Brainwash

[MisterStretch]

Originally Posted by i1der

I love mom and pop's store, they provide family like services...

And as long as they have a competitive price I will buy from them. If they have selection, I will buy from them. But if every time I go in and ask for something I get "Don't have" then I won't be back.

I also don't like the fact that Mom and Pop shops frequently don't restock until they have been out of stock for a while. If you have only two of something left, get more. Don't wait til it's all gone and then customers can't purchase what they want.

I agree with the heartbreak that Nana speaks of in seeing small businesses being pushed out. I try to shop in my neighborhood as often as I can so that when I do really need something, there is still a local shop I can turn to.

[Piece Train]

I feel good when I go to the local mom and pop shops. There are a lot of bustling places in my area of town and there's increasing construction going on. I have mixed feelings about it. It takes away some of the tall green grass...the nice quiet fields...but at the same time it's adding to things: needed jobs.

[robitusson]

Originally Posted by Nana

I am Thai and that's why I am worried.

Then stop constantly looking to a supposedly all-encompasing hero figure who can do no wrong to fix everything merely by exisiting.

(Not you personally Nana, the country.)
-----
On the topic of local shops vs. 7-11. I go to my local family shop, oh,look, it's closed, hmmmm.....7 is open. Oh, I've only got an enormous 1000 Baht note, they won't be able to change it, hmmm....7 will.

[Reuben Coolio]

Originally Posted by pumpkin

I do agree with you in your earlier post that it's a horrifying thoughts that children are being fed with 7/11 food which can't be good for them.

I just polished off a mouth watering chicken green curry with rice microwave meal from 7-11. Perfectly accompanied by a nicely chilled bottle of Leo from their cold cabinet, it was a satisfying and nutritious way to approach my main meal of the day, setting me up consummately for this afternoons endevours.

Tomorrow i might push the boat out with the pork in basil and chilli.

Can't knock it, in my opinion.

[not sure yet]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet...

I'm not a supporter of corporate business, at least I wasn't before...
but I have to say this - I am tired of the discrimination in the small shops. Because I'm a falang, I am expected to pay more (we all know this). It's not ALL of the small shops, many are fair and just, but a lot will try and pull a quick one... (especially in the more touristy towns) I just want a stupid bottle of water! "I know how much it costs, don't over charge me!" Example of one town in the south (not an island): Big bottle of Minere in 7-11: 14baht. Big bottle of Minere at small shop: 20baht. Big bottle of Minere at a restaurant with Western food: 50baht.

It gets really frustrating having to question every single thing you want to buy. So, yeah, if it means having an actual price on the label, I will go to 7-11 as opposed to the family shops.

I do still make purchases from the family shops. Most of the time, my purchased goods smell like cat pee or musty moth balls. I understand they have to jack up the prices, perhaps because they don't get as much business as they'd like and of course, the assumption that we're all loaded and don't know what else to do with our money that's burning a hole in our pocket. But, if they'd want to make more business out of falangs, they could be fair...that would make sense, yeah?

And please, clean up after the animals...

As for Thai people choosing 7 over the family business, well, I don't really have a comment on that. Why do they/we do the things they/we do?

[Nana]

Originally Posted by Piece Train

I feel good when I go to the local mom and pop shops. There are a lot of bustling places in my area of town and there's increasing construction going on. I have mixed feelings about it. It takes away some of the tall green grass...the nice quiet fields...but at the same time it's adding to things: needed jobs.

I must admit that I have this feeling too. Things that now are supposed to be progress; four lanes road, Tesco, Big C and Pizza Company, they take away something that were there before and certainly the nice green peaceful atmosphere.

I do not go to a local shop that provides appalling service but the local shops that try hard to upgrade their services to compete with 7-11 surely deserve a credit.

Not sure yet, I do understand your point. I do not like that too as it's unfair. I do not get charged different price when I was in the UK. Things shouldn't be different because you guys earn more. Thai people should be more clever with this. I myself will never go back to the same shop that rips me off. We have Thai expression : Gin noi noi tae gin nan nan, means we earn a little from you but we can earn from you a long time.

[LeedsLeedsLeeds]

Yep.

[Piece Train]

Originally Posted by Matthew

^^ geez guys. Get with it.

She is LeedsLeedsLeeds' wife.

100% real.

Nice to meet you, Nana. I like your husband's posts.
-----

Originally Posted by Nana

I must admit that I have this feeling too. Things that now are supposed to be progress; four lanes road, Tesco, Big C and Pizza Company, they take away something that were there before and certainly the nice green peaceful atmosphere.

I do not go to a local shop that provides appalling service but the local shops that try hard to upgrade their services to compete with 7-11 surely deserve a credit.

Not sure yet, I do understand your point. I do not like that too as it's unfair. I do not get charged different price when I was in the UK. Things shouldn't be different because you guys earn more. Thai people should be more clever with this. I myself will never go back to the same shop that rips me off. We have Thai expression : Gin noi noi tae gin nan nan, means we earn a little from you but we can earn from you a long time.

Progress is inevitable. In my town, there's a balance between ancient history on one side of town, and increasing capitalism on the other side. In between where I live is nice for now. It's nice to not be too close to either one. Out of the touristy area and out of the big business area. That's the way I like it.

I would conjecture that both aspects are good for my town, development-wise.

I just wonder what will happen should the FTA go through with the U.S. Wonder what will it mean for Thailand and in which direction it will take the country.

[Mr Brown]

Originally Posted by natalie8

And her English is better that some of the "English teachers" who blather on and on here.

Yes, dear, and we shan't say who...

[pumpkin]

Originally Posted by Reuben Coolio

I just polished off a mouth watering chicken green curry with rice microwave meal from 7-11. Perfectly accompanied by a nicely chilled bottle of Leo from their cold cabinet, it was a satisfying and nutritious way to approach my main meal of the day, setting me up consummately for this afternoons endevours. Tomorrow i might push the boat out with the pork in basil and chilli. Can't knock it, in my opinion.

7/11 frozen meals for me, are there when you are feeling hungry at about 2 am...they're not too bad the portions are small. Still why buy frozen meal during the day when you can get the same thing made fresh for you from your local food stall? But even at 2 am, if you are not feeling too lazy, you can get plenty of food if you are in Bangkok.

[traveler2]

I have to say Nana seems like a smart lady! She is trying to spark change with the younger generation, but still, it is like swimming against the current! It's nice if you could show them a different perspective, they have to decide for themselves though.

It's sad that traditions are being overtaken by the golden archs and such, it's inevitable though.

Last time I was there, I noticed that the street vendor scene wasn't as good as it used to be.

I think Thailand should ban restaurant chains from setting up shop. I know Italy bans Pizza chains from setting up shop. Thailand should do the same.

Keep up the good work Nana

[i1der]

That's right, keep up the good work there, young lady.

[natalie8]

Originally Posted by Mr Brown

Quote: Originally Posted by natalie8 And her English is better that some of the "English teachers" who blather on and on here. Yes, dear, and we shan't say who...

Thanks for highlighting my typo. There's a BIG difference between making occasional typos and not knowing how to spell and being unwilling to learn. I think I'm one of the few posters who think that English teachers should know how to spell. Funny that you never noticed the rampant lack of spelling skills in some of the teachers on this forum.

[Mr Brown]

Originally Posted by natalie8

Funny that you never noticed the rampant lack of spelling skills in some of the teachers on this forum.

Oh, I have noticed but I only correct the self-righteous ones.

[LeedsLeedsLeeds]

^ So why pick on Nats simple typo then?