Tesco Lotus Nathon Protests......

[MrAG]

from Bangkok Post:

"Business groups oppose Lotus in Tak

More than 1,500 Koh Samui retailers yesterday rallied to demand that hypermarket and convenience store chains scrap plans to open more outlets on the island. The protest came as Tak provincial authorities convened a meeting with local business groups yesterday to consider their request to stop the opening of a Tesco Lotus outlet in Mae Sot district.

On Koh Samui, protesters marched from Na Thon harbour to the district office. Protest leader Ramnet Jaikwang, a member of the Surat Thani Provincial Administration Council, presented a petition to the district's senior city clerk Phaiboon Omak.

Mr Ramnet said it was understandable that the district had allowed a Tesco Lotus hypermarket to operate in Koh Samui's Chaweng area, since it was a popular tourist destination.

But the district should not allow chains to open any more superstores on Koh Samui because they would drive local retailers out of business, he said.

Another protest leader, former Koh Samui tambon mayor Surapong Wiriyanon, said CP 7-Eleven, which operates 42 stores on Koh Samui, should stop expanding and existing stores should cut back operating hours. They are currently open around the clock.

In Mae Sot, eight business groups including the chamber of commerce, the industrial federation and retailers, submitted a petition to Tak governor Amornphan Nimanand on Aug 25, seeking his intervention to scrap Tesco Lotus' plan to open a new outlet.

The governor yesterday chaired a meeting of provincial officers and representatives of local business groups.

They decided to set up a team to study legal issues related to the opening of the new Tesco Lotus outlet in Mae Sot, and monitor the retailer's operation in the district.

Tak Chamber of Commerce chairman Ampon Chatchaiyalerk said if a Tesco Lotus store opens in Tak, retailers in the province could suffer losses."

[TonyMontana]

This was fun, the local ’retailers’ don’t like Tesco!!?

I go to Tesco almost on a daily basis – and everyday I see the ‘local retailers’ shopping heavily for their own shop – where they later on raise the price 20-30%.

No protest about that is it?

They are just upset that we, the farangs, can shop for the same price as they do!!!

I love Tesco, because they got all I want and need AND it is the only place on the island where I know that I pay the same price as the locals.

Keep on going Tesco – I salute You!

Tony

[loophole]

This was fun, the local ’retailers’ don’t like Tesco!!?

I go to Tesco almost on a daily basis – and everyday I see the ‘local retailers’ shopping heavily for their own shop – where they later on raise the price 20-30%.

No protest about that is it?

They are just upset that we, the farangs, can shop for the same price as they do!!!

I love Tesco, because they got all I want and need AND it is the only place on the island where I know that I pay the same price as the locals.

Keep on going Tesco – I salute You!

Tony

second that

[stevehaigh]

forget another one in samui, build one in KPN already! I'm tired of paying 50% to 150% more than samui prices for everything.

[somchai jones]

This was fun, the local ’retailers’ don’t like Tesco!!?

I go to Tesco almost on a daily basis – and everyday I see the ‘local retailers’ shopping heavily for their own shop – where they later on raise the price 20-30%.

No protest about that is it?

They are just upset that we, the farangs, can shop for the same price as they do!!!

I love Tesco, because they got all I want and need AND it is the only place on the island where I know that I pay the same price as the locals.

Keep on going Tesco – I salute You!

Tony

second that

Agree with you on the plus points folks but I do think one huge hyperstore on an island the size of Samui is enough.

[limbos]

No it isn't enough.

Great to see Big C and Makro join the party.

Big C may see a lot of revenue loss just to poor staff performance, not stocking up or not having the big sized articles on stock all the time and I can't wait to see Big C's parking lot, on the mainland these are normally a lot better and nicer (sunshaded).

Edited September 5, 2006 by limbos

[John 1]

Hey,

Guys I'm away from the island for a while where are they building BigC

[think_too_mut]

I don't remember any protests about possible second airport, other than some academics from BKK.

Have locals asked that number of tourist get capped to, say, 200,000 a year?

Or that BKK Airways does 2-3 istead of 30-40 flights a day?

[womble]

It's always good to get things cheaper, but there are trade offs. In the UK the big supermarkets have put many butchers, green grocers and fish mongers out of business. Whilst you can often get stuff cheaper, you don't have the same range of products, and often the specialist shops stocked tastier alternatives and better cuts of meat.

Many varieties of english fruits, and strains of animal are being lost and some of these are much better than what is being sold in supermarkets. This has lead to many specialist shops becoming popular once again, particulary in areas where people can afford to pay a bit extra. However it remains the case that many great foods are being lost.

Personally I buy cleaning stuff and general household items from tesco. I like to go down the fishmarket in Big buddha for fish, which is really good now.

My complaint with tesco is they are always sold out of stock, you go there for steak, none left, ribs, none left. You want some livers to make pate, great none left, so I often find myself in Tops (which has some good stuff but expensive) or the market.

[limbos]

I don't remember any protests about possible second airport, other than some academics from BKK.

Have locals asked that number of tourist get capped to, say, 200,000 a year?

Or that BKK Airways does 2-3 istead of 30-40 flights a day?

What brings you back in thread about a Mickey Mouse island?

[somchai jones]

No it isn't enough.

A matter of opinion. Call me old fashiond but I'm one of those chaps that enjoys the character of family owned small shops as opposed to big hypermarkets. Still, everyone to their own.

Chock Dee my friend.

[think_too_mut]

I don't remember any protests about possible second airport, other than some academics from BKK.

Have locals asked that number of tourist get capped to, say, 200,000 a year?

Or that BKK Airways does 2-3 istead of 30-40 flights a day?

What brings you back in thread about a Mickey Mouse island?

Would you want me to explain what brings me to this or to every thread on the board?

Poor place is often in the press - how it is stumbling under swallen and greedy population, influx of foreign real estate investments, non-existent urban planning and cripled infrastructure.

Been there 3 years ago could not recognize the place on the pictures 3 weeks old that someone sent me.

[Rooo]

Hey,

Guys I'm away from the island for a while where are they building BigC

John heading north past Tesco,near Bandon hospital, same side.Big C & Macro.

[Rooo]

TRADE FOREIGN SUPERSTORES

Small retailers appeal for His Majesty's help

PIYAPORN WONGRUANG PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP

Small retailers from 20 districts across the country yesterday appealed to His Majesty the King to help stop the expansion of foreign-owned superstores into their communities. About 100 people representing neighbourhood shops in Surat Thani's Koh Samui, Sakon Nakhon's Sawang Daen Din and Ang Thong's Wiset Chai Chan converged at the offices of His Majesty the King's Principal Private Secretary.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/06Sep2006_news89.php

[poorfarang]

What is with all this backlash against "foreign owned" anything.

Foreign ownership is how you build and strenghthen your economy. If Thailand wasnt so restrictive then it might be a little more advanced then where it stands now. The locals cant even comprehend this....

[think_too_mut]

What is with all this backlash against "foreign owned" anything.

Foreign ownership is how you build and strenghthen your economy. If Thailand wasnt so restrictive then it might be a little more advanced then where it stands now. The locals cant even comprehend this....

Thailand is not restrictive. They attrracted Japanese car manufacturers, best and biggest hard disk drive factory (former IBM, now Hitachi)...many electronics, 3800 multinational companies (Bayer, GM, Ford....that are more than a plate on a mailbox)

At Samui, it's rather get rich quick investment, building on the waterfront, total negligence for environment, corruption that gets propelled with it and nothing really about "strenghthening Thai economy". Quick and dirty take money and run.

[poorfarang]

The new stores will be great compitition which should lower prices. Lower prices is a good thing.

[limbos]

No it isn't enough.

A matter of opinion. Call me old fashiond but I'm one of those chaps that enjoys the character of family owned small shops as opposed to big hypermarkets. Still, everyone to their own.

Chock Dee my friend.

SomChai,

Agree, however, in the past, pre Lotus, there were a few of those 'family owned (small) shops' in Chaweng that even if you went in six times a day, they still treated you as a complete stranger and charged over the top prices, which could be adjusted once Lotus opened doors. To these 'family owned small shops' ; Som nom na.

My in law family has 'family owned small shops' and they are also talking to 7-11 to get a good rental fee from 7-11.

It depends on where the shops are and how they treat one. In general, it's just called progress and one of the reasons I like them is that they charge the same price to everyone, Thais and Westerners, something that can't be said of all those 'family owned small shops'.

[limbos]

I don't remember any protests about possible second airport, other than some academics from BKK.

Have locals asked that number of tourist get capped to, say, 200,000 a year?

Or that BKK Airways does 2-3 istead of 30-40 flights a day?

What brings you back in thread about a Mickey Mouse island?

Would you want me to explain what brings me to this or to every thread on the board?

Poor place is often in the press - how it is stumbling under swallen and greedy population, influx of foreign real estate investments, non-existent urban planning and cripled infrastructure.

Been there 3 years ago could not recognize the place on the pictures 3 weeks old that someone sent me.

So you've been here once about 3 years ago and you feel you're in a position to give out advice and malicious comments.

There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism, however, you've proofed on a few occasions already that those two words don't appear in your dictionary.

Out of your 3 posts in this thread, again, only negative attitude, why don't you stay away from this Samui Forum untill you have something worthwhile and constructive to mention.

[somchai jones]

No it isn't enough.

A matter of opinion. Call me old fashiond but I'm one of those chaps that enjoys the character of family owned small shops as opposed to big hypermarkets. Still, everyone to their own.

Chock Dee my friend.

SomChai,

Agree, however, in the past, pre Lotus, there were a few of those 'family owned (small) shops' in Chaweng that even if you went in six times a day, they still treated you as a complete stranger and charged over the top prices, which could be adjusted once Lotus opened doors. To these 'family owned small shops' ; Som nom na.

My in law family has 'family owned small shops' and they are also talking to 7-11 to get a good rental fee from 7-11.

It depends on where the shops are and how they treat one. In general, it's just called progress and one of the reasons I like them is that they charge the same price to everyone, Thais and Westerners, something that can't be said of all those 'family owned small shops'.

I take on board your points limbos and they are well founded.

However, though I agree that 'progress' is inevitable, I dislike the ever expanding number of hypermarkets in my own country, England.

Just not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.

[sriracha john]

It's moved to a nation-wide issue:

Opponents of foreign retailers protest against the rapid expansion of foreign superstores, which they say has threatened the survival of small local retailers. They lodged a petition with His Majesty the King at the Royal Palace to seek his help yesterday. BP

[Samuian]

As it has been said in a previous post, some of the "Local Shop Owners" shop at Tesco...crank up the price a bit and BINGO!

"Foreign owned Superstores"... the 40+ 7/11 are owned by toxins golfin' friend CP! And many of the CP products are found in the shelves!

The omnipresence of the 7/11 are definately threatening the local small shops and businesses - there are plenty of pro's AND con's...

Wonder that nobody protests against the 7/11 shops in Mae Nam alone are 3 already and next to them always opens a Family Mart!

aaaaaahhhh well...but makes me wonder where the money will be earned to be spend in these chains?

[sriracha john]

The "big boys" expansions have been halted:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...st&p=882516

the "squeaky wheel gets the oil" ....

Edited September 6, 2006 by sriracha john

[think_too_mut]

I don't remember any protests about possible second airport, other than some academics from BKK.

Have locals asked that number of tourist get capped to, say, 200,000 a year?

Or that BKK Airways does 2-3 istead of 30-40 flights a day?

What brings you back in thread about a Mickey Mouse island?

Would you want me to explain what brings me to this or to every thread on the board?

Poor place is often in the press - how it is stumbling under swallen and greedy population, influx of foreign real estate investments, non-existent urban planning and cripled infrastructure.

Been there 3 years ago could not recognize the place on the pictures 3 weeks old that someone sent me.

So you've been here once about 3 years ago and you feel you're in a position to give out advice and malicious comments.

There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism, however, you've proofed on a few occasions already that those two words don't appear in your dictionary.

Out of your 3 posts in this thread, again, only negative attitude, why don't you stay away from this Samui Forum untill you have something worthwhile and constructive to mention.

So, what did you have to say other than disliking my posts?

[OlRedEyes]

Same fight going on in India. Same fight happened around the world in past decades. Won't be stopped.

I find it sad in many ways. I try and support small mom and pop shops where I can, and here in Thailand I find their prices surprisingly competitive with say Tesco. Makes me wonder about Tesco's profits, given their buying power.

Answer is of course to use the newly-opened super store as a traffic generator. Was having a discussion about this with some store owners here a few days ago. Specialise in something that it doesn't offer, or a higher quality of service or product that it does.

Voila, the store becomes a plus. Free customers drawn to the area without advertising expense.

Adapt or die, it's simple, as always. You can maybe delay it, but you won't stop it.

[John 1]

The government has decided to protect the small stores, it will apply a surcharge of 10 percent on any item purchased by a foreigner from a super store, if this doesn't work a entrance fee of 400 bt for a foreigner and 10 bt for a Thai will be introduced.

Fried chicken vendors will go on strike next week unless Kentucky fried chicken closes it stores 3 days a week.

Tuk Tuk manufacturer is protesting the car manufacturing plants making too many nice cars affecting his business.

The sooner the corner stores close there doors the better they contribute nothing to the economy, employ very few staff, poor service and over charging.

[OlRedEyes]

The government has decided to protect the small stores, it will apply a surcharge of 10 percent on any item purchased by a foreigner from a super store, if this doesn't work a entrance fee of 400 bt for a foreigner and 10 bt for a Thai will be introduced.

Fried chicken vendors will go on strike next week unless Kentucky fried chicken closes it stores 3 days a week.

Tuk Tuk manufacturer is protesting the car manufacturing plants making too many nice cars affecting his business.

The sooner the corner stores close there doors the better they contribute nothing to the economy, employ very few staff, poor service and over charging.

They do employ few staff, don't they....

So do small farmers....

The difference between running your own life and becoming another underpaid worker on the treadmill, feeding your salary back into the company store's coffers. I know what I'd opt for given the choice.

Another day older and deeper in debt....

[Samuian]

Besides, I forgot to mention in my post, since Tesco/Lotus open'd it's doors on 'mui, a Kilo magically has 1000 gr. in there.

Out, either @ Leam Din, Talaad Dao, Nathon, Ban Rak, name it - a Kilo is anything between 650 to 950 gr. If you buy, say Jumbo Prawns and pay anything around 650-750 ThB and in your kitchen the digital scales gives you a figure a third below the price you've paid....makes it a couple a hundred baht less in your pockets in one go! Now keep on, going shopping here a pineapple, a couple a Mangos, some Vegies and maybe another hundred baht have magically evaporated into thin air, for goods you never got. Makes one feel great ...huh? It's mworse if you have somebody does the shopping and nobody realizes...!

You will think your cook, chef, kitchen personell is cheating ....or you may sit over your books and wonder what the hel_l is wrong with your cost calculations... just a thought or 2...

But, even overpaying a humble plaa dook, is simply not fair, it's not for the money, it's for how one feels about dishonest fishmongers and marketstall owners.

Since, I always get a bill, if grossly underweight, I'll be back!

Here Lotus scores points.... the barcoded label states up to a gramm and up to 25 satang exactly what, how many gr. the purchased goods were and how much you have to pay for it....

The presence of Tesco/Lotus hasn't made me stop to buy on the Local Markets or in Local Shops, many items they simply don't stock or either are out of stock, this happens very frequently. Sometimes no Onions!!!!!! No Potatoes, Sometimes no LIME!!!!, This or that... makes one wonder who wears the badge "Purchase Manager"...

Yes, I do love to support, "Mom & Daddy" shops, yes I do love to support small producers, homegrown, grassroots, sure as long as there is mutual respect, everyone involved plays fair and by the rules!

"they" want to be respected, they want their culture respected, so I think the Farang should be respected in every facett of live as well - same, same, NOT different! Including "their" Supermalls...and hey and who outnumbers whom @McDo, McThis, McThat, Svensens, Black Canyon, Go Nuts for Donuts, Barking Robbins?

Edited September 7, 2006 by Samuian

[somchai jones]

Well said Ol Red Eyes. Not to mention the fact that if there were no small stores and only superstores, we might start thinking we were in Minnesota!

Edited September 7, 2006 by somchai jones

[LaoPo]

The government has decided to protect the small stores, it will apply a surcharge of 10 percent on any item purchased by a foreigner from a super store, if this doesn't work a entrance fee of 400 bt for a foreigner and 10 bt for a Thai will be introduced.

Fried chicken vendors will go on strike next week unless Kentucky fried chicken closes it stores 3 days a week.

Tuk Tuk manufacturer is protesting the car manufacturing plants making too many nice cars affecting his business.

The sooner the corner stores close there doors the better they contribute nothing to the economy, employ very few staff, poor service and over charging.

this is the LAUGH OF THE DAY...

Hmmmm maybe it's best for Thailand if ALL FOREIGNERS leave the country....

10% surcharge? or entrance fee of Baht 400????

Just do your shopping, hire a Thai guy for 100 Baht and let him pay at the counter; or make a shopping list and wait in your aircon car for the merchandise...

What a silly ideas the Thai have sometimes (Huh...sometimes ???)

Sometimes I really wonder WHERE the REAL intelligent, bright and young Masterminds in Thailand are................on the Golfcourses?

EDIT: BUT..............it's election time, isn't it?

LaoPo

Edited September 7, 2006 by LaoPo