What is it with Thai shop assistants?

 

Every time I go into a shop, or stop by an outlet in a mall to just browse, they are on me like a shot. Standing about a foot away, and watching me like a hawk, and following me around the shop. Makes me feel like a shoplifter.

 

Yesterday I stopped to look in the window of a BananaIT shop at the phones, and immediately a guy came out and just stood next to me. Not a word. Just stood there.

 

Sometimes I am looking to buy something, but end up walking away because it's so off putting having someone following me around.

 

Perhaps it's just the novelty of having a potential customer after playing on their phones all day.

 

Anyone else notice this?

17 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Anyone else notice this?

Anyone?

Everyone

A local hardware/home store being the worst.

They follow you through the hall.

But please don't ask them anything.

Show them a 1/2" pipe and a 1" tank outlet.

What do you need to connect?

 

Blank stare. Completely useless.

 

I often spoils my "shopping experience".

 

Yeah. But its never the hot girl who does it. She's always too glued to the phone to move.

When I came to Thailand 13 years ago, my wife and I had built our house and were now looking to furnish it. We went into a large local furniture store and like you said, the guy started following us 2 feet away. I asked the wife to ask him to stop. She did, he didn't. Wife asked him 'are you on commission?' guy answers 'yes.' I tell the wife to tell him that we will come get him when we have decided. However if he continues to follow we will walk out and no commission for him. He agrees and backs off. Five minutes later I look round and there he is hiding behind a wardrobe not 10 feet away.

 

My wife and i just burst into laughter and then walked out of the store. Its seems he couldn't help himself.  True story.

I get the impression that they genuinely want to help, as clueless as they often are.

Used to happen to me all the time. Well, at least I know why.

a) I am a very sexy man, AND
I look like a shoplifter.

I found a remedy: Before every major purchase, I didn't shower nor brush my teeth for 3 weeks prior. This gave me a protective "Stink-Aura" covering a radius of 10 meters at least.

Had another positive effect: Got showered with all kinds of extra-discounts, just to get me out of the store ASAP !
Try it ! You will be sending me "thank you" PM's.
Cheers.

It's just part of the customer service/sales training they're given; they get a hard time from the manager if they don't do it. Don't take it the wrong way and don't let it worry you.

It's a difficult task buying underwear with that kind of entourage.

19 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

It's a difficult task buying underwear with that kind of entourage.

But look on the bright side -- you've got someone to help you try them on for size, tweaking a little here, nudging a little there ... measuring ... pinning 

Nothing mysterious about it.
If you buy something the stalker will walk you to the cashier where she scans his or hers ID card and he or she gets a little commission.

That's all they are good for really

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

In general, most retail establishments have at least 3 times the number of employees a similar western store would have. There fore you have all these relatively low paid sales assistants chasing the customers, I hate shopping anywhere but the street market where there is usually only one person manning each 'store'.

 

This one of the underpinnings of the Thai consumer economy in that it was decided that full employment was good even if you had to pay people less to get to that. When people are employed, even if they are making a low wage as most retail assistants do, it is easier to get them to buy things themselves, usually on credit, Keeps the wheels of commerce moving. Many low paid workers buying big TVs and every other gadget and going into debt. This is why there is very little consideration for retirement savings, your kids (usually daughters) take care of your retirement. 

The commission thing sounds plausible.

What else than money could make a low paid shop assistant running after you

 

I assume the commission is based on value which would mean that they will prefer to sell you expensive stuff.

No independent suggestions.

 

i recently had a store assistant   recommend   a  cheaper  but identical brand  note book

 

so i took his advice   so i am not sure   how the commission  system came into play there  

except the cheaper on was on so called special   they were identical ACER models