one of life's petty problems

Chas · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: one of life's petty problems

This is one of the little annoyances that has got to me lately. . nothing to compare with the revolution in Tibet (GO Tibet!!!) but something I want to share. . it might help one of you.

It has to do with buying drinking water in those big plastic bottles from the mom & pop stores that sell them.

The deal is, you have to pay a lot for the initial plastic container and then you bring it back and trade it in. ..paying just for the water in a full one which is cheap.

The trick they play on you is to give you one that has been patched and then, when you bring it back empty. . show you the patch and refuse to take it. This is supposed to force you to pay for a new container.

I have one in my trunk now that they will not take back. Of course, when I try, I get looked at like a rich farang trying to cheat a poor Thai shopkeeper, but I have no clue how they do patch them and we are talking about the same exact shop that sold me the container full.

Of course, you can check that the container has not been patched when you buy it, but they are heavy to lift up and the patch ( always on the bottom somewhere) can be very small and hard to see.

What a racket. Anyway, I am looking into contracting with a weekly water bottle delivery service. Any recommendations?

huahindolly · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject: Water bottles

Chas,

Sorry to hear you got connected with the wrong mom & pop. We've been buying water from the same place in Bon Gai for a year now, and they've been so pleasant and prompt for a measly 30 baht. And we never bought the original bottles from them!

I don't have any recommendations for a water service, maybe you should try a different mom & pop.

HHD

Hobiecat · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject:

I'd be carefull with the delivery guys. There the worst for bringing you damaged bottles. Make sure you inspect them before they leave.
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DawnHRD · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:43 pm Post subject:

Chas, I used to get the same problem. I think they used to deliberately give me the damaged ones. Sad

My solution? Get a female mouse to nest in your water cooler pipes, knacker the water cooler beyond repair & then have to go to Tesco & buy 6 packs of the 1.5l bottles at far greater expense, because they are the only things that'll fit in your fridge.

Why do I feel my solution was a bit drastic (but totally true!)? Shocked

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Chas · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject: wow!

Wow Dawn, that was a bit drastic. . not to say amazing because mice are not easy to train!

But we are still decanting from the big bottles into smaller ones for the refrige so that idea won't work here.

I hate to go the route of buying the expensive six packs too. .it just seems so wasteful. .all that plastic.

Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 690

I get my deliveries from a company called Ning Amtech. They bring it in the house, always only strong whole
bottles suitable for water cooler and their water tastes really good. The Company telephone number is: 032 512 862.
My Thai neighbors pay 10 baht for a 20 liter bottle. I pay 15 - 20 and give occasionally the delivery man a beer.
I do not know if anyone in the Company speaks English, but believe they are worth a bit of bother.
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margaretcarnes · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: One of life's petty problems

I'm just soooo impressed that Dawn has a water cooler! And how did they train that mouse in the Green Mile then? Cheers

Chas · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: Thanks

Well Margaret, its a broken water cooler now so it can't be THAT impressive. . . .and movie mice are a special breed I believe.. with agents, hairdressers, little tiny directors chairs etc

Farang thanks for the tip. I will see if they deliver in this area.

DawnHRD · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

Sadly, the water cooler is no more. Sad

Amazing the damage that rodents can do.

As for training mice - well, I've made a good job of training them to completely ignore the ultrasonic gadget that is supposed to affect their nervous systems that I brought back from UK, too. I should get a job as a mouse motivator ! Idea

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Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 690

I thought to have added to this already. Well, here goes:

Cellphone number to the water delivery man is: 087 151 34 61 No English, Thai only, but water tastes good and the bottles are whole.
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klikster · Specialist Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 186

Do business with reputable dealers .. there are plenty around. I pay Bt 15 at the mini shop downstairs (Bt 85 bottle deposit). However, I prefer to stay on excellent terms with the security guard, so I lay Bt 40 on him and he deliever the water to my room, returns the empty .. and smiles a lot!

When I lived in Don Samran, I got water delivered for Bt 15, 5 bottles at a time (Bt 50 deposit each) .. never a hassle with the bottle.

If you allow devious shop owners to take advantage of you, some will. Just don't stand for it.
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(buffalo) Bill · Professional Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 320

My wife and I have lived here for nearly 12 years. We used the large water bottles (tanks) from delivery boys on many different occasions. To the best of my memory I don?t believe we were ever ill, BUT and there is always a BUT, one time we saw something swimming in the tank, when we checked it was mosquito larvae. After, on other occasions we found them in all bar one of the different delivery bottles from the different water boys we used.

I believe this type of water is only of use for cooking, my advice boil first.

Question; Have you ever seen a plant anywhere in HH for producing this safe drinking water?

One time many years ago I did ask at the Tesabhan.
3 people I asked said, mai Loo (don?t know), I stood back in horror, her toilet I thought, VERY NICE! The next said mai pen rai (doesn?t matter) Lovely! Maybe not to you! The last said, Krongthep (Bangkok), there I thought ok, one pick up, 40 tanks.10 Baht each, 400 Baht, yeah ok. NOT!

For drinking we buy the big bottles (Singha or Nestle tanks) from 7/11 or any where that sell them. It works out cheaper in the long run. OH TO BE SURE.

You could always follow one of the water boys and see where they pickup from.

Big Boy · Legend Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 3626 Location: UK

Probably a very stupid question, but I don't know the answer, can drinking mosquito larvae harm you?
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STEVE G · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:27 am Post subject:

Never did me any harm BB!

margaretcarnes · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:04 am Post subject: One of Lifes Petty Problems

Well I'm stunned to hear about the mozzie larvae Bill. I don't doubt you - anything small and wriggly in a water container would cast some doubt on its safety - but have to say that I used those tanks for drinking water for over 5 years without any outward signs of problems. Also used tap water for cooking veggies.
With children I understand your caution, but as Big Boy says, are mosquito larvae harmful?
Chas - after reading Dawns' account of her mice slaying attempts its really reassuring to know that movie mice get the red carpet treatment. I can sleep tight tonight thumbs up

BTW I always thought that where you have mice you don't have rats - is that an old wifes tail?