Lotus Tesco Chaing Khulm

[Thomaspaul]

Living in Thoeng have been using it since it opened as it is the nearest

But over the past 3 months the store has been getting worse ever time I visit it

Stock levels have dropped.

Everytime I go things are in different places

No english speaking sales staff to answer queries

Information desk also has no english speaking person

They just shrug there sholders and start speaking with the next thai custoner

The place needs a real shake up

Store is untidy with alley ways partially blocked with boxes waiting to be put

in to half empty shelves

Stores in Chaing Khong and Mae Sai have better range of items

No more Chaing Kukm

Now Chaing Khong or Chaingrau

They are both farther away but for a better choice well worth it

[villagefarang]

I am guessing that you are talking about Chiang Kham. As you have found, close is not always best, but I think you will find that with a little planning you can get a lot more done by visiting Chiang Rai from time to time. Some might say it is our responsibility to learn Thai, and not the other way around, but that is just some people talking I suppose.

[pomchop]

I am guessing that you are talking about Chiang Kham. As you have found, close is not always best, but I think you will find that with a little planning you can get a lot more done by visiting Chiang Rai from time to time. Some might say it is our responsibility to learn Thai, and not the other way around, but that is just some people talking I suppose.

As for no English speaking staff this is an area where I have tried and tried to get CR high school to at least TRY and get the local biz to hire some of the CR high grads that speak decent English. It seems the local biz don't much care if their new hires speak English or not and I suspect they probably don't even ASK when choosing between two applicants. As far as I know the biz pay the same with or without English skills so WHY not pick the one with skills?

One might think that any retail biz with falang customers MIGHT choose applicants with some English skills but most don't seem to care. Good example is the new condo sales offices in CR...since falangs can buy a condo one MIGHT think the sales office MIGHT at least hire one or two people with basic English but so far I haven't seen that to happen. So teachers stand in front of the students week after week and tell them how important it is to learn English BUT then the employers don't seem to care one way or the other

Back in USA my high school and many others had guidance counselor on staff and among other duties it was his/her job to stay in touch with the local biz leaders to encourage them to hire the students upon graduation. As far as I know nothing like that exists in CR.

I have suggested if nothing else maybe a teacher or two from CR high could approach the local CR rotary clubs etc and let them know that CR high every year has graduates looking for jobs and some of them can speak/read/write decent English. .

Unfortunately this "no English" seems to go to some big corporations as well as the small biz. How many times have I picked up a nationally distributed Thai product in big C without a single word of English to give me a clue as to what it is or how to prepare etc and I just put it back on the shelf confused. How very little would it cost them to have a few words of English printed on their labels to at least increase the chance that a falang might buy it. Big C as we all know has a lot of buy one one free type signs on the shelves but again rarely anything in English. I realize this is Thailand but have to say if I were ceo of big C or Tesco or even 7/11 I would insist on all signs being thai and English and would make sure each store had at least a few employees capable of helping write and check the signs.

Anyway....it is sometimes frustrating to watch the kids work hard to learn English and then not be rewarded by being considered a more desirable hire for a business.

[villagefarang]

Perhaps the people who do the hiring can’t speak English so find it hard to judge the proficiency of applicants. It could also be that English speaking customers are seen as more trouble than they are worth to the business. Thai customers might be much less needy, demanding and confrontational.

That said, where we shop staff often make an effort to speak English but are relieved beyond belief when they find they don’t have to. Things are changing but we are still a bit of a backwater and with all the Chinese coming, who knows, they may pass over English in favor of Chinese.

Language is a longterm process so it maybe the next generation which reaps the benefits, so keep teaching and keep your eye on the long game.

[pomchop]

Perhaps the people who do the hiring can’t speak English so find it hard to judge the proficiency of applicants. It could also be that English speaking customers are seen as more trouble than they are worth to the business. Thai customers might be much less needy, demanding and confrontational.

That said, where we shop staff often make an effort to speak English but are relieved beyond belief when they find they don’t have to. Things are changing but we are still a bit of a backwater and with all the Chinese coming, who knows, they may pass over English in favor of Chinese.

Language is a longterm process so it maybe the next generation which reaps the benefits, so keep teaching and keep your eye on the long game.

All true of course. But as a long time businessman one thing I learned is that if you are easy to do business with you will get more business.

Hard to imagine that big corps like big C and Tesco don't have at least some execs who speak/read/write English...with millions of tourists and ex pats in Thailand many of them no doubt shop big C and/or Tesco...so not having signs in English in my estimation is just a lost opportunity for more business.

Anyway...as said I just feel sorry for the few kids who do bust their butts to learn English that often their efforts don't seem to be rewarded by Thai business operators.

But I don't give up easily and sooner or later will hopefully get some local bizs to understand that hiring an English speaker just MIGHT put more money into the biz coffers....plus reward some kids for hard work and make their falang customers spend more and be more loyal and maybe even spread the word that biz A has some people who speak English.

[sceadugenga]

I was impressed with the new Home Pro when an English speaking staff member approached my companion and myself even though we already had an assistant hanging around.

[pomchop]

I was impressed with the new Home Pro when an English speaking staff member approached my companion and myself even though we already had an assistant hanging around.

good for home pro.....actually there do seem to be at least a few big C CR employees who speak a bit of English....would be nice if the store manager would utilize them to help with some signage...even if the English isn't perfect it would sure be better than no English...how many times have I stood at big c trying to piece together what a sign says....only to walk away and not buy whatever it is promoting because I can't figure out WHAT it is promoting.

of course the bright side is I do always stop at the premium counter to see if I have "won" a prize...as best as I can figure a lot of the signs that I can't read say things like buy this tin of tuna and get a free coffee mug etc....so often get surprised when I get a gift at the premium counter and no idea what I bought that qualified me...seems I get something about every other trip....I used to think it was just luck but I understand it does apparently have something to do with the items you buy.