Is this considered rude in the United States?

Question

I'm NOT an American and would like to know if the following is considered rude behavior in the US. It's actually TWO cases below.

1) I called a suit-selling store where I had previously ordered a nice suit and said "Hi, I'm calling to ask if my suit is ready.....",. The guy that answered the phone interrupted me and said "What suit, my friend??? I have about 1000 suits here!, what's your name?". Now, at the moment he interrupted me with such question, I was about to tell him my name. I thought it was kind of rude of him not waiting for me to tell him my name and making it look as if I was stupid enough to call and ask for my suit without giving them my name to identify it. Of course I was going to tell him my name but he didn't let me finish. Would his behavior be considered rude in the US or is it acceptable?

2) I went to an optometrist office and asked the sales person if they sold any product designed to remove scratches from glasses. The guy laughed at my question and said "Like what? Magic or what?". I proceeded to explain again that my glasses had small scratches and he said "Maybe you're not very careful". Finally he said there was nothing that could be done, that there was no product that could remove scratches from glasses. Do you find his behavior rude or is it normal behavior in the United States?

Both Men from these two cases were probably in their 20's or 30's just in case you want to know their ages.

All this happened in CALIFORNIA.

I have experienced many more cases of rudeness in one year in the United States than in 25 years in my country. I found it interesting. My theory is that Americans don't value being polite, friendly, nice, etc. as much as other people in the world. I have also seen dishonesty is a very big problem here even though most people are not struggling. It seems most people in the US just want to make money by being dishonest and rude to others. I find it sad that manners and moral values are not valued enough in the US. This is not an offense, it's just my perception of things coming from a country where people value manners and being honest even though we're much poorer economically than Americans. Thanks to all that have responded to my question.

Answer 1

In both instances, the men in question are being rude, even by US standards.

The first case you listed is considered a little less rude (by most people, not me, though) because it seems to me like the man was attempting to joke around. He really shouldn't have, because he works in a clothing store, not a comedy club.

In the second case, the man was completely in the wrong. If you had complained to his manager about his conduct, he would have gotten into some trouble for his snide attitude. Even if there isn't anything available to remove the scratches from glasses, all he had to say is, "No, sir, we don't carry any product like that." The "like magic?" comment was rude and the "you should be more careful" comment was downright unprofessional.

Most Americans I know, myself included, would be offended by such comments.

Answer 2

I am sorry that my country is so rude. Most people here are very inconsiderate of others. To answer your question both situations are rude. Situation 1 was just simply someone cutting you off and that really makes me upset. People need to be in not that big of a hurry. Allow someone to finish what they are saying they just might get all the information they need to assist you.

The second situation was just plain rude and you encountered a person with no manners. You are the customer and if you want to be a sucessful business then customer service needs to come first. A simple "no sir we do not carry a product of that type. Thank you." would have been acceptable. It doesn't matter what state it happened in, that happens all the time. I think California and New York are states that have thick concentrations of people like that though.

Answer 3

If you began your conversation with the clothing salesman with "Is my suit ready?" YOU were slightly rude. It would have been better to have begun it by saying, "Hello, this Mr. Voyavagar...could you please tell me if my suit was ready?" Then the clerk would not have had a motive to be sarcastic.

The second incident was possibly an incident of rudeness to you, unless you're angry because he told you the truth, that your scratched glasses are probably going to stay that way, and that shaded your perception of the salesman's response to you. Some people don't like hearing the truth.

Would people have acted like that across the my country? I doubt seriously. Americans are taught to be polite and it comes naturally. Please remember that California often embarrasses us as a nation.

*Edit 1*
My friend, I have no idea of what country you're from, but if you think Americans are rude, better stay out of most of Europe. Ever been to Holland? How about the Münchener Freiheit in Munich? It could be so much worse. What I sense in your writings is profound disappointment. Did you inadvertently place the US on a pedestal only to find out we're little different from the rest of the developed world?-

Answer 4

First blush answer is, yes this is rude behavior, but it is also common behavior. At least more common than say fifteen years ago, and less common forty years ago. It seems to be getting more and more common to interrupt and insult people you don't know, and downright abuse the people you are supposed to love! I have a second comment, and it is about being overly sensitive--NOT YOU!--I am not not making a comment with a shade on it so that you might hopefully take a hint--I am only saying that those who do insult and interrupt are insecure people. In other words, I am saying that today's Americans are much more insecure than they used to be twenty or forty years ago. There are many historical, political, and sociological reasons for this, and I "think" part of it is that we don't all believe on common grounds like we used to.

I wish you well in your travels here in America, and please don't hold it against us, we are just time travelers like the rest of the human race, and believe me when I say, there are those of us who are not rude. Take care.

Answer 5

Yes, they were both rude. Interesting that you have to ask, don't you think? There are some people, such as your first respondent, that think you are out of touch, that this is the way of the world nowadays. When confronted by rudeness on a daily basis, I sometimes find myself wondering if they are right. What a world we have made for ourselves.

Answer 6

Yes to Both 1 and 2. The guy in the suit store could have just gotten done with another nasty customer, (be in A bad mood) woken up in A bad mood, (gotten up on the wrong side of the bed) or
could just be A nasty person. (there are so very
many different things and ways about the United
States and There is so many different people here
with all their different moods and ways) I can't see the second part but, will try to answer in another part. :~)

Answer 7

kinda rude. the second case is weird though cause there is a product that buffs out scratches on prescription glasses. Try the lens doctor. It probably isn't a miracle fix, but it will work as a temporary solution. You can probably buy it at walmart or a drug store. I have never used this stuff on glasses cause i don't wear any, but i have used similar stuff on my watches that get scratched, and it worked for me.
https://www.officialtvwebsite.com/lensdr/ver2/index.asp?did=644&refcode=lensdrg

Answer 8

case 1. it wasn't DEFINITELY rude. in the US a lot of us are hurried and just want to cut to the chase, nix all the small talk.
i don't think he tried to make you look like a dumba*s, but he probably just wanted instead if you could have said
"my name is ____, i was wondering if my suit i had called in for is ready yet.."
of course, he'd have to ask you to repeat that because he wouldn't have caught it the first time.
i don't know-- it's just weird that way. like they want you to be prepared, but they don't want you to jump the gun.

anyway, for this kind of thing, you just have to deal with it.

case 2. this guy is straight out rude. he could do without the sarcasm. "like magic?!?" okay: he could have said a little more politely that they don't carry anything to get rid of your scratched. and he didn't have to say that you were careless, because he could have possibly no idea whatsoever how the scratches got there.

that guy's a bi*ch
and he could be wrong. maybe there ARE things to get rid of your scratches.
idk, check online or something /:
http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Lense-Scratch-Removal-Kit/dp/B0002D6PL8

Answer 9

Britain is made up of four diverse countries,England,Scotland,Wales and northerly eire,The Irish , the Welsh, and in all probability the Scots dont dislike united states of america,maximum of your anti American comments in all probability come from the English,who generaly do no longer basically like the Irish.the Welsh,or the Scots all of whom they have been to conflict with

Answer 10

The first one is slightly rude. He may have had some customer's waiting and was trying to hurry along the phone call. Usually people would call saying "Hi, my name is ___________ and I'm calling to see if my suit is ready."

The 2nd one is rude, unless the guy was smiling and joking with you.