why do thai shop workers follow you around the shop and/or stand in your personal space when trying to browse?

Question

i find this behaviour quite unnerving
this is especially true on market stalls. do they do this to fellow thais or just farangs?
do they not reralise that most people would be more likely to make a purchase if left to browse at leisure?

Answer 1

i'm thai. and they did the same with me. they follow me all the time around the shop.
don't get the wrong idea that only forieners have a lots of money,lots of thai people have big money aswell.
my earning per month is much more than some foriener tourist here!

most of the the thai shopkeepers or shop workers do this with both thai or foreiner. 'cause they think it's their job,they follow u to make sure that they can show something that u want.


take it easy. if u don't like this,so tell them that u only looking.
and if they still to persue u or make some annoy that u can't stand anymore,so just leave their shop. that's it.


it's not only thailand that shop worker follow u. lots of countries in asia do the same ex.china,india,malasia,laos,cambodia,vietnam or even korea and more.

Answer 2

I had this happened to me everytime I shopped at some giftshops in Bangkok when I was a high schooler there. Yes, it was annoying, but at the time I understood too that they just want to keep an eye on me due to the fact that I was a teenager and shoplifting is often the act of teenagers. Two years ago I visited Thailand and had a few opportunities to shop at some stores. I didn't have anybody followed me at all. Maybe, it's because I'm a middle age women now and so they don't perceive me as a shoplifter. Also, I noticed that in department stores and at several malls, sale associates just left me browsing alone, unless I look up and make eye contact with him/her and gesture for some helps. Anyway, I don't think thais really get the concept of personal space.

Answer 3

It is probably because they want to make a sale as shop wages are very low in Thailand and they think that by hovering around you are more likely to buy the merchandise and the hovering assistant will get the commission.

There is the other extreme of course where they do not seem interested in serving you at all. Last night I intended to buy a pair of shoes and strolled into Central Silom looked longingly, lovingly and interestedly at a number of pairs of shoes and none of the three assistants approached, even when I motioned one to come over.

So I left and the 3000 baht sale was missed.

As we say in Thailand TIT: This Is Thailand

Answer 4

The Farangs have the Money (Walking Wallet)
and anything that you look at (or not see) they will try to Tempt you with it in the Hope of a Good Sale for them

Answer 5

If you don't like it, don't go there!! You are in Thailand, not England or America. Put up with it. When I worked in South East Asia, fellow westerners would always complain to me about the local people's lack of respect for personal space. I would always say 'tough titties' put up with it it's the way things are done. Granted it is annoying when you're shopping though!!

Answer 6

Actually, this is not considered to be rude for Thai so I'm sorry for foreigner that you feel uncomfortable with it, we don't know that. Thai will think that the worker is rude by not coming to give any suggestion or comments. It's easier for customer to ask for information, price or size.
Anyway, Some worker may be annoying by forcing thier sale, I understand, it's very annoying.

Answer 7

This happens in other countries as well. Tunisia & China are two countries that I have visited where the salespeople & hawkers are really persistant. Like you I found it very annoying. I guess they see westerners as people with money to spend & they are anxious to make a sale. They proably depend on tourists to make some money. They genuinely don't seem to understand that we find it annoying - they were very surprised when I told them to stop following me.

Answer 8

They are probably just following the instruction from their bosses to serve every customer who walks into the shop. That is all. Pretty common as they do quite personal service to you. It is just the way things are in Thailand, and many countries in Asia.

Answer 9

The behavior you explain exclusively happens around tourist areas where cheap stuffs being sold. I don't think that any of those sellers is scared of anything being nicked. Rather, their understanding is that people (esp. white ones) visiting their places got money to burn - so why not do so at their joint? And if you have a lot of money and walk out of a place of oh! so poor folks! you'll feel ashamed; given anybody saw you.

Answer 10

this used to annoy me a lot, I live in china and even in the supermarket it is the same. I now have many chinese friends who tell me that all the assistants want to do is help me, they love people from western countries and if you speak to them they are so happy to hear english spoken, most understand a little. If you ask for something, nothing is too much trouble, they really are just wanting to talk to you.