/New Year gifts. Though I took the time to give them individual gifts they could take home.

Never thought about the personal touch.  

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I can understand how they could be thinking like that. 

 

Agree.....our security and juristic were fantastic....could not do enough to help.

 

One of the guards even helped us move all our stuff when we first move in!!!!!

On 1/13/2025 at 2:01 PM, sqwakvfr said:

I used to go to a great massage shop and some of the ladies were a great source of infomation on what Thai people like and don't like.  All said KFC would be appreciated.  These ladies were mostly lower class.  Maybe they were wrong? Anyway I was just trying to show a little appreciation for the New Year for people who do jobs most would not want.  I alwasy try and show appreciation to the security guards and clearners at apartmen buildings.  The security guards are appreciative for just bottle of M-150 or a can of Nestle coffee.  

Hot food is never a good idea for a thank you. Perhaps you could have given them a gift card or such like to buy food at whichever food place they preferred, or sell if they'd rather have money.

I'm a pickey eater and any food given to me would likely be feeding the chickens rather than myself.

 

There is low class and lower class in LOS, also lower class from the city or the country- all with different preferences.

Of course you could have asked the manager what they'd like, rather than just assuming.

 

Fruit usually goes well as a gift. Can be kept for later, or given away.

 

Perhaps when you gave them the KFC they had to go work and they don't like cold chicken.

 

 

The security guards are appreciative for just bottle of M-150 or a can of Nestle coffee.  

As  I mentioned, gifts that don't have to be consumed on the spot will likely be appreciated.

19 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

Agree.....our security and juristic were fantastic....could not do enough to help.

 

One of the guards even helped us move all our stuff when we first move in!!!!!

Seems your opening up a Pandora's box with that 

19 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

We played safe and gave our guards two boxes of Leo......all happy campers after that.

 

No idea why, but wife would frequently buy juristic and whoever was on the gate breakfast???

 

Yeah I buy  a box of regency and hand that out to security guards/ Mooban cleaners/garbage collection people for xmas and new years.... never one of the frown !

They always brings their own lunch boxes or buy their nudles at the corner shop, but cash is always welcome. We also brought fruits and vegetabels from our farm when we lived in Hua Hin, and it was always apprecitated by the staff. 

 

KFC is only the youngsters who like or the urban ones. Pretty much same as bying them flowers, only dead people gets flowers, and better just to give the cash instead