My feelings on being a customer in Japan

I have no idea. I know using a fork and knife on a burger isn't normal, but I don't think she would have been THAT baffled.

Hi,

Coming from France, I was not exactly used to perfect customer service, although things are also getting better here, and I believe we have some of the most elegant high-end customer service in some restaurants.

I have mainly good things to say about customer service in Japan: people are polite, they do their job seriously, and they seem to care about their customers. I did not have to complain too much about flexibility, especially at restaurants: I could usually change an item of a menu that I did not like.

While I had a good impression of customer service in major US cities (people are usually friendly and helpful), I was not as impressed as in Japan.

I was working in an area linked to customer support in Japan with a few american guys, and, from what I saw, Japanese people of the same business were treating customer service much more seriously than the US guys. Basically, the japanese guys were ready to spend much more to have perfect customer service (even maybe too much) whereas the american guys were in favour of much cheaper solutions.

So I would vote for Japan, then the US, then continental Europe.

I can honestly say I always had great customer service in Japan. Recieving an "irrashaimasse" is always welcome and I never tired of it nor will I in the future. Also, I always replied with "domo arigato gozaimasu" and sometimes a slight bow (depending where I was) to the clerk or salesperson upon leaving.

I will never forget shopping for some sembei (which I love). I was in a big department store (can't remember the name of it now, but it is famous). The very cute girl waiting on me, did not just tell me (as would no doubt happen in Anytown, America) "it's over there" point to where it is (I always heard that pointing is seen as rude in Japan. Is it not?) and let me find it myself. Instead, she stopped what she was doing, walked all the way over there only to find out there was none left! I was okay with it, but she was not! I noticed she was very nearly crying out of embarrassment! I kept saying, "daijobu, daijobu, domo, domo" and she finally smiled a little. I found some later by the way at a place she recommended very close by. That's how helpful people are in Japan and how unhelpful people in America are !

Another time, I was leaving Japan at Narita airport. I had just bought a sword set in Asakusa consisting of a katana and a wakizashi. :samurai:This was back in 1992 way pre-9/11/01. I was asked what was in the box. When I said "katana" that's when everyone freaked out. Security checked the box it was in and this set off all kinds of alarms. Police came with long sticks called "jo" (with which they are very adept) and checked my passport and asked where I got it etc. After realizing it was only a souvenir and not a sword taken out of some museum or not from some Iaido or Kendo dojo, they knew I was alright. They even apologized and helped me pack it up very nicely I might add and better than I had it packed originally.

And you can't beat JAL! I was actually given a very nice JAL shave kit for apparently no reason whatsover! And as far as customer service is concerned there is few better than the stewardesses at JAL!


I could go on and on...

Um why dont you just ask for the card?

dylsmi03 said:

Um why dont you just ask for the card?

Click to expand...

What card? What are we talking about now?

I think the retailers in Japan or abroad all have the best intentions in mind when it comes to their customers. However, when it comes to professionalism, it's very hard to beat Japan.

For example, I find that the Japanese will treat you the same whether you ask them a stupid question or a "regular" question.

On the other hand, the customer service reps out here (in Canada at least) may mock you if you ask them a stupid question.

When I arrived at my airport from Japan the other week, I mistakenly left my watch in the pacific time zone instead of mountain since my port of entry was Vancouver. I immediately made my way to a bus charter and asked for a ticket for their 2:30pm bus when the rep says, "Sir. You do realize that Canada is a very broad country and that we have more than one time zone. I suggest you familiarize yourself with this concept before you continue traveling."

Of course I was an idiot for making that mistake but I thought it was a little over-the-top.