Annoyed at bad customer service in my local pool hall
- Thread starter Luther Blissett
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I've had that happen to me too Bob! I always go up to the owner/manager beforehand, and talk about the lesson, so that everything is clear upfront. Occasionally I refer a student to a particular poolroom, for a lesson...but usually have them provide the setting for the lesson. Only once in 20+ years have I had the same outcome as you though!
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com
Basically, the best thing about Poland is the food, and it SUCKS
Simple solution. Leave now.
Ahahahahaha. You're right, but your reason for leaving is my reason for staying. If I don't set them straight on the rails, who else will?
Really though, imperialist comedy snobbery aside, I stick around because I like the architecture and the general small-town feel to the city. I have a hunch that within a generation the sort of terrible shitness that I've described will hitch up its skirts and scuttle off beneath the draining board of post-communist nastiness, leaving behind a polite well-educated workforce.
God though, the teething phase is really grinding me down...
Well...
Let me tell You all a short story:
A certain individual, apparently an English “Gentleman”, has been forced to live for approx. a couple of years in a strange country where “...some sort of weird psychology is going on...”.
To make his exile worse, he also is forced to frequent a particular establishment where no member of staff treats him up to his expectations, which he finds particularly strange because not only he speaks English but also personally knows the boss.
Due to this fact he is constantly exposed to the stuff members’ outbursts of “...various frustrations and neuroses...”, probably caused by the social phenomenon of the Country's population inevitably splitting into two parts: those who speak English and those who dare to only be able to communicate in other languages (thus, including local language, which is characteristic for the lower tier inhabitants).
Despite being treated terribly he patiently puts up with this treatment (possibly as a penance for his previous sins
???:wink until one particular day, when a stupid member of the staff dares to stand in his way the very moment he takes the most precious shot of his entire career. Also, to add an insult to his injury, the stupid member of staff, despite knowing well that this undoubtedly suffering martyr happened to know the boss personally, has a go at him when he politely askes her to move aside.
Obviously that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and a terribly hurt “Gentleman” decided immediately to cry on shoulders of AZ Forum Members and to officially inform the World that: Poland is the land that customer service forgot !!! :shocked2:
!!!
(End of Story)
I would actually feel sorry for the English “Gentleman” but...
I happen to find the Title of the Thread, some theses in its content and a particular reference to the “minimum standards (...) in the developed world...”:
generalizing, childish, thoughtless, offensive and shameful of the Author !!!
Yes, I am Polish and yes, I live in Poland.
However, I may assure You all, that if such a story was about any other “Land” I would feel exactly the same. I travelled too many countries and experienced too many excellent, good and also bad services to just remain quiet in such a case...
Some questions:
- Is it socially and legally acceptable to judge a person or group of a society on a basis of their race, religion or, for this instance, ability to speak a particular language? There is a well known word for that... I believe it begins with the letter R.
- Is it nice to form and publically express a general opinion of the whole society or country (here: “land”) on the basis of a subjective experience with one or few individuals?
- Is it very smart to support one’s "niceness" and expectations as to the treatment with the argument of “...piles of money...” one spends?
No point of going on...
What strikes me most is the stupidity in forming such a general opinion. :speechless:
This “Gentleman”, living in a foreign country, must have some native friends there (well, if he does not – then we know it all).
In forming and sending out such a general opinion he clearly offends his native acquaintances or friends, many of whom are probably trying to make his stay away from home easier.
Also, what is interesting, I suppose that any of You, who do know a tiny little bit about a customer service, know the type of a person with a “hey, I know Your Boss personally” written on one’s forehead, approach.
Enough said...
Dear AZ Member, Luther Blissett,
Last year, there was a Euro2012, Football Championships.
I believe that out of a hundreds of thousands of fans and tourists that visited Poland, You would find, perhaps, just a few malcontents who were unhappy about something here.
Also, on a humorous note, I may assure You:
if the group of thousands of Irish Team supporters found out about Your very general, negative opinion about Poland and service in this “land” – they would, just for fun, get You crucified, nonetheless providing You with an excellent service. :thumbup:
I sincerely hope that what You had experienced in Poland is nowhere close to the message You sent to the World; that such a negative, general message was an honest mistake of Yours and that you will “stand corrected” for this case.
If You wish, feel invited for a game or two. I believe I may present to You the fact that a majority of places in Poland (also pool clubs) are up to the standard of the “developed world” or, as well, above it.
However, beer is on You, as further penance for being so careless in Your opinions.
Regards
Let me tell You all a short story:
A certain individual, apparently an English “Gentleman”, has been forced to live for approx. a couple of years in a strange country where “...some sort of weird psychology is going on...”.
To make his exile worse, he also is forced to frequent a particular establishment where no member of staff treats him up to his expectations, which he finds particularly strange because not only he speaks English but also personally knows the boss.
Due to this fact he is constantly exposed to the stuff members’ outbursts of “...various frustrations and neuroses...”, probably caused by the social phenomenon of the Country's population inevitably splitting into two parts: those who speak English and those who dare to only be able to communicate in other languages (thus, including local language, which is characteristic for the lower tier inhabitants).
Despite being treated terribly he patiently puts up with this treatment (possibly as a penance for his previous sins
???:wink until one particular day, when a stupid member of the staff dares to stand in his way the very moment he takes the most precious shot of his entire career. Also, to add an insult to his injury, the stupid member of staff, despite knowing well that this undoubtedly suffering martyr happened to know the boss personally, has a go at him when he politely askes her to move aside.Obviously that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back and a terribly hurt “Gentleman” decided immediately to cry on shoulders of AZ Forum Members and to officially inform the World that: Poland is the land that customer service forgot !!! :shocked2:
!!!(End of Story)
I would actually feel sorry for the English “Gentleman” but...
I happen to find the Title of the Thread, some theses in its content and a particular reference to the “minimum standards (...) in the developed world...”:
generalizing, childish, thoughtless, offensive and shameful of the Author !!!
Yes, I am Polish and yes, I live in Poland.
However, I may assure You all, that if such a story was about any other “Land” I would feel exactly the same. I travelled too many countries and experienced too many excellent, good and also bad services to just remain quiet in such a case...
Some questions:
- Is it socially and legally acceptable to judge a person or group of a society on a basis of their race, religion or, for this instance, ability to speak a particular language? There is a well known word for that... I believe it begins with the letter R.
- Is it nice to form and publically express a general opinion of the whole society or country (here: “land”) on the basis of a subjective experience with one or few individuals?
- Is it very smart to support one’s "niceness" and expectations as to the treatment with the argument of “...piles of money...” one spends?
No point of going on...
What strikes me most is the stupidity in forming such a general opinion. :speechless:
This “Gentleman”, living in a foreign country, must have some native friends there (well, if he does not – then we know it all).
In forming and sending out such a general opinion he clearly offends his native acquaintances or friends, many of whom are probably trying to make his stay away from home easier.
Also, what is interesting, I suppose that any of You, who do know a tiny little bit about a customer service, know the type of a person with a “hey, I know Your Boss personally” written on one’s forehead, approach.
Enough said...
Dear AZ Member, Luther Blissett,
Last year, there was a Euro2012, Football Championships.
I believe that out of a hundreds of thousands of fans and tourists that visited Poland, You would find, perhaps, just a few malcontents who were unhappy about something here.
Also, on a humorous note, I may assure You:
if the group of thousands of Irish Team supporters found out about Your very general, negative opinion about Poland and service in this “land” – they would, just for fun, get You crucified, nonetheless providing You with an excellent service. :thumbup:
I sincerely hope that what You had experienced in Poland is nowhere close to the message You sent to the World; that such a negative, general message was an honest mistake of Yours and that you will “stand corrected” for this case.
If You wish, feel invited for a game or two. I believe I may present to You the fact that a majority of places in Poland (also pool clubs) are up to the standard of the “developed world” or, as well, above it.
However, beer is on You, as further penance for being so careless in Your opinions.
Regards
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Your first mistake right there. I live here by choice. Nobody has forced me.
I stand by this statement.
Exile... Forced... Well, either you're simply making mistake after mistake, or you're trying sarcastically to suggest that because I'm not forced, I should simply go somewhere else if I'm not happy.
Thing is, I actually love it here. I have plenty of Polish friends, many of whom are actually more annoyed than me by the culture of poor customer service which they tell me is a hangover from the days of Communism, when nobody had anything and the shopkeepers routinely got nasty power-trips of people because they (the shopkeepers) had stuff (food and material goods) when most people had almost nothing.
I don't find the treatment strange because I know the boss or because I speak English. I find it strange because this is 2013 and Poland is now in the European Union. No paying customer should expect to be called an idiot by a staff member in a pool hall after he or she politely says "excuse me" in the staff member's native language.
I don't think the language split is the fundamental cause of the rudeness I've talked about, though I do think it exacerbates it.
I put up with it because I like to enjoy my life and be happy and stress-free, so rather than get into heated exchanges of swearing or shouting, as I expect plenty of people would do, I simply stay zen and wait for the day when they get new staff.Despite being treated terribly he patiently puts up with this treatment (possibly as a penance for his previous sins
Your sarcasm does nothing to help your case here. I have never claimed that my shot was especially important. I am quite sure though that politely asking a staff member to move so I can shoot is not an act of getting above my station. It's simply a normal polite request.
As I say, knowing the boss should not come into it. Please see my original post where I make this very clear.
For someone who obviously enjoys writing, you should consider using either "the last straw" or "the straw that broke the camel's back". Writing "the last straw that broke the camel’s back" contains a tautology (telling us that it broke the camel's back is enough to make the point that it's the last straw).
No need for the scare quotes.
Nothing happened immediately. I spent the rest of the evening having a great time with three Polish friends, two Saudi friends, one American friend, and another from Singapore. They were each amazed by the rudeness of the staff member.
While provocative, the thread title is not as unfair as you try and suggest. Over the years, again and again Polish people have asked me how I can stand the rudeness of people in the service industry and retail industry in this country. I usually reply that I think it's slowly changing (getting better), and between now and then I stay here because I think the general population is polite and well-educated, so on balance the good out-weighs the bad.and to officially inform the World that: Poland is the land that customer service forgot !!! :shocked2:
(End of Story)
Well you're entitled to your opinion, but you're wrong. While it is not universally true that customer service is bad in Poland (I have received great customer service from some places), it is generally true that it's far behind a lot of other European countries. One reason I can say this confidently and fearlessly is that Polish people are usually the first to say it. If you really are Polish as you claim, then you really ought to know I'm right about this.
All generalisations have their limits of course, but compared to other countries I've lived in or visited (such as the UK, USA, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, & Ukraine) Poland really does have some catching up to do in the public service sector. Sorry if that offends you, but there it is. The truth isn't always a lovely warm fluffy politically correct bunny rabbit.
Presuming that you're indirectly accusing my of racism, then I ought to caution you: I am not making (and have not made) a statement about race. I am making a statement about a culture of accepting bad customer service in a country of otherwise polite educated people.
Well as my own experience is the only experience of which I have direct knowledge, you shouldn't be surprised when I let it inform my statements. And what's this about "a few individuals"? In the years I've been here, I've interacted with thousands of individuals, and so yes, it's perfectly fair that I claim to be left with a kind of general overview of the level of customer service in this land.
I already pointed out in my original post that we ought to be able to forget that I've spent piles of money there. As I've said all along, anyone should be able to walk in off the street and expect not to be called an idiot when he or she politely asks a staff member to move in order that a pool shot can be taken. With respect, I think this really shouldn't be so hard for you to understand.
And yet you do...
I've spent the last two years encouraging my Polish friends to stick up for their country and be proud of it. When they receive rude treatment in shops or bars, they have often turned to me and said "well that's Poland...", at which point I have told them that they should simply not put up with it. Most Polish people are as I say polite and educated people. The culture of putting up with terrible service is I think the only thing slowing the rate at which the culture is changing. ...But changing it is. I think that within one or two generations Poland will be on a par with the rest of Europe in this respect, and then perhaps a generation later on a par with the USA. Between now and then, Polish people would do well to stop taking crap from the small minority of rude aggressive nasties who are stuck in 1987.
I don't see how politely saying excuse me has anything to do with knowing the boss. You seem rather fixed on something which I have already pointed out should not even matter. The fact that a staff member is rude to someone who is friends with the boss is no worse than being rude to any other customer ...although it is perhaps more stupid.
And yet you go on...
The Euro2012 event went well, but remember that was a huge corporate exercise where international values and management were layered over a national culture. I don't think it's wise to compare the Euro2012 football event with the day to day goings on in a pool hall.
A "humorous note" eh? Fantasising about a forum member being assaulted by football supporters is your "humorous note". Wow. I bet you're a laugh a minute at parties...
I have given a clear and thorough justification for my words, and I stand by them. The generalisation which has gone on here has in the main been on your part.
There are plenty of great places in Poland, and very often I receive excellent standards of customer service. There was a time in this past when this was less true, but as time passes the situation gets better and better. I suppose my mistake with the thread title was failing to use the scare quotes which I think in retrospect would have been suitable. The main problem is not the regularity with which poor service is given, so much as the regularity with which it's treated as normal by many Polish people. Their low expectation of service in their own country is all that's holding back the last few percent of rude aggressive workers in the public sector here.
Maybe let's go Dutch.However, beer is on You, as further penance for being so careless in Your opinions.
Regards
I've been thinking about this thread for a while.
The attitude IS a hangover from communism, where everybody was theoretically
considered equal.
The next generation will be more pleasant to deal with, imo.
But I entirely disagree about Polish cuisine....
...I love perogies...:love2:
Yeah, I was going to mention, if you don't like Polish food, your taste buds must be a bit off.
At the very least, perogies and sausage are a traditional fare.
Apparently, we have some Polish blood lines in my family so there isn't a Christmas or any other time of the year that perogies, sausage and cabbage rolls are part of our dinners. Altho, cabbage rolls may be more to the Ukrainian side. But cabbage dishes are Polish.
At the very least, perogies and sausage are a traditional fare.
Apparently, we have some Polish blood lines in my family so there isn't a Christmas or any other time of the year that perogies, sausage and cabbage rolls are part of our dinners. Altho, cabbage rolls may be more to the Ukrainian side. But cabbage dishes are Polish.
I agree about the pierogies, as a matter of fact I'm going to be making some soon.
TheThaiger
Banned
Cabbage rolls can't be cabbage in a roll, surely?
And I thought British food sucked!
TheThaiger
Banned
I'll make odds that the women are family members who don't really want to be there and probably aren't being paid what they could earn elsewhere.
Or, they are "must hires" from someone who has influence over the owner (mafia, local politician, banker...they're basically the same thing).
Or, they are "must hires" from someone who has influence over the owner (mafia, local politician, banker...they're basically the same thing).
Thaiger, you've never had a cabbage roll. Get outta town. Probably trying to pull my only good leg.
Meat rolls. Beef or pork or a combination of both. I add bacon to the mixture.
Rice, onions and seasoning.
Wrapped in cabbage. Plain cabbage or sour cabbage.
Traditional Ukrainian can have meat or just rice. If seasoned properly, the plain rice wrapped in cabbage is good too.
Cooked in a roasting pan in the oven with stewed tomatoes poured over top of the rolls.
Meat rolls. Beef or pork or a combination of both. I add bacon to the mixture.
Rice, onions and seasoning.
Wrapped in cabbage. Plain cabbage or sour cabbage.
Traditional Ukrainian can have meat or just rice. If seasoned properly, the plain rice wrapped in cabbage is good too.
Cooked in a roasting pan in the oven with stewed tomatoes poured over top of the rolls.
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There are probably 7 million people in the service industry, Luther. Even if you had 50 bad experiences, you wouldn't have enough to characterize en entire group that large.
What purpose does it serve, changing this narrative from "look at how bad this waitress acted" to "look at how bad polish people are"? Do you also believe mexicans are born lazy? You seemed better than the kind of guy who thinks "most [race] are [adjective]", but first impressions can be wrong.
There's a 2nd side to the story we're not getting. Maybe you said "Excuse me" with a pissy tone. Maybe after the first time you said it, she replied and you didn't hear it.
Here's a mindblowing though: Maybe she felt since she was there first, YOU should move out of HER way until she's done with her task. After all, if it were a fellow pool player lining up a shot, would you interrupt him and say EXCUSE ME so you could take yours?
You owe pooler something better than a huge line-by-line dissection trying to justify casual racism.
What purpose does it serve, changing this narrative from "look at how bad this waitress acted" to "look at how bad polish people are"? Do you also believe mexicans are born lazy? You seemed better than the kind of guy who thinks "most [race] are [adjective]", but first impressions can be wrong.
There's a 2nd side to the story we're not getting. Maybe you said "Excuse me" with a pissy tone. Maybe after the first time you said it, she replied and you didn't hear it.
Here's a mindblowing though: Maybe she felt since she was there first, YOU should move out of HER way until she's done with her task. After all, if it were a fellow pool player lining up a shot, would you interrupt him and say EXCUSE ME so you could take yours?
You owe pooler something better than a huge line-by-line dissection trying to justify casual racism.
You probably already know, Terry, that the Poles and Ukes are the same
genetic stock...and speak a common language that's separated by an
alphabet. Like the Serbs and Croats....Ukrainians are Orthodox and Poles
are Catholic and their manner of speaking is growing apart but still
understandable to each other.
Time for my favorite racial joke....
Dick Gregory, an old-time black comedian and health food guru, tells about
his time in the army.
He's sitting on an ammunition case cleaning his rifle when a blond-haired
blue-eyed Texan throws his boots at him and says "Shine mah shoes, Sambo."
Well, Dick was enraged and grabbed his rifle by the barrel to club him
upside the head.
..but his hands were greasy and the rifle flew backwards instead....
...and hit two guys telling Polack jokes.
:rotflmao:
I was not there but i have to disagree The employee in a pool room should be pool aware and not intrude on the play. I think the op was stating his opinion and and in a fairly positive way with hope in looking forward to the future as the polish service industry changes.
He needs to hope the girls do not watch seinfeld or if he offends in the future he will be hearing no pool for you today.
PT. We have a small grocery store in town, Ukrainian Coop.
They have two very large walk in iron smokers out back.
Any given day, you can walk in and get a loop of hot garlic sausage right outta the smoker.
Altho, I can't remember which street it is in Toronto. King St possibly.
Ran east west and intersected Younge St.
I used to go a for a nightly stroll. One could pass thru all the ethnic sections
by walking straight down the st.
The smells coming from the butcher shops, cafes, bakeries was over whelming.
They have two very large walk in iron smokers out back.
Any given day, you can walk in and get a loop of hot garlic sausage right outta the smoker.
Altho, I can't remember which street it is in Toronto. King St possibly.
Ran east west and intersected Younge St.
I used to go a for a nightly stroll. One could pass thru all the ethnic sections
by walking straight down the st.
The smells coming from the butcher shops, cafes, bakeries was over whelming.
That would be Spadina, runs parallel to Yonge, but not far away.
Jewish, Polish, and Ukrainian....but it's all Asian now.
TheThaiger
Banned
What purpose does Political Correctness serve?
1. It makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.
2. It turns us all into good little worker bees.
3. It creates a climate of fear and suppresses free speech.
4. It creates numerous humourless and joyless gruppenfuhrers, who'll do anything in their self-appointed power to strangle all the joy out of casual racism. :wink:
I rarely disagree with your posts...but I do with this thought.
Only another PLAYER on the next table has the right to make him wait.
This person would not be welcome at a well run room...as an employee..
...or even as a customer.
She is out of line.
She would be kicked off any golf course also.
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