I live in the US. I speak English. I don’t speak any other languages, nor am I fluent in reading any others. (I know, major fail on my part)
When I email for help; when I call with questions- the LEAST you, as a company, can do is to provide me with someone who actually speaks my language and whom I can actually understand. It’s just good business practice.
Seems I’m having issues with a Kindle download. I was supposed to get a collection of books- 3, to be precise- and while the front of the book shows the correct information, the book ended at the end of book 1. I’m going the route of trying to figure out where the problem is- is it with the file? Is it with my device?
Dunno. So, I emailed Amazon and the other places.
I kid you not when I say I couldn’t even understand the REPLY sent to me. Sorry. Raheed, your English is not sufficient for me to understand what the heck you are trying to say. I get that you want me to give you a call. A call for what? To waste an hour of my life being put on hold and then to find I’m talking to someone I can’t even understand? No thanks. I am annoyed enough that I am going to complain to Amazon. Maybe it will make me feel better.
Used to be, folks who came to the USA legally were proud that they were here. They learned English. They learned US history. They remained proud of their ethnic heritage, and had neighborhoods where the native language was still prevalent, along with the foods and customs.
Now you don’t even have to be in the country legally to get a driver’s license. Nope. While Washington recently (as I understand it) revoked its law, New Mexico will give you a driver’s licence, even if you are an illegal alien. (No, these folks are not immigrants- immigrants are here legally. These people are illegal aliens.)
Think that doesn’t cause problems? Think again. Some folks from China figured it out. Fortunately, they got caught. More here. Still, how many licenses are out there fraudulently? No idea. Doubt we’ll ever know.
Talk to the immigrants who are here legally and they are furious. They jumped through the hoops. They were proud to learn the language. They were proud to be able to use the system. They feel as though they’ve been slapped in the face by those here illegally who are given the same “rights” as they are (and yes, we personally know many families in this category).
Heritage and customs are wonderful things. Particularly if they become festivals. It lets those of us unfamiliar with the culture get a taste of it. We’re part of the wide, wide world, and it’s great to have the opportunity to experience something that is half-way around the world.
But you know what? That’s where it ends for me. I don’t like feeling like a foreigner in my own country. Whatever happened to actual customer service? It’s bad enough you make me listen to 10 minutes of options with a non-live person before I can even learn what number I need to press. Sure, it’s easier for you. It’s just frustrating to me. And, it doesn’t leave me feeling like a loyal customer.
Whatever happened to the customer is always right? Now, it’s all about the bottom line and corporate profit. Us peons are just a means to an end- we’re just the stuff that has to be put up with so the company can make its mega bucks.
And this has nothing to do with the occupy fiasco. (People- go to work! You can’t find work if you aren’t looking. Quit blocking roadways that affect the travel on 6 lane highways where speeds are over 65 mph- you’re a hazard to the folks going places! We get your point. S*itting in public parks isn’t going to endear you the corporate or the rest of the world. Women only tents are what we are going to remember about this stuff, in addition to the mess- including human excrement- left behind.)
The larger issue, in my opinion, is a reflection of the state of society at large. Everyone is more worried about what they can get than what they can give. We want what we want, and we want it now. People don’t want to work hard. They’ve been conditioned that way. Much of the time, a person can work hard; put in a great effort, get great results, and still end up feeling punished for their hard work.
When your reward is tied to others that don’t have the same work ethic and you suffer the consequences of their failures- doesn’t make you inclined to work as hard as you have been. When there are a few in the same position and only one of you actually doing the job yet everyone gets paid the same- sure makes the one working his/her butt off think twice about putting forth the same effort, because there is no payback. No longer does effort = reward.
And let’s be honest- people don’t work because they get warm fuzzies. They don’t work and put up with idiocy because they want self- fulfillment. People work because of money. Money puts food on the table and clothes on your back.
This whole things sets up frustration on many levels. People don’t work hard for the sake of taking pride in their work. Neither do companies have real concern or care for customers if it affects their bottom line.
I may have to call Amazon. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again- I have asked to speak to a native English speaker. More times than I can count, I have said to the person on the other end of the phone, “I cannot understand you. Please transfer me to someone who is fluent in English.” Problem is- they usually don’t understand that and it takes me getting mad and saying “I want to speak to your supervisor” before I get someone I can understand.
I’m not being racist. I’m being realistic. If I went to Germany to live, I would darn well be able to speak German enough to be comfortable. If I went to China to live- I’d learn Chinese. WHY do people think they can infiltrate a country and expect the country to cater to them?
If you live in southern California, you probably don’t think twice when all the stickers on store merchandise are in Spanish and in English. And I’ve seen this where I live- store signs in Spanish. I once saw a price tag in Arabic and English. Can’t remember where, but there you have it.
If you move somewhere- learn the national language. If you have a customer service department that is global- match the help with those needing help. And when someone calls in the USA, please give them someone who is fluent in English. You know, for us schmucks living in the USA who speak English.
Thanks. 
So far, I’ve narrowed it down to Amazon or Overstock.com, but my searching has just begun. Now that I know what I’m looking for, the chase is on for something that won’t cost an arm and a leg!
First I went and signed up, and then went to the FB page and clicked on every link there. While I was madly clicking, I had another browser open and was searching my other places for more freebies. I spent over two hours downloading 57 free selections (some of them are short stories).
