Again, I have experienced the lack of any understanding of customer service here in Warsaw. Perhaps I need to take a look at the ugly fact that race may be playing a part. The lack of desire to help on the part of a salesperson in a store in central Warsaw hit me again today. My response was normal. I simply walked out. However, what makes me unwilling to fully accept that this may be racial is that the salesperson has a genuine surprise when I walk out. She seemed genuinely shocked that I would not wait patiently as she did something with stock in a another part of the store. Here is my belief: I am paying you my money ... that means I have the choice to spend it or not. Maybe it is a throwback in attitude from the communist days when I understand there wasn't much of a choice of anything. Well, times have changed (thank God).
I had a similar experience with a very large chain here in Warsaw that sells electronics. Again, the salespeople behave as if they are doing you a favor by helping you.
I never thought I would say this, but ... Warsaw needs Walmart. With all the issues I have with Walmart in the US, there presence here would fix the attitudes of some merchants very quickly. Say whatever about Walmart, but they are about making the customer return. They get it. They understand ... that's why they are so very successful.
Joel you didn't reply back to my first comment. I thought you want readers to your blog???? This post is about a podcast I am starting to talk to Black men about their relationships with non-American women to let other Black men know they have options outside of American women.
ReplyDeleteYou can write me personally again at dj4monie@yahoo.com
Hi there! I just found your blog and I like the way you write. So, I will stay here:)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to put my two cents in about customer service. I'm Polish but I have been living in the US for almost 10 years. I love Poland because this is where I was raised. However, the customer service in most of the stores is terrible. You may be right by saying that sometimes it is racial. But not every time. When I visit Poland I 'm still sometimes extremely shocked by how salespeople behave.
And Walmart? I heard a while ago they might be opening them in Poland.
Good luck to you!
I'm pretty sure the customer service in a Polish Walmart would be as bad. It simply is bad nearly everywhere, nothing to do with race. Still, it has improved a lot. I remember times when a clerk wouldn't show me a product because I was a teenager so presumably I couldn't have afforded it anyway. Somehow they had never figured out that my mom could buy it for me.
ReplyDeleteI can't say that race isn't a part of it, but I experience the same thing. It can be maddening! Wal-Mart would be great, but you would have to staff it with Americans.
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