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bernhard_riemann
Frequent Guest
Joined: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 41
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 Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:54 pm Post subject: customer service |
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| I hope I am not stereotyping even though I am. I wanted to know "how much do Russians value customer service?". I was part a marketing group in college and discovered during a focus group that personality of the bus driver was REALLY important. Looking up jobs in the classifieds, I have found that one of the qualifications for the position of plumber was "friendliness". It appears that customer service is becoming more important than the product/service in the USA. I have read from Mosnews about what service is like in Russia. From a masculine perspective, I kind of admire it. Its not that c.s. is unimportant; as long as the job is done the way I wanted, then I don't really care--especially if its starts to get mushy. |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Ermmm... what's customer service? 
Seriously, it's not the most important thing to a lot of companies, but it's a (slow) growing industry in the larger cities. The quality of the service you get depends a lot on the particular person rendering the services--not some company motto or creed that is, hmm, artifical. Good service here is usually sincere helpfulness. |
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Mogsfan
WayToRussified
Joined: 03 Nov 2004
Posts: 490
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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That's a really good question. This is just for Russians and other Europeans who haven't been to North America and might want a comparison.
I think it depends on the establishment and store. Like mediashark mentioned, it also depends on the employee but in some establishments, the company enforces the service in the training.
Anyway, for example, it's imperative that a restaurant have good service or they will lose customers. No one wants to wait for their meal and drinks forever. However, I have been to Japanese and other Asian restaurants and the service usually seems bad. But, the reason is that they do things differently. It's almost as if they don't want to interrupt you while you eat or want to take their time and make sure everything is right. Not to mention, taking the time to prepare the meal. In Japanese restaurants, I've learned that you just signal a waitress/waiter when you want something. And most don't come to your table to take care of the bill. You go up to the cash register.
Customer service varies. In some stores, you may be asked if you want help by more than one person. In another store, you might browse and not even get asked. You have to seek them out. |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Mediashark is right. It depends on the personality and his/her mood that day. As long as you play it sincere and nice to them, they'll respond in kind. Bear in mind, you'll be treated a lot differently once they detect your a foreigner and if your from Caucasia they apply the "we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I remember one of my first few attempts at garbled Russian to buy groceries at one of those little stores where you have to recite to the cashier what you need. When the shopkeeper saw that I was clearly having difficulty because I was a foreigner, she patiently pointed to each item on the shelf to clarify with me. When some guy in line was mumbling and grumbling about being held up because of me, she snapped at him. |
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