Just another all too familiar shopping experience in the wonderful world of Thai consumerism. Old DVD player died. Purchased at Big C Patts, 5-6 years ago. Checked website. Local Big C in Nonthaburi, has eight models of DVD players for sale. So, simplistic, if I buy the same model I just have to swap it out, the video cable and power cord are the same so a simple swap out of the box. Lucky me, the model is one of the in-stock models.
Off to Big C. Ask attendant for DVD players. "We don't sell DVD players." Uhm, but according to your website you sell them and you have this model in stock. "Oh, you mean DVD players." Yes, I do. "Well, the girl who sells them is on her break." Now, there are four, maybe five attendants in their Big C logo'ed shirts milling about smartly playing with their smart phones. Ahh, not to worry here comes the Boss man.
I need this model of DVD player. OK - let me check - Out Of Stock. Well your website says you have it in stock. He checks again, no out of stock - let me check out back. Ten minutes later he returns - nope Out of Stock - website is wrong.
Meanwhile the girl who sells DVD players returns from her break. So, we are handed off to the girl who sell DVD players.
We only have this model in stock and for sale. OK. I'll take one. Opens the box to check that everything is there. You, everything is there but the front flap that covers the disk tray is broke. Opens a second box, all is good, everything is there and the front cover flap for the disk tray is OK.
OK, successful procurement - off to home. Choke Dee - Good luck, only had to route the new power cable. The old HDMI cable was long enough and the new DVD player had HDMI output. Note, a HDMI cable was not included with the DVD player and the sales clerk didn't mention you might need one.
Good to go = power up. DVD tray opens, insert disk push play, tray closes, five seconds later tray opens, fifteen seconds later tray closes, unit goes into a cycle of every 30 seconds or so it opens, then 30 seconds or so it closes - rinse and repeat. Changing disk, manipulating controls, unplug and wait, same thing. Me "every farking time, more Thai shit for sale" you all know the rants.
So pack everything up. Back to Big C. The girl who sells DVD Players has left for the day. Come back tomorrow. No, that ain't gonna happen, get the boss guy over here. He's already on his way, I saw him from afar heading over here. Face it, I'm a rare commodity in Nonthaburi and an opportunity to practice his poor english speaking skills. For the record, I can't understand him at all - he is talking into his smart phone and displaying the english language gibberish to me. We actually carried on in Thai - mine is passable, but he was happy because he though it was his english skills that saved the day.
Yet, the day wasn't saved. I bought the last DVD layer they had. It will take them 3-4 days to get a new replacement model shipped in from Bangkok, you know, Bangkok, the large metropolis all of 10 kilometers away. So, to please me he packed up the DVD player with the broken cover flap - kind of like collateral. Saying, you can use it to watch DVDs.
They will call when the new DVD player arrives.
Just another wasted day trying to get something done in the Big Mango. I am so glad I'm a retiree and no longer have to sandwich a full day out of my work schedule to accomplish a one hour task in the Big Mango.
So, for those of you who have had the onerous pleasure of shopping in Thailand - this rants for you