More on Stevo, the Jackass
Following Stevo’s departure, I sat and grew ever more incensed that he had been sent to see me. This may not be the largest instruction any of the agents, get but it is up there as one of the jucier ones. It is certainly more in value terms than the vast majority of bars, other business enterprises, houses or condos that an agency will have on its books. I decided to telephone the agency Stevo was employed by and complain about him and explain in detail why they would not be getting the instruction to market our business. The phone was answered by a Thai lady and I asked her if she could connect me with the owner of the agency. “Who calling please?” she enquired. “I am Kevin Meacher, the owner of Jasmine Mansion in Soi Baukaow,” I said as I then waited to be connected to the manager. Instead I was left reeling by the response, “Solly but Mr. Steve not here, he go to see you, he not come yet?” The look of mystification that I earlier witnessed on Stevo’s face was now firmly spread across mine.
The next couple of days saw a variety of Pattaya real estate agents coming and going from Jasmine Mansion. Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, they more closely resembled dear Stevo than they did any person similarly employed in the UK. I have been able to gain some small understanding of the way that Thai people operate and that it is vastly different to the practices I became accustomed to in the West. However, it is completely impossible for me to comprehend Western people not only behaving in a similarly lackluster vein, but actually behaving worse. At least the Thai people are polite and respectful which is significantly more than I can say for their farang counterparts I have had to deal with through this experience.
Worn down and worn out I eventually took the decision to send details of the business, the pre-prepared financial information and a selection of interior and exterior pictures to every agency listed in the local directory except, of course, for Stevo’s company. I will, though, not be holding my breath in anticipation of receiving an acceptable offer in the near future!
