kevinsensei ([info]kevinsensei) wrote,
@ 2009-07-05 01:08:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Current location:静岡県 静岡市 駿河区 国吉田
Current mood: aggravated
Entry tags:japan

a fu*k japan moment
So I went to the electronics store to buy an air conditioner. Wallet stuffed with money, I walked over to the air con section, picked up a couple of brochures, and started browsing. Then I noticed that the sales people had drifted over to the other side of the department. ooook... A few minutes later - seriously, I was standing there by myself looking up and down at the various units for about 5 minutes - a (Japanese) couple stepped into the department and instantly there was a sales dude at their side, going "いらっしゃいませ!" ooook... Then some barely-out-of-high-school looking kid walked up right next to me and again another sales droid appeared at his side, going "いらっしゃいませ!" wtf am I, chopped liver?! ARRRGH!!

So I left the store. I basically now just want to use up my points on this card and never shop there again. Jerks. I have 30,000 points on it now, and another 30,000 coming in later this month for signing up for internet. I figure I'll make a show of it too. I'll use up the exact number of points (or come as close as possible to doing so), ask to see the manager and cut my card in half right in front of them, saying: "I hate this store, no one helps me because I'm a foreigner."




(14 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]chochajin
2009-07-05 06:29 am UTC (link)
Oh Jesus, sometimes I really wonder what's wrong!!
I only had this kind of problem in larger cities so far, but I ran after them and ask them what I wanted to ask and once they figured my Japanese is good enough so that they don't have to use their non-existent English it was all good.

In the inaka I live it's more like they all approach you and try to talk to you. Well, lots of people do.

I always try to imagine a situation like that in America or in Europe. Not possible at all! *lol*

(Reply to this) (Thread)

it's not just inaka vs. urban
[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-05 07:49 am UTC (link)
It really is a case-by-case thing. I've been in the inaka where they go above and beyond trying to help out. I've also been treated like scum.

I'm not going to run after anyone. If I'm in the store and the salespeople approach the Japanese customers, they need to approach me too.

I can't imagine this crap happening in the USA either. People would be getting sued. Or at least getting on tv, lol.




I'm talking about this in my lessons this week.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]wendye
2009-07-05 06:41 am UTC (link)
sorry dude.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-05 07:38 am UTC (link)
thanks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Has it always been like that?
[info]thorny_rose
2009-07-05 06:45 am UTC (link)
If so, sounds like a perfectly sound concluding statement to me. They'll have no idea of the consequences of their actions til someone rubs it in their faces.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Has it always been like that?
[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-05 07:38 am UTC (link)
Well, the other times I go I'm usually either with my girlfriend or I know exactly what I need to get, take the slip to the counter and they get the item from the back.

After I cut up my card, I'll mail it to their corporate office with a letter explaining the situation too.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]februaryfour
2009-07-05 02:26 pm UTC (link)
I feel for you, man.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-05 11:38 pm UTC (link)
Thanks.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]stormd
2009-07-05 05:07 pm UTC (link)
Are there any expat community papers or forum sites where you can discuss stuff like places to hang out, getting along in moon-land, and stuff like that? Seems like a great place to post reviews of shops that suck and should be avoided, as well as shops that treat you friendly and deserve patronage.

Maybe you should start a column "外人 ショッパー"

Every shop should be sent a copy of their own review, so they know what they're doing well, or bad.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-06 12:06 am UTC (link)
Thing is, aside from the "No Foreigners Allowed" places, it can be quite random. If I have a terrible experience at this shop, there's a story of another foreigner who had exemplary customer service. I don't know of any expat rags around here though.

debito.org is an activist site for foreigners in Japan. If you can get past the crap webpage design, some useful info can be found. Forum sites, well you know what those can be like, lol.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)


[info]thorny_rose
2009-07-06 02:43 am UTC (link)
And then there's the matter of them treating certain foreigners differently... It would be hard to categorize.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)


[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-06 03:25 am UTC (link)
Yup. That's pretty much where I was going with that.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]ikona_rakasha
2009-07-06 07:28 am UTC (link)
gah had that the other day too when I was trying to but a eePC and they ignored me for an hour. Eventually I gave up and walked out. grrrrrrrrrrr

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]kevinsensei
2009-07-06 10:52 am UTC (link)
An hour? That really sucks. :(

(Reply to this) (Parent)


(14 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…