Mango Madness - A Sad Lesson in Shopping at the Wet Market. Do I Really Deserve This?

[SoCal1990]

Alright, lads, just had the most bizarre experience at the local wet market yesterday afternoon. Thought I’d pop in to grab a few kilos of fresh mangoes and give my business to some nice, hard working local vendors; simple enough, right? Wrong.

 

So I walk up to this vendor’s stall, which looks like it has nice stuff, but I know it's not going to be cheap. However, I’m willing to pay top price, expecting to get some really fresh, ripe fruit. What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them that look like they’ve been through a smoothie blender. I ask him politely, in Thai no less, if he could kindly give me something fresher.

 

What’s his response? A blank stare, a grunt, and then, get this, mates, he mutters something about me needing to go back to my own country if I don’t like how things are in Thailand. What? Really? I’m just asking for some decent fruit, and I'm here paying top price bruv. Come on, mate.

 

At this point, I’m standing there trying to process it. You know me, I’m friendly, humble, extremely polite, respectful and, most of all, reasonable and I don't act out of emotion. I also don’t want to cause a scene, so I just let him toss the mangoes in my bag. Then he practically throws them at me. No apology, no response to my polite request to exchange them, nothing. Just a cold shoulder and a side order of attitude.

 

Look, I’ve been here a while now and didn’t just land at Swampy 48 hours ago. I get it. Not everyone’s going to be thrilled to see a fluent Thai speaking farang buying mangoes in a local market. But am I really asking for too much? I spoke in Thai, I used the right words, was courteous the whole time, I tried to keep things friendly and amicable. And still, this is how I get treated?

 

It also makes me wonder if his charging me such a high price, and giving me overripe mangoes was merely to rip me off because I’m a foreigner and he thinks I don't know anything about local quality standards or the price of things. Could be, right?

 

I know people get stressed at times, but this kind of response? Feels a bit over the top, doesn’t it? Am I just unlucky, or does anyone else get this kind of treatment for trying to buy something as simple as a bag of mangoes at a local market?

 

What happened to the Thai smile I first fell in love with, lads? A place where people at least pretended to be nice, even when they didn’t care about you. Now, it’s like every simple task turns into a confrontation. Sad.

 

Best regards,

Original Bob

[Harrisfan]

Go to King Kong buffet 169 all you can eat

[EVENKEEL]

59 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Alright, lads, just had the most bizarre experience at the local wet market yesterday afternoon. Thought I’d pop in to grab a few kilos of fresh mangoes and give my business to some nice, hard working local vendors; simple enough, right? Wrong.

 

So I walk up to this vendor’s stall, which looks like it has nice stuff, but I know it's not going to be cheap. However, I’m willing to pay top price, expecting to get some really fresh, ripe fruit. What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them that look like they’ve been through a smoothie blender. I ask him politely, in Thai no less, if he could kindly give me something fresher.

 

What’s his response? A blank stare, a grunt, and then, get this, mates, he mutters something about me needing to go back to my own country if I don’t like how things are in Thailand. What? Really? I’m just asking for some decent fruit, and I'm here paying top price bruv. Come on, mate.

 

At this point, I’m standing there trying to process it. You know me, I’m friendly, humble, extremely polite, respectful and, most of all, reasonable and I don't act out of emotion. I also don’t want to cause a scene, so I just let him toss the mangoes in my bag. Then he practically throws them at me. No apology, no response to my polite request to exchange them, nothing. Just a cold shoulder and a side order of attitude.

 

Look, I’ve been here a while now and didn’t just land at Swampy 48 hours ago. I get it. Not everyone’s going to be thrilled to see a fluent Thai speaking farang buying mangoes in a local market. But am I really asking for too much? I spoke in Thai, I used the right words, was courteous the whole time, I tried to keep things friendly and amicable. And still, this is how I get treated?

 

It also makes me wonder if his charging me such a high price, and giving me overripe mangoes was merely to rip me off because I’m a foreigner and he thinks I don't know anything about local quality standards or the price of things. Could be, right?

 

I know people get stressed at times, but this kind of response? Feels a bit over the top, doesn’t it? Am I just unlucky, or does anyone else get this kind of treatment for trying to buy something as simple as a bag of mangoes at a local market?

 

What happened to the Thai smile I first fell in love with, lads? A place where people at least pretended to be nice, even when they didn’t care about you. Now, it’s like every simple task turns into a confrontation. Sad.

 

Best regards,

Original Bob

I expect better next time.  I was rather disappointed.

[FriscoKid]

I would have slowly taken the mangoes back out of my bag, placed them on the counter with a smile, and walked out without saying a word. Let him keep the money. I don’t think his ego would have survived that.

[Olmate]

A quik gander at.your  postings previous tells me your an idiot, no hint of a truthful word, troll op, lol.😭

[flyingtlger]

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them

Those are the best kind.....

[dinsdale]

Photos of the produce and actually mentioning the price you paid might help me be interested. Very odd for a Thai to behave in the way you've stated in my experience. As for the mangoes he "gave" you surely at a wet market you can choose your own produce.

[fredwiggy]

You do know when you're buying fresh fruit anywhere you can pick the ones you want right? You've spent a lot of time acting like another poster here, copying his mannerisms and way of writing, along with the attitude towards locals, so I'm thinking it's rubbed off too much and now it's time to just be yourself.

[Harrisfan]

11 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

You do know when you're buying fresh fruit anywhere you can pick the ones you want right? You've spent a lot of time acting like another poster here, copying his mannerisms and way of writing, along with the attitude towards locals, so I'm thinking it's rubbed off too much and now it's time to just be yourself.

How do you know self exists? What is life and what is not?

[novacova]

2 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them that look like they’ve been through a smoothie blender.

What’s your problem and why are you incapable of selecting produce yourself.

2 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

What’s his response? A blank stare, a grunt, and then, get this, mates, he mutters something about me needing to go back to my own country if I don’t like how things are in Thailand

Well deserved response. Go find a place for helpless needy people 

[FriscoKid]

28 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

You do know when you're buying fresh fruit anywhere you can pick the ones you want right? You've spent a lot of time acting like another poster here, copying his mannerisms and way of writing, along with the attitude towards locals, so I'm thinking it's rubbed off too much and now it's time to just be yourself.

Do you believe that my being stronger or faster has anything to do with my muscles in this place? Do you think that’s air you’re breathing now? Hmh...

 

You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

 

There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

[fondue zoo]

1 hour ago, FriscoKid said:

Do you believe that my being stronger or faster has anything to do with my muscles in this place? Do you think that’s air you’re breathing now? Hmh...

 

You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

 

There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

 

you forgot the closer..  

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

 

[proton]

4 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

in Thai no less, if he could kindly give me something fresher.

 

Can you give us this in Thai in case we get the same treatment? 😁 normally you can pick your own mango's

[blaze master]

My mango is over ripe and soft to the touch. 

[Yagoda]

Ive never met a rude vendor in a Thai or Cambodian market. Thats just me, and I havent been to all of them. In fact, most are helpful:

 

Hi sweetie, you speak English, can you explain these different bags of rice?

 

One hour later:

 

Oh and this is nice rice, called Samnang Mung Dao, come from mountain near Prasat Batambang Phunem. Smell! See? Very nice shape. Fresh smell, yes?

 

Glazed eyes

[pomchop]

Take a look at what is on offer and price.  If you don't like it simply go to another vendor til u see what u want at a price that is fair.  There are a zillion places to buy mangos especiallly right now as crops are abundant. 

 

Guys with truckloads now driving all around pattaya offering some very nice looking fruits at dirt cheap prices.

 

No dramas.  Problem solved.

[thesetat]

5 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

Alright, lads, just had the most bizarre experience at the local wet market yesterday afternoon. Thought I’d pop in to grab a few kilos of fresh mangoes and give my business to some nice, hard working local vendors; simple enough, right? Wrong.

 

So I walk up to this vendor’s stall, which looks like it has nice stuff, but I know it's not going to be cheap. However, I’m willing to pay top price, expecting to get some really fresh, ripe fruit. What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them that look like they’ve been through a smoothie blender. I ask him politely, in Thai no less, if he could kindly give me something fresher.

 

What’s his response? A blank stare, a grunt, and then, get this, mates, he mutters something about me needing to go back to my own country if I don’t like how things are in Thailand. What? Really? I’m just asking for some decent fruit, and I'm here paying top price bruv. Come on, mate.

 

At this point, I’m standing there trying to process it. You know me, I’m friendly, humble, extremely polite, respectful and, most of all, reasonable and I don't act out of emotion. I also don’t want to cause a scene, so I just let him toss the mangoes in my bag. Then he practically throws them at me. No apology, no response to my polite request to exchange them, nothing. Just a cold shoulder and a side order of attitude.

 

Look, I’ve been here a while now and didn’t just land at Swampy 48 hours ago. I get it. Not everyone’s going to be thrilled to see a fluent Thai speaking farang buying mangoes in a local market. But am I really asking for too much? I spoke in Thai, I used the right words, was courteous the whole time, I tried to keep things friendly and amicable. And still, this is how I get treated?

 

It also makes me wonder if his charging me such a high price, and giving me overripe mangoes was merely to rip me off because I’m a foreigner and he thinks I don't know anything about local quality standards or the price of things. Could be, right?

 

I know people get stressed at times, but this kind of response? Feels a bit over the top, doesn’t it? Am I just unlucky, or does anyone else get this kind of treatment for trying to buy something as simple as a bag of mangoes at a local market?

 

What happened to the Thai smile I first fell in love with, lads? A place where people at least pretended to be nice, even when they didn’t care about you. Now, it’s like every simple task turns into a confrontation. Sad.

 

Best regards,

Original Bob

I think... If you have been in Thailand so long, that you should know better than to allow the Thai to pick which fruit (or even veggie) they will toss in your bag. You should have selected the ones you wanted instead. As well you should know this already...

[proton]

40 minutes ago, thesetat said:

I think... If you have been in Thailand so long, that you should know better than to allow the Thai to pick which fruit (or even veggie) they will toss in your bag. You should have selected the ones you wanted instead. As well you should know this already...

 

Quite, never been to a Thai market where you cannot pick your own, they usually hand you a basket for doing it with, even in Tops you select what you want. pack of lies of course as usual 😆

[FruitPudding]

This is why I don't like supporting many local businesses here. 

[BangkokReady]

You select the fruit yourself, or you ask the seller to choose some if it all looks the same and you can't be bothered.

 

There's zero chance you go to a market and someone grabs some fruit from a secret location.

[richard_smith237]

7 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

At this point, I’m standing there trying to process it.

 

And there's the problem....       In ANY situation, just walk away, never spend your money somewhere where the staff or owner are less than polite or welcoming, its quite simple. 

 

Recently overseas, I walked into a Cafe... the owner was not so welcoming, I didn't do anything wrong, his attitude was off...  no problem, I walked out, that was it. 

Later on, Thai friends who we were joining in the cafe also pointed out that the owner was also impolite and a little rude to them, they understood why I just said, no - you're not getting my money and I walked out... 

 

Thats it - its so simple to vote with your feet.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Of course, experiences always vary...   But just the other night I had a conversation with friends.

 

One of them was about to pop by the local Wet Market and pick up some 'food bits' to make his own dinner.... 

... I commented that I love walking around these wet markets, the interaction with the locals is always so friendly....  they agreed... 

 

But it just shows, there is no hard and fast rule... AND..... IF someone is being an ayhole, everyone else already see's it to and knows they are an ayhole and just tollerate them... So, in such a situation, if you were just to walk away, all those in the area watching would already know exactly why and there are plenty of other shops... 

 

 

[Stocky]

Old two Bob really is Frank Spencer in Thailand

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

So I walk up to this vendor’s stall, which looks like it has nice stuff, but I know it's not going to be cheap. However, I’m willing to pay top price, expecting to get some really fresh, ripe fruit. What does he hand me? Overripe, bruised mangoes with small black spots on them that look like they’ve been through a smoothie blender. I ask him politely, in Thai no less, if he could kindly give me something fresher.

You pick out the fruit you want and put it in the bag.

This has always been the way the Thai markets work.

[brianburi]

Your buying mangoes.....

giving them away here.......