General Reports

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan; 1467905]Take the bus or fly!

LBM[/QUOTE]You forgot, in your post, m / see, car, taxi and walking.

If, in your rush to comment, you had paused and READ my post I asked for information about Thai Railways November maintenance programme and only facetiously asked about alternatives to maintain that the post had legitimacy on a sex board. No doubt had I not done so senior members who have nothing better to do than criticise the post of newer members would have objected.

Perhaps you might find time to comment on the relative merits of flying nd bus travel. Now that would be a useful way to spend your time.

I agree with nearly all of P. K. Opinions.

I can't speak for the middle class, what I can speak is the low class and poor. Yes there aren't many homeless you don't see them especially in Pattaya, the one's you see usually have so mental problem or destroy by drugs. Another reason is the Thai culture or Asian culture they take care of their own. Why you think the girls working are always sending money home? In a particular situation I question a women enough is enough, you are a women you have several older brothers one in particular is doing well and corrupt official why are you mad and upset at your farang husband for not giving you money to help finish your mother house. He already from what you tell me gave 95% why be mad at him. What the hell are your older brothers and sister doing we are talking 5% and you are willing to destroy your marriage over that?

It is easy to make enough money to get by go to the darkside of town in Pattaya, you will see areas line with tin can shacks with hardworking Thais preparing food to sell at the market. No education and many with educations but no future so the best thing and can do is cook. Find a market, pay 200 baht for the stand, some with key money like 6. 000 a year for the right to the location and hope to make gross 500 baht a day or night, that might get them 10, 000 a month. These types of work all through Pattaya pay no taxes at all and if it is a place like a pool hall you pay money for the cops each month the more illegal the business and more you make the more you pay. Take that gross and find a room for 1500/2000 baht a day excluding utilities and living in them 5 family members. I know because I rent to several families like this currently which is very common everywhere they survive on a 150 to 200 baht a day that includes food and kids lunch money so when they miss their rent payment I let it go but not the drunk ass Thai man I had who drank 20 plus Leo a month and tell me he has no money while his kid starved to death. I knew in time he would seek off in the middle of the night and he did.

Like the guy said lots of nice stats but it doesn't show what Thailand is all about? What they want you to see is the Land of Smiles? Bring the tourist in put them in the Vans and Buses and when they flip over and crash they cover it up just like the employment issue.

Just another point of view!

[QUOTE=Scorchin; 1467906]You forgot, in your post, m / see, car, taxi and walking.

If, in your rush to comment, you had paused and READ my post I asked for information about Thai Railways November maintenance programme and only facetiously asked about alternatives to maintain that the post had legitimacy on a sex board. No doubt had I not done so senior members who have nothing better to do than criticise the post of newer members would have objected.

Perhaps you might find time to comment on the relative merits of flying nd bus travel. Now that would be a useful way to spend your time.[/QUOTE]Maybe you ought to ease up and cool your jets. You ask a question does one have to go back or further back to read all the of your post. I answer for you and if the answer was stupid to you maybe it was because your question was? Ever think about that! To your questions car, taxi and walking would take too long!

If you want to rush back don't and my comments had nothing to do with this being a sex board or not. This isn't a situation that you need to reply to me or another like you did regarding the bashing of Indians unless you are still mad about that!

What is useful to me and what I do with my time is my business as it is of yours, stick to the topic instead of coming back bashing other and making something a mountain out of a mole hill because you don't like the answer you hear! You seem to know everything Mr. Sensitive why ask another stupid question and get another rush reply if you don't know anything about relative merits of flying and bus travel stop wasting my time and GOOGLE it!

[QUOTE=PinkPearl;1467812]The vast majority of Thai working girls are serious Buddhists, which means they don't believe in harming another life. Of course illicit drug & alcohol abuse over years, [b]plus other issues[/b], can screw up their heads & make some of them abnormal & dangerous.[/QUOTE]Uhhh. Couldn't this be said for people in general and has nothing to do with religion or being a Thai working girl? On the whole humans value life, but everyday in every country, people kill people.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1467863]there always have been and always will be some woman who find the wages of sin too attractive.[/QUOTE]I nominate this for quote of the year.[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1467863]We also know in addition to the supple of SW decreasing the fees SW charge are increasing. That's just supply and demand; but as the supply-demand curve drives up wages prostitution will become more attractive and an equilibrium will be maintained. My recollection is there were fewer mongers and more good looking young SW in Bangkok 8 years ago, and they were much cheaper. Still, there were plenty of SW to meet the demand on my last visit in December 2012.[/QUOTE]A guy who knows something about economics and observes it in action.[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1467863]One additional factor is the relative tolerant attitude Thais have toward women who become prostitutes. For year I've had many conversations about this topic with middle class and wealthy, well educated Thais who have some sympathy for young Thai woman working as prostitutes. I also don't believe the common Thais back in the village are unaware of why young women from their village go to Bangkok. I'm convinced prostitution in Thailand just does not have the severe social stigma found in some other countries. I'm not saying it is "acceptable," but I don't believe the women who become prostitutes are made to be complete social outcasts. The girls in the gogs and MPs seem to form their own little subculture, but I think this is voluntary and not forced on them in the same way it is in less tolerant countries. For example the other ladies in the office know why a few of the women have more money and nicer clothes than they do. They may not be willing to become semipros, but at the same time they don't ostracize these co-workers.[/QUOTE]It's good to see someone who is actually learning something about Thailand and is not there just to stick his dick into a hole.

[QUOTE=Stevebny;1467832]I disagree somewhat. Yes, the unemployment is low but then how many people are working for near starvation wages? You go into a restaurant and have 5 people wait on you, or the requirement of needing x number of Thai workers for every farang. Many jobs are bs. If Thailand ever decided to become even remotely efficient in terms of business, unemployment would skyrocket.[/QUOTE]Have you ever been to a department store in the Philippines? I went to SM to buy a plain t-shirt. There is a worker for each brand of t-shirt. So say you are looking at Brand A, the Brand A worker will have to help you. But if you go to the next rack over to look at Brand B, then the Brand A worker will fall off and the Brand B worker will have to help you. Whichever shirt you choose, that worker will take your item all the way across the store to the register and give it to one person who will ring it up and take your money. That person will give it to the person next to them along with the receipt and they will put it into a bag and staple it before handing it to you.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1467963]It's good to see someone who is actually learning something about Thailand and is not there just to stick his dick into a hole.[/QUOTE]Thank you the compliment; however, one of the things that surprised me when I first started reading the Thailand threads on this forum is how much I was able to learn about Thailand and the Thais beyond the sex industry. I think there are a number of you guys who have broad and deep knowledge of Thailand. As I've mentioned in the past, thanks guys.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1467967]Have you ever been to a department store in the Philippines? I went to SM to buy a plain t-shirt. There is a worker for each brand of t-shirt. So say you are looking at Brand A, the Brand A worker will have to help you. But if you go to the next rack over to look at Brand B, then the Brand A worker will fall off and the Brand B worker will have to help you. Whichever shirt you choose, that worker will take your item all the way across the store to the register and give it to one person who will ring it up and take your money. That person will give it to the person next to them along with the receipt and they will put it into a bag and staple it before handing it to you.[/QUOTE]Excellent point. I notice this in the nicer department stores in Bangkok as well. Perhaps not to the same degree as in the Philippines but there are many more clerks in Bangkok department stores than in department stores in developed countries. The people who control the economy tolerate inefficiency because it gives people a little income and something to do. You don't want too many hungry, ornery people sitting around with nothing to do. They might start talking and get some dangerous ideas in their heads.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1467981]Thank you the compliment; however, one of the things that surprised me when I first started reading the Thailand threads on this forum is how much I was able to learn about Thailand and the Thais beyond the sex industry. I think there are a number of you guys who have broad and deep knowledge of Thailand. As I've mentioned in the past, thanks guys.[/QUOTE]I have too many friends who have visited countless number of times and none of those mfs has yet to learn how to say hello in Thai.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1467967]Have you ever been to a department store in the Philippines? I went to SM to buy a plain t-shirt. There is a worker for each brand of t-shirt. So say you are looking at Brand A, the Brand A worker will have to help you. But if you go to the next rack over to look at Brand B, then the Brand A worker will fall off and the Brand B worker will have to help you. Whichever shirt you choose, that worker will take your item all the way across the store to the register and give it to one person who will ring it up and take your money. That person will give it to the person next to them along with the receipt and they will put it into a bag and staple it before handing it to you.[/QUOTE]

Just to be clear, department stores 'lease / rent' their space to brand owners. So each brand has their own sales / merchandiser / clerk working on commission basis to provide buyers with service. Department store collects combination of monthly rent plus profit margin for leasing the space, usually 30++% of selling price. Sales girls usually can earn up to another 10% commission on products.

This arrangement is the norm in Asia. In the US, the closest model is the cosmetic and / or fragrance counters.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan; 1467915]Maybe you ought to ease up and cool your jets. You ask a question does one have to go back or further back to read all the of your post. I answer for you and if the answer was stupid to you maybe it was because your question was? Ever think about that! To your questions car, taxi and walking would take too long!

If you want to rush back don't and my comments had nothing to do with this being a sex board or not. This isn't a situation that you need to reply to me or another like you did regarding the bashing of Indians unless you are still mad about that!

What is useful to me and what I do with my time is my business as it is of yours, stick to the topic instead of coming back bashing other and making something a mountain out of a mole hill because you don't like the answer you hear! You seem to know everything Mr. Sensitive why ask another stupid question and get another rush reply if you don't know anything about relative merits of flying and bus travel stop wasting my time and GOOGLE it![/QUOTE]In the simplest possible terms I posted a question asking for information about Thai Railways, viz, is there any information on major track maintenance on the Bangkok. Chiang Mai main line.

Perhaps if I repeat it some of the more mature members might find time to respond.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1467993]I have too many friends who have visited countless number of times and none of those mfs has yet to learn how to say hello in Thai.[/QUOTE]True, I've bi*ched about that too. These guys are being very stupid. A few phrases, a wai and a smile are extremely useful. But some of you guys do know the language, the people and the country. I appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge.

[QUOTE=Traveler1234; 1467994]Just to be clear, department stores 'lease / rent' their space to brand owners. So each brand has their own sales / merchandiser / clerk working on commission basis to provide buyers with service. Department store collects combination of monthly rent plus profit margin for leasing the space, usually 30++% of selling price. Sales girls usually can earn up to another 10% commission on products.

This arrangement is the norm in Asia. In the US, the closest model is the cosmetic and / or fragrance counters.[/QUOTE]Thanks Traveler. It makes perfect sense now. My first girlfriend in college worked at the cosmetics counter in the mall, so I know exactly how that works. She worked for the cosmetics company, not the store. In the US our department stores buy beforehand most of the things that they sell in the stores, but the department stores in Asia only lease the space to the manufacturer or seller of the goods.

[QUOTE=Scorchin; 1467999]In the simplest possible terms I posted a question asking for information about Thai Railways, viz, is there any information on major track maintenance on the Bangkok. Chiang Mai main line.

Perhaps if I repeat it some of the more mature members might find time to respond.[/QUOTE]Maybe a mongering forum isn't the best place to ask this question. You might have more luck on tripadvisor or just use google.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1467967]Snipped , So say you are looking at Brand A, the Brand A worker will have to help you. But if you go to the next rack over to look at Brand B, then the Brand A worker will fall off and the Brand B worker will have to help you. Whichever shirt you choose, that worker will take your item all the way across the store to the register and give it to one person who will ring it up and take your money. That person will give it to the person next to them along with the receipt and they will put it into a bag and staple it before handing it to you.[/QUOTE]Sounds just like Mike's Department Store. 2nd floor, in Pattaya.

[QUOTE=David_33;1468040]Maybe a mongering forum isn't the best place to ask this question. You might have more luck on tripadvisor or just use google.[/QUOTE]But there are so many experts on here that under "General Reports" one might find a helpful soul.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1468036]but the department stores in Asia only lease the space to the manufacturer or seller of the goods.[/QUOTE]Retailer is King in Asia:

1. Goods are also placed on 'consignment' basis. Meaning you stock the shelf, get paid only after it's been sold. If it fails to sell, they yell and tell you to pick up the goods.

2. They also charge you a 'listing fee'. Meaning, for the privilege of stocking your product on their shelf or space, you also need to pay an one time up-front fee.

3. Every quarter they also often ask you to run a 'sale'.

7/11 and similar convenience stores often also charge #2, plus if your stuff doesn't move within 30-60 days, they kick you out!

Dealing with retail in Asia is harder than kicking out a freebie the next morning :D