Car Park Tokens - Why?

[Big Boy]

I've only been driving for a couple of days here in Thailand. Every time I go in to a car park, some person without a smile seems to give me a plastic token. When I leave the car park, somebody just as happy takes the token off me. Outside of a job creation scheme, is there a purpose to these tokens please?

[sticks]

hi
we make a joke me and my wife about the happy little persons the reason for the plastic ticket is to check how long you have been in the car park if you are there for more then two hours you have to pay 30 baht an hour parking if you read the notice board on the way out it explanes it to you but if you have spent i think its about 350 baht in tesco"s the parkings free i paid it once after spending some time in there buying cloths in the retail outlets so make sure you keep your tesco receipt before you leave

[Big Boy]

Thanks sticks, I agree, it must take an awful lot of training to look that miserable for so long. I don't doubt what you say is right about the time limit, but they never seem to check anything on the plastic token when you hand it back. Also a bit of a bummer if you park there for the cinema then - you'll end up paying every time.

Is there also a time/spend limit at Makro then?

[Terry]

BB

Try getting out of the car park if you have lost the ticket....................

Don't know about Makro

[Nereus]

Those places using plastic cards have a card reader that scans the card and shows the time it was issued. Some of them are also connected to the camera system that scans your number plate, and connects the two.
I think originally, at least with the paper ones, it was offered as additional security on the basis of stopping your car from being stolen. And then they realised the MONEY potenial.

[blue05]

No charge at Makro

[STEVE G]

Yes, I remember at one time many of these shopping mall car parks in Asia used to write your registration on a paper ticket which you used to hand in to be let out. I always supposed it was for security.

[Big Boy]

Those places using plastic cards have a card reader that scans the card and shows the time it was issued. Some of them are also connected to the camera system that scans your number plate, and connects the two.

Wow, this is Thailand. I hadn't even considered electronic tagging/cameras would be in use - makes sense though.

No charge at Makro

Why the plastic tokens then?

[Terry]

They wont raise the barrier if you dont surrender the token - security again + it gives two people a job

[moja]

I've only been driving for a couple of days here in Thailand. Every time I go in to a car park, some person without a smile seems to give me a plastic token. When I leave the car park, somebody just as happy takes the token off me. Outside of a job creation scheme, is there a purpose to these tokens please?

Try smiling and greeting the person handing out the parking token you will often be surprised at the beautiful smile you receive in return not from them all of course but ........

[caller]

Ah, brings back memories! Have you had to double park in a mall/store anywhere yet BB, with the handbrake off, so your vehicle can be moved if needed?

[Big Boy]

No, that pleasure still awaits me.

[Takiap]

The thing is, at Market Village there are two exit lanes, and only one box is usually manned so you could just leave in any case, with or without a token. Maybe I'm missing something.....lol.


BB, go to Makro in soi 4. It's a vastly better shopping experience. Plenty of parking, and immediate checkout every time. Oh, and a much better range as far as foods are concerned. There's also a nice little coffee shop outside in the parking lot, and spotlessly clean toilets. Oh, and a small postal service as well in case you urgently need to post some noodles to wherever.


I've asked a number of Thais who insist on using Tesco or G-Market why they don't use Makro. Answer........Makro not give bag. You can however buy shopping bags if you want to.

[Big Boy]

No worries, shopping bags were one of the 'essentials' Mrs BB brought over from the UK. If she hadn't, we could always use one of the 16 carrier bags we were given at Tesco yesterday

We have used Makro a couple of times now, and generally I like the shop - unfortunately (for me and my wallet) they carry too many 'nice to have' things that Mrs BB can't resist We ended up with a ginormous steamer last week, just in case we have a party

Also, what's the point of paying at the checkout, and then having to move forward 5 feet for somebody else to check your receipt against what you've got in your trolley? The UK were going the opposite way before I left - scan your own goods, and pay a robot - no people involved in the process whatsoever.

Makro still operates the crazy plastic token scheme though; although, I did catch the slightest glimpse of a smile from the guy giving out tokens last week.

TIT - absolutely love it I'm always happy when I have plenty to moan about

[Bernard]

Ah, brings back memories! Have you had to double park in a mall/store anywhere yet BB, with the handbrake off, so your vehicle can be moved if needed?

I parked my car in Market Village yesterday and when I went back to leave there was a car parked across the front of me and thereby blocking me in. I was really annoyed and expected an hours wait when suddenly the skinny parking guy just pushed the car out of the way. Never seen that done before !