UK Customer vs US Customer...

[mjr]

On the retail store and restaurant front, we do have a way to go and more likely we have gone down in the service side compared to the US, Canada, Oz and the Kiwis amongst the native English speaking World. Compared to these countries we generally have to call out for attention while in the store. In these countries they will actually approach you.

That's not my experience! Apart from supermarket- style shops (like Wilkinson and the discounters), staff almost always approach and offer help. It's actually slightly irritating, but maybe it's unusual and I look confused or rich

Also, use of "native speaker" for countries other than England seems wrong: first-language speaker?

 

[mjr]

Parisian waiters....


...'nuff said.

Oh most of them are lurrrrrvely!

Mais je parle français...

 

[mjr]

Moi aussi (ma mere etait professeur de francais*).

You must have a "wrong" accent

*No French keyboard.

At least here, I can type accents (no, not that sort) on a GB keyboard, although it takes a few more keys: Shift+AltGr (this is called "Compose" and is like the overtype button on an old typewriter, stopping the cursor from advancing after the next key) then comma then c gives ç

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'd move to the US if I were you.

Feel free. Plenty of room. Let me know when you are coming, and I'll throw some bratwurst on the swannebrai for you. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Feel free. Plenty of room. Let me know when you are coming, and I'll throw some bratwurst on the swannebrai for you. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Not me, I never travel to countries who maintain the death penalty.

America's loss.

 

[gavintc]

I looked over my garden fence and I am sure the neighbour's grass is greener.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

[QUOTE 4156194, member: 259"]Illinois has formally abolished the death sentence, so as long as you can get a direct flight in there you'll still get your free sausage![/QUOTE]
My family have been working on me to try to get me to travel to states which have abolished the death penalty; I am being stubborn and refusing to relent. No free sausage for me.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I might make kebabs.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Not me, I never travel to countries who maintain the death penalty.

America's loss.

Why, what have you done?

 

[ayceejay]

I don't get any service in the US although it is only 16 kms down the road they won't let me in. I was arrested in 1983 (not charged) and this disqualifies me apparently. I was asked if I had a criminal record and said no but the this came up on the computer so I was a liar too.

 

[mustang1]

Well as someone from the UK living in the states......

I do think overall customer service is better than the UK (huge generalization here), but not always and not enough times to make it a rule, more of a take each situation as it comes kind of thing. Certainly at restaurant level it is.

One big exception I can think of: airlines. Generally any US airline I've flown on has been completely sub class, whereas UK airlines are usually so much better. Don't know the reason for that at all though. Also, not exactly customer service, but customs and immigration in the US seem to regard employing the most surliest as paramount, UK customs and immigration seem to be so much more pleasant yet -to me -appear to do a better job, with better ways of questioning (I remember a UK customs person asking me how a multi-tool worked, but only afterwards did I realize that I didn't think it was because she was interested, but just wanted to see if I knew what to do to see if I really was a cyclist). I think the US customs official would have just shouted loudly at me.

Anyway, just what I've found

I was standing behind Richard Brandon at the airport flying into America when the passport guy decided I was no longer a VIP and directed me to the line where plebs go but by that time a queue has formed so I asked the guy to let me into the front and he just shrugged his shoulders.

I agree with what you said.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Passports, don't get me started.

 

[mustang1]

Having lived and worked in the states I can't say I've noticed any great difference in attitude betwixt England, the Northern isles, or Pennsylvania with customer service. Main difference being the Americans have an annoying habit of stating the bleeding obvious, such as "say, you're British", or "gee, you're tall", and "hey Mister, Do you know you're on fire", that kind of obviousness.

I think they need something today, maybe making conversation.

I suppose it's like a guy saying to a woman "come here often?"

 

[Gravity Aided]

Having lived and worked in the states I can't say I've noticed any great difference in attitude betwixt England, the Northern isles, or Pennsylvania with customer service. Main difference being the Americans have an annoying habit of stating the bleeding obvious, such as "say, you're British", or "gee, you're tall", and "hey Mister, Do you know you're on fire", that kind of obviousness.

Probably just a way of stating you're remarkable. Many Americans don't encounter British people with regularity. (Gee, you change your avatar alot, @Drago ...)