tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post4296568547776074455..comments2023-06-15T06:12:24.980-07:00Comments on Jim Terrorizes Other Countries With His Ugly Mug: Light bulbJimmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12020982136808150650noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post-71306060882673401742008-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:002008-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:00i don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be...i don't think it's as bad as you make it out to be... maybe they really think you are japanese??momohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08053379166783055793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post-74061849704757566002008-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:002008-09-27T18:41:00.000-07:00I think what I would expect is what I got from peo...I think what I would expect is what I got from people in Thailand.<BR/><BR/>They notice that I can:t speak their language, so they just try to read the number of the price to me, if it seems like I can:t understand that, they point to the number on the cash register and smile, saying that:s how much is due.<BR/><BR/>Then when I pay they take my money with a smile and give me change with a smile and then just bow or something or just say thank you in thai because most foreigners know what thank you means just from being in the country for a little while.<BR/><BR/>I don:t expect them to shine my shoes or something like that. I just expect them to act like humans who notice that I can:t understand what they:re saying.<BR/><BR/>Once again, I never meant that they were bad people or bad at customer service, but your statement of "they weren:t trained for foreigners" is part of my point of this post. The fact that they have to be trained for foreigners just to act a little more human and less robotic just seems kind of a weird concept for me. I would think that being human would come natural to somebody.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12020982136808150650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post-40623884478212639522008-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:002008-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:00i think there are plenty of circumstances where yo...i think there are plenty of circumstances where you get customized experiences with japanese customer service, which i believe is some of the best in the world, but could seem more robotic because its not your language or culture and they aren't trained to deal with foreigners. this kind of highly trained customer service, where they have set phrases they say in a set tone with set gestures, is just one part of how they show you respect, deference, and distance and this is a cultural thing. you are the customer, they are the service, and the language they use and social distance is one way to show that respect. <BR/>one thing i know from living in japan is that if you make an effort to speak the language when needed people will go out of their way for you and be much more friendly. even the 'robots' in the convenience stores. although i have to say, i don't know what kind of conversation you expect from a cashier. i know when i was there and the cashier thinks i am a foreigner, and they are confident in their english enough, they will tell me my change in english. but i think that is hard to expect when you are in a japanese speaking country.<BR/>so when they are ringing you up for your food, and you say 'sorry i don't speak japanese' what are they supposed to do? start talking in a language they don't know or don't have the confidence to communicate in? i think it sounds a little obnoxious to expect this from them...momohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08053379166783055793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post-57515755503688849882008-09-27T01:16:00.000-07:002008-09-27T01:16:00.000-07:00it:s definitely good customer service, but it coul...it:s definitely good customer service, but it could be improved if they took it up even another level, to where they customize the experience perfectly for each customer.<BR/><BR/>I don:t expect better. I just thought that since they were so good, that they would have thought the customized experience is better, but either they:re not there yet or they disagree and believe that a customized experience is not better.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12020982136808150650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536853836699967073.post-25609681779669134822008-09-26T16:43:00.000-07:002008-09-26T16:43:00.000-07:00it sounds like it has nothing to do with being a m...it sounds like it has nothing to do with being a more "civilized" country (& could you define that?). perhaps it has to do with the language barrier. or, a difference in culture. or, maybe it's you.<BR/><BR/>from what you wrote, it just sounds like good customer service -i mean, maybe them yakking on in japanese is awkward for you, but i'm sure it's better than them not trying to communicate with you at all. there have been many instances in my experience with customer service in which you continue to talk to someone despite the fact neither one understands each other, but you make the effort & do it with a smile. & it's the civilized thing to do.<BR/><BR/>even so, what if they are just going through the motions? people in the US (our civilized, albeit not always sophisticated country)do it all the time..most don't even make the effort.vovohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13023196023243942701noreply@blogger.com