Guderian Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I haven’t been to Homeworks for ages as I generally find Thai Watsadu more convenient these days, but I decided to have a trip there this afternoon. I was surprised to see that around half of the place is boarded off and the rest is largely empty apart from bargain bins full of cheap clearance items. It seems they are closing down for refurbishment and should be reopening again in November. This is just a heads-up in case you were thinking of going there in the next few months. I’m not sure when exactly they will shut up shop completely but looking at the empty shelves it can’t be long. BTW, Power Buy has relocated from inside the store to a small separate shop on the corner near the car park, you can’t miss it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 HomeWorks and Thai Watsadu are both owned by Central Group. HomeWorks was created in 2001 to address a fledgling Thai home improvement market but most Thai's still preferred calling in a tradesman so they came up with Thai Watsadu about 8 years later with lower costs (suburban locations, no airconditioning and wholesaler warehouse display style of goods). Thai Watsadu has been a rip-roaring success comparatively with the opening of 12 stores in their first 2 years versus HomeWorks having only 7 stores nationwide. I have seen stock at Thai Watsadu that had barcode labeling for HomeWorks. Maybe they will try and offer something different when they reopen because there's nothing really different, better or cheaper compared with the other 'clean and cool' home improvement/DIY shops. The only big thing I ever bought there was the Siemens washing machine and that was from the PowerBuy inside their premises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janclaes47 Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 51 minutes ago, NanLaew said: Thai Watsadu has been a rip-roaring success comparatively with the opening of 12 stores in their first 2 years Because a a shop opens 12 stores doesn't necessarily mean it is a rip roaring success, but rather that there is some money behind it. Every Thai Watsadu I have been in, Pattaya Sriracha and Rayong, clearly had the signs of no success at all, going by the lack of customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdaz Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Same cheap, nasty low quality plastic junk available in all the retailers. Would be so great to be able to buy better quality tools, garden equipment, hardware and household goods for a reasonable price. Stuff that works and actually lasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 A couple of inflammatory posts have been removed 7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted July 9, 2017 Share Posted July 9, 2017 OK. second attempt. 19 hours ago, janclaes47 said: Because a a shop opens 12 stores doesn't necessarily mean it is a rip roaring success, but rather that there is some money behind it. Every Thai Watsadu I have been in, Pattaya Sriracha and Rayong, clearly had the signs of no success at all, going by the lack of customers. There's now 42 branches of Thai Watsadu nationwide after about 10 years. There's still only 7 branches of HomeWorks nationwide after about 16 years. Not all 7-elevens are a success, but most are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everett kendall Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 What I find is the major difference is customer service at Thai Watsadu. Yes the are the same corporation but staff training must be different. Staff knowledge of their section, products and of the store in general is amazing. Coming close to western standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross163103 Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 23 minutes ago, everett kendall said: What I find is the major difference is customer service at Thai Watsadu. Yes the are the same corporation but staff training must be different. Staff knowledge of their section, products and of the store in general is amazing. Coming close to western standards. I agree with this totally; I bought a water pump there and a few months later had a problem with it. The sales person was very knowledgeable and told me what I needed to do to get it running again....he even offered to come out and look at it himself. I'll definitely go back to Thai Watsadu for any future purchases. None of the usual "mai loo" or "no hap" from not interested employees like other stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTHERNSTAR Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 On 08/07/2017 at 7:24 PM, Pdaz said: Same cheap, nasty low quality plastic junk available in all the retailers. Would be so great to be able to buy better quality tools, garden equipment, hardware and household goods for a reasonable price. Stuff that works and actually lasts. You mean Bosch, Black and Decker, Makhita etc ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 1 hour ago, everett kendall said: What I find is the major difference is customer service at Thai Watsadu. Yes the are the same corporation but staff training must be different. Staff knowledge of their section, products and of the store in general is amazing. Coming close to western standards. 37 minutes ago, ross163103 said: I agree with this totally; I bought a water pump there and a few months later had a problem with it. The sales person was very knowledgeable and told me what I needed to do to get it running again....he even offered to come out and look at it himself. I'll definitely go back to Thai Watsadu for any future purchases. None of the usual "mai loo" or "no hap" from not interested employees like other stores. 3 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said: You mean Bosch, Black and Decker, Makhita etc ? I love the smell of reasoned posts in the morning. Smells like... Validation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garbolino Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 3 hours ago, everett kendall said: What I find is the major difference is customer service at Thai Watsadu. Yes the are the same corporation but staff training must be different. Staff knowledge of their section, products and of the store in general is amazing. Coming close to western standards. THEIR customer service is virtually non existant.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesimps Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Wish they'd open more checkouts when it gets busy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 1 hour ago, jesimps said: Wish they'd open more checkouts when it gets busy. At 7-eleven? I agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdaz Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 6 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said: You mean Bosch, Black and Decker, Makhita etc ? The power tools are probably the only exception ( if you ignore the no brand Chinese made ones ) Bosch, Makita etc are still more expensive here than in other markets. Quality drill bits, hand taps, spanners, allen keys etc are very expensive, if you can find them. Most are Chinese made and of poor quality. Other items like hose reels, garden tools, buckets, wheelbarrows, electric mowers are all substandard and have almost no working life at all. I recently bought three pressure sprayers ( one after the other, different brands but all from China ) all leaked or failed within a few days. Finally bought a Hozelock one from ebay. It will last for years. The majority of their customer base can't afford quality or doesn't realise the difference. This limits choice and means high quality imports arevonly available from specialists and the price reflects this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melvinmelvin Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 I find several shops that have OK tools, also power tools. Plenty good tool shops in Bangers. Also some in Patts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topt Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 6 hours ago, Pdaz said: I recently bought three pressure sprayers ( one after the other, different brands but all from China ) all leaked or failed within a few days. Any of these Zinzano or Karcher? Both makes offered by I think every major diy type outlet and the supermarkets. The Zinzano I bought has been going ok for over 3 years but of course YMMV............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pdaz Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 10 hours ago, topt said: Any of these Zinzano or Karcher? Both makes offered by I think every major diy type outlet and the supermarkets. The Zinzano I bought has been going ok for over 3 years but of course YMMV............ Not a pressure washer, a pressure sprayer. Used for spraying liquid fertiliser or insecticide in the garden. I too have a Zinsano pressure washer, four years old and still working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keesters Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 19 hours ago, jesimps said: Wish they'd open more checkouts when it gets busy. 18 hours ago, NanLaew said: At 7-eleven? I agree! And Tesco/Big C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topt Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Pdaz said: Not a pressure washer, a pressure sprayer. Used for spraying liquid fertiliser or insecticide in the garden. I too have a Zinsano pressure washer, four years old and still working. Sorry I now understand what you mean. I had one of these but was lucky as lasted a little longer than your experience but eventually leaked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 I can also vote for Thai Watsadu, I believe the branch in Pattaya had a farang as manager, always helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inThailand Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 With Homeworks being a direct competitor to Homepro, this won't be good for consumers or prices, if they close. Thai Watsadu is copied from Ubon Watsadu, now called Do Home. I guess they bought the rights to the name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamalabob2 Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Watsadu is a Thai word for building materials. Central Retail could stock higher grade products if they thought the products would sell in a location. Look at the upmarket selection of spa tubs and rain shower enclosures at any Home Works store. A tool store catering to more serious tool users might stock or easily special order higher end tools. Bosch, Karcher and Zinsano have better grade pressure washers with INDUCTION motors. The less expensive models of pressure washers have "universal motors" which may not last nearly as long. I paid over 20K for a higher end Karcher pressure washer at HomeWorks in Bangkok in 2007 and it works fine 10 years later. The catalogs of Bosch, Karcher and Zinsano high pressure washers clearly state what type of motor in each model. I've found Zinsano pressure washers priced far lower than Big C, Tesco, Robinson, HomePro, Thai Watsadu or Lazada at a family owned builders merchants store in Buriram. Certainly higher end Bosch table saws than I have seen at other home improvement stores in Isaan could be found in stock at a store which had Tool department staff with more tool knowledge. The Thaiwatsadu in Buriram looks great after the remodel. I look forward to shopping at the Pattaya Home Works when it is finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Most of the Homeworks locations in Bangkok has closed already, There's like 2 left, the locations in good middle class surburbs like Bang Na or Rangsit is gone, looks lilke Central has vacated the higher end of the DIY market to HomePro Thai Wassadu is no direct replacement, their higher end stuff like power tools or electrical gadgets is lacking, while the price is a lot cheaper than HomePro But I do see an expanded DIY section within Central's department stores now, albeit with unacceptable price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barefoot Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 According to the OP, the Homeworks refurbishment was due to be completed in November. Does anyone know if it is nbow open or if a new opening date has been posted somewhere? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 The old homeworks and Powerbuy within used to have what I called 'Central's sneaky price' where although most products are priced inline with the market some products are 20-30% higher in price compared to other retailer like HomePro or even BigC and Tesco Recent visits to ThaiWassadu which, without air-conditioning and catering more towards tradesmen, things should be cheaper than Homepro right? most of the branded powertools that can be found in HomePro also and electrical items like water pumps are way over price, the only thing that are cheaper are their own brands that Central imported themselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamalabob2 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 I've priced the Zinsano Caspian High Pressure washer at the Buriram Homepro, Buriram Thai Watsadu, and on line. The lowest price by 1000 baht was at a family owned tool shop which had an employee of Zinsano who helped with the set up and testing of the induction motor pressure sprayer. I was not sure if the female models are more at home in a soapy than doing a hand wash job on the truck in Buriram. Four of the five women in the 3rd photo had excellent English skills on Sunday. If the Karcher sprayer I bought at HomeWorks is at the end of life then I have an affordable option in Buriram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Went past the old homework and it is now a 'Baan and Beyond' still had the Powerbuy inside like before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamalabob2 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Is Baan & Beyond a "soft goods" store similar to Bed Bath & Beyond? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barefoot Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 (edited) Baan and Beyond is a "home improvement center" that appears to be very similar to Homeworks, based only on peering through the window. It isn't open yet but the worker bees are in there getting it ready. It opens November 23, with a grand opening November 30, according to the window signs. I agree the name seems like a typically Thai "borrowing" of the gist of another company's name (Bed, Bath, and Beyond). There is one of these in Khon Kaen and perhaps others. http://www.baanandbeyond.com/index.aspx Edited November 12, 2017 by Barefoot typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattd Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 13 hours ago, Barefoot said: Baan and Beyond is a "home improvement center" that appears to be very similar to Homeworks And judging by their website is also owned by Central Group, so same same, different name! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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