Comments on: Customer Un-Service in Thailand

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:09:50 +0000

you know, I don’t think it’s Thailand bashing to state facts. I have lived here for 10 years now, 3 part time and obviously 7 full time. In a couple more years I will be moving back to the West. Not because I am fed up or hate the Kingdom now or anything like but just because it’s time for various reasons. I have found that the less I hold in the stuff the drives me crazy here the faster it stops bothering me and the sooner I can get back to my day and all the good things here. There is no doubt customer service here is spotty at best and that is still being too generous. The most amazing thing is how my Thai wife now gets so frustrated with other Thai’s when they do really off the wall lame stuff… and asks me why are so many Thai’s so stupid hahaha.. sorry hun can’t help ya… Customer Service… Thailand… same sentence? Not often..

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:48:47 +0000

Thanks Madame Chiang, I've never actually tried M&S but I'll swing by... who knows?

By: Madame Chiang

Madame Chiang — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:58:57 +0000

Marks & Spencers may have larger size shoes for men...I must admit I never looked but it could be worth a shot...

By: Fredrik

Fredrik — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:16:23 +0000

Good one. I went into an outdoor shop today, in Emporium. I asked for a new shoe, called "Fivefingers" from vibram...

They twisted and turned and I felt bad that I have asked a question that he probably had to answer 'no' to...

He said: 'Let me check with my boss and I can call you, please write your number here.'

I thought, yeah right, sure he's going to call me.

18.34 (that is 6.34 pm) he had phoned me, a missed call and then he sent me a text message to let me know they were out of stock.

One of those days you know

By: A Few Things Thailand Has Perf

A Few Things Thailand Has Perf — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:29:56 +0000

[...] “Then go home, whiner.” But while Thailand often lacks a certain refined efficiency in many areas, there are plenty of other areas – some of them creature comforts that we’re used to [...]

By: Mitch

Mitch — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:47:00 +0000

You were right the coins in the photo are Australian 20c pieces

By: Catherine

Catherine — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:05:42 +0000

Customer service in most countries is iffy at best.

Take Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo with their famous 'tomorrow lah', 'next week lah'.

Which sometimes means 'finish lah', but usually means that the product has never been there and they have no intentions of ever ordering it for you now or at any point in the future.

They also have this cute phone method of dealing with anything they cannot answer... 'click'.

I found true that even here in Bangkok at the Brunei Embassy.

The 'no' answer here in Thailand frustrates me, as does trying to get assistance in a store full of gossiping staff. Or when you do get someone, they have no clue about the products they were hired to sell.

But the ignorance part is true worldwide.

Not like in my day when we actually had to review any new items before work started. AND know their prices. All for cacca pay too.

But it is no more frustrating than the 'I'm too good to wait on you' response I've received in the UK.

Or, on the other side of the coin, the sirupy chirpy cheerful staff in the US.

Hey. I have simple needs. I just want my stuff. And I want it now.

:-)

By: phil

phil — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:01:25 +0000

The huge number of useless staff in department stores is amazing.

They're totally clueless and can't give you any information besides reading the label on a product, which you can do yourself, thank you very much.

Most of the time they will be chatting somewhere and ignoring you which is for the best.

Yet if you pick a product on a shelf and walk to the cashier, they'll run to pick it up and get their commission.

By: Mat

Mat — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:28:14 +0000

Great post and blog. I've resisted the temptation to dis Thailand, but lack of customer service would be very high on my peeves list.

The most common scenario for me is the ubiquitous "mai mee". Not: "We'll have more in stock soon" or "you can get one from our other branch" or "we can order it for you" or "another shop sells it". No, just "mai mee". And why do department stores employ so many useless staff? Sometimes there are more staff than customers. But it doesn't result in faster service.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:41:22 +0000

Thanks for the comments.

DKBKK - You're right - could have been worse!

Brennan - I just remind myself that every time I say 'mai sai tung' (no bag please) I'm saving a baby turtle. :D

Jay - I feel like I'm on a conveyor belt sometimes.

rikker - You're right, there are a few glimmers of hope. When I get a particularly pleasant taxi driver, or a funny and polite motorbike driver or someone on the phone who does what they say, I want to send them flowers and add their number to my phone book in the hopes of building up a 'good service army' that I'll gladly pay a good wage to to help with future problems. One can dream. :)