The end of a Monopoly

[TotallyOz]

In View Talay 6 there was only one market. The owner was not friendly. Never said Thank You. Never smiled. Often had to wait and ask her to get her off her computer to tally up your bill and pay which she did begrudgingly. You had to remove shoes. It was a thorn in my side when I visited the shop if something was needed that I didn't want to walk out of the building to get.

 

When I went a yesterday, I took my shoes off and she said, "You don't have to take shoes off anymore. We had new shop open and now I need more customers." I thought odd as I didn't even see the shop when I arrived and would not have known it had she not mentioned it. I got a few sodas and she said, "Thank you so much." I almost feel down when she said thank you.

 

After the BF and I made fun of this place for months, finally a smile and a thank you. In the afternoon, I went to the other store to check it. Instant friendliness. Good prices. More items. Wow! I was impressed.

 

The monopoly is now over and competition rules! I love a free market economy.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I guess we know where you will be shopping now.

[firecat69]

I cannot believe you would take your business away from that congenial young lady. Always a smile and a thank you!!!

 

You are heartless. She has always been there when you needed a diet coke and now you throw her over for some new upstart.

 

How can you live with yourself. What will your BF say????

[Guest beachlover]

LOL... Got to love competition! At least she was honest about it.

 

You had to remove your shoes? WTF... What kind of shop makes you remove your shoes?

[Guest travelerjim]

GT,

 

The new mini-mart shop in VT6 is owned by shop owners who

had a mini-mart in VT5C. There is another one here too which in essence, split the business.

 

Business was slow here at VT5C and and they saw opportunity for them to relocate to your building at VT6.

 

They have a wide selection of many items, and priced as "convenience". The breads were good and I especially liked the "fitness bread" ..makes great toast or for a quick snack during the day.

 

I wish them well. If they get traffic, they will do very well!

 

tj

[Guest]

Competition is wonderful, as is the freedom to go elsewhere when the service isn't up to scratch. This leads to innovations like 24 hour shops & a superb choice of products.

 

Generally we should look to introduce competition into all sectors of the economy, including many of those which are traditionally state monopolies.

[ceejay]

You had to remove your shoes? WTF... What kind of shop makes you remove your shoes?

A few years ago, just about anywhere in Thailand I guess. In shophouses, the shop was an extension of the living space, so it would be regarded as no different to taking your shoes off in someone's house. Not taking your shoes off indoors is a distinctly farang habit that Thais have adopted in places like shops, sometimes grudgingly.

I have only once seen a shop, a pharmacy in Nong Khai where there was a polite sign in English, asking customers to remove their shoes. I have seen shops around where there is no sign up, but there is a row of shoes that Thais have left outside the door, even in Pattaya (the souvenir shop at Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary). Places where I see that, I'll take my shoes off for good manners' sake.

[Guest beachlover]

I see... fair enough. I just find this strange in such a developed and Westernised city. I only expect this in massage parlours.