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Posts: 446 | Thanked: 79 times | Joined on Mar 2010
#44
Originally Posted by oved_etzot View Post
I think the word "racism" was a stretch of the word. But complaining about someone's accent in a globalized economy is a bit unfair. I mean Nokia is a Swedish company, so you might have gotten a representative with an accent like the Swedish chef on the Muppet show - Why do you assume that you deserve someone who speaks your exact language in your exact accent?
My English isn't bad, it's my second language though. When I call the US for customer service or other professional business, many times I have trouble understanding people's accents, sometimes it's not the accent but all sorts of idioms that are taken for granted in the US. Frustrating, but that's the way it goes.
It probably isn't racism but it is a bit anglo-centric to expect that everyone fits theirselves into your standards.

If i call customer service of a place called "NOKIA USA" i expect to speak to some one who speaks the main language of the USA. when i call NOKIA EURO or AFRICA i expect to speak with some one who speaks the applicable language.

imagine if you will for a second:

I see the phone advertised on NOKIA/usa (advertised in English writing to English speaking residents of america)

I buy the phone in NEW YORK (a English speaking American city)

I buy from a American English speaking cashier and talk with a American English speaking regional manager (English is the primary language in the USA runner up is Spanish)

I pay for this device in US DOLLARS (the official Currency of the United States)

These US Dollars have English words written on them

My receipt is printed out in English

The Language programed on the phone is English

Now imagine my frustration when i have a problem with this phone and i call a customer service rep who can not speak English to a reasonable degree? after the smooth transitions to the phone all being done in very easy to use and easy to understand English I now have to deal with a problem with some one who cant understand me and i cant understand them.

This is how regular old customer service calls escalate very quickly.

For the record if you call customer service and ask to speak with some one who speaks clear English (preferably a manager ) they will find one for you and it usually doesn't take too long

Last edited by andraeseus1; 2010-06-29 at 16:40.