If you've ever visited my fair hometown, you may have been expecting a bit of cheery Cockney chirpiness (although, to be accurate, the Cockneys are nearly all gone, and only ever lived in a small part of the East End, so to find them in Wembley would mean they'd got lost on the Tube, but whatever). If that is the case, can I offer you my deepest apologies.
I've ventured to the shops a few times in the past weeks and I'm starting to miss the high pitched, completely insincere welcome you get in Japanese shops. Admitedly, the squealing can get a little waring, the way they stalk me around the shop makes me want to scream and the wrapping is ridonkulous (yes, I know it's not a word, just trying it out) but at least they seem to realise that, as I am a customer, my money pays their wages. In London, they act as if I'm doing them a favour by giving them my hard earned cash. Um, you're welcome.
I went to buy a magazine the other day and the woman didn't pause the conversation she was having with her sister as she held her hand out for the money. And that was despite the fact that she had spent about five minutes looking for the price, which was at the top, where IT ALWAYS IS! Don't mind me, love, I'll just stand here, waiting aimlessly for you to try, and fail, to multi task, because, really, it was rude of me to come into your shop when you clearly have other things to do.
In America, they follow you around the shop which makes me feel like I look like a shoplifter. I might be a bit scruffy, but I'm not a thief. And then they ask me how I am, which always makes me worry that I've met them before and just totally forgotten who they are. Awkward.
So, sometimes, I like the English way of letting me pay and go about my business, without having to deal with people I know are only being nice to me so I'll spend money, but if I could get a smile once in a while, that'd be great.
Alas Australia (or at least my hometown) is sadly like yours. Staff that seem to be just a little miffed that you should be interrupting their very important lives. And to link this with them earning money is just too crass to countenance. The job-fairy does that... of course.... when it isn't providing good friendly service that makes you want to come back to their shop that is. ?;-)
ReplyDeleteTravelling in Japan can be draining with the constant metronome of Irrashaimase!!!! But at least it lets you know that first and foremost, you are the customer. The most important person (for but a brief moment) in the universe.
Always enjoy your crisp observations and great style. Keep em coming.
Reality check:
ReplyDeleteI have had experiences with bad service in Hawaii and Japan.
Hawaii: I didn't get my full order at Denny's. The meal was free as an apology and I got a coupon for another return discount.
Japan: I got a hair in my milkshake and after almost vomiting they replaced it. No free milkshake for the ridiculous event and barely an apology. I had another hair in food event and demanded my cash back as I was too sick to eat the omrice that had a hair in the egg. I had to demand it was beyond ridiculous. "On the house" is a regular "fix" in Hawaii as it's the best and fastest way to move along but in Japan getting something fixed is different from the west.
I just did a post about the outfuckingstanding Japan postal service but lets keep in mind that if your food in particular...is not up to snuff it'll at most be replaced. I've had $100 a plate places comp me because of admittedly bad service (and the Hotels wanna keep the bad comments to a minimum so maybe this is the Hawaii effect" but getting an ichiman dinner comped regardless of their fail would NEVER happen.
Depends on how you see things or which is important. Attitudes don't bother me as much as failure of service and the remedy for the latter in Japan is not all that great. IMO
Chris: Fair play, I have never had hair in my food, but would obviously expect my money back if I did, wherever it happened. That you didn't is terrible. I'd like a smile and the meal I paid for at the standard I'd expect. Surely that's not too much to ask from staff in the service industry.
ReplyDeleteBen: The job fairy! I want one of those. I'd mean I never had to make an effort. Ever. Amazing! Sad it's the same here and in Australia.
yeah Aussie shop girls get pretty pissy if you interrupt their personal phone calls by wanting service. The worst was a girl in a clothes shop eating KFC while working -- she got pissy cos I said I wanted someone without greasy fingers to ring up and bag my clothes!
ReplyDeleteCome visit us on the prairie here in America. It is rare that anyone is rude and the men still open all doors for women. (Bing thinks this is insulting, but I really like it.)
ReplyDeleteI've had quite a mix of experiences. In Canada, while waiting for my popcorn and drink at a movie theatre, the teenaged staff member chatted with her coworker about her boyfriend and swore a bit. She never once smiled or said a word to me, other than to tell me how much I had to pay.
ReplyDeleteAnother time in Canada, my family was at a steak restaurant. We ordered and waited for an hour. We were talking, so the time passed quickly, and we finally noticed how long it was taking. They had forgotten to bring our order. It was cold. They made a new order and we were offered it on the house.
Now, as for McDonald's, I've had the same problem, totally different experience. In Canada, they gave me the wrong order. I told them it was wrong, and they claimed they were right. They gave me a burger that I never order. I told them so, and showed my receipt. They had to replace it, but did so with an attitude. I left there muttering loudly about incompetence.
In Japan, they gave me the completely wrong order (actually, they mixed up 2 orders), and I returned. They put me ahead of everyone else ordering, got me the correct order, and the manager gave it to me with a deep bow and apologizing repeatedly. I thought it was a little bit too much.
FROM jaydeejapan "deep bow and apologizing repeatedly"
ReplyDeleteNow there is the classic worthless japanese "I am sorry"...and Kathryn had said in the past, that is a worthless gesture and they do it thinking everything will go away...damn them!
I for one...like the japanese way to attent and how they always yell to the top of their lung "welcome" everytiem you go in a store...its kind of cool