i am an American living in Europe. I have been to many of the countries and every time i go to a store ( even if i attempt the language and blend in) the cashier, etc. seem rude. I know that customer service is valued more in USA but why wouldnt europeans want to have great customer service so they could have more business?
2006-09-06 00:49:43 · 11 answers · asked by fish2441 2 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
I live in the US but I was raised in Cyprus and at first I found salespeople at the counter hypocritical when they asked me "how are you doing today"? I thought to myself "and what do you care?" Now that I visit Cyprus I realised that this is customer service. People are saying that to please me. It surely beats the uninterested salespeople we have in Cyprus that dont even bother to thank me for my business. Americans remind me of my grandmother, she would greet everyone in her village. I think Europeans are trying not be hypocritical and they end up sounding rude. Americans are trying to be polite and some times they sound hypocritical. In any case saying that you hate Bush helps :)
2006-09-06 03:17:20 · answer #1 · answered by Cyprusguy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeahhh I am rude...that is too much generalization. There are rude people and...there are service minded ones. Amongst others the Dutch (hence in The Netherlands) might be rated as service minded? Mostly they speak English, be prepared to listen and ....and will guide you?
A point is, that most European languages are so called direct languages, where the English language an indirect language is. With other words in English you could work with "verb" construction saying the opposite of what you would like to express. For example:....I do agree with your proposal (positive), but I would like to see (negative). That construction inclusive of but a Dutchman will not understand in a direct language context.
So try to understand the language difference and a lot of people using straight forward (your rude) language aren't that "rude" you are believing to hear and/or see.
With a smile on my face I do hope, that you could benefit from my reply, but feel free to convince me about the contrary.
Be happy.
2006-09-06 08:08:48 · answer #2 · answered by Jimmio47 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is all a matter of viewpoint.
From the viewpoint of many Europeans and Asians, Americans seem obsequious and insincere. Our goofy puppy-dog friendliness offered indiscriminately to perfect strangers that we will never see again is considered weird and suspicious. They are, in fact, perfectly courteous in a frank and efficient way, as befits a single transaction that does not involve a personal relationship. That Americans seem to need to "make friends" with every taxi driver, waiter, and salesperson bemuses Europeans. They save their friendship for their friends.
2006-09-06 08:32:59 · answer #3 · answered by dognhorsemom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it has to do with one being european or American. it's an individual issue. I live in Europe, some people can be very cold and some are quite good. Every country has such people. In American I experienced this attitude too. I wouldn't generalize.
2006-09-06 08:05:41 · answer #4 · answered by gerzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
perhaps you mustn't generalize
what you talk about could be the case in Paris, France for instance
But I would never believe for instance a Dutchman or an Italian would be rude to a customer! No way
2006-09-06 18:03:31 · answer #5 · answered by TutSki YanCheg 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived in Spain for 4 years and have traveled to almost 40 different countries and have not at all had your experience with the folks we have encountered, except in France. It could be a case of you finding what you are looking for. Again, outside of France, the rudest people I have found are in the US, mostly in Sears stores.
2006-09-06 07:54:56 · answer #6 · answered by pskomorn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone in USA is polite either.in USA people are only polite cause they make them be polite,that is they have to suck up like in a store when they wish you have a great day but they say it like they are actually dying....In Europe people don¸t care.
2006-09-06 10:15:06 · answer #7 · answered by sanja77 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never found anyone over there to be rude... but then again, I'm from NYC.
2006-09-07 01:29:28 · answer #8 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because we, Europeans don't like infatuated Americans so much!
2006-09-06 19:01:46 · answer #9 · answered by ♫Pavic♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Appear rude? They are rude, they don't need you, where else can you go, your stuck there and they know it! Maybe if you tell them you hate bush, it might help, they all hate him...........
2006-09-06 07:54:30 · answer #10 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋