It all started with Hua Hin Cinema. I remember the days when I could go to the counter, tell them what movie I wanted to watch, choose my seat and pay for a ticket - simple. Even an old git like me could understand.Then they automated the process i.e.:
- You had to buy a card (first visit only) from somebody selling automated cards.
- You had to go to the monstrous machine and dial in a movie.
- You had to go to another desk (hoping that somebody doesn't zap your transaction on your monstrous machine), hand over cash, and the assistant would put credit onto the card you had bought.
- Return to the monstrous machine, find your transaction, swipe your card and you retrieved your tickets.
Such automation blows my logical mind and I won't play the stupid games. Believe it or not, I have an IT background, and wouldn't contemplate delivering such sh*te. I've gone from being a regular customer to a download king overnight. I will only go to the cinema nowadays if there is somebody willing to do it for me.
Today I went into the Market Village True shop with Mrs BB to pay my bill - actually, I've only received one bill in 15 months, but they always work it out from the last receipt. There were 5 assistants sat at the counter, and 1 person being served i.e. 4 spare counter assistants. I went to the usual machine to get a ticket. Jobsworth steps in front, and indicates I have to use the new technology. 2 shiny new machines (double the size of the old one - I thought technology made things smaller) sitting there, waiting to confuse yet another Farang. I pressed the Union Jack - so far so good, it was in English. However, the screen in English didn't actually say anything. Tried the second machine - same result. We were providing quite a show for the redundant counter assistants.
Nobody else in the shop, I suggested we forget getting a number, and going to an assistant - nope, you need number.
At this point I blew, and told them what they could do with their 'nice' system - I wasn't paying. However, Mrs BB being milder mannered than me, and knows these counter assistant are really little tin gods gets escorted back to a machine by the initial jobsworth.
He started tapping away, asking for information such as Mrs BB's ID Card, which she gave to him. Eventually, he asked for the bill
As I said, we've only received one bill in 15 months. Jobsworth cancelled his transaction - moved to the machine I was not allowed to touch, and produced a ticket, which he handed to Mrs BB.
That's Thai Technology for you
