Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

2 minutes ago, John Smith 777 said:

Not easy trying to spend money in Thailand.

My ex knows how to spend it.

She'll train you up if you need help.

Edited May 29May 29 by SAFETY FIRST

Customer service is poor here, they really don't care if you don't like it so mostly don't give you an opportunity to complain.

I once took a cut loaf back to Big C, it was cut into 4 wedges, apparently this was my fault, and they said we'll refund this time

Try getting yourself a Thai girl friend, she will trot you down to the local gold shop and then straight to Soi Buakhaow market. That will test your finances.

40 minutes ago, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

Not just you.

I try to spend more but on what ?

I have everything I need.

Food at the market is so ridiculously cheap, buying more is just a way to over eat.

Maybe if I lived in Bangkok , there would be more temptation to buy stuff I don't need.

Even buying on Lazada is loosing its shine.

Start playing Golf 3 times a week,go drinking the other 4 days and chasing the ladies. I cerntainly know how to go through it and quick.

So did you get your car, what kind was it, and how much , post a photo ,would love to see it.

regards worgeordie

5 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

I once went into a car showroom where I certainly got response. The salesgirl informed me that, if I bought the car, she came with it! Most expensive short time ever.

5 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

so this thread about the thai work ethic?

44 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

so this thread about the thai work ethic?

No, it is about one woman in a car showroom.

5 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

Did you buy a car? It is said that people who work in car showrooms can tell a genuine purchaser from a tire kicker.

3 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Did you buy a car? It is said that people who work in car showrooms can tell a genuine purchaser from a tire kicker.

Are you looking to buy today if the price is right? Just one question

6 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

Late last year I bought a DMAX.

Found the dealership near me that had the particular vehicle I wanted (low rider extra cab 3.0 6 spd manual in white).

I fronted at 8.30am, spoke to a salesperson, she confirmed they had in stock what I wanted so I dropped the full amount on her desk and said I will take it.

Rolled out an hour later with the pickup.

51 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Are you looking to buy today if the price is right? Just one question

Once the car is available yes, seemingly the release date for this MG4 Urban EV model is 21 June.

I must admit there, Mr. Smith, all your topics have a bit of that Bob Smith vibe to them. Not full tilt windups, but maybe you’re starting in slow to see how many mugs you can hoodwink before you go back to your bog standard unhinged rubbish. 👌🏻😀💪🏻

Many shop, office, bank and others behind their counters in dealing with public, often have absolutely no respect towards customers...and even less when it's a foreigner. A fine illustration of cutting your nose to spite one's face, as we all know who brings in money here. Never mind...spend it elsewhere if you can or online when possible.

I actually prefer if they leave me alone to my own devices. i would like to browse without someone following me everywhere, acting as if I am a shoplifter.

I am quite capable of asking for help or information if I need it.

14 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Did you buy a car? It is said that people who work in car showrooms can tell a genuine purchaser from a tire kicker.

Not all though.

I wanted a mazda BT50 but the car sales lady obviously didn't think I was serious

and did not let me test drive.

Went to Isuzu , no problem there and let me test drive.

After I bought the dmax , I went to show it to the mazda sales woman. 😋

7 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Not all though.

I wanted a mazda BT50 but the car sales lady obviously didn't think I was serious

and did not let me test drive.

Went to Isuzu , no problem there and let me test drive.

After I bought the dmax , I went to show it to the mazda sales woman. 😋

I did similar in September 2017 with Toyota. I took my landlady (who iss till my landlady to this day, over ten years) with me for two reasons; 1) it was her scooter, the ealership is 16km from home and I didn't have a licence; and 2) my Thai was pus.
I was looking for either a Yaris or Corolla Altis. A manual (stick shift for your North Americans) one. Mr Google came to the fore to start off with then the "pretty" ignored me totally, but kept going on about the showroom's Altise with a CVT transmission with my landlady. Which I didn't want. Anyway, she tried to get her to sign a blank purchase order. Fortunately, I was close enough to stop her from literally signing the form - she had the pen in hand. After some questioning, the reason why the saleswoman wanted to sell the CVT Altise was manual Corollas had a six-month wait. Ah!
We left, went across the road to Nissan. Different entirely. Sure, I had the choice of a Nissan March which I looked ridiculous in (I'm 6'1"tall, 200lb) and the manual only came in the was model which I was informed would make me look "cheap" (I think they were on to me LOL) . However, the Nissan Almera although not manual, had a weird automatic/cvt hybrid transmission. Took it for a drive. "I'll take it."
"Sorry, cannot," came the reply. Here we go, what's the excuse? Need to get one up from Songkla?
"Oh, why?" I asked.
"Need to put film on windows. We drive to you tomorrow."
After negotiating a cash price, I paid a substantial deposit and for the insurance.
Next morning, about 0930, phone call - the house is hard to find as there are no street names in The Bowels - and two cars arrived: mine with 26km on the clock. Paid the balance, got a receipt. They drove off in the Note with signage all over it.
Great service.
Went for a burl with the landlady to do decent shop for the first time in 18 months as prior, as previously we could only use the two hanging points on the Scoopy. I now had a boot (trunk).
On the way from Lotus, we dropped into the Toyota dealership and showed off the red-plated Nissan. The boss came out. So did my phone. "You sales lady lied to me yesterday and tried to get this woman to sign a blank order form. So we went to Nissan."

Solution suggest: Get a Thai girlfriend, then money will fly out of the pocket just as fast as you can make them...

22 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Try getting yourself a Thai girl friend, she will trot you down to the local gold shop and then straight to Soi Buakhaow market. That will test your finances.

Only if you are desperate enough to let her treat you like a soi dog. I see it happen alot.

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

Solution suggest: Get a Thai girlfriend, then money will fly out of the pocket just as fast as you can make them...

What if you don't want/need one ?

17 hours ago, John Smith 777 said:

Once the car is available yes, seemingly the release date for this MG4 Urban EV model is 21 June.

Regarding the receptionist. My understanding of Thai culture it is Not rude to tell the person what you want or need even of they are Not looking at you. If they are Not ready they will say something. ( I know in the West we expect eye contact and their attention)

Regarding spending money. Yes, it is harder to spend money. Us Westerners have certain items we like or desire from our home country but are expensive to ship, pay tax on, and import.

We learn to live with more locally produced goods, sold at local prices.

I have definitely experienced the "Steering" from the salespeople.

Additionally they will speak to my Thai Girlfriend. I've learned if it is something important to bring out the translation app on the phone. Another tactic is to politely stepping between the sales person and girlfriend. Normally they get the message.

If the OP is feeling neglected because one saleswoman ignored him he can go for a walk in Home Pro to get his fix if he likes being pestered rather than being left alone to browse.

Personally, in a car showroom or anywhere I much prefer to be left alone, and if I need help I'll call someone over.

On 5/29/2026 at 1:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

On 5/29/2026 at 1:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

Perhaps it's just me, and if so get your flame throwers ready. But trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I know there many acceptable reasons for this, which one has to factor in, but even for allowing for these, I feel I am having to go the extra mile on occasions.

The classic recently, which for sure is not solely attributable to Thailand, as I'm sure it happens in the West, was walking into a showroom to purchase a car.

At the reception the lady in question never looked up whilst addressing me.

Intrigued at this I did something I've never done before, I went round to the side of her desk, to clarify as to just what was so important on her laptop that she was working on.

Please note the word work here, as low and beyond my suspicions were confirmed, she was ensconced in her computer game.

Easy mate, extra money you don't want give your wife. Problem solved.

Easy, extra money, wife and you are writing all of these in the same context, on the same line!!!

On 5/30/2026 at 12:13 AM, Sigmund said:

Many shop, office, bank and others behind their counters in dealing with public, often have absolutely no respect towards customers...and even less when it's a foreigner. A fine illustration of cutting your nose to spite one's face, as we all know who brings in money here. Never mind...spend it elsewhere if you can or online when possible.

Not my experience over the last sixteen plus years generally excellent service perhaps my approach differs from yours.

On 5/29/2026 at 1:48 PM, John Smith 777 said:

trying to spend money here is not exactly easy sometimes.

I can introduce you to a couple of ladies who would change your mind on that

i was in homepro yesterday. staff outnimbered customers ten to one. Except for the checkout one cashier

I've saved enough money for a return flight to Europe because of not being able to buy something.

Wanted a new phone. Went to a store owned by a company I won't name and asked about the phone on a display that filled the entire window. The assistant had no clue that said phone even existed. That, plus five or six people queuing at the repair desk, sent me away empty handed. Store number two, saw a phone I was interested in in a display cabinet, they couldn't find the key to unlock said cabinet. Finally found a third store with staff who could actually sell me what I wanted.

Saw a kettle I wanted on display. Told the assistant. 'No have'. Pointed to the one on display and said I'll take that one. 'Cannot'. What do you do with it if you won't sell it, I asked. Senseless Thai grin.

Saw a washing machine that looked okay and the assistant spent 10 minutes explaining its features. Great, I'll take it. 'Cannot, out of stock'.

I could go on. And on....