[Pokerbaby]

Canada is very similar to the USA in capitalism/economics. Yet the customer service in Canada is noticeably worse. If you live in Toronto and turn on talk radio, you will find this topic arise at least once a week on one of the talk channels or another.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the level of complaining. I know Americans, according to the stereotype, complain a lot. But they are also probably the biggest tippers. In Japan, if I understand it, it's rare to complain. The Japanese may never show up again at that store/restaurant, but they don't complain.

I work a kind of customer service oriented job. Every other person complains. They complain about ANYTHING. Waiting times too long (2 minutes). Service is "incompetent" because they need to check some figures. Prices aren't low enough. I even had one guy complain that prices weren't HIGH enough (that's not a typo..it's a long story).

Listening to complaints all day long is going to change your thinking process.

[Bushido]

(01-15-2014 02:12 AM)Pokerbaby Wrote:  

In Japan, if I understand it, it's rare to complain. The Japanese may never show up again at that store/restaurant, but they don't complain.

Haha no you are mistaken. Verbal abuse is common and totally acceptable in Japan. The older guys are horrible cunts at times and never get called out on it (back talk would get you fired). I would hate to work in customer service here.

Japanese service is very reliable ("by the book") but don't expect flexibility.

Everything is done according to the rules with no exceptions, even if it seems like common sense to break the rule. For example, try asking for barbecue sauce in Mcdonalds without getting chicken nuggets. Impossibru!

[Laner]

Haha yeah I heard about the BBQ sauce thing in Japan a few years ago. Whats the deal? Were a bunch of gaijin running around asking for sauce or something at McD's?

Pretty funny though, I can imagine the workers short circuiting. Impossibru!

[Akula]

(01-13-2014 09:24 PM)Vronsky Wrote:  

Nothing beats the US for customer service.

I think Asia can be better in many areas actually, mostly for things like airlines and hotels. The US shines for restaurants and shops but the faux-friendly atmosphere gets old fast. I mean, how many times do I want to hear "hi how are you" and "have a great day' from some 'associate' at BestBuy, CVS, etc. I understand it can be nice, and why they do it, but it gets old and has a certain amount of fake-ness to it. And the friendliness and helpfulness at restaurants is largely bc they are angling for a big 20% tip (which seems to be something that I see more and more there whenever I go back - they even have 'suggestions' for 15, 17.5 and 20% tips on some of the receipts I've seen!!)

Anyway, Russia sucks big time for customer service. I have so many stories, they just are so far behind and often clueless. It's everything from general rudeness, to long waiting times, to your entire order showing up at the same time at a restaurant (i.e your soup, salad and main course all at once) and then to the d@mn waiters taking your tray or glass away too quickly before you've even finished (a huge pet peeve of mine, it's almost like the waiters are trying to save themselves a trip or two as they pass you on the way back to the kitchen).

One telling anecdote about customer service in Russia is the following. Years ago when they were putting the first McDonalds in Moscow they had all the new trainees at the soon-to-be opened restaurant, and were teaching them how to nicely take orders & serve customers politely and in a helpful manner.

Right away it was evident that many of the new hires just didn't get it. So one of them raised his hand and said "But why do we have to be nice and helpful to the customer? WE have the hamburgers and everyone wants them?" ))

This attitude sadly still seems to be something you run into fairly often here.

[Akula]

(01-14-2014 05:57 AM)clever alias Wrote:  

china has to be one of the worst, if an order gets mixed up they blame you

ha ha they do that in Russia too

[Flint]

I generally agree that nothing beats US customer service, especially in bigger retail stores. The only I thing I totally hate in restaurants is how they want you to leave the place the moment you finished your plate as they immediately present you the bill. I got the feeling you're not supposed to stay any second longer after that. I love that in Europe I can go to a cheap diner, eat my meal, read a book for one more hour, get the check when I request it and leave a tip only when I liked the service.

[chibluu]

While I agree U.S. is probably near the top for customer service in brick and mortar stores, I have to say I hate the U.S. trend of customer service over the phone. More often than not it requires waiting on hold, navigating a labyrinth of menus (push 2 for blah blah), also the trend of outsourcing customer service to India using people with barely passable English. Very annoying and I think other countries don't do this as much.

[big poppa]

Haven't travelled a whole lot but Cambodia had extremely friendly people, both the tuk tuk drivers and waiters/waitresses.
Mainly because they are desperate for your business, but still, it was nice to have such friendly service.

[Ubietza]

Worst: Bulgaria, Serbia, Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan.

Best: U.S.A.