Mckroket65 said:
Quite frankly I cannot relate to any of the complaining about Dutch customer service my experience has been generally positive. Bottom line is is that we are guests in their country and if we cannot or will not learn their language ? Then at least try not to give attitude. Save all the complex theories and ideas. If you want the situation to change ? It is within the powers of all of to change it.
I'm not sure what makes you assume that people can't or won't learn the language and thus get shoddy customer service. Most of the expats here speak Dutch (personally my Dutch is still bad, but I am improving). Certainly when I am in a store I use Dutch as far as possible, and only ask politely if I may speak English if a circumstance comes up that I do not know how to handle.
It seems a weird assumption to make.
Mckroket65 said:actually i got all of those things as well but then again i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here ( that was 26 years ago ) because i was not going to depend upon someone elses good will and intentions. considering how combative you are in this forum ? it may explain why these "dutchies" give you the cold shoulder saying ik weet het niet of ik kan jou niet helpen and hope you go away quickly ? just an idea.
Trolltaalschool. :/ I would suggest that he perhaps read or ask questions first to avoid making assumptions about the people and their experiences here, and, it follows, making a total fool out of himself by posting a smug pile of *******.
pepec said:
"i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here" I don't think that means that he learned the language in two weeks.
Regardless, the assumption that none of us have tried is ignorant.
canuckywoman said:
pepec said:
"i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here" I don't think that means that he learned the language in two weeks.Regardless, the assumption that none of us have tried is ignorant.
"Of course, it could be my vulnerability as a non-Dutch speaking worker that provokes that opinion."
your words not mine learn the language and then get back to me. of course only you would construe that i learned the dutch language in 2 weeks. maybe you should try learning english first. actually it took me 18 months of evening school to get my staats exam. obviously i stepped on some toes here but you seriously need a wake up call. are you really serious about trying to solve the problems you are facing as an expat in the netherlands or are you just looking for an echo chamber ? Bottom line is if you choose to stay here for more than a few weeks then you need to be on the ball and learn the language or go back to where you came from. if someone with an attitude like yours confronts me and refuses to speak the language ? i would tell them "ik weet het niet" of "ik kan jou niet helpen" which is the polite dutch way of saying "sod off".
Mckroket65 said:
canuckywoman said:
pepec said:
"i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here" I don't think that means that he learned the language in two weeks.Regardless, the assumption that none of us have tried is ignorant.
"Of course, it could be my vulnerability as a non-Dutch speaking worker that provokes that opinion."
your words not mine learn the language and then get back to me. of course only you would construe that i learned the dutch language in 2 weeks. maybe you should try learning english first. actually it took me 18 months of evening school to get my staats exam. obviously i stepped on some toes here but you seriously need a wake up call. are you really serious about trying to solve the problems you are facing as an expat in the netherlands or are you just looking for an echo chamber ? Bottom line is if you choose to stay here for more than a few weeks then you need to be on the ball and learn the language or go back to where you came from. if someone with an attitude like yours confronts me and refuses to speak the language ? i would tell them "ik weet het niet" of "ik kan jou niet helpen" which is the polite dutch way of saying "sod off".
YOU learn English. Nowhere did I say I or any of us say we "refuse" to speak Dutch. Again, you assume with no proof.
Now read instead of yammering like an ignorant fool.
Mckroket65 said:
... polite dutch...
Oxymoron. 
Mckroket65 said:
canuckywoman said:
pepec said:
"i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here" I don't think that means that he learned the language in two weeks.Regardless, the assumption that none of us have tried is ignorant.
"Of course, it could be my vulnerability as a non-Dutch speaking worker that provokes that opinion."
your words not mine learn the language and then get back to me. of course only you would construe that i learned the dutch language in 2 weeks. maybe you should try learning english first. actually it took me 18 months of evening school to get my staats exam. obviously i stepped on some toes here but you seriously need a wake up call. are you really serious about trying to solve the problems you are facing as an expat in the netherlands or are you just looking for an echo chamber ? Bottom line is if you choose to stay here for more than a few weeks then you need to be on the ball and learn the language or go back to where you came from. if someone with an attitude like yours confronts me and refuses to speak the language ? i would tell them "ik weet het niet" of "ik kan jou niet helpen" which is the polite dutch way of saying "sod off".
I'll be sure to tell my Dutch boyfriend that he's getting those responses for refusing to speak his own language.
OH WAIT.
No, seriously, you're the one with an attitude problem here: barging in and being ignorant and abusive to people when you have no idea who they are, what the do, how long they've been here, why they're here or what language they speak. I sincerely hope you do not work in customer service.
Mckroket65 said:
canuckywoman said:
pepec said:
"i made a point of learning the language after my first 2 weeks here" I don't think that means that he learned the language in two weeks.Regardless, the assumption that none of us have tried is ignorant.
"Of course, it could be my vulnerability as a non-Dutch speaking worker that provokes that opinion."
your words not mine learn the language and then get back to me. of course only you would construe that i learned the dutch language in 2 weeks. maybe you should try learning english first. actually it took me 18 months of evening school to get my staats exam. obviously i stepped on some toes here but you seriously need a wake up call. are you really serious about trying to solve the problems you are facing as an expat in the netherlands or are you just looking for an echo chamber ? Bottom line is if you choose to stay here for more than a few weeks then you need to be on the ball and learn the language or go back to where you came from. if someone with an attitude like yours confronts me and refuses to speak the language ? i would tell them "ik weet het niet" of "ik kan jou niet helpen" which is the polite dutch way of saying "sod off".
I think that everyone here on expatica made effort to learn Dutch and some of us are still learning it. You can't generalise like that-you didn't even bother to find out the background. And even if you speak Dutch, customer service here is c r a p. In our household I usually deal with "service glitches" and while I speak little Dutch many people willl switch to english when I call - but many of those will have - "I don't care attitute". The ones that don't want to talk english, will usually be equally unhelpful in Dutch. It's not the language that is the problem.
peony said:
The ones that don't want to talk english, will usually be equally unhelpful in Dutch. It's not the language that is the problem.
I tend to agree. If people are naturally awkward, then it wont really matter who they are dealing with, you'll end up getting the same treatment... I don't know what it is with these people, like they enjoy taking out their misery on others to cheer themselves up.
mrfook said:
One way to decrease 'bad customer service' is not to consume as much.
Yes, I'll stop eating right away. Not all of us use shopping as a hobby, fook, so please take your assumptions to the same place Trollboy does.
canuckywoman said:
mrfook said:
One way to decrease 'bad customer service' is not to consume as much.Yes, I'll stop eating right away. Not all of us use shopping as a hobby, fook, so please take your assumptions to the same place Trollboy does.
It was more a statement of fact rather than an 'assumption'. :)
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
mrfook said:
It was more a statement of fact rather than an 'assumption'. :)
Yes and unrealistic too...
mrfook said:
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
So? Why reply to this thread then? I don't reply to 30% ruling threads because the topic is irrelevant to me.
mrfook said:
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
And...you want a medal or something? O_o
korrok said:
mrfook said:
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
And...you want a medal or something? O_o
No thanks - am not really a medal wearing kind of bloke.
canuckywoman said:
mrfook said:
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
So? Why reply to this thread then? I don't reply to 30% ruling threads because the topic is irrelevant to me.
Am as free as anyone else to post where the **** I like.
I reply cos I wouldn't want newcomers to get the wrong impression about living here. :)
mrfook said:
Anybody who thinks that their spending power/disposable income could not be seriously reduced in the very near future is being unrealistic.
A good reason to enjoy it while you can then...
mrfook said:
canuckywoman said:
mrfook said:
korrok said:
Not sure where the idea that customer service has to = shopping. Generally, in shops isn't where you have a huge issue with it: it's dealing with providers for phone/energy, the gemeente, postal service, NS, insurance etc. Those are the places where the most complicated problems arise and where the biggest customer service issues show up. I've had a few issues but mostly I see my boyfriend have them and get crap "can't help" service. :/
I've rarely had a problem with any of the above in all my 20 years here. :)
So? Why reply to this thread then? I don't reply to 30% ruling threads because the topic is irrelevant to me.
Am as free as anyone else to post where the **** I like.I reply cos I wouldn't want newcomers to get the wrong impression about living here. :)
Oh, right, none of the above happened to others because it didn't happen to fookie. 
