5 ms·

Just want to say, as a Brit used to no eye contact and downright rude and grumpy retail service... Man was it hard to get used to all the smiles and good servi

by jv22222 11y ago

Just want to say, as a Brit used to no eye contact and downright rude and grumpy retail service... Man was it hard to get used to all the smiles and good service when I moved to the USA in 2009. I know that sounds like a joke, but it really felt like everyone was being fake and sarcastic. A major culture shock!

Annatar 11y ago
Yep that's right, the smiles and the good service is all fake, from people being paid a minimum or below minimum wage and no incentive to excel at service. In contrast, my experiences while I was in central England as far as politeness and service have been very positive, and are a credit to your nation. However, that all utterly pales in comparison to Japan: I didn't know what service really is until I visited there. Nowhere else did I feel like I was on top of the world as a customer; I will never look at quality of service with the same eyes again.
- GordonS 11y ago
  Totally agree with you about Japan! I'm from the UK, and find the massive smiles and "y'all have a nive day" in the US to be... just so over-exaggerated that it almost becomes ridiculous. In Japan everyone is so incredibly polite (e.g. train conductor bowing to passengers as he moves through the train, cleaning staff waving off the train as it leaves etc), but it feels very natural and genuine.
  - tudorw 11y ago
    I'm from the UK and often find the default dismissive, critical and judgemental attitude that prevails as insincere as my experience of overly nice Americans, I'd rather live among the latter, or ideally, a mix of all from everywhere!
hyperliner 11y ago
But we are fake, you just don't know it yet! :-) Typical morning conversation American to American: - Hey man how are you? - good, and you? - good too! See you later! Now, that happens so fast that I have tried the following, and the answer was the same! - hey man how are you? - oh man my dog just died - good too! See you later! Basically, asking how you are is just a courtesy but frankly we don't have time for you. - hey man how are you? - well, you know, my wife has told me she wants to divorce me and my kids are not talking to me. It's been kind of rough you know? - hey man sorry to hear. [starts walking away] I'd love to talk but I got a golf session to go to with my buddies. Keep it up ok? [dissapears] sigh
- jazzyk 11y ago
  Conversation-killing words: Great. Fine. Fantastic. Perfect. - How are you doing? - Doin' great! Everything is fine. Sally and the kids are doing great - So how was your vacation? I heard you went to <insert-desirable-location> - It was great. We had a fantastic time. - So...did you have good weather? - The weather was just perfect, could not have asked for more. - [Resigned by now] All right, gotta run - stay in touch, man! - So great! to see you!!!
  - hyperliner 11y ago
    The one that kills me the most is when you announce your resignation from the job. All of the sudden, everybody says "Hey, let's take you to lunch!" Me: "Dude, I have been here for 4 years. I have taken everybody to lunch at least 8 times. Once you came. The other times you were 'busy.' Now you want to take me to lunch on my last week? Not once you invited me before!"

by jv22222 11y ago

Annatar 11y ago

Yep that's right, the smiles and the good service is all fake, from people being paid a minimum or below minimum wage and no incentive to excel at service. In contrast, my experiences while I was in central England as far as politeness and service have been very positive, and are a credit to your nation. However, that all utterly pales in comparison to Japan: I didn't know what service really is until I visited there. Nowhere else did I feel like I was on top of the world as a customer; I will never look at quality of service with the same eyes again.

GordonS 11y ago
Totally agree with you about Japan! I'm from the UK, and find the massive smiles and "y'all have a nive day" in the US to be... just so over-exaggerated that it almost becomes ridiculous. In Japan everyone is so incredibly polite (e.g. train conductor bowing to passengers as he moves through the train, cleaning staff waving off the train as it leaves etc), but it feels very natural and genuine.
- tudorw 11y ago
  I'm from the UK and often find the default dismissive, critical and judgemental attitude that prevails as insincere as my experience of overly nice Americans, I'd rather live among the latter, or ideally, a mix of all from everywhere!

hyperliner 11y ago

But we are fake, you just don't know it yet! :-) Typical morning conversation American to American: - Hey man how are you? - good, and you? - good too! See you later! Now, that happens so fast that I have tried the following, and the answer was the same! - hey man how are you? - oh man my dog just died - good too! See you later! Basically, asking how you are is just a courtesy but frankly we don't have time for you. - hey man how are you? - well, you know, my wife has told me she wants to divorce me and my kids are not talking to me. It's been kind of rough you know? - hey man sorry to hear. [starts walking away] I'd love to talk but I got a golf session to go to with my buddies. Keep it up ok? [dissapears] sigh

jazzyk 11y ago
Conversation-killing words: Great. Fine. Fantastic. Perfect. - How are you doing? - Doin' great! Everything is fine. Sally and the kids are doing great - So how was your vacation? I heard you went to <insert-desirable-location> - It was great. We had a fantastic time. - So...did you have good weather? - The weather was just perfect, could not have asked for more. - [Resigned by now] All right, gotta run - stay in touch, man! - So great! to see you!!!
- hyperliner 11y ago
  The one that kills me the most is when you announce your resignation from the job. All of the sudden, everybody says "Hey, let's take you to lunch!" Me: "Dude, I have been here for 4 years. I have taken everybody to lunch at least 8 times. Once you came. The other times you were 'busy.' Now you want to take me to lunch on my last week? Not once you invited me before!"