I fell out with a retailer this morning!

[luke000]

In one particular case, I bought fish, bird, and dog food from a feed store for many years. Despite my ability to speak Thai, the owner never inquired about my family or took any interest in conversation. She never smiled. She never said thank you. I finally stopped going. About a year later, a new pet food store opened nearby. I went. The owner was bubbly, smiling, helpful.......she was the old store's daughter. Different generation....different way of thinking.

I no longer have sympathy when people complain about the old style stores closing....and people flocking to the big name stores.

Although you do go to shops to buy things, rather then go there for social interaction .

is your schedule so demanding that you don't even have time or the interest to interact with people you are dealing with? How sad

" Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves."

Steve Jobs

I just dont think that a shop counter is the appropriate place for social interaction .

I find that thats nothing more annoying than a shop owner trying to be your best mate, just so that you will go shopping in his shop again

[dotpoom]

Unfortunately I have had similar experiences....especially when it comes to tipping, treated just as badly as a non-tipper when they are in their "moods"..

[SOTIRIOS]

...you only share partial details...

...this weakens your case......

...retailer...bla..bla..bla...15% ...bla...bla..bla...

...are we talking about a 40-baht plate of food here.....???

[realenglish1]

It really was none of your business as to why She put the price up and She wasnt obliged to give you an explanation .

It surly was his business why the price is up He is the customer and spending his money so would like to know why the item is up 15% from yesterday.

If she choses not to explain then he has the right to go somewhere else.

My guess is you are Thai and this is they type of comment a Thai would make This is one reason this country has so many problems

NO ONE COMMUNICATES HERE They live in their own bubble

[Jingthing]

The funniest high price explanation I got from a small Thai businessman who was pricing his product about 30 percent higher than pretty easily accessible direct competition was this --

"I lost my job as a furniture salesmen and I need to price my product at this level so I make at least as much as I did on that job."

Now, if I hadn't asked him why his prices were higher, I would have never heard that gem of advanced business logic!

Edited February 3, 2016 by Jingthing

[MaeJoMTB]

Anyway one of the girls wanted to sit with me, I thanked her but said I wasn't ready to by anyone a drink yet.

She spoke very good English and said she was bored so could she sit and talk, specific my age wanted to ask about getting a visa for the UK and we're there many Thais workeing there. I was more then happy to try answer her questions.

Anyway 5 minuets later the Mumasan comes over and said in no unaertain terms of I wasn't going to buy the girls any drinks I could piss off.

You have to pay to sit with the girls.

That's the way go gos work.

You were effectively shoplifting.

Edited February 3, 2016 by MaeJoMTB

[llso]

I enjoy reading Thai Visa from time to time to reminisce on my 7 glorious years spent living in Thailand. I learned rather quickly that the Thai business practices are different from what we as Westerners are used to. There is no concept of real customer service,or repeat business. The word refund does not exist and let's not forget 'Thai Logic". One example of this is I was renting a townhouse and the company included the electric and water in your monthly rent, considerably marked up. Quite a common practice I found out. I was going away for about a month and turned everything off and unplugged the refrigerator and TV. When I got back I went to pay my rent and noticed that electric part of the bill was exactly the same. When I politely explained to the very lovely girl in the office that I was gone and the electric bill should have been almost nothing. She gave that "deer in the headlights " look and began to squirm. I pressed on that this must be a mistake as I was gone for a month and very little electric was used. As this became more uncomfortable for the both of us as she couldn't give me an answer. Finally she said that "This is a business". I replied Oh, this is business. Idea being even though I didn't use the electric they were not going to lose the money they had been collecting from me every month for electric for some silly reason. She was so proud of herself that she had finally given me an answer that was satisfied with. At no time did she even considr I was being cheated because ."This is a business" That my friends is Thai Logic and business all rolled into one.

LL

[alfieconn]

An old boy i know went to see the manager of a big chain store to ask why was they always running out of peas, "yes" she said, "we're always running out so we don't sell them anymore"

Edited February 3, 2016 by alfieconn

[luke000]

It really was none of your business as to why She put the price up and She wasnt obliged to give you an explanation .

It surly was his business why the price is up He is the customer and spending his money so would like to know why the item is up 15% from yesterday.

If she choses not to explain then he has the right to go somewhere else.

My guess is you are Thai and this is they type of comment a Thai would make This is one reason this country has so many problems

NO ONE COMMUNICATES HERE They live in their own bubble

No, I am from the UK and in the UK I ve never experienced a shopper demanding to know why theres been a price increase in a shops goods.

Just imagine a shop keeper having to explain to every customer why theres been a price increase

[luke000]

Anyway one of the girls wanted to sit with me, I thanked her but said I wasn't ready to by anyone a drink yet.

She spoke very good English and said she was bored so could she sit and talk, specific my age wanted to ask about getting a visa for the UK and we're there many Thais workeing there. I was more then happy to try answer her questions.

Anyway 5 minuets later the Mumasan comes over and said in no unaertain terms of I wasn't going to buy the girls any drinks I could piss off.

You have to pay to sit with the girls.

That's the way go gos work.

You were effectively shoplifting.

Yep, talk isnt cheap in go go bars and karaoke

[Jingthing]

An old boy i know went to see the manager of a big chain store to ask why was they always running out of peas, "yes" she said, "we're always running out so we don't sell them anymore"

I like where this thread is going and maybe there should be a separate thread about:

Thai business owners say the darnedest things!

Anecdotes about what business owners here say when you do ask about something and they answer!

Edited February 3, 2016 by Jingthing

[luke000]

 

An old boy i know went to see the manager of a big chain store to ask why was they always running out of peas, "yes" she said, "we're always running out so we don't sell them anymore"

 

Although the reason why the shop stopped selling peas, probably wasnt because they sold well

[TobyOliver]

You have to pay to sit with the girls.

That's the way go gos work.

You were effectively shoplifting.

Yes I understand that and I wouldn't waste the girls time but I did say I wasn't ready as I had just got in and wanted to have a look first!

One time I really liked this girl but she was taken by another customer.

The memasan says just take that girl she available points to this land whale of a girl in the corner and says there all the same.

I'm askwd her if an I Phone the same as Samsung? =P

[kennypowers]

But had the product gone up in price in the last 5 years?

If not, when considering inflation, the rise might have been justified?

Have you managed to find the same product cheaper elsewhere? If so, how much cheaper?

Did she find out something about you that made her take a disliking to you? You do frequent Pattaya, and locals do gossip.

[wandasloan]

I'd say you were naive, rather than wrong. Most westerners fail to recognize the fact that Thais are not raised or educated with the same western economic consumer rules and policies as we were. They simply do not think in the same terms. That's no more "wrong" for them than is the fact that most of them eat very spicy food, and don't like most western food. This is a different culture. It has now adopted many things from western culture; but it remains different in many ways. Business practices is just one of those ways.

What is Thai and non-western about a merchant putting up prices when there is a lot of demand for his goods? Westerners have never heard of supply and demand? Only Thais hope to get the highest price possible for their goods? Westerners never try to judge demand and price their goods at the highest possible point?

[jamie2009]

Some of the Barbers shops on Soi Bulkhao have just increased their prices by 20% it's still very cheap compared to UK prices but the cutters might lose out, 80 baht before so it was common practice to give them a 100 baht keep the change, now it's a 100 baht so the tips might not be there anymore.

[JSixpack]

Never, talk, argue, explain or rationalize with a Thai.

They see it as confrontational.

Just say, NO, too expensive and walk away.

It avoids fights.

A lot of truth in the above. I like that.

I'd add that if you do try, you'll have to do it exactly as another Thai would, with good Thai manners, though they rarely attempt an argument--who knows where THAT might lead. Yeah, cultural thing. Very few farang would be able to manage it, esp. the OP, who obviously has much to learn.

The price has now changed, as is perfectly within her right. Your business is to pay it or not. That's your only decision.

Your only hope of getting the old price (ask your Thai gf) might be a little plaintive, slightly puzzled "Paeng, kub?" (expensive--not TOO expensive) and then cajole slightly, with a smile, for a discount: "Rhot noi, na kub? Na?" She's got all the power over that price. If not, pay or walk--politely, with a smile and a little "OK, kub" or a "Khob kun kub." Maintain goodwill even if you aren't happy with the new price on that item. Tomorrow's another day. It's nothing personal, just business. And you're not being servile but just playing the business game yourself in more of a Thai way. Feels unnatural of course.

You may sneer that this doesn't work. No guarantees, pal. But I've been in very similar situation trying to get a shop owner to take back some excess stuff I couldn't use. It wasn't a small amount, either--which was a big part of the problem. She totally refused at first but just by doing something like the song-and-dance above (more elaborately), which I learned from observing Thais, I was able to change her mind. Shocked me, too, I'll be first to admit. Got rid of the stuff and got the money.

Arguing (cough) the economics of her business without auditing the books (if any, such as they are) is--well, let's just say she called it correctly.

Besides that, the argument to the shopkeeper reflected some sort of inapplicable socialist economics no doubt imbibed from a nanny state. Pricing isn't based on costs + some arbitrary markup determined by "The Authorities" or you, "fair" for everybody. Ha! Doesn't matter if customers think the price is too high if enough of them will pay it to increase total profit--perhaps with less work. She will try to get the highest price she can get. Maybe she won't; maybe she will. BTW, have you thought about the pricing of air fares now that oil has come down so dramatically?

That's the way it usually works; there's absolutely no point in getting one's knickers in a twist and indignantly maintaining it shouldn't be that way and Thais should conform to your ideas about doing business here, and going all 99 Percenter on a Thai shopkeeper. Keep on' truckin'.

[Ulic]

I-Rovers baht buster breakfast went from 99 baht to 129 baht (still good value) but now

I go to Retox on Soi Lengkee and get the Baht-buster breakfast there. 98 baht

(absolutely fantastic value) So vote with your feet. Up to you. What the lady who's

business you patronize does not understand is once you loose a regular customer it is

much more expensive to develop a new regular customer than it is retain one. I doubt

you will be back in low season if your needs can be met elsewhere.

Edited February 3, 2016 by Ulic

[NoshowJones]

If it upset you so much that you posted here then maybe her assessment of you was pretty close to the mark.

Wrong Mr Nesbitt, the OP is right to ask about a 15% increase.

[Doc46]

You said you Fell out with a Retailer,,,,Where did you Fell out From? How High was it /Or Building,,,Were you Holding the Retailer When you Fell? ,,,,,,, Eh mate tis is Thailand ,they don't car what you say or if you shop in their shop or not,,,to many people here . Many other people will come and shop,,So you are no loss.

[NoshowJones]

In her defence, I'd like to point out the following,

working in Pattaya, she obviously deals with farang often and judging by the kind of people I encountered when I went there last, it's hardly surprising she has the hardened attitude. Thais always generalise, so after meeting a few drunken louts, she kind of figures we're all like that, but then again, you might be one of them!! LOL

Tongue in cheek of course.

Mr OP, you were not shirtless, were you?

[JSixpack]

It really was none of your business as to why She put the price up and She wasnt obliged to give you an explanation .

It surly was his business why the price is up He is the customer and spending his money so would like to know why the item is up 15% from yesterday.

No, luke000 is correct. You don't always have a right to know what you'd like to know. This is such a case. He was also trying to argue the matter.

If she choses not to explain then he has the right to go somewhere else.

Then she has the right to be annoyed at his asking what's none of his business and arguing she shouldn't be doing what she's doing. He's expected to pay, or to leave politely. That's it. Now that they're both annoyed with each other, they can't do business about other items w/ prices he finds more congenial. How's that good? It was all so predictable.

My guess is you are Thai and this is they type of comment a Thai would make This is one reason this country has so many problems

No. As other posters have informed you, you don't go around arguing w/ shopkeepers over in the West either. And Western countries are hardly free of their own problems, some of which look a lot bigger than Thailand's problems.

Edited February 3, 2016 by JSixpack

[NoshowJones]

It really was none of your business as to why She put the price up and She wasnt obliged to give you an explanation .

I think you will find it was the posters business, it was HIS money he was spending, And he chooses to spend His money where he likes, See you have never run a business,

I do not think that its a acceptable thing to go into a shop and ask them to justify their prices

The price is marked, you either want it and pay the price or dont and dont buy it

I think it is perfectly acceptable to ask when there is as much as a 15% increase.

[NoshowJones]

But had the product gone up in price in the last 5 years?

If not, when considering inflation, the rise might have been justified?

Have you managed to find the same product cheaper elsewhere? If so, how much cheaper?

Did she find out something about you that made her take a disliking to you? You do frequent Pattaya, and locals do gossip.

Did she find out something about you that made her take a disliking to you?

Maybe he was shirtless.

[Bangkok Barry]

They still have the village-mentality where there's only one shop with a certain product.

Better go to the big shops who show their prices, that will teach them. I'm tired of vendors not showing their prices.

When the big stores show their prices it can still be confusing....

Edited February 3, 2016 by Bangkok Barry

[bark]

I've been here for 20 years. About 10 years ago, I determined that some businesses refused to change the way they do business......no return for faulty products, prices not marked, old model products on sale, the, at times, refusal to treat a customer with any degree of respect.

In those cases, sometimes despite convenience or the desire to keep mom&pops alive, I've taken my business elsewhere.

In one particular case, I bought fish, bird, and dog food from a feed store for many years. Despite my ability to speak Thai, the owner never inquired about my family or took any interest in conversation. She never smiled. She never said thank you. I finally stopped going. About a year later, a new pet food store opened nearby. I went. The owner was bubbly, smiling, helpful.......she was the old store's daughter. Different generation....different way of thinking.

I no longer have sympathy when people complain about the old style stores closing....and people flocking to the big name stores.

You should have took the girl out on a date. After the date, stop by the mothers shop. Buy a bag of dog food and a package of condoms Revenge is sweet.

[JSixpack]

They still have the village-mentality where there's only one shop with a certain product.

Better go to the big shops who show their prices, that will teach them. I'm tired of vendors not showing their prices.

When the big stores show their prices it can still be confusing....

I've got a pic like that from Lotus I took some years ago. So funny!

[zeichen]

It would be one thing to discuss the recent increase if you were close with the retailer. A simple, this is now expensive declarative statement would be enough. Challenging a shop keeper is really rude. Even in the west this isn't acceptable behavior.

you are lucky she didn't just ban you from ever doing business. You basically called her a greedy, cheating money grubber in her mind.

Trying to stir a debate about the cost of doing business, is really weird unless you are close with someone.

Sad thing is, prices always go up. A lot of my favorite shops went up in the past 6 months also.

Grow you own veggies and stop eating out, otherwise, you need to learn how to be polite here.

Quite frankly, I would have tossed you out on your bum.

[kennyro]

I am still waiting to be told the value or price that increased by 15% and what was the writer buying. The answer would be easier - or is he just another cheap charlie?

[1FinickyOne]

Not enough info here as to what the product was, the price and the tone in which the questioning was done - if done politely, you are more likely to get a reasonable answer - if you did it in a manner of questioning her honesty, after all these years - sure, she could get annoyed...

was this item over 100 baht?