Anyone been to the new Tesco in Ban Dung ?

I think a new Tesco express opened in Ban Dung today ,, I was just wondering if anyone can give a report on it ,, my guess is it will be fairly small ,,,,,,,,,, but I am amazed they have been allowed to build in this lovely little village ,,, I just hope it dosent rip the heart out the village

I went past it a few days ago and unless a major building fast track was implemented it was way off completion. Very small by Tesco standards, about the same size as the Nong Han outlet. Initial estimates was for an Xmas opening.

Of coarse the local businesses are up in arms and I, for one, will continue to support them especially Noi in the freezer shop who has bent over backward to stock for Farang needs/wants since she expanded 2 years ago.

I was in Bandung a couple of weeks ago, just a breeze block shell when I drove past.

It's a lot bigger than a Tesco Express, about the same size at the store in Udon Town and Nong Han.

Grocery shop owners in Bandung are cacking in their pants.
Already, villagers living around Bandung who have their own transport shop at the Tesco's in Nong Han.
Tesco's will absorb lots of customers in the surrounding villages.
Another bonus will be clean comfortable toilets, with paper and a bum gun.
The toilets in Bandung's market come straight out of the Stone Age.

Well your replys suprise me , I spoke to the SIL yesterday and she seemed adamant it was open ,,,,,,,, oh well probably my lack of understanding of the Thai lang lol ,,,,,,,,,,, if its as big as the one in Udon town its big ,,, I am still suprised the local council allowed it . Its a shame what Tesco is being allowed to do globally , even here in the little seaside resort we live in the UK they have an express version ,, not happy with that they now have plans in ( and will get it by the look of it ) for a massive superstore on an underused caravan site ,this will be the final nail in all the local shops , game over,,,,,,,,,,,,,,mabe a coincedence Tesco,s colours are the same as the Uk and thai flags spooky

parrot wrote:I'm always game for a little argument about folks like Tesco/7-11 infiltrating sleepy hollow. For me, it's all part of modernization.....and the folks in the villages should be entitled to it just as much as the folks in the city. Products are cleaner, fresher, generally cheaper and in greater variety than what's normally available in the village. There are about 10 small shops in my village and one modern Wee (7-11 lookalike) shop. The Wee shop has an ATM, chilled coolers with a wide variety of drinks, and ice-cream coolers that keep the ice-cream rock hard. Of course, if you don't frequent stores like Lotus/Makro/Big C at all, then you'd be entitled to defend the small village stores.
I'd make an exception for a small touristy type of town like Chiangkhan on the Mekong. A small Lotus would be okay on the outskirts of the town, but it'd ruin the town's ambiance if it were parked in the middle of 'downtown'. I couldn't say the same thing about most normal villages......it's all part of growing up.

I've got to agree with you about virtually everything you said above, Parrot, except ... why not in ChiangKhan. The town was in existence long, long before tourists started trooping through on the Luangphrabang trail. Why shouldn't the locals be able to benefit from the availability of a wider variety of foodstuffs just so as not to keep a bunch of penny-pinching backpackers from experiencing the Thai ideal from yesteryear. If any town falls under any sort of "heritage" status then fair enough. I was chatting with the owner of the LoogMai Guesthouse who is all in favour of an outlet as per the subject, albeit a couple of years ago.

(The last time I was there was 2008, I don't think there was a 7/11 then, so I'm sure it'll be a while before the Tesco behemoth appears)

The word is the opening has been planned for the 1st of November. The new manager and Tesco's recruiting staff are currently staying at the M&B Hotel and are 3 days into their task. The building is almost complete and work is going on with the car parks and car ports. As I said before it's very small and to the disappointment of one of our American expats there will be NO KFC.

double post

Chiangkahn??Sure the tourists would like the familiarity of a Western style store,but obviously the locals don't.I never seen a 7-11 there either.Of course I couldn't find a resturant there that cooked Thai food that I am used to or falang food.The guest house did serve a good breakfast though,probably because the owners wife is not a local.

I agree with the building of the supermarkets as it teaches the Thais that want to do business to not take the customers for granted with the lack of cleanliness and product selection.A lesson in ''the customer is the most important person in the store'' versus the owner being ''it''!

I used to think the things were cheaper at Tesco,but I have found,in NK,that the local markets,in town,are much cheaper for many items!I do all the grocery store type shopping,so I am very familiar with the pricing structures!

Also an opportunity for Thais to learn about loyalty versus ''face'' I support my neighborhood businesses if they are congenial and deserving.those that think they are ''it'',can stay that way!

If the villagers don't like Tesco,they shouldn't shop there,afterall,the local leadership probably already received there backhand for approval,already!
Lets see,Thailand still claims they are a democracy because the people get to vote for candidates,they could vote their leadership out,or maybe it is just easier to get drunk,mai pen rai!

Excuse me, but they did not vote in the current government. It took a little bit of gerrymandering via the judiciary, the army and the yellow shirts, to get these guys in. If given half a chance, the people just might take you up on it, and turn the current government out. In the meantime, alcohol might seem to be the better option.

Laan Yaa Mo wrote:Excuse me, but they did not vote in the current government. It took a little bit of gerrymandering via the judiciary, the army and the yellow shirts, to get these guys in. If given half a chance, the people just might take you up on it, and turn the current government out. In the meantime, alcohol might seem to be the better option.

Again I don't know where you have been,but although the current gov't probably had nothing to do with the accepting of building a Tesco locally,they were properly elected.This is a Parlimentary system where the members are elected and they form the gov't.You have a coalition gov't here because no party had a majority elected to parliment!

And, the people have the chance and opportunity to elect or reject their personal reps,but ,they don't want to ask any hard questions to make a determination,chossing to be led or fed like sheep.But afterall.it is their country,right??

It is enlightening to see you admit that there are proper elections in Thailand. As for the hard questions, perhaps the Thais are taking a lesson from their fellow democrats in places like the United States, Canada et al where soft-ball questions are the order of the day.

parrot wrote:Products are cleaner, fresher, generally cheaper and in greater variety than what's normally available in the village.

Certainly not so in the new Nong Han Lotus, 8kms from my place.
Vegs, fruits and meets are NOT so fresh, I buy vegs eggs and most fruits at the village's morning market.
Their meets often just stink
For meet, cold cuts, salad, vegs like celery not to be found at village market we go Lotus/Macro Udon once/week.

We don't go Carefour/lotus/Ngee Sun near the airport, not worth the trip, unpleasant stores.

Laan Yaa Mo wrote:Post by Laan Yaa Mo » October 12, 2010, 8:34 am
It is enlightening to see you admit that there are proper elections in Thailand. As for the hard questions, perhaps the Thais are taking a lesson from their fellow democrats in places like the United States, Canada et al where soft-ball questions are the order of the day.

Is this man real or what?
How on earth can a post change from Tesco's to a political discussion

Well, you are correct about the 'real' part.

Politics was brought into the discussion of Tesco-Lotus by another poster, which, in my opinion, made it fair game to respond to the comments.

Easy to comprehend, isn't it, when you think about it?

As to the op, no, I have not been there, what about you?