opertunities in los

[jingjoh]

quote:

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Originally posted by getonup:

Quite frankly I couldn't be bothered arguing my point and in that sense you probably win. A little bit of encouragement (plus some helpful advice on the RIGHT way to go about business) would be more constructive. Enough said

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Sometimes we all say things like this, when you see a few people, sometimes ones close to you make big mistakes or get taken for a ride you get the saviour bug biting at you and you become more vocal and less tactful when people say things like, "I am coming to LOS for the first time to shag and make money"

There are + and - points to comments like Farangmans, plus side, they usually are to the point, ruthless and hit home many times, minus, Some people will become more defiant when you use this direct tactic, as I discovered with a close friend of mine this past month. Sometimes learning the hard way is the only way, a pity, but true.

[sinsin2]

Export drop could hit 8%

In the government's worst-case scenario, the value of Thailand's exports to all markets this year could drop by 8%, with shipments to the United States falling 13%, Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik said yesterday.

Exports to the United States, which were worth $12.9 billion or 10% of all exports last year, would fall sharply due to its slowing economy, he said.

Mr Adisai forecast a 4.6% drop in sales to the European Union and a 3.3% decline to Japan. Each market accounted for about $10 billion last year.

All told, the country's exports would earn $64.2 billion compared with $69.8 billion last year.

Imports for the entire year are forecast to decrease slightly to $61.5 billion, from $62.1 billion in 2000.

The minister said products of tapioca products, seafood, fresh chicken, food, sugar, jewellery and auto parts would perform well in exports this year.

However, significant drops were expected in sectors including electronic goods (17%), electrical appliances excluding air-conditioners (5.8%), and construction materials (11.8%).

.........................................................................................

Shippers face 'war risk' charge

Fee last collected in 1998 Gulf scare

 

Srisamorn Phoosuphanusorn

 

An emergency "war-risk" surcharge on sea and air cargo travelling through potential war zones will be imposed by exporters starting on Monday.

The exact amount of the extra charge would be set today, following talks with the Marine Insurance Association, said Suwat Asavathongkul, chairman of the Bangkok Shipowners and Agents' Association (BSAA).

Mr Suwat said shipping lines had last imposed a risk surcharge of US$300 per 20-foot container during heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf in 1998.

The BSAA is following the lead of the Far Eastern Freight Conference (FEFC), a cartel carrying cargo between Asia and Europe. The FEFC plans an emergency surcharge on bills of lading dated on or after Oct 1 for vessels intending to transit the Suez canal.

The conference will also add the war-risk surcharge for cargo sailing into sensitive trans-shipment points such as Lebanon, Libya, the Gulf of Arabia, the Red Sea, Syria, Algeria and Egypt.

The Independent Rate Agreement, a cartel carrying cargo between Asia and Middle East routes, plans a war-risk surcharge starting tomorrow.

"We regret that it will be necessary to take emergency action to cover the extra insurance and other costs that are likely to be incurred," Mr Suwat said.

Shipping lines are facing an enormous increase in premiums, as insurance companies are withdrawing quotes they had submitted previously.

"Premiums for vessel insurance per trip per vessel are ranging from US$2 million to $3 million currently, compared with the previous premium rates of $500,000," Mr Suwat said.

"No matter how high the premiums are, we cannot sail without insurance policies because it is too risky."

A ship with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 20-foot containers costs up to US$80 million, and when carrying goods worth up to $2 billion, shipping lines inevitably have to obtain policies.

However, Mr Suwat said, there was no plan to raise basic freight rates, which moved with demand and supply.

Air cargo will also face charges 10-15% higher starting on Monday.

Trans Aircargo Co, a leading airfreight forwarder, said cargo rates into Europe and the United States would be lifted to 89 baht per kilogramme, from 81 baht. Cargo exports to Asia will be raised to 58 baht from 50 baht per kg.

Sales manager Thossporn Kajorndej said the revised rates were not a result of the recent events in the US. "The rates are normally reviewed on an annual basis, and it perhaps coincides with the crisis," he said.

Amnuay Sujarittham, director of the Thai National Shippers' Council, said local shippers would not face a serious impact from the surcharges. Eighty percent of Thailand's export cargoes are free-on-board, so consignees pay the surcharges.

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[Guest]

Whoops just asked a simple question! frngman could have responded in a much different manner. If he didn't have any constructive advice to give that he can present in a way that makes him look human then he should not have answered at all..at least not with the condescending tone that the e-mail had. There was no need IMHO to say get your head out of the clouds!!..how difficult is it to be civilized? He didn't ask it in a rude manner.. how hard is it to answer a simple question like an actual human being! apparently to difficult for frngman...AMAZING!

G

[phiketpete]

Perhaps we have lost the plot with this thread.

Whoops posed the question about seeking business oportunities in LOS as he woud be here for 12 days in July when he would be'shagging' by night and seeking business oportunities by day.

July has come and gone and not one word from Whoops as to his success or lack of it.

I would be interested to hear his experiences and his opinion as to who on this thread gave him the soundest advice.

Whoops are you there or are you too busy counting your money?

enquiring minds would like to know

[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: phiketpete ]

[ September 28, 2001: Message edited by: phiketpete ]

[Guest]

"leaves me totally mistyfied by the way why it is Thai authorities make it

so incredibly difficult for farang to invest a couple of million Baht in

what-ever-they-fancy. 90 % of all new jobs are created by small business

entrepeneurs, in any part of the world."

I think it is a face thing, they don't want to see an farang have any kind of success.

 

along the same line, if you are successful in some business, be very careful of thais in the same business as they may try to "get at you"

because they feel they loose face being

shown up" by a farang.

Kind of like 2 mango sellers fighting over the same street corner.

[Guest]

Im getting kind of tired of Thais using a "face thing" as an excuse for being an idiot. I'm getting tired of hearing Thais blame everyone else for their ineptitude in economic and business matters. From my 5year experience with this country and its people the only thing I can see is that they are just not good at business! The people that have built succcesful business, such as Thaksin, have done so through cronyism and monopolistic practices. They have no concept of customer service. Marketing skills are mediocre at best! This country is a labor hub at best! And once China ramps up countries like Thailand and the Philippines are in deep trouble!

[Guest]

Beastee,

every word and every sentence in your post hits the bull between the eyes. I agree 101 percent.

As for business and customer service, yesterday I went to the AIS office in MBK to ask when exactly foreign phone calls would be possible with One-2-Call. It was announced earlier that they would be possible from "late September". The girls in the office said, they didn't know a thing about it ... When I mentioned that some weeks before the papers had reported that foreign phone calls would be possible from the end of September, the girls said they wouldn't know because they hadn't read the papers ...!!!

So the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and everybody just smiles ... And to hell with the customers! Just charge inflated prices and screw them!

[ September 28, 2001: Message edited by: Scum_Baggio ]

[jingjoh]

Scum, LOL! Isnt it such a pain in the arse to have to deal with such minor things. I also agree, they have absolutely no idea of how to do business, the only businesses you see that are run well are chinese owned.

I deal with a Thai who is not bad, but still a long way off of understanding the depths of long term business, and the funniest thing is his partner has been educated abroad, speaks very good English yet leaves it all up to my friend, another issue of face...?

You have to be very careful if you are promoting a product here, I have had my dealers technician come up and show me how he copied the basic layout of one of my products, albeit with local inferior materials, and could not understand why I was pissed off with him..

[Fatbastard]

Skippy, Don't agree that crook service is the norm. An example is that right opposite my place are two restaurants, one Western owned and the other is Thai owned and run. In the Thai one the service is prompt always accompanied with a beaming smile and they never seem to make mistakes (even with my bad Thai) The Farang owned one, has ridiculously poor service (even tho' the owner is always there. )The girls are badly, if at all trained, the atmosphere is surly and they cock every second order up.

[gummigut]

Why do you goto a place where they serve you cock every second order?

<<burp>>