Getting attacked by pushy taylors :-)

Just returned from phuket and am amazed at the pushy taylors that are EVERYWHERE! For those of you who havent been yet if someone offers to say hi and shake your hand, it will be a taylor nine times out of ten. The first day we arrived my hasband nearly had a heart attack as the taylor who grabbed his hand wouldn';t let go. He started trying to drag him into his store.

We must admit that by the end of the week we were giggling at the mock ausie accents that they put on and had some real fun watching them. They seem to know when you are new in town too and boy do they pick up on that. Some of the sayings we got to hear were- gday mate- you aussie mate- Come in and have a gander.- Hey you from melbourne- live near the big pineapple?- You bloody ausie mate. All of cause in the mock ausie accent!

If you get a chance watch them, its so interesting(but of cause from far away or you will get suckered in..)which of cause we eventually did and got something made at probably a highly inflated price!!!! It was well worth the experience.

Getting attacked by pushy taylors :-)

The hawkers used to be great fun and very polite 10 years ago but now they are a real pain but that I%26#39;m afraid is because most of the hawkers and certainly all the taylors are indian and they employ an aggresive hard sell which you never used to get from the Thai sellers. I must admit that they make me angry and I%26#39;m married to a Thai and can handle them but I feel they have made the fun of casual shopping a thing of the past and I%26#39;m surprised the authorities don%26#39;t clamp down on them more.

Getting attacked by pushy taylors :-)

They are irritating. The best way to deal with any tout is to pretend they don%26#39;t exist. Ignore them, don%26#39;t talk to them, don%26#39;t look at them. They will get the message.

The tailors are harmless, just dont let them get under your skin. Smile and keep walking if you have no interest in their services.

The aussie accent and comments can give a good laugh as you say,classic.

Did you see the guy on Beach rd in Patong with the cowboy hat...Wanna steak? He has been there for years and Ive never seen him talk anyone into the resaurant yet tho sure he does. Nice guy.

Dont fear the tailors, just part of the experience..

thanks for the advice re tailors do u know anything about the holiday inn in phuket we are staying there in may 2008 are we better to save our money and shop in hongkong which is our next port of call after phuket thanks

Hi Kat13bris

This is my personal opinion but I would save my shopping for Hong Kong having been there many times I think it is more superior for shopping than Thailand. Though I think there are many Trip Advisor members who would perhaps disagree.

Stanley market on Hong Kong island is a must visit and don鈥檛 be afraid to to sample the food in the some what bedraggled shacks there, we have had some of the best Chinese food ever. The Jade market is well worth a visit but if buying as always be careful of fake goods. The Bird market is also very entertaining, watching the Chinese parade and show off their birds. There are other markets at night which as always worth a visit.

Hong Kong has also some very upmarket shopping malls and of course that reflects in the price of the goods.

Please don鈥檛 think I am being negative about Thailand we love it and the pace of life and have holidayed there many times in the last 10 years.

Shelleycat

Hi,

I allways use a taylor who does not have to use this method as i beleive a good taylor has no need to do this his reputation should go before him.

Julie

thanks for yr reply great info do u know anything about the holiday inn in phuket we are staying there and i am reading very mixed reviews

The Holiday Inn Phuket is fantasic. Very clean. We stayed in the Busakorn wing which was excellent. Friends of ours stayed in the main wing %26amp; that was equally as good (ie: clean). We could not fault the place.

Cheers

Of course the trick is never shake their hand.

Easily said, but almost impossible to do if you%26#39;re an Australian male 15 or older.

These guys prey on the fact that most aussies cannot refuse a handshake, this cultural etiquette was drummed into most of us from an early age.

What about other nationalities? Do you have any difficulty refusing an unsolicited handshake, without first making a strong conscious effort to?

we are off to Phuket again and i have to say that last time we were there they nealy ruined the holiday thay are a pain in the rear.

They are mainly Asian indian and not Thai and as such do not have the non confrontational style of the Thais.

they are much worse in Phuket than in other places in Thailand.

They are a scourge and i for one would never buy from them.

I also find that when people have they are not the bargin they thought and the styles of dresses etc are old fashioned and dated.

Sorry don%26#39;t have one good word to say about them. We are british and they follow us down the road mimicking a cockney accent we live in the NORTH of England.

Sorry for the rant but it is my pet hate.