I think that differences in behavioural cultures matter too much in order to have a clear understanding of other people's judgements... For example, I didn't know until recently that British people perceive the frankness of German or Belgian people (straight talking, "persistent" looking into the eyes etc) as threatening, as rudeness. Which for me is shocking because I value positively frankness, as honesty and openess. So IMO this kind of talk is possibly more relevant to the traveller's mentality (but it is an interesting nevertheless).
Friendliest cities/countries in terms of customer service
Whats your experience from your travels around the world regarding customer service? For example at restaurants, hotels, shops etc.
I started thinking about this after my recent trip to Austria (Vienna and Salzburh), followed by my trip to Italy (Rome and Sardegna).
I have always got good and friendly service from Italians (almost exclusively men) but found alot if the people i met in Austria to be rude. Same goes for New York (lots of angry people looking for confrontations) but got some extremely good service in places like Dubai and London.
This is just my experiences and could of course depend on many things.
I want to know where you got the best service and where you in general have met the most helpful people. And also why you think some cities are better at this than others.
I started thinking about this after my recent trip to Austria (Vienna and Salzburh), followed by my trip to Italy (Rome and Sardegna).
I have always got good and friendly service from Italians (almost exclusively men) but found alot if the people i met in Austria to be rude. Same goes for New York (lots of angry people looking for confrontations) but got some extremely good service in places like Dubai and London.
This is just my experiences and could of course depend on many things.
I want to know where you got the best service and where you in general have met the most helpful people. And also why you think some cities are better at this than others.
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
^^ I agree. It's too subjective to quantify.
Friendliest : North Americans.
Less friendly: Turkish (Istanbul).
Less friendly: Turkish (Istanbul).
I actually like the service here in Manila!
Though it it comes to service, I really like that of Japan!
Though it it comes to service, I really like that of Japan!
Very true.I think that differences in behavioural cultures matter too much in order to have a clear understanding of other people's judgements... For example, I didn't know until recently that British people perceive the frankness of German or Belgian people (straight talking, "persistent" looking into the eyes etc) as threatening, as rudeness. Which for me is shocking because I value positively frankness, as honesty and openess. So IMO this kind of talk is possibly more relevant to the traveller's mentality (but it is an interesting nevertheless).
For me I have had both the best and worst over there (Only USA, not been to Canada). Worst was in NYC where some people seemed really cold and unfriendly. That didn't surprise me as we were in a huge city and London can be the same.... But LA was totally different, everyone there was ass kissing 24/7Friendliest : North Americans.
^People in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio are the nicest.
I generally see that customer service in the USA seems to be much more important than in Europe. Europe only acts like it should do according to written laws, while Americans really make work of it even though it's mostly unwritten. This is of course also boosted by the fact that many people depend on tips for a living and of course those million-dollar-lawsuits for some eenie-meenie mistakes. But even beyond there they all seem to be willing to help. And they always want to make it comfortable for others, even if that is at the expense of the environment.
Europeans are the people who tend to say no much easier, showing greed or an unwill to speak to people who can't understand their mother tongue.
The same seems to be for non-tourist areas of Indonesia. The will to help is great, not unlikely caused by the fact that when a person like me, almost lacking any pigment, they seem very eager to want to help me for their benefit. But since they know I'm not looking for the Shangri-la hotel but rather the Kampung they really want to explain how it all works there. Always look for the guys who ain't yelling for you to go by taxi, but the one who remains silent until you approach him.
Europeans are the people who tend to say no much easier, showing greed or an unwill to speak to people who can't understand their mother tongue.
The same seems to be for non-tourist areas of Indonesia. The will to help is great, not unlikely caused by the fact that when a person like me, almost lacking any pigment, they seem very eager to want to help me for their benefit. But since they know I'm not looking for the Shangri-la hotel but rather the Kampung they really want to explain how it all works there. Always look for the guys who ain't yelling for you to go by taxi, but the one who remains silent until you approach him.
Ive heard customer service in the US is superb for those who rely on tips, but horrific for those who don't.
Ironically, I find people in NYC friendly!For me I have had both the best and worst over there (Only USA, not been to Canada). Worst was in NYC where some people seemed really cold and unfriendly. That didn't surprise me as we were in a huge city and London can be the same.... But LA was totally different, everyone there was ass kissing 24/7
Do you realize the massive logical flaw behind this stereotype? Imagine if you judged Americans based on their willingness to respond if you asked them something in French, German or Japanese. Of course there will be people in Europe who struggle with English, because it's not a native language in fifty-something of its countries! There are a few countries with remarkable levels of proficiency in conversational English as a second laguage, but there are countries where just one in three people can converse in English, others where just one in five can... And that says nothing about them as humans.Europeans are the people who tend to say no much easier, showing greed or an unwill to speak to people who can't understand their mother tongue.
I'd say GCC countries so far, like UAE, Oman & Qatar. Customer service in GCC has the best of both worlds- Western efficiency & Middle Eastern warmth.
Also Southern European countries like Italy & Greece - efficient yet friendly
Also Southern European countries like Italy & Greece - efficient yet friendly
I think that none of us can be totally objective, so it is obvious that we share our point of view and experiences. On the other hand the world is that globalized that an italian may serve you in London, a romanian in Mykonos or an Indian in NYC..The only think that I can say is that rudeness is not acceptable and it is definitely a duty of the manager to do sth about it. In my company I 'll take the blame if my front office is rude or inefficient.
One day in San Francisco, I paid my bill and left the restaurant. I was allready outside and suddenly the owner screamed I didnt give any tip.Ive heard customer service in the US is superb for those who rely on tips, but horrific for those who don't.
Okay Im from the Netherlands and here it isnt common to give tips. Or I give tip if the service is really outstanding. So the service (hamburger rest.) was for me just normal and I paid my bill. Sure I wanted to give a tip, but I just was forgotten it and it was just not my habit. But the way he screamed, I was a little bit shocked. But it helped btw. For the rest of my US tour I paid my tips in all the restaurants.
Im from NL, and Dutch people can be for outsiders very rude.
We are down-to-earth, very direct and too open. I think we are friendly, but because we are too direct, outsiders could be offended by our behavior. We are too direct and think everyone accept our answers.
The customer-service is okay in the Netherlands. Its very informal and I like that.
We are down-to-earth, very direct and too open. I think we are friendly, but because we are too direct, outsiders could be offended by our behavior. We are too direct and think everyone accept our answers.
The customer-service is okay in the Netherlands. Its very informal and I like that.
There's obviously good and bad service everywhere in the world but the best I've had was in the US (although I definitely found New York to be less friendly in this respect). Having said that I prefer the honesty of the service in most other countries where if someone can't be bothered they just can't be bothered and that's all there is to it. Ultimately you don't have to buy their goods or give them a tip. It seems a more natural way of doing things.
I actually like to service in bosnia.
I didn't meet all 10 million of them haha.Ironically, I find people in NYC friendly!
Mexico and Japan have good customer service
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