Sometimes, we all have bad days. Monday just was not my day. Actually, being honest, I am not sure I would say it was a bad day, but it was interesting, and in some ways, I felt like I was on a different planet.
As I mentioned in my article on Monday, My brownout strategy, I made a commitment to myself to get back into swimming regularly. I used to do it five days per week, but got out of the habit. Because of the frequent brownouts we are having in Mindanao, I decided to start going swimming whenever we had a brownout. I have actually gone swimming four times already this week, and we didn’t even have any brownouts yet, so I’m doing good.
Anyway, as part of my commitment to swimming, on Monday, when I went swimming, I bought a 3 month membership at a local pool. When I purchased the membership, they asked me to get a 2″ x 2″ ID photo to go with my Membership application. No problem, that’s normal here, you need an ID photo for just about anything you do, it seems. So, on Monday afternoon, I went to the mall, and one of the things I wanted to do there was to get an ID photo.
So, a little after Noon, I went to Victoria Plaza, which is not far from my house. First order of business was to purchase “load” for my phone. Load, basically, is credit for your cellular phone, which allows you to text or make phone calls. I use the Sun network, which means that for a flat fee, I can make unlimited calls and texts for an entire month. Well, my load expired on Monday morning, so I needed to get more load. I went to one kiosk at Victoria to buy load, and although I was the only customer there, and there were about 6 sales girls, I couldn’t seem to get anybody to assist me! So, I went to the next kiosk, and they did not have Sun load, only Smart they said. Oh well, so I went to a third Kiosk and asked the clerk for help, he told me, “sorry, I’m busy” although I didn’t see him doing anything but standing there. Wow, it can be hard to spend money! Finally, after going to 5 or 6 different kiosks, I was able to spend some money and had load for my cellphone, though! Whew! This was work!
OK, one job down, a couple more to go. Of course, I needed that ID photo for my pool membership, so I headed to the Kodak Photographer shop in Victoria Plaza. I was pretty sure they could give me an ID photo there. I went up to the clerk and asked, in Bisaya (so I know she could understand what I was asking her), “I need a 2 x 2 ID photo, can you help me?” Her response:
Sir, you need a US Visa Photo?
No, I replied, I need just a regular 2 x 2 ID Photo.
US Visa photo, sir?
Finally, after the 3rd time she asked me this, I said (still in Bisaya, so she could surely understand):
I am a US Citizen, I don’t need a Visa to go to the USA. Can you give me a 2 x 2 ID photo?
Her response?
Do you need a US Visa photo, sir?
Sorry, I’ll just go somewhere else!
So, just a few stores down, there was another photographer place that offered ID Photos. By this time, I decided that maybe I should get two of the ID photos, just in case they asked for more than one. So, I asked at the other photographer, “Can I get two 2 x 2 ID photos?” Their reply:
No, sorry.
But, the sign there says you make 2 x 2 ID photos, can I get two of them?
No, sir.
Hmm… strange. Can I speak to the manager?
So, the manager comes over, and I ask her for two 2 x 2 ID photos. She says:
No sir, sorry.
But, the sign, I tell her, it says you make 2 x 2 ID photos.
But sir, we offer them as a package, you have to buy 4 ID photos at a time!
How much?
P60
Ha ha… OK, I’ll take four of them, then! Even if I have to throw two away, I don’t care.
It’s up to you sir, but I can’t sell you 2 photos.
So, I have the photo taken, and they tell me to come back in 30 minutes. So, I have not had lunch yet, I decide to go to McDonalds, since it is just right across from the photographer. When I order at McDonalds, it takes about ten minutes to decide if a Double Cheeseburger is available or not. Finally, they agree that I will be allowed to order a Double Cheeseburger. A Double Cheeseburger Value Meal, which includes a large french fries and a large diet Coke is P130. I pay with a P100 note and a P50 note.
Sir, don’t you have exact change?
No, sorry, I don’t. So, they owe me P20 change (there are P20 bills), and they start to give me 20 P1 coins. I hate carrying around a bunch of coins, so I say no, please give me a P20 bill instead.
Oh, sir, we’ll have to find one! Are you sure you don’t want the coins?
No, I don’t like to carry around all the coins.
OK sir, we will bring your change to you later.
OK, no problem.
Sir, do you mind waiting 10 minutes for that Double Cheeseburger?
OK, no problem.
Uh, sir, sorry, your Coke is not available, we have to get more.
OK, no problem, just give me Sprite.
Sorry, Sprite is not available, we have to get more.
OK, just bring it with my food.
So, I head off to find an empty table, with my french fries (that’s the only part of my meal they could serve me at the time. After a while, my drink comes. Then, a while later my Double Cheeseburger comes. I eat my food and am just getting up to go pick up my photos. The manager of McDonalds comes to my table and hands me P20. “What’s this?” I say.
Your change, sir!
Oh, yeah… I already forgot about that! Ha ha….
It just wasn’t my day. A few years ago, I would have been fuming mad by now. This time, though… I was just laughing. I must have already adjusted to living in the Philippines!
haha, that’s about right. Almost the same thing, I was sitting there eating a couple shawarmas, in fact I was finished and just about to get up, when the server walked over and handed me my P20 change that I forgot about.
I better click “submit” before the next brownout 8D
Hi Gary – Maybe the P20 was my bonus for all I went through with my trip to the mall!
hi Bob, I had a similar experience here in Tagum. I went to a pinoy restaurant and my Asawa ordered, and they asked me what drink I wanted. I said ice tea, then I ordered a combo meal and they said it comes with a coke, so I said substitute ice tea please and they said no only coke or sprite. OK cancel the tea and give me the coke, he looked confused and then said OK. I paid and sat down. The manager came up to me and said sorry no fries, but they can change my order to just burger and coke, and refund the difference. He then took 2 orders from other customers and left my change on the counter. I watched it sit there until all our food came. Maybe 10 minutes later he suddenly saw it and brought it to me. the burger was good and the coke OK, We had a short brown out while we ate, and then on the way home it rained enough to get my shirt wet while I rode my motorcycle. Another interesting day in the pinas.
Hi Richard – Ha ha ha… I think they just want to keep us entertained! 😉
What you demonstrated to us today unfortunately is a sad reflection in general on customer service in the Philippines all together. For some reason and I still don’t understand it, people here are not able or don’t want to “think outside the box”. Instead of giving alternatives to a situation they say a blanket NO!. This sort of thing drives me crazy because many times I end having to give them a solution to a situation. Would be really nice if one day when I ask for something for example photo ID’s they will say “Sorry sir we don’t sell 2″ x 2″ photos in sets of two but you can buy then in sets of 4”. “Would that work for you”. Hallelujah and praise the Aliens.
Hi richard – Indeed… it baffles me that when I ask for ID Photos they would just tell me “No” and move on about their business. You are right, though, even when a business is perfectly capable of giving you what you want and need, they will blow you off if what they have is slightly different, like 4 photos instead of 2. There is no attempt to satisfy you, or even let you know that they can offer you something just as good, or even better.
My friend after a couple of cocktails, ordered a double cheeseburger at MacDo’s. He was informed that that it was out of stock, and would he like a single cheese burger. (????) He smiled and replied “Well, if it’s on the menu, and you don’t have it, then I don’t want it.” We then ordered 2 Big Mac’s, and while eating I said to him, “That actually made sense to me.”
Hi Paul – The entire time that the staff of McDo’s was trying to decide if I would be allowed to order a Double Cheeseburger, I noticed that there was a big stack of Cheeseburgers waiting in the bin for people to buy them. I was thinking, “Umm…. why don’t they just take two Cheeseburgers, take the meat out of one, and put it in the other one.” I would have said something, but it was more amusing to watch as the meeting progressed to decide if they could come up with one or not! 😆
Never try to inject logic, into the equation, here in paradise.
Hi Paul – Yes, true…. that would be too logical! 😯
I know I shouldn’t be saying this or thinking like this, but to Pauls delema, when you are out of a double cheese burger, can’t you just put 2 single cheese burgers together to make a double cheese burger, I’m no brain surgen but . . . . . . . . . . . I guess when I retire there, I’ll have more adjusting than I thought.
Exactly my thinking, Ed! But, as Paul said, it can be dangerous trying to inject logic here! 😉
Bob
This is good stuff, you painted such a good picture in my head that I cant help but to laugh.
Talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed, It’s as if they are almost testing you to see how much it would take for you to morph into the Ugly American.
It kind of reminds me of the movie “Falling Down”
Hi Neal – Ha ha… I’m glad you enjoyed it. If I really tell the full truth, none of that was really all that unusual, that’s just the way stuff works here! But, with it all added together over the course of only a one hour stop at the mall… well, it was a bit much!
That’s funny, Bob,and well written. I’ve had virtually the same sort of day, more than once. Helps people grasp a bit better my frequent saying that it isn’t the price of things here that’s important .. it’s the fact the the expression “You aren’t in Kansas any more” really means something here.
I always go to a photo shop that operates on the 4 picture deal. learned that along time ago. Flexibility? Ain’t happening, just go with the flow.
A part of the shopping experience that always gets to me is the sheer delight in items being out of stock. It is almost as if salespeople consider saying ‘no’ is one of the few bonuses of the job.
Not long ago I was in the local mall late in the afternoon, a time I usually avoid. Knowing Mita was out and coming home later, I decided to order a couple chicken pasta meals that we both like from a pizza restaurant I was walking past, intending to take them home and relax, dinner already made.
I walked up to the smiling guy at the takeout counter, placed my order, answered the obligatory ‘questions as he entered my order into the little keypad that sends the order into the kitchen. I even could see one of the cooks going to the cooler where I knew the ‘ready to heat’ pasta dishes were stored (remember I’ve been there many times before).
I fished note out of my wallet and looked at the customer-side computer readout to make sure my money would cover the charge … screen blank.
I looked at the clerk, he looked at me … for an appreciable period of time. Nothing. Finally, tired of his blank stare, I asked, “mechano”? (how much).
Still with a blank expression he answered, “No receipt, sir.”
“OK”, I replied, not really giving a damn about his little piece of paper, “I don’t want a receipt, just cook my food.”
His response, almost like a robot was to repeat they couldn’t give a receipt.
This went on for several exchanges and I could feel I was getting a bit hot under the collar and that we were getting nowhere.
Then I saw another guy who had served me before walking past, motioned him over and said, “What’s the problem? I don’t care about a receipt, I just want to pay for my chicken and take it home, I’m tired.” Can you guess his response?
Yep, Looked me in the eye and said, “No receipt, sir.”
I wasn’t hot under the collar any more, I was boiling. Consciously trying to keep my voice down, because I knew I was upset enough to be loud, I asked him if he was saying that the fact the cash register was out of service meant they couldn’t serve me, he quite happily nodded his head up and down and finally pointed to a sign next to the register that was the root of all the evil:
“Up to P100,000 fine and/or three years in prison for failing to provide a BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) Official Reciept with each purchase” (or words to that effect).
Well, considering that, I suppose if the tables were turned, I wouldn’t sell him chicken either, but it sure seemed that a sign or announcement like, “Temporarily closed, sir, can’t take your order” would have made a lot more sense than leading me through the steps of the order, just for show.
Oh well, as my friend Paul is famous for saying, I do know the way to the airport. Matter of fact I just came back from a trip to the states. But there are times I wonder why … apparently Delta Airlines flies to more than one planet, or it feels that way some days …
Ha ha… good story, Dave, and very true. This is such a typical experience. It’s hard to keep from getting a little heated under the collar too, but it is something we all have to learn to deal with, no doubt!
@Dave Starr
OMG Dave don’t mention the “Oh so corrupt BIR” ;-). Half the time businesses cook their books because of the BIR “korakot”-ness.
The no receipt thing is a real pain. We get our bottled water in those 5 gallon jugs and it seems with the recent brown outs that we are always running out when their is a brown out. Of course their receipt machine is electric so that means no water till their is power even though they have a stack of them sitting there.
Which brings up another sore subject why on earth didn’t we have 3 of them at home anyway? Oh right we can only use one a a time (rolls eyes).
I keep wondering why don’t they use the old fashioned non electric receipt machines anyway?
Hi John – Interesting about the bottled water company. We have a very good relationship with our bottled water company, and they will do anything we ask of them. We have a big supply of water that they leave here at the house, many bottles at a time. I guess these things just vary.
Actually its not the Water supplier that is the problem. While it took some convincing they will let us have 3 at a time now. The problem is my wife doesn’t like to plan ahead. If I go get water we get 3 at a time. but if its anyone else even if they are taking our truck its only one.
Hi John – Ah, OK… got you! 😉
I went to the food court at NCCC and asked for three barbecue sticks, and three lumpia, and an order of rice. The girl says they don’t have rice. I was surprised and said, “no rice?”. She said “no”. I said I would get my food at a different place. She then said, “We can sell you an order of rice.” I never did understand that one. After paying I waited for my lumpia, they finally asked what I was waiting for, I told them the lumpia I ordered. They hadn’t charged me for it so I had to pay another 50 peso to get it.
Went to Bigby’s at the SM another time to eat. Told the waiter to bring my wife an ice tea and bring me a coke, then we will order. He say’s “OK” and continues to stand there, so I repeated, “Bring me a coke and my wife an Ice Tea and then we will order our food. He repeats “OK” and stands there. I couldn’t figure out why he doesn’t understand me. I finally had to get another server to get them to understand.
These things happen all the time here. It’s frustrating because you feel what you ask is so simple, yet they don’t comprehend.
Hi Kenneth – Nice to hear from you! Good to hear your singing at SM the other day too! 😆
Yeah, honestly, these kind of situations are all too common. It is puzzling to me, because as you say, they are simple. In my case, I even told all of these people my requests in their language, so it puzzles me why there was a problem in each case!
You are, indeed, a most patient man, Bob. When I used to experience these sales(no-sales?)anomalies in Davao, I would stand there with a stupid look on my face, wondering whether I should pursue the discussion further or surrender, withdraw, & look for the next similar store/kiosk. In the end, you need/want what you need/want, so going home & trying again the following day is not the answer. Though I often reverted to asking my wife to deal with the issue, I will not always have that luxury when I return. Perhaps, you could design a pamphlet, titled “dealing with foreigners” and encourage the local city government, retail business association & Rotary clubs to pass them out. Of course, convincing them to pay for the costs of producing these pamphlets might be a challenge but A business that can cater to foreigners will prosper on word of mouth & by it’s inclusion in your directory of local businesses. Let’s face it, we foreigners are like ants, marching into cities like Davao. Putting obstacles in our path will only result in our going around them. Until there is a change in attitudes, however, I suppose we’ll all just have to suck it up & develop the patience which is so necessary to our survival.
Mike
Hi Mike – I’ve done what you mentioned too… having my wife deal with a lot of this kind of thing. Lately, though, I’ve decided to step out of my box a bit and try to deal with these things more myself. It is a good growing experience, and will help me adjust more and more.
On your idea about the pamphlet… well… as I think about it, I feel it is more appropriate for us foreigners to adjust to the way it is here, rather than asking them to adjust to our ways. After all, they are 90 Million people in their own country. We are a much smaller number, coming to live in their place. It’s more proper that we should adjust to the way it is here. What do you think?
90 Million people in their own country yes, but a fairly significant percentage have lived or at least visited other places and experienced good customer service. I think John Miele nailed it though. It’s funny, some of the people who complain about lack of customer service are themselves owners of businesses with no customer service.
Hi Gary – I was thinking more like to make a pamphlet to teach people here how to deal with the small number of foreigners here is not so appropriate. It is us who need to learn how to fit into society so that we can live happily. Yes, on customer service matters, there are many here who need to learn good customer service, but not to serve foreigners, rather to offer good service to all of their customers. Don’t you think?
Agree, good customer service would benefit everyone, it’s not for the benefit of the small percentage of foreigners. I think balikbayans often get just as, if not more frustrated though. I get a sense that maybe there’s a feeling of “it’s my country and it’s never going to improve”.
One way or another foreigners adapt – maybe kicking and screaming, or maybe with a shrug and a little smile. I’m sure even those who’ve been here a long time and are “used to it all” just have “one of those days.” B-)
Hi Gary – I agree that things need to improve, and I want improvement. I just don’t think it is right to educate Filipinos how they can deal with foreigners. They are under no obligation to change their behavior or their attitude for us. Make improvements… make them for everybody. Educating Filipinos how to treat foreigners the right way is, in my view, insulting to them.
We may be disagreeing about agreeing 🙂
Oh yes, I never meant to say that Filipinos should be educated to deal with foreigners. When you enter a foreign country it is you who must adapt.
Hi Gary – Yeah, I think we basically agree. Mostly, I was reacting to Mike’s suggestion.
Bob,
While I certainly agree with you, I suggested such a pamphlet as a way of helping to alleviate the discomfort that some feel when dealing with the foreigner. Then again, I suppose that this is the experience for Filipinos, as well. While it would be a cultural norm for us to ask, “Why not?”, maybe, this is considered rude in The RP? LOL Someday, I hope I understand…
Mike
Hi Mike – For me.. my way of thinking.. it would be wiser to hand out pamphlets to foreigners explaining to them how to adjust to living here, rather than telling Filipinos how to adjust to make a few foreigners happy! That’s kind of what I consider LiP… a pamphlet telling foreigners what to expect here, and how to adjust to it! 😉
Hi Bob – Perhaps there’s an unwritten customer service rule that servers are supposed to forgets some articles in the order, and customers are supposed to forget their change? 😯
I learned a trick in food ordering. Usually the waiter or the gal at the register taking your order for fast food will repeat your order back to your prior to the next step of the transaction. If in this repetition the last item you ordered is mentioned first, chances are good that it was repeated from memory and not read from the written check or punched into the register. When your order arrives short, a check of the sales receipt will show the short item is missing. So you’ll have to order it separately and pay.
I always play the part of the hard-of-hearing Kano, and ask them to repeat the order a second time after making some food related comments (e.g., is the Coke cold?). If the server was good, all items are written on the server’s check. If not, I find out what’s missing right away. 😉
Works 99% of the time. Only time it hasn’t worked for me is a time when a different person was handed our order to punch in to the computer system/register. There’s no cure for fat fingers. 😆
Hi Paul – Ha ha… well, in my case, they didn’t have any of my order wrong, or not entered… they just didn’t seem to have anything! Your system sounds pretty good, though!
Really not your day that day Bob! Even your grasp of Bisaya got you nowhere! These crazy episodes are just exercises in patience, but you’d wish that they didn’t happen so often. You did real well though, just resigning yourself and going with the flow. It’s a conscious choice to get mad or not, but it’s not always an easy one.
Hi queenie – for most of us, I think we automatically get mad or angry when stuff like this happens time and again. When we take time to look at it and decide that we don’t have to get mad, that is when we can start adjusting to living here.
Bob: This is the stuff that tends to drive me cdrazy here… I’ve gotten to realize that arguing, making a scene, or even speaking to the manager does nothing, so we just grin and bear it most of the time. The employees are empowered to do nothing, so an argument is useless. When Becky was waiting for her Kuwait visa many years ago, she worked at Ever Gotesco in Manila as a cashier. She was reprimanded one day for smiling at a customer who was pregnant and trying to help her hold the shopping bag while she was putting her change away (Just being friendly). Her supervisor accused her of helping to shoplift (?!?). Ironically, two weeks later, she was offered a promotion to cashier supervisor. She told them “no”, despite the 50 peso raise, since any shortage in the till would come from her salary. Knowing this, I find it really difficult to get angry at the front line staff in these stores. They are normally hired temporarily, just until the company would have to give benefits, and the only motivation is to sit there and be a warm body. They have zero authority, but really are the ones who pay the penalty, in every situation. No wonder the service is so poor!
Hi John – You have described the situation and the underlying reasons for it very well. Yes, it can drive us crazy, or we can laugh it off, the choice is up to us.
I have a story…a few years ago I was really craving an American style pizza. I made my dough from scratch, I found a nice block of mozzarella cheese, bought a bottle of imported tomato sauce, but I could not find any pepperoni’s anywhere. I decided that the ones that Greenwich has on their pizzas where pretty good so I went there to inquire about buying some. Here is how the conversation went: (I tried in English and Bisaya)
Me: Yes I would like to order some of your pepperoni, is that possible?
Them: No
Me: Ok if I cannot just buy them…can you just sell me a pepperoni pizza without dough, sauce, cheese, and uncooked.
Them: No
I was willing to pay for full price for a pizza just to get some of their pepperoni uncooked. They really did not want to make some quick easy money that night. Eventually I found a block of pepperoni a few days later and made my pizza but they really made it difficult. I am like you Bob…I just laugh and have learned to go with the flow.
Hi Garrett – Ha ha… good story. Would have been better if they agreed to sell you a peperoni pizza minus the crust, sauce, cheese and such though! Ha ha…
Yeah, all we can do is go with the flow. If we get mad, it only raises our blood pressure in the long run.
I sometimes wonder if they think We are the ones from Outer Space ? LOL
Hi Bob – Truly, a lot of foreigners living here act like they are from outer space! 😆 I can’t deny that.
He he he…..I tend to think the opposite – they’re from outer space or zombies not me. It’s the thought process. They’re not taught to think on their feet, just told what to do.
Ha ha… I think you are pretty much on the mark there, Alex!
Your article made me laugh.:) So many times things like that have happened to us and it is so hard to explain our frustrations to others(like family in the States).
Hi SSC – I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Yes, it is hard to explain to anybody who never experienced life here. 😉
Interestingly enough Filipinos that go to the states or almost anywhere out of the Philippines seem to adapt to the more commonsense/logical approach to life and generally good customer service found in those places. Then when they return back to the Philippines they too shake their heads at the same poor customer service found here that at one time they embraced as fact of life and consequently become a little more impatient.
Hi richard – I think that is like a former smoker. A person who quits smoking is generally one of the most anti-smoking people you can find! 😉
Hi Bob,
I love the post. It’s one thing we regret here in the U.S.
My story is about beer:
Of course you know I’m born and raised Filipino but I visited my hometown Butuan City in Agusan del Norte a couple years ago. I was at a Karaoke place with relatives and we ordered beer (San Miguel).
The waiter brings us warm beer and I politely asked in bisaya “Could we get cold beer please.” The waiter leaves with the beers in our table and brings glasses with ice cubes.
Blasphemy right?
Hi Antonio – Ha ha… ice in beer is just normal here, though! But, it is not what I am used to! 😯
Me and April went to McDs yesterday. We sat down, ate, and left. She then counted the cash and realized they never gave us change.
Chowking has forgotten my drink 2 or 3 times now, at different restos.
Once I had to stand in line for load for 15 mins. I requested a P100 card. “We don’t have”, so I got P300. There was a brownout and they were trying to figure something out. I was embarrassed cause there was a line behind me, and one ADDU student looked annoyed and kept looking at his watch.
Had few run ins with customer service in this country, but its all good. ahaha
Hi Jawz – Yeah, life is good here… just a few kinks in the road every now and then! 😆
Hi Bob- After reading your tale of woe I think its about time you moved to Talakag to live.
I guarantee you will be first in every queue and treated with respect every time and with your fluency in Basaya youl be a sensation.
Something to think about living in the Bukid.
Regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim – I believe you about living in the Bukid. I like my creature comforts too much, though… not sure I would be comfortable living in the bukid!
Just out of curisoity why do you use Sun for your cell phone. I understand the 450P month unlimited but isn’t that between Sun customers. I was under the impression that most in this country are either smart or globe where having Sun would have no benefit calling customers with those other services. Am I missing something? Of course if most of your family uses Sun and you communicate with them lots then that would make sense but that would in itself require lots of calls to eat up the 450P right? Thanks
Hi Richard – I have a dual SIM phone. Line 1 is Sun. Line 2 is Globe. For my family (wife, kids, nephews and nieces) we all use Sun. A few of my close friends also have Sun. My Sun line is my private line, I don’t give that number to most people, only those that I am very close to. My Globe number is my public line, the number is published on all of my blogs. It’s like a business line for me.
I don’t spend P450/month on Sun. I spend P150 per month on Sun. With that, I get unlimited texting, and 4 hours of Sun-to-Sun calling per month. My kids all get P150 per month too. Feyma gets P450/month because she uses it a lot more than I do (all the kids are calling her whenever they need something, etc.).
Thanks for clearing that up. Dual Simm. Hmmmmm something to think about. Better than carrying two phones. Thanks again
No problem, richard. I’ve had my dual SIM Samsung phone for a little over a year, I love it!
Hi Bob.
I love your article, not only is it fun, but also hit the daily life spot on. Sometimes I have the feeling that native philipinoes that speak the same lingo do not understand each other. After 4 weeks vaccation my patience was used up. I realise, it would be very hard for me to live permanent in RP, so I have to settle with visiting.
Luckily visiting RP is more fun than the opposite.
Hi Preben – Nice to hear from you, my friend. Yes, patience is certainly needed to live here, no doubt on that. But, even if you don’t have it, you can learn it! I know, because I had to do that, and am still working on it!
Hi Bob
I needed a good laugh to start my day and your story did it! It does make me wonder, though. How does the average Philippino feel about the poor service they get? I suppose they are so use to it that they expect it, but surely they must get fed up too. You would think you could go to th PI, start any business dealing with the public, train your staff in good customer service and make a fortune.
It could be a combination of things. I know that here, I have dealt with many different people from many countries and you have to watch out for the “Yes, Sir” people. You are telling them something, and they are smiling saying “Yes, Sir” and don’t really have a clue what you want. Their english just isn’t good enough to understand you, but they won’t admit it. There are also the “scare to be wrong” people. They think if you don’t do any or make a decision, you can’t be wrong and they won’t fire you.
In any case, I never lost my cool when I was in the PI. SMs helped. The onlt time I came close is the Xmas party we had. I was promised lechon and my mouth was watering all day. But, they had decided it was going to take to long and deep fried all three pigs! I could have cried.
Hi Allan – Thanks for the compliment on the article… I’m glad you enjoyed it. Back in 2000 until 2002, I had two Internet Cafes in General Santos. We did train staff with American style customer service. At first, it kind of scared people away a bit, I’d say, but then, they really embraced the service level, and the places were really a hit.
Kamusta ka Bob,
I have to say I find this amazing, and I know it will frustrate me to no end, when I experience this in person.
I could have sworn you all tell me that these are college educated young men and ladies who have these jobs there in the Philippines? ie: the fast food joints, and I would expect the jobs at the mall like the Kodak place also?
See, I would have had to ask the girl, why she kept asking me if I wanted picture for a visa..because obviously, she could understand what you were saying….I am only guessing.
Amazing story Bob,
Salamat kaayo, ug amping amigo ko,
Danny 🙂
Hi Danny – This kind of thing is very hard to adjust to, and will lead to many times when you will get angry and probably embarrass yourself. I know that it happened to me way too many times, and I think it happens to every expat.
It is true, you have to have a college degree for basically any job here. That’s because there are few jobs, and there are lots of college graduates available, so why go for less?
I’ve been in Iligan City for 6 months and I relate. But it is still better then anywhere else! I love the phil!!
Hi Jason – Yep, it’s a great place to live… warts and all.
Does anyone still wonder why the Philippines has difficulty attracting tourists?
Hi David – Personally, I don’t think this is the reason why they don’t get enough tourism here. In my view, that is because of all the negative press about kidnappings, killings and such, and also poor infrastructure.
Fascinating post and comments. I have to guess what John miele says sounds about right though. Fits the case.
Glad you enjoyed it, jonaky!
I’ve been lucky so far. Whenever I get it in my fool head that I need to go out on an errand, one of my nephews will step forward, “Uyò-an do you want me to take care of that for you?”
I will say that I have experienced generally excellent service at the various beach resorts where we have stayed.
Hi Peter – My wife, nieces and nephews are always happy to go do anything I need done. I am trying, though, to do more for myself, and blend into the society more.
Remember, staying at a beach resort is nothing like living here. Resort employees are trained to deal with foreign guests, and also more experienced at it, because they deal with foreign guests on a daily basis.
Once again Bob, Welcome to the Philippines! You did well with the challenge and I gave you lots of credit. I tried to picture new expats in your situation and probably will not be able to handle it the way you did. I just have to go with the flow sometimes when I am at Phils. so that I do not ruin my day. If only you can take your own 2×2 picture at home it would be a lot easier.
Hi Jeff – Indeed, this kind of situation is just normal here. I mean, just look at the article, in a one hour trip to the mall, I had three such situations, so that kind of shows how normal it is! Ha ha…
What you described, reminds me of this conversation.
“Hello, do you have a toothpaste”?
“No! Only Colgate Maam”!
“ok that will do”
“But we have no toothpaste, only Colgate”
Hi janet – Ha ha… yes, sounds about right.
Gee, Bob, I hope I didn’t ruin your day. Anyway, it was just a suggestion & you know that suggestions are worth what you paid for them! I wasn’t actually thinking along the lines of “how they should serve us”. My wife, who also had a great laugh at your article, felt that sales people there often feel uncomfortable in serving foreigners, due to fears of messing up with speaking english. Her advice is to just be persistent, so you won’t have to visit as many shops for a singular item. Btw, as the family house is a half of a block from that Mc-D’s, she went there quite often last summer, treating the kids. It was her experience that they never could complete the whole order, without substitutes.
Mike
Hi Mike – you did not ruin my day, or harm my day in any way. I appreciate hearing your opinion, and I also was only sharing my opinion with you. I think we both have the right to do that, right? 😉
In your original comment, you said that perhaps I should produce a flier to hand out to local people to show them how to deal with foreigners, or that is how I understood it, perhaps I mis-understood?
Yes, I agree that many sales clerks here worry about dealing with foreigners, because they worry that their English is not good enough. Funny thing was, I never spoke a word of English to them, but rather took the risk of messing up myself by speaking in their language! 😀
Anyway, no biggie, I was just expressing my opinion about your idea, I hope you understand that. It didn’t mean anything against you, we just have a differing view, which is no problem for me.
Mike wrote: “due to fears of messing up with speaking english”
Mike, this really rings true. I discovered that even relatives would avoid speaking with me because of this fear until I had visited often enough that I was taken for granted.
We had a thread previously about speaking the native language. Speaking the native tongue (especially if you do it poorly) can really be an ice breaker. I have enjoyed many long laughs with Filipinos who are amused by the way I mangle their language.
Hi Bob,
My biggest complaint about eating-out in the Philippines is they just can’t seem to get all of your food at the table at the same time.lol.
I was in the mcdonalds in Davao, and the burger, fries, and drink all arrived at my table at different times. 🙂 I laugh about it now, but at the time I was so frustrated.
Hi Hudson – It can be frustrating the way they serve food at a restaurant here, I agree. I have kind of gotten used to it now, because there is really not much choice but to do that or just stay angry all the time, though!
Hi, Bob!
Haha! Funny encounters with our usual servers! I haven’t yet experienced talking with such sales or store clerks, but if I do encounter one, my patience could also run out for such an apparent lack of common sense when delaing with the customer. But one of the occasional somewhat annoying experiences I have is when the store clerk is not attentive enough when taking orders, and that I sometimes I have to raise my voice (regrettably) just to make sure he/she gets it right. By the way, I’ve read an article of yours depicting your experience with Columbia computer store. I have yet to share with you my experience with that store here in SM Megamall which is near the condo I rent. You won’t probably believe it! haha!
Have a nice day, Bob! 🙂
Hi JR – I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your Columbia Experience!
hi bob ,the last time i was there i was just as you say getting upset and frustrated by things ,anyway i asked one of the expats who lives there how do you put up with this no organization his answer was “thats the way we like it ” i can se thatif i do move there i will just have to accept it
chris
Hi chris- It’s very true… if you want to live here, this is the kind of thing you must adjust to. Adjust or be angry all the time. Adjusting is not easy and takes time, though.
It’s stuff like this that really causes some foreigners to blow up and become the “Ugly foreigner”. Most of the time it’s language barrier, I speak english, they speak english but it isn’t the same english 😆
I agree Brspiritus, and even though that wasn’t the caes with Bob, it really becomes how you react to the situation that will make it better all around.
One summer when my son was about 8 years old and my husband was away in the Philippines, we took on of those tour- bus trips to Quebec City for fun. We still remember when one of the Americans in the group asked the waitress in one of the local chain restaurants on the way, “Does the drink come with the meal?” Even though the waitress spoke English, she misunderstood what he meant. He must have repeated that question three times in a louder and louder voice, as if somehow that would help. Another instance someone angrily said that they had requested scrambled eggs instead of fried and the waitress didn’t understand what he meant and got so upset that she stuck a fork in the eggs and scrambled them on the plate. Even at that young age my son got a taste of what the “ugly American” could be like, and we kind of laughed about it then and still remember.
Being flexible and trying to be patient in any foreign country and especially if you live in one, will help you to adapt and not lose it.
Hi queenie – Good stories there. I think that all of us have a danger of becoming the ugly American from time to time if we don’t really check our emotions at the door and be on our best behavior.
Hi brspiritus – Indeed. Just little annoying things that pile up one on top of the other, and after enough of them, a lot of foreigners explode. I’ve been there myself… am glad, though, that I’ve basically put that behind me.
Unfortunately for the past 3 years I have been living a dual life, half in the USA and half in the Philippines. It does make a difference in attitude and I get frustrated far more easily. That’s why I finally made the decision I did. I will be back someday to retire, but now is just not a good time.
Hi brspiritus – A lot of people tell me that they are planning to live part of the year in the Philippines, and the rest of the year in their home country. I have long said that this is not an ideal situation. I say this because of exactly what you are saying. A person will never have time to adjust to the culture and lifestyle of the Philippines if they just live here half of the year. Every time they come back, they start the adjustment process all over again, basically from the beginning. A full time solution is a much better way to go, IMHO.
Haha! Yeah, that’s typical Davao and Mindanao. There are very helpful in Iloilo and they know where everything is…but I still miss Mindanao. He he…
Jason – Mao ba? Sa akong hunahuna, pareho sa Dabaw ug sa Iloilo.
Hi Bob;
My Daughter is a manager of 3 Bicycle Shops in Singapore. Monday an American Merchant Seaman came in and needed 15 Bicycles for his ship while it was in the Ship Yards for 4 months. Her store had 3 in stock, She called her 3 stores and 4 other of her bosses stores and put the order together, when the American came back after lunch, she said they her company could bring the 15 bikes to the ship the next day. He left a hefty tip for her, which she split with the other stores. Her Chinese boss was so pleased that he paid her a commission on the sale; the first time he’d ever done that. Now I was proud, as she gave the credit to me for teaching her customer service which she learned when we went shopping together when she was young, and I’d explain to her why the salesperson was wrong and what could have been done to make their company some money. I didn’t know she was listening to me.
Hi Paul – I love your story! It is almost impossible that what you describe that your daughter did would ever happen here in the Philippines. What a great asset your daughter had when you were around to teach her what real customer service it! Congratulations, I am sure you feel like a Million bucks!
It’s too obvious I haven’t been in your site for awhile. Like other people, just so busy juggling work and famiy.
Anyway, this is hilarious. 🙂 We had some of that experience here living in Virgin Islands. They even speak English here.
I’m glad you enjoyed the article, Lea!
Hi Bob – I’m just browsing the archives, reading interesting articles. I saw this post. I agree with Dave’s comment… funny and well written.
I’m still laughing so hard here…especially the incident at the Kodak photo shop. I see you have the sort of “falling down” (Michael Douglas movie) moment where everything just wasn’t going right. That’s life here in the Philippines. Don’t you just love it! He he. Customer service most times sucks but…you either get mad and irritated, or you just gotta laugh at the absurdity of it all. I’m still laughing. One of my favorite articles. (“I felt good” is tops though).
Thank you sugar! I’m glad that you enjoyed the article. I still remember that day.. and still, all I can do is shake my head! 😆
OK, even reading this article 2 1/2 years later its really got me laughing. It kind of reminds me of the great jokes I used to hear before political correctness took over the world. This stuff is too funny to be made up! ……And more blonde jokes, anyone?
HI Joe – I’m really glad you enjoyed the article. I still clearly remember the day clearly, and still get a chuckle myself!
I never laughed so hard in a long time. What people dont understand is this happens all the time in PH. The social cultural mentality is that mediocrity is all that is necessary in this culture. If you live here you adapt and understand this, take a chill pill and keep trying to get the task completed. Brown outs, Sorry Sir no stock and NO Sir are all part of the everyday experience. Until the culture changes and I am not holding out hope for this anytime soon, it will continue to be a third world country and last in place for all the Asian countries.
Haha, Daniel. You are sure right, these kinds of things are so common. So many people tell me that the Philippines is “paradise” but I always tell them that it just isn’t so. I love the Philippines and enjoy my life here, but it certainly is not perfect.
Hi Bob, I guess I have finally adjusted too here in Iloilo City. Your story is oh so familiar. My two least favorite words were ‘Not available’ for so long, but now I just smile. Business is great and I love living here more every day. Will have my new permanent VISA very soon. Take Care.
Yeah, I go with the flow too, David. It’s the best way to enjoy life.