I thought I would hate being around HK people, who are always in a big hurry but still always late, frugal with smiles, trend followers, etc. among other things. But HK people have made me realize how much I can't deal with Americans' sense of entitlement and rudeness. Just because your mom told you you're special doesn't mean u're better than everyone else and are allowed to be rude. And seriously, why is service in the US so bad??? I mean this is like the perennial impossible-to-understand question. I am referring to some people in retail, people who work at McDonald's, FedEx Kinko's, Starbucks, 99% of customer service representatives especially (credit card, banks, cell phone, anything important, it's so very baaaad). They are rude, take FOREVER, and don't know sh*t about anything, rendering themselves completely useless. It's SO DUMB!
In contrast, people here know even the most minute of details about their products, are efficient (which goes along with the "always in a hurry" HK characteristic), and fake smiles which I much appreciate because I don't deserve a scowl! I understand if you are actually in a bad mood but not only does the customer not deserve your wrath but you are getting paid to put on a good face for your company. Grr. Paid. Money. Not to be pissy.
Rant end.
3 comments:
The other end of the spectrum is Japan. Hong Kong is still somewhere in the middle. Like if you're looking to buy a phone: salesperson quality in two different branches of Fortress/Broadway could vary greatly.
Just read this:
http://josekin.blogspot.com/2008/09/shopping-in-hong-kong.html
As a member of the retail Business~ah... I Would like to say a few words~
I think the Retails/ F&B service you mentioned are Run by Parttime kids in US~ and Manage by KIDs themselves.. therefore bad service~ BUt Here in HK, we treated it as a profession and We NEED to be Good ~ Also, There are Much More business here in HK, we Need to get you to be happy and get you moving along after the deal~ So We can get our Next Deal/customer~ (Yes, We do want you to come back and Shop so more next time.) But then... as Justin wrote... Salesperson Quality vary Greatly~
HOwever, I disagree on Shopping in Japan~ I Sometime find it ... tooo NICE, not Friendly "Friend" like experience. so... inhuman.so to speak. ( Not all~Just some sales person.)
my main issue is with credit card, bank, and cell phone customer service people in the US.
it's ridiculous. everything is "uh... i gotta check with my manager." that would NEVER happen in HK.
i should also add a note that I have temped on the other end of the phone in the US at a major investment bank and received the most meager of training, so i know how many of them feel when people call in and they don't know how to answer. it's the banks' fault is what i'm saying.
but agree w/ what u say for retail/f&b.
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