Thailand and safety.. What a joke !!!

[hornypirate]

Glad to hear that you're ok Sef. Next time use super glue on clean cuts. No kidding it has antiseptic qualities, adheres very well and by the time it wears off 2/3 days the skin has started to heal. I always keep some in my first aid kit.

Interesting enough every one seems to be jumping on the bandwagon regarding this Thai bashing thread. I remember a few weeks ago a Thai bashing thread was started and many BM's started flaming the Thai bashers from the safety of their lappys. I wonder why?

Aloha Andrew

[lostgringo]

Hi LiL:
This is acutally my second post. I worked at Chrsylers and number of years ago putting the windows in cars. I can't tell you the number of times I would put a window in and a few minutes later it would explode. I am telling you the truth. This happened right at the factory. If it had no safety barrier between the glas then I really was made for an automotive.
As many here have commented you are lucky it was not worse. Hey you got a little scar and a big story to tell. I usually get the big scar and little story lol.

[lostgringo]

Whoops sorry...what I meant to say if it Had safety glass then it Could have been meant for a car...if it None it was Not...

[JayBee]

In my jack-of-all trades days, one of the things I did was sometimes install windows, and I also made wood-frame glass doors myself. So I have experience with safety glass, tempered glass and regular glass. The only kind that would be appropriate for car windshields is the laminated safety glass.Tempered glass is also sometimes referred to as safety glass, since when it breaks, it collapses into a heap of tiny glass pebbles, which are not sharp, but it is not laminated, so it does not hold stretch and hold the pieces of galss together when it is broken. However, it is used in cars for side windows and rear windows.

When windshields are factory made, they have the SAFETY GLASS stamp and logo in the corner. But you can buy safety glass cut to size at a glass shop, which will not ordinarily have any mark on it.

When I made doors, I would go to the glass shop with my order and watch them cut it. You can get flat safety glass cut to order from big sheets in the shop. They score it, snap it, then put lighter fluid on the plastic sheet in the middle and light it. Presto! Glass cut, made to order.

If you go to the glass shop and watch them cut it, then you will know if you got the right glass, because safety glass is two sheets of glass with a sheet of clear plastic laminated in the middle. That is why they have to burn it after they cut it, since cutting the glass does not cut the plastic in between the sheets that are scored on each exterior side.

Another way to tell if a sheet of glass is safety glass is to look at the edges of it, where it has been cut. There is something about the way the light shines through the plastic that gives the glass a greenish sort of look on the edge. I don't know why that is, but it seems to me that it always was like that, altho I can't say for sure they haven't changed that, since the days when I used the stuff was many years back. I always assumed that they made it that way so that a person could tell that it was safety glass.

[J.C.]

Unbelievable luck you guys had. If there ever was anything worthy of "Don't try this at home..."

This is a quote off Big Bike Phuket website at

http://www.trv.net/trv98/bikelife/bigbike/bigbike.htm

" Jay sighs, the mechanics problem is one of the biggest for her shop.
-You know, I have to make constantly sure that things are being done right, that there is no sloppy work and so. You must understand that in Thailand nobody is trained to take any responsibility for what they are doing, so this is a common problem. "

I can certainly underscore that statement, the workmanship seems to be both irresponsible, ignorant and sometimes totally incomprehensible but rest assured, you will almost certainly be ripped off. Atleast that can be relied on.

IMHO if you want it done right, DIY

How to deal with this negligence is another matter. Confrontation has brought me meager results and I'm trying REALLY hard to learn the thai way of smiling even though I'm dying to strangle that person.

I just took one bike to have it's valves and carbs adjusted. They had been cleaned 2 weeks ago. On the bill I was charged for Valve and carb adjustment and carb cleaning. I pointed out that there's nothing to clean, it was just done. Fine, no prob, they took that item off.

Went home and noticed the valve cover had not even been opened. Now I don't say it's impossible to adjust them through the intake manifold but I think it's highly unlikely...

So I went back with some spare parts for the carbs and leisurely mentioned that this time pls also adjust the valves. Big smiles and "yes yes". Well, nothing seemed to happen. The guy just said "I think the valves are ok" I said that I'd like them adjusted and I actually did already pay for it. He just said "Yeah, I know"

So WTF R U supposed to do ? I told them that if you don't do something we agree on, don't charge me for it either, ok ? I was smiling all the time.

If any of you long timers here in LOS have any insight on how to deal with mistakes made by thai people then by all means do share it with us. I'm lost here and not for the first time

[andytan]

Most of the Thai's are not concern about safety. Why? because life is cheap for most of them. I've been to a goverment LOS hospital to visit one of my staff ( motorcycle accident) . The ward (public) is in such a sorry state, i wouldn't even put my dog there. Welcome to amazing Thailand.

[shark1963]

Thanks God that you were not injured seriously. If this had happened to me, I dont believe that I could have controlled myself. I would have bound this ar$e of a mechanic behind my Jeep and would have pulled him through complete Patong,up and down.

[M & M]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I think is wasnt saving face it was saving money.. Just taking shortcuts and doing the easiest / cheapest thing possible with zero thought or regard for the implications and safety. Also dont worry about not understanding 'face' properly, I dont think any outsider will get the full implications for years.. Its kind of like a very fine ego trip thing that permeates each and every dealing..

Anyway home safe and sound, no lasting damage just a bit of shock value and a crappy journey in the rain..

I can't agree with you more here LiL...the little buggers will take the easiest and cheapest route every time given the chance...and in your case it literally "blew back in your face"

Glad to hear you and your Mrs are ok...could have been absolutely disastrous, of course!!!

Will be interested to hear the eventual outcome...

Marcia