Shopkeepers

[Zaad]

Hi,

 

Just my personal observations.

I have found that most shopkeepers don't know enough about the product they sell as they should IMO. I don't expect them to know every detail and difference of each item, but a basic knowledge and preferably a little bit more would definitely be desirable.

I was amazed back in Holland by the knowledge of the average shopkeeper. They know what they have to offer and don't think twice when asked about the downside of certain products. We all know nothing that is for sale is perfect, so I appreciate such honesty.

 

One example I give you that happened earlier this week.

I went to buy a mobile and had 2 choices in the end. Same brand, different model and a 2000 Baht price tag difference. I asked (ok, my girl did that for me) about the differences and perhaps recommendation or anything else worth mentioning.

She mentioned the 2K cheaper phone had no infra-red. Is that the 2k difference? I guess that's all she knew, ok, but I also knew she was lying. Or misinformed which I doubt. Sounds like a scam to promote the more expensive phone.

 

For me a phone is just a phone I need to call the rest is fine for me. I chose the cheaper model because it was a much nicer-looking phone. At home I checked the infra-red port and no doubt it worked fine.

 

This is just one experience, but I've had many more. IMHO the average shopkeeper doesn't know his/her products well enough. I hope that will change soon.

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

I think the main problem is that in the majority of cases you are dealing with people making bare minimum wages. They do not own the shop, they are merely working there.

 

I agree though that the majority of them don't have a clue. Not sure if we can blame them for it though.

 

Sanuk!

[Nervous_Dog]

The other thing is they can't add or subtract. They struggle to get the change right. Not as commom in Malaysia Singapore or othe rSE Countries I go too, but here, a real problem.

[jxxxl]

There are two things that really get me about shopkeepers in LOS. The first is hovering. Sometimes I want to browse and I have a person following about two steps behind me. I make it clear that I am just looking but the clerk just wont bugger off. Then, if I do ask them a question, often they don't know the answer.

 

The other irritation is if I ask for something particular and the sales clerk says "no have". I've heard this enough to know that if I keep looking, I often find what I asked for. This is probably due to face and language issues, but nevertheless, they shouldn't come out with an outright "no have".

 

There have been a few places where the sales service is great. For example, when i went to buy tires and wheels for my car, the guy really knew his stuff. But, these cases are few and far between.

[jasmine]

[color:"red"] I have found that most shopkeepers don't know enough about the product they sell as they should IMO. I don't expect them to know every detail and difference of each item, but a basic knowledge and preferably a little bit more would definitely be desirable.

I was amazed back in Holland by the knowledge of the average shopkeeper. They know what they have to offer and don't think twice when asked about the downside of certain products. We all know nothing that is for sale is perfect, so I appreciate such honesty.

 

[/color]

 

What I found is Zaad, these people are not really trained by the owners, perhaps that is the way they keep the workers at disadvantaged. However, during my last visit, I found a shop which does all glass windows who trained their employees very well. The owner took some law classes with my brother so I was comfortable to ask. He said that his wife and he (both Chinese) believed in training because that is a part of "tam boon", also with good trained people "We can take vacations.". These are quite young people in their late 30s (younger than my brother and it is nice to see that. Their employees consist of Thais and Burmese.

 

However, I also met a shopkeeper (owner) whose employees are not trained and I asked. She said that these people are not there permanently, they come and go so she felt that training them is a waste of time.

 

Jasmine

[jasmine]

[color:"red"] The first is hovering. Sometimes I want to browse and I have a person following about two steps behind me. I make it clear that I am just looking but the clerk just wont bugger off. Then, if I do ask them a question, often they don't know the answer.

[/color]

 

I hate that hovering too but I was told that people steal a lot.

 

Jasmine

[soongmak]

However, I also met a shopkeeper (owner) whose employees are not trained and I asked. She said that these people are not there permanently, they come and go so she felt that training them is a waste of time.

 

Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy!

[pattaya127]

Same here in the USA, and France too. At least in France, if you go to a specialized shop, you will get good infos, but that is far the case here in san francisco. I like to do my own window shopping, easy with the net.

 

I remember an hilarious day at CIRCUIT CITY, a big chain selling anything you can plug in or operate on battery. All the floor kids there were of asian descent. I could not understand one of them. Their english speaking was just so blurred, though most likely correct. I really though i was in Thailand for a while......

[gomez]

I really don't think that the "average" sales person is more or less able to help you with products in Thailand than in my home country, Canada.

 

So many small specialised shops in Canada have been wiped out by "superstores," whether home supplies, electronics, etc., and the staff are kids earning minimum wage who know very little about particular products. There are exceptions, but few and far between.

 

I am pretty anal about more expensive things I buy, making sure that I know all about them, plus or minus, features, before I enter the shop. I don't have to rely on salesperson bullshit in either Thailand or Canada or anywhere I've lived.

 

And they are not hovering for you, but for their boss. It's their job. They call it service. Just ignore them.

[Zaad]

"The first is hovering. Sometimes I want to browse and I have a person following about two steps behind me. I make it clear that I am just looking but the clerk just wont bugger off. "

 

Yes, very annoying. This is something I will never get used to.

I remember going shopping for clothes for a funeral and my girl mentioned to the shopkeeper (20 or so) that she needed anything black. There was a particular blouse she liked and asked for a black one. Shopkeeper comes back with a red one: "sorry, no black, but this red one is nice".... sigh!

 

Jasmine

"they come and go so she felt that training them is a waste of time."

 

Yeah, probably so. But funny thing is that there are lots of those mobile phone shops packed together and when I walk through it to enter the supermarket on the other end I see numerous shopkeepers just standing there like robots, talking to eachother, looking at shoppers, picking their nose etc. They surely have plenty of time to just pick up a phone or manual and start gaining a little knowledge.

No interest whatsoever, a shame really as they can gain a lot from their work apart from the salary only, if they only spent their free time more wisely.