Restocking Supermarket Shelves With Popular Products!

[loong]

Here we go again. Perhaps you'd like to blame the hot weather on the Thais?

- The supermarkets around my area of Thailand rarely run out of products, no more and no less than those in my home country or the several other countries I've lived/worked in.

- If it's foreign imported products, perhaps you might remember that the local supermarket is at the mercy of the foreign manufacturer, export red tape, shipping, import red tape, etc.

Whenever I go to Tesco-Lotus, the first place i go to is the bakery. Nearly every time I have to ask for French sticks because the basket is empty. When I get the bread, it's cold, so it's not that it has just come out of the oven. If I walk by later, I see that they still haven't put the bread out on display.

[canman]

Because it takes forward planning and a desire to achieve some sort of level of customer service

[canopy]

Interesting topic because I often wondered if this happened in other areas of Thailand or only my province. Common staples run out at our Tesco in Phetchabun regularly and can remain out of stock for weeks. Each time I show up with my shopping list I now just accept the reality that most likely a few items on it won't be there. It could be chicken, orange juice, or potatoes. You never know. Asking if there is stock in the back hasn't been fruitful nor does asking politely when they think they will have it again. They are out, that's all they know and it's a normal situation of no special significance to them.

Tesco at least in my province is not a comfortable environment for shopping either with palettes parked here and there during peak shopping hours, half unloaded boxes strewn about the floor, browsers clogging the narrow lanes as if they are the only ones at the store, the same annoying commercials repeating over and over on the loud speaker, hawkers on PA systems promoting things, and so on. I am happy to be out of there as quickly as possible. We have a new Makro though that so far has impressed me so will be spending a lot more time there.

[tinfoilhat]

I've also had good luck asking for help, sometimes they'll actually go in the back and see if there's any there. In polite Thai, casually and with a smile of course

how do you casually ask floorstaff if there are more doritos or pickles?

Edited November 15, 2012 by tinfoilhat

[BigJohnnyBKK]

I've also had good luck asking for help, sometimes they'll actually go in the back and see if there's any there. In polite Thai, casually and with a smile of course

how do you casually ask floorstaff if there are more doritos or pickles?

In a friendly way, acknowledging the fact that they've got no reason to actually do the job to some level that I expect, not implying that I've actually got any "rights" in the situation, nor of course any criticism, not implying my life depends on these critical items, more like "hey guys, gotta minute, think you can help me out?"

This is of course if getting their assistance is your actual objective, as opposed to the psychological satisfaction of showing your superiority or venting your spleen.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Because it takes forward planning and a desire to achieve some sort of level of customer service

Which desire has to be present at the relevant levels up and down the command chain, backed up by the consistent use of the technology they already have combined with effective incentives to get reluctant performers to see its in their interest to follow through on that desire.

All implemented at the systems level rather than being dependent on particular individuals being in place in a given position or location.

Consistently at the various branches even when they're run by different management teams with different levels of motivation and competence.

Quite a challenge, IMO bit of a wonder that any companies can pull it off even in the much more competitive environment back home.

Bit much to expect here I'd say.

[nontabury]

Re the foreign owed chains,surely the bosses in the Thai HQ's (who are more than likely Farangs)are aware of the situation, so why don't they do something about it, or are they powerless to implement efficiency?

[canman]

Because it takes forward planning and a desire to achieve some sort of level of customer service

Which desire has to be present at the relevant levels up and down the command chain, backed up by the consistent use of the technology they already have combined with effective incentives to get reluctant performers to see its in their interest to follow through on that desire.

All implemented at the systems level rather than being dependent on particular individuals being in place in a given position or location.

Consistently at the various branches even when they're run by different management teams with different levels of motivation and competence.

Quite a challenge, IMO bit of a wonder that any companies can pull it off even in the much more competitive environment back home.

Bit much to expect here I'd say.

I don't know. 7-11 seems to have an integrated POS / stock control system which works. It's not that difficult.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Re the foreign owed chains,surely the bosses in the Thai HQ's (who are more than likely Farangs)are aware of the situation, so why don't they do something about it, or are they powerless to implement efficiency?

Rather than repeating my opinions again

I don't know. 7-11 seems to have an integrated POS / stock control system which works. It's not that difficult.

Yes, and in the ones that are really well run, the owner/franchise operator is closely involved with daily operations directly supervising the floor staff if not actually doing the stock-checking and ordering themselves.

Flat org structure, zero hierarchy, highly motivated management empowered to give immediate performance feedback.

The issues isn't having the technology available, it's putting the performance feedback loops and people management systems in place to measure per-store performance against benchmark goals and make sure its in everyone's interest to use the technology properly.

In a much larger corporate environment, the connection between the "macro" performance goals and where the rubber meets to road becomes more and more tenuous. The people with the motivation to make things work lose the power to actually make it happen, steering properties of an ocean liner rather than a jetski.

Plus 7-11 doesn't attempt to source relatively obscure (low volume) imported products directly from overseas, only purchasing from well-stocked local distribution channels.

Edited November 15, 2012 by BigJohnnyBKK

[jamora]

I work for a beer company and we sell to most of the big supermarkets in Thailand. When we ask why they are out of stock of our products we get the following answer: "we have a state of the art inventory system and we CANNOT run out of anything!".

Then we can ask to guys sitting upstairs to go down and check their own shelves, but they don't seem to bother because they are so sure that they are not out...

So my answer would be a mix of poor software and bad personnel.

[jbrain]

Re the foreign owed chains,surely the bosses in the Thai HQ's (who are more than likely Farangs)are aware of the situation, so why don't they do something about it, or are they powerless to implement efficiency?

I know from an inside source that the Casino directors out of Bangkok visited Big C extra Pattaya 2 weeks ago and were furious when they saw all the empty shelves,while the products in question were in stock at their warehouses in Bangkok.

This had been going on for several weeks, and was corrected then within the next few days

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Re the foreign owed chains,surely the bosses in the Thai HQ's (who are more than likely Farangs)are aware of the situation, so why don't they do something about it, or are they powerless to implement efficiency?

I know from an inside source that the Casino directors out of Bangkok visited Big C extra Pattaya 2 weeks ago and were furious when they saw all the empty shelves,while the products in question were in stock at their warehouses in Bangkok.

This had been going on for several weeks, and was corrected then within the next few days

And hopefully they took a systemic approach to get at the root of the problem rather than relying on the directors making spot checks around the country 8-)

[Mosha]

what were you expecting in thailand? their still working on pot holes.

I wish they'd stop making those. 1 km to the main road and there must be 50 of varying sizes.

[jbrain]

Re the foreign owed chains,surely the bosses in the Thai HQ's (who are more than likely Farangs)are aware of the situation, so why don't they do something about it, or are they powerless to implement efficiency?

I know from an inside source that the Casino directors out of Bangkok visited Big C extra Pattaya 2 weeks ago and were furious when they saw all the empty shelves,while the products in question were in stock at their warehouses in Bangkok.

This had been going on for several weeks, and was corrected then within the next few days

And hopefully they took a systemic approach to get at the root of the problem rather than relying on the directors making spot checks around the country 8-)

You wouldn't expect anything less, would you?

[Kilgore Trout]

Bottom line is; they just don't care. From the bottom to the top. It doesn't get any more simple than that.

[DP25]

Here we go again. Perhaps you'd like to blame the hot weather on the Thais?

- The supermarkets around my area of Thailand rarely run out of products, no more and no less than those in my home country or the several other countries I've lived/worked in.

- If it's foreign imported products, perhaps you might remember that the local supermarket is at the mercy of the foreign manufacturer, export red tape, shipping, import red tape, etc.

Oh great Oracle,maybe you could explain this then? :

In Central Festival Phuket,I was buying O'Hara's Irish Stout for 199 baht a bottle and they were happily restocking it,week in,week out!

Then I move to Bangkok and drink all of the dwindling stocks from every Tops market,the SAME supermarket within a month or two.Just for clarity,we're talking around 4 bottles a week but Bangkok is now dry of Irish Stout,whereas I know if I flew down to Phuket I could happily pick up as many bottles as I wanted!

So who exactly should I be blaming then,in your sage-like wisdom?

O'Hara's Irish Stout isn't a 'popular product'. It is an imported niche product and one that I doubt 1 in 100 Thai shoppers would buy. Who knows how long those bottles were sitting on the shelf until you came along and bought them all up. Should they import another batch early just for you? In Phuket with the millions of two week tourists they probably have much better sales so have more regular shipments of it coming in.

[scorecard]

Here we go again. Perhaps you'd like to blame the hot weather on the Thais?

- The supermarkets around my area of Thailand rarely run out of products, no more and no less than those in my home country or the several other countries I've lived/worked in.

- If it's foreign imported products, perhaps you might remember that the local supermarket is at the mercy of the foreign manufacturer, export red tape, shipping, import red tape, etc.

Oh great Oracle,maybe you could explain this then? :

In Central Festival Phuket,I was buying O'Hara's Irish Stout for 199 baht a bottle and they were happily restocking it,week in,week out!

Then I move to Bangkok and drink all of the dwindling stocks from every Tops market,the SAME supermarket within a month or two.Just for clarity,we're talking around 4 bottles a week but Bangkok is now dry of Irish Stout,whereas I know if I flew down to Phuket I could happily pick up as many bottles as I wanted!

So who exactly should I be blaming then,in your sage-like wisdom?

Haven't you got better things that this thread to occupy your time?

[scorecard]

Here we go again. Perhaps you'd like to blame the hot weather on the Thais?

- The supermarkets around my area of Thailand rarely run out of products, no more and no less than those in my home country or the several other countries I've lived/worked in.

- If it's foreign imported products, perhaps you might remember that the local supermarket is at the mercy of the foreign manufacturer, export red tape, shipping, import red tape, etc.

Oh great Oracle,maybe you could explain this then? :

In Central Festival Phuket,I was buying O'Hara's Irish Stout for 199 baht a bottle and they were happily restocking it,week in,week out!

Then I move to Bangkok and drink all of the dwindling stocks from every Tops market,the SAME supermarket within a month or two.Just for clarity,we're talking around 4 bottles a week but Bangkok is now dry of Irish Stout,whereas I know if I flew down to Phuket I could happily pick up as many bottles as I wanted!

So who exactly should I be blaming then,in your sage-like wisdom?

O'Hara's Irish Stout isn't a 'popular product'. It is an imported niche product and one that I doubt 1 in 100 Thai shoppers would buy. Who knows how long those bottles were sitting on the shelf until you came along and bought them all up. Should they import another batch early just for you? In Phuket with the millions of two week tourists they probably have much better sales so have more regular shipments of it coming in.

Good point.

[kkerry]

Tesco at least in my province is not a comfortable environment for shopping either with palettes parked here and there during peak shopping hours, half unloaded boxes strewn about the floor

Try taking some time stamped photos and sending them in to Head Office with your complaint. If there is one thing regional managers hate as much as empty shelves it is seeing pallets and cartons blocking the aisles at peak times... make sure you send a selection of photos otherwise the store manager will say it was a one off occurrence.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Could make a full-time job of it - be sure to include an invoice for your consulting services 8-)

[The Pundit]

Here we go again. Perhaps you'd like to blame the hot weather on the Thais?

- The supermarkets around my area of Thailand rarely run out of products, no more and no less than those in my home country or the several other countries I've lived/worked in.

- If it's foreign imported products, perhaps you might remember that the local supermarket is at the mercy of the foreign manufacturer, export red tape, shipping, import red tape, etc.

Oh great Oracle,maybe you could explain this then? :

In Central Festival Phuket,I was buying O'Hara's Irish Stout for 199 baht a bottle and they were happily restocking it,week in,week out!

Then I move to Bangkok and drink all of the dwindling stocks from every Tops market,the SAME supermarket within a month or two.Just for clarity,we're talking around 4 bottles a week but Bangkok is now dry of Irish Stout,whereas I know if I flew down to Phuket I could happily pick up as many bottles as I wanted!

So who exactly should I be blaming then,in your sage-like wisdom?

O'Hara's Irish Stout isn't a 'popular product'. It is an imported niche product and one that I doubt 1 in 100 Thai shoppers would buy. Who knows how long those bottles were sitting on the shelf until you came along and bought them all up. Should they import another batch early just for you? In Phuket with the millions of two week tourists they probably have much better sales so have more regular shipments of it coming in.

Good point.

Some good answers then this pair of jokers turn up again,why do you bother posting at all if you have nothing intelligent to say,look at the other poster's replies?

Thai Visa should ahave a 'Delete' button to weed out these wierdos,I'm sure it puts many people off posting here,plus they're incredibly boring!

[BigJohnnyBKK]

O'Hara's Irish Stout isn't a 'popular product'. It is an imported niche product and one that I doubt 1 in 100 Thai shoppers would buy. Who knows how long those bottles were sitting on the shelf until you came along and bought them all up. Should they import another batch early just for you? In Phuket with the millions of two week tourists they probably have much better sales so have more regular shipments of it coming in.

Good point.

Some good answers then this pair of jokers turn up again,why do you bother posting at all if you have nothing intelligent to say,look at the other poster's replies?

Thai Visa should ahave a 'Delete' button to weed out these wierdos,I'm sure it puts many people off posting here,plus they're incredibly boring!

Actually I find their replies much more thoughtful and intelligent than many here.

And you've been given a very thoughtful lead on a cheaper source by the case.

Best is to just ignore the idiot joker weirdos. Now that I think about it I wish I had. . .