International Supermarkets

[dee123]

In the small Ban where my wife grew up it wasn't until recently that the locals could have managed to survive by the Barter system,with everyone growing fruits and veg raising cattle and fishermen fishing,then selling at market.Things have now changed with the arrival of giant Supermarket chains like Tesco and Makro,(and their litter/garbage issues) .ect The hygeine has benefited admittedly but as far as I can see practically nothing else,as less and less of the Thai locals can now hand down their business's to the next generation.Instead unhealthy foods are becoming part of the next generations diet,and everyone wanting to move abroad.How far should the Thai people let the Multi nationals proceed,..should they learn from the West's mistakes before it's too late and tell the(farang and Thai)Supermarkets to go for a HIKE !! For we have learned in the West that these Giant's if not tightly regulated will slowly but surely take-over all of the retail sector then proceed to telecomunications petrol supply ect,....you name it, they will monopolise it.What is the best course of action to avoid this and give the Fat Cat's the boot?Should an "unfair competition Tax" be introduced ?

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[allane]

Nobody likes them, but everybody shops at them.

[dee123]

Nobody likes them, but everybody shops at them.

yes,but can't Goverments forsee what's around the corner?

[endure]

Nobody likes them, but everybody shops at them.

I love them. They offer fresh hygienic reasonably priced goods in a comfortable clean pleasant venue. They have a wide range of products for sale that haven't sat on a shelf for weeks. If they didn't sell what people wanted they'd go out of business. You appear to have this arse about face. It's the job of retailers to offer what people want to buy. Supermarkets do that - that's why people shop there.

[think_too_mut]

Nobody likes them, but everybody shops at them.

yes,but can't Goverments forsee what's around the corner?

What is around the corner? Castro/Chavez type of fear that socialisam and natrional nirvana may be in danger?

Now, everyone can buy at wholesales prices, not only mom&pop shop owners. Often, as the hypermarkets headquarters negotiate the prices with suppliers at top level, their retail prices are lower than anybody else can achieve.

An example: a distributor for Heineken beer can not have their prices lower than Carefour.

Small wonder local shop owners protested several times.

What is really (and deservedly) killing small corner shops are 7-11s and the like.

[jumnien]

I doubt there are too many Tesco/Lotus stores in the small villages you seem to be worried about. Rip-off Thai-Chinese stores may lose a bit of business to the multi-nationals, but don't worry too much, they'll survive, unfortunately.

[dee123]

it's everyone's duty and with help from the goverments to encourage small independent retailers to provide the service you say you enjoy(Supermarket enjoyable!???!),...the size issue and the power they weild is the issue and what becomes of the rest of the community once the market has vanished.You seem to think that its opening up variety of available goods??, but in reality they are dictating the fashions foods phones you buy!!hopefully small indies on ebay and smaller indie type ebays will give give them the boot sooner or later,and street markets are just GREAT!! We should all be concerned at the eco effects of globalisation and flying foods around the world,if it is possible tomake a living from a smallhold plot of land what could be more ideal?

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[LennyW]

In a small village up near Suphan Buri last year the locals were up in arms at the imminent arrival of a new Tesco, now more than half the village work there!! everybody thinks it is great????? Tesco this, Tesco that........

[dee123]

In a small village up near Suphan Buri last year the locals were up in arms at the imminent arrival of a new Tesco, now more than half the village work there!! everybody thinks it is great????? Tesco this, Tesco that........

Slick Marketing I think thats called

[Toany]

I love them. They offer fresh hygienic reasonably priced goods in a comfortable clean pleasant venue. They have a wide range of products for sale that haven't sat on a shelf for weeks. If they didn't sell what people wanted they'd go out of business. You appear to have this arse about face. It's the job of retailers to offer what people want to buy. Supermarkets do that - that's why people shop there.

Pity you do not have any understanding of Thai society. There is no old age pension in Thailand to support the aged. Many have to work until they are physically unable to. The big supermarkets only employ a certain sector of Thai society. With the closing down of small shops and markets many are denied the ability to be able to earn a living. What happens to all the supermarket workers when they are no longer wanted.

Food on the shelves is denatured to allow it last longer. Much of the food is very unhealthy, which is why the UK and USA have such health problems.

Supermarkets might suit you living here on your pension, but please consider Thai society as a whole.

[dee123]

Toany can see whats coming....I think get it over and done with now before its too late,...give em the BOOT!

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[think_too_mut]

Pity you do not have any understanding of Thai society. There is no old age pension in Thailand to support the aged. Many have to work until they are physically unable to. The big supermarkets only employ a certain sector of Thai society. With the closing down of small shops and markets many are denied the ability to be able to earn a living. What happens to all the supermarket workers when they are no longer wanted.

Food on the shelves is denatured to allow it last longer. Much of the food is very unhealthy, which is why the UK and USA have such health problems.

Supermarkets might suit you living here on your pension, but please consider Thai society as a whole.

Pity you don't have understanding of ANY society.

Who, in their thousands, works for the hypermarkets?

Would they have their jobs otherwise?

Do not that "segment" of Thai society support their elders, which they would have to support anyway, by labouring at distant places in lack of local jobs?

What kind of healthy food can sit on the shelves of a local store for months and years unsold?

And, as you are worried about "Thai society as a whole" just ask anyone what those local stores mostly do: sell illegal lottery and gambling. The products (other than beer, lao khao and small snacks for kids) - are not their main concern.

Edited January 12, 2009 by think_too_mut

[dee123]

...COME-ON NOW !!!...how many checkout girls and stackers,........enough to keeplocal community vibrant?,.....I THINK NOT,.... think to mut....don't you fall for the hype too!!!!!!!!!THOUSANDS????? MAYBE WORLDWIDE!!!!never heared anything as ridiculas in my life!!!

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[Birdman]

Trat, a relatively wealthy province, is still without any big shopping mall or department store. Teso bought land already, but no permission was granted by the local authority.

[think_too_mut]

...COME-ON NOW !!!...how many checkout girls and stackers,........enough to keeplocal community vibrant?,.....I THINK NOT,.... think to mut....don't you fall for the hype too!!!!!!!!!THOUSANDS????? MAYBE WORLDWIDE!!!!never heared anything as ridiculas in my life!!!

You are even more ridiculous when you shout.

[dee123]

next time your in tesco count how many people are working,...how much they get paid,.....and how much tesco boss is worth,....then ask yourself the question where does all the money go??????

[think_too_mut]

next time your in tesco count how many people are working,...how much they get paid,.....and how much tesco boss is worth,....then ask yourself the question where does all the money go??????

400-600 people per store, to cover the shifts and absencies.

7-8K baht average pay.

Rural communities would not even have that many people skilled and off drugs and alcohol (due to blanket boredom and lack of jobs before arrival of Tesco) to supply the workforce needed.

[dee123]

next time your in tesco count how many people are working,...how much they get paid,.....and how much tesco boss is worth,....then ask yourself the question where does all the money go??????

400-600 people per store, to cover the shifts and absencies.

7-8K baht average pay.

Rural communities would not even have that many people skilled and off drugs and alcohol (due to blanket boredom and lack of jobs before arrival of Tesco) to supply the workforce needed.

yep he's fallen for it too!! what about the other red herring that it does'nt cause excisting business's to go bust???

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[dee123]

just take a look on BBC News and the state of the british high st,......thats whats coming once the multinationals change the system.......Thousands???/...ok maybe 400 600??....hey but that must be including the drivers who come from far away right,....ok 350,,......but some are on the books but have left some time ago,....ok 300,.....ect ect ....YOU CAN'T KID A KIDDER MATE!!

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[think_too_mut]

next time your in tesco count how many people are working,...how much they get paid,.....and how much tesco boss is worth,....then ask yourself the question where does all the money go??????

400-600 people per store, to cover the shifts and absencies.

7-8K baht average pay.

Rural communities would not even have that many people skilled and off drugs and alcohol (due to blanket boredom and lack of jobs before arrival of Tesco) to supply the workforce needed.

yep he's fallen for it too!! what about the other red herring that it does'nt cause excisting business's to go bust???

Just to show others how ridiculous you can be, let me tell that Walmart (where I spent time through NCR working on POS communications) and now Carefour and Tesco are my customers, here is something that is secret tou you and may explain the depth of your unawareness and your Chegevarism.

The way hypermarkets work is:

If something on the shelf cost 10 units, and it cost a manufacturer 6 units to make it, the hypermarket offers them 3 (three) units for the product. That deal is mostly coined at headquarters level with other multinationals (Nestle, Heineken, for example), but some have to be done locally, at national, not single store level.

In return, the manufactures sells enmasse that brings them some profit, do not have to explain "why is not your product carried by Walmart?" and can use Walmart, Tesco and Carefour as their references (almost as good advertisment) when making deals with other chains and stores.

Now you should be able to understand that example with Heineken beer: above explains how comes that a bottle of Heineken is cheaper at Carefour retail than from Heineken direct representative wholesale.

So, Che Guevara's question, where the moneys goes, is a stupid one.

The right one is: where the money comes from?

By squeezing the suppliers, trimming their profits while still maintaining low prices for the public.

No wonder Walmart, in my days, had a tagline: We don't sell to you, we buy for you.

OK now?

Edited January 12, 2009 by think_too_mut

[dee123]

YOU DON'T GET IT MATE....please someone explain to him.....completely missed the point and shot himself in the foot,....

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[think_too_mut]

YOU DON'T GET IT MATE....please someone explain to him

Ignorant about the subject as you are, is this a sign of waiving a white flag?

[Lost in LOS]

the majority of shoppers in these big markets are thai and lots of mom and pops since there carts are loaded with 100's of the same things. they have a chance to buy things they could not before and resell it.

[think_too_mut]

the majority of shoppers in these big markets are thai and lots of mom and pops since there carts are loaded with 100's of the same things. they have a chance to buy things they could not before and resell it.

Of course.

In my wife's street upcountry, there are 4 shops in the garages of houses, all within 100m.

The way their supplies come is - someone goes to (60km distant) Sa Kaew by pickup truck, loads it at Tesco there, brings back and resells to the shops. Then, they resell to their neighbours from the shelves.

None of those shops existed before arrival of Tesco to Sa Kaew several years back.

[dee123]

...LOOK the supermarket giants squeeze the prices of farmers,....only big farmers can compete.....ok it could save the consumer money ,....but the point you are missing is about the local community and employment,...not about fxxking food prices,.....its taking into one company the jobs and lively hoods of whole villages city's country's and employing sweet FA AND THE PROFIT FROMALL THIS IS BEING GAMBLED AWAY ONTHE STOCKMARKETS.....I DONT WANT TO BE RUDE,...BUT HONESTLY YOUVE BEEN MISLEAD

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[think_too_mut]

...LOOK the supermarket giants squeeze the prices of farmers,....only big farmers can compete.....ok it could save the consumer money ,....but the point you are missing is about the local community and employment,...not about fxxking food prices,.....its taking into one company the jobs and lively hoods of whole villages city's country's and employing sweet FA

Of course, that's how they are structured even before supermarkets come into the play. All world beef comes from 3-4 large (yet obscure) conglomerates. Same with pork, wheat, rice. What is Chicago Futures Exchange for? It has always been bigger than Wall Street, even in WS's best days.

They have not done that because of hypermarkets.

Don't point me to any links to BBC and shits. Those drones get their info from people like me, they don't understand it and then produce misaligned reports that do damage.

You have just demonstrated what their reports can do to the public.

[quiksilva]

This modus operandi of Tesco's, Sainsbury's and the like, caused the UK government considerable concern in the early 1990's as their growth led to the closure of many small shops which did not have benefit of their larger competitors buying power. These large shopping centers tended to locate within commuting distance but out of town, where land was considerably cheaper, so they could build what were relatively huge hypermarkets.

The government moved far too slowly and their delay in the issuance of Planning Policy Guidance note 13 (which controls out of town retail development,) led to the urban decay found in town centres like Dudley and ultimately to Tesco's creating new concepts like Tesco's Express.

Did the average consumer in the UK care? No, of course not, because consumer's got their goods cheaper, and suppliers were happy too as they got better distribution (which led to lower costs).

Smaller retailers had to adapt to the new competition or go out of business, both of which happened to many. It is an evolution of retailing. Many small shops focussed on quality, or niche products delivered to the consumer with outstanding service. In other words areas which the big boys can not compete, and they thrived.

The same thing is happening now, right here in Thailand, the most vocal opposition to the new stores of Carrefour and Tesco's, is the small retailers who have long charged excessive prices served up with a slice of lowsy service, so its understandable that these people will be upset, they are worried about their business. The retailers who are confident about their products and service delivery are not going to be the ones complaining.

[dee123]

ridiculas again ,..and you have yet to answer anything like why you said thousands then changed it to 400 600or is that the white flag

Edited January 12, 2009 by dee123

[think_too_mut]

ridiculas again ,..and you have yet to answer anything like why you said thousands then changed it to 400 600or is that the white flag

per shop, you.....thousands and tens of thousands altogether work for hypermarkets in Thailand and how many for 4000 of 7-11s and other small shop killing busineses

[dee123]

This modus operandi of Tesco's, Sainsbury's and the like, caused the UK government considerable concern in the early 1990's as their growth led to the closure of many small shops which did not have benefit of their larger competitors buying power. These large shopping centers tended to locate within commuting distance but out of town, where land was considerably cheaper, so they could build what were relatively huge hypermarkets.

The government moved far too slowly and their delay in the issuance of Planning Policy Guidance note 13 (which controls out of town retail development,) led to the urban decay found in town centres like Dudley and ultimately to Tesco's creating new concepts like Tesco's Express.

Did the average consumer in the UK care? No, of course not, because consumer's got their goods cheaper, and suppliers were happy too as they got better distribution (which led to lower costs).

Smaller retailers had to adapt to the new competition or go out of business, both of which happened to many. It is an evolution of retailing. Many small shops focussed on quality, or niche products delivered to the consumer with outstanding service. In other words areas which the big boys can not compete, and they thrived.

The same thing is happening now, right here in Thailand, the most vocal opposition to the new stores of Carrefour and Tesco's, is the small retailers who have long charged excessive prices served up with a slice of lowsy service, so its understandable that these people will be upset, they are worried about their business. The retailers who are confident about their products and service delivery are not going to be the ones complaining.

lousy service?....just visit my local sainsburys I'LL SHOW YOU LOUSY SERVICE