Tailor Not Keeping His Appointments

[jan1van1hooten]

My chinese-thai tailor has set up two appointments with me but not shown up.

Is this due to carelessness or is there a message here?

Is it a signal of disrespect?

I indicated to my tailor that I was a bit irritated that he seems to made a couple of mistakes with a suit he is making for me.

Could not keeping appointments be related to that?

I would appreciate the definitive answer to this question from someone who knows the intricacies of the thai mind and social customs.

[DougLee]

professional thais are never on time for appointements and they always finish the job at least 2-3 days late

Favorites excuses are:

It was raining

I lost power(and they are doing something that needs no power)

Hospital

Tired

[scorecard]

Quote from the OP:

"I indicated to my tailor that I was a bit irritated that he seems to made a couple of mistakes with a suit he is making for me.

Could not keeping appointments be related to that?"

Well what do you mean by "a bit irritated"?

If you were even a little bit abusive, even a bit strong with your language then it could well be that he has withdrawn and now doesn't want to have any further involvement.

You say Chinese, however I guess you mean Chinese Thai. Thais don't like confrontation, even minor confrontation and will withdraw.

What's also normal is that Thais will tell you 'three days' becaus they think that will make you happy, when in fact they possible cannot keep to that arrangement. Maybe not logical but it's normal Thai behavior.

If you were strong or abusive in front of other people then you have probably caused him to lose face and again maybe he wants nothing further to do with this matter.

And yes Thais will just leave things like this unresolved.

Indian tailors are a whole different ballgame to deal with, but i'm certainly not suggesting that you rush to an Indian tailor.

[jdinasia]

Stereotypes anyone?

There is no "definitive answer" for the behavior of one person (that you know) much less one for some stereotype/caricature of some random tailor. As scorecard rightly points out we don't know the behavior, tone, or words of the OP in any of his dealings with the tailor so speculation is useless. However, this is the same poster who has had a woman give him a fake address, and the same poster asking about carrying knives in BKK.

[astral]

How much did you pay up front???????

Too much by the sound of it.

[samran]

How much did you pay up front???????

Too much by the sound of it.

or perhaps not enough....

see in another thread you think 6000 baht is the price to pay for a reasonable suit. I'm sorry, but unless you are going for a Khao San Road Special, you are way off.

[bkkjames]

I use this guy from panama, suits are just ok, but at least he is punctual.

[IanForbes]

I see a nationality clash here. Thais are NOT like Dutch. Scorecard already mentioned some likely causes. I hope you get it resolved, but a Thai who has lost face WILL just walk away from a job.

[Moonrakers]

Stereotypes anyone?

There is no "definitive answer" for the behavior of one person (that you know) much less one for some stereotype/caricature of some random tailor. As scorecard rightly points out we don't know the behavior, tone, or words of the OP in any of his dealings with the tailor so speculation is useless. However, this is the same poster who has had a woman give him a fake address, and the same poster asking about carrying knives in BKK.

Perhaps he needs the suits to impress the girls when he goes to visit them at the wrong address. The knife is a bit more of a worry, let's hope that no bunnies are blended during the making of this thread!

[DougLee]

Stereotypes anyone?

There is no "definitive answer" for the behavior of one person (that you know) much less one for some stereotype/caricature of some random tailor. As scorecard rightly points out we don't know the behavior, tone, or words of the OP in any of his dealings with the tailor so speculation is useless. However, this is the same poster who has had a woman give him a fake address, and the same poster asking about carrying knives in BKK.

Perhaps he needs the suits to impress the girls when he goes to visit them at the wrong address. The knife is a bit more of a worry, let's hope that no bunnies are blended during the making of this thread!

haha its this guy again? He must live in NANA

[jan1van1hooten]

I see another proof that the thaivisa censorship policy has driven away most of the reasonable members. The only one's left now are the ones who do a search on the poster's previous posts then do a pop-psychology hatchet job. This makes them feel superior, like natural leaders in a world of ethical apes. What a comforting feeling.

No wonder the entire cyber world has gone over to social networking.

[jan1van1hooten]

If you were even a little bit abusive, even a bit strong with your language then it could well be that he has withdrawn and now doesn't want to have any further involvement.

I am still willing to work with this guy because the end result is good.

But the Thais have a way to seeming to play with farangs and not taking them seriously, even enjoying it when farangs get irritated. I cannot be sure that is the case here, so repeated occurrences and gut feelings must be tested.

Do you know if there is a back channel method for sounding him out, if he wishes to make another garment for me? Like having a thai person call him and see how he feels?

[samran]

I don't think you really 'get' it.

He doesn't want your business. Simple as that.

This may be for a variety of reasons, my thoughts, as previously stated (though you dismiss that advice) is that you aren't paying enough. As others imply though, you might just be a bad customer. Given your incredulity at a mirror pehaps being held up to you on this thread, that just might be the case.

So I'll spell it out for you....

The guy is too polite to reject making an appointment. He'll make it, and then not turn up. Hoping you get the hint.

Please, get the hint.

But the Thais have a way to seeming to play with farangs and not taking them seriously, even enjoying it when farangs get irritated. I cannot be sure that is the case here, so repeated occurrences and gut feelings must be tested.

As for your comment here. Please stop with the generalisations please.

[jdinasia]

I see another proof that the thaivisa censorship policy has driven away most of the reasonable members. The only one's left now are the ones who do a search on the poster's previous posts then do a pop-psychology hatchet job. This makes them feel superior, like natural leaders in a world of ethical apes. What a comforting feeling.

No wonder the entire cyber world has gone over to social networking.

No pop psychology hatchet job here. Just a look to see what other issues you are having in Thailand. You gave so little info about the true nature of this problem that looking to see what other problems you have had made sense.

I don't see how ANY of this has anything to do with a "thaivisa censorship policy" at all.

It may simply be that you come on way too strong/direct with Thai people, or it may be other issues. That being said, I have run into none of the issues that you have in my years living in Thailand