Non-business Thai style

[sunsnow]

To start off with entrepreneurial Thai examples. I consider those familiar ice cream sales men and women on their bikes darn good examples of self-made business people.

Now, to the total opposite here in Thailand. Two real life experiences from today which really high lights some of the oddities here.

First example. I wanted to buy speakers for my pc. I had a sum of 700 baht in my mind or 800, maximum. I had decided I will buy those cheap speakers from one of the many nearby stereo shops that are near my soi.

I spot one that I like, nice looking, screen and all and price 690 baht. MusicDj was the brand. I have my wallet out and say that I want to buy these. Sales person says "No" and takes to show me MusicDj stereo that cost 1200 baht. I say "No thank you, can I buy these other models for 690baht". He says "But the sound is bad, quality bad. Buy these 1200 baht".

Now, the thing is I do understand that sales person wants to sell the more expensive equipment. So nevertheless, I was prepared with 800 baht cash and was ready to buy the cheaper one.

The thing happened. He said "No". And I said "Really, you don't these for me at 700 baht?". "No".

I walked away. Went to the shop next door. Things started in bit similar way. Told that I have 700 baht, what can you sell me. They showed me model. And I bought instantly. I have never ever encountered a sales person before who did not want my money...

The second example. Real life example. Conversation today with a german business man selling machinery and energy efficient small power plants in South East Asia. He went to a juice factory outside Bangkok. Hard to find. With guards and all. Local juice was squeezed and bottled there.

How?

100 women were squeezing by hand fruits into juice where it went to processed and bottled.

100 women by hand.

Yes.

Question was "But what if you would invest a little bit money to simple maschinery that would do it with better yield and with proper hygienic laws followed and you could even show this factory to foreigners".

Business man's answer: "Nah, I have done this way for years. I am happy. No need to grow sales, profit or efficiency."

(Business man obviously somehow goes around possible laws considering handling of juices...)

(A Chinese would instead sell even his mum if someone was interested to buy and heck, probably would make fake mums and sell them too and make the process more or less efficient, atleast would want to make more and more money....)

Now, the last bit is bit stereotypical BUT I would be interested to hear other stories similar. What experiences you have had or encountered on total lack of interest in efficiency or making more profit or growing sales here in the Land of Smiles. These examples might not be the rule but not really an exception either so, let the stories flow.

Do share some entrepreneurial examples too if you got any.

[Neo]

Actually the tendency of Thai people to prefer the status quo over growth and change is one of the qualities I like.

It's always bothered me that western businesses rely on continuous growth. It doesn't take a genius to realise that continual growth is not sustainable, and can bring about the odd catastrophe. Also it leads to extreme consumerism, which is another cause of problems in the west, and one that is starting to infect Thailand too.

Slightly off-topic :-P

[GM]

My own un-scientific opinion comes just from my interactions during my business trips. I have found that the ave thai business person would rather try to extract as much money from you now (i.e...rip you off) than establish a relationship that makes them money over the long run! I encountered it many times when dealing with our local suppliers.

[iam_sweethoney]

Funnily enough, my bf just complained about this to me a few days ago...

cant remember the detail but something like, he's has been to many places around the world but Thailand is the only place where business ppl would make it as difficult as possible for their customers to give them money...

xoxo

B.

[stegee]

he buys a machine to squeeze oranges and a hundred families incomes are halved!! good for him!!

[beej]

I can't stand going to Villa to buy a bottle or two of wine and getting some dumb 40 something bird with a cheap suit who NEVER drinks wine telling me ''which is best''.

As for Thai business practices my **** puller this week comes in the form of ''The Thai Builder''.

Yep, great guys, great builders, fast, always on time, no worries..... but the longer your using them the more they try and take the piss, seems opposite to what happens in the world of whitey.