Happy Shopping
I am sure you could appreciate the fact that there is little that I can write about at the moment. I have many replies for all those who left me comments as well as new thoughts which I wish to share. I will wait for March 21.
In the meantime, I want to share a story. Just today, I experiences how the more things change, the more they stay the same.
At 11:40 this morning, I accompanied Lara to do some furniture shopping for her center. The first place we went was the store on Vardanats street where we usually get our stuff. It's close and has somewhat of a variety. We have spent more over 2000$ in this store in less than a year. Today, as Lara was looking around, I told the salesgirl that the 120$ office chair we bought about 3 months ago broke from the bottom part (where it should not have broken). She replied : "ed inch tsevi ek nsdel vor?" (what kind of way where you sitting). I smirked as I am used to this kind of arrogant answers by now. I told her with the usual sarcasm : "jishtn asadz vren eyi tsakrdum" (tell you the truth I was jumping on it). Then I walked further down to look for more chairs. I found one and asked if this was a better quality one. She told me well you are a fat guy so I don't know... she is litteraly trying to sell her products, she is not being obnoxious (or so she thinks). To that I answered, well perhaps you should write the maximum weight each of these chairs carry (always with the smirk). To my surprise, she started raising her voice telling me that I am not one to tell her what to do. I started getting annoyed and told her that I am the customer and that as a customer service tactic she shouldn't raise her voice like that if she wanted to make a sale (especially since we were actually there to buy and not just browse).
So far, this conversation may be typical to those who have visited Armenia, or have lived here for some time. Her following answer is what pissed me off most. I lost it and started yelling at her and at her male staff who had now gathered around her and were telling me that I should not talk to a woman like that. I don't care if today is International Women's Day (in Armenia, this holiday has become a celebration of beauty, not at all a celebration of empowerment and fight for equality) NO ONE should talk to me that way and utter such vile sentiments.
She said: "TSER YERGROUM E AYTBESS, AYSDEGH, YES VONTS UZUM EM AYTBESS EL GKHOSSAM"
(that's how it might be in your country, but here, I speak the way I want)
NOTE: I think I have earned the right to have replied to her that I live here and this IS my country.
So you see, the more "developed and civilized" we get, the more arrogant and resentful some (I stress on some) people get!
In the meantime, I want to share a story. Just today, I experiences how the more things change, the more they stay the same.
At 11:40 this morning, I accompanied Lara to do some furniture shopping for her center. The first place we went was the store on Vardanats street where we usually get our stuff. It's close and has somewhat of a variety. We have spent more over 2000$ in this store in less than a year. Today, as Lara was looking around, I told the salesgirl that the 120$ office chair we bought about 3 months ago broke from the bottom part (where it should not have broken). She replied : "ed inch tsevi ek nsdel vor?" (what kind of way where you sitting). I smirked as I am used to this kind of arrogant answers by now. I told her with the usual sarcasm : "jishtn asadz vren eyi tsakrdum" (tell you the truth I was jumping on it). Then I walked further down to look for more chairs. I found one and asked if this was a better quality one. She told me well you are a fat guy so I don't know... she is litteraly trying to sell her products, she is not being obnoxious (or so she thinks). To that I answered, well perhaps you should write the maximum weight each of these chairs carry (always with the smirk). To my surprise, she started raising her voice telling me that I am not one to tell her what to do. I started getting annoyed and told her that I am the customer and that as a customer service tactic she shouldn't raise her voice like that if she wanted to make a sale (especially since we were actually there to buy and not just browse).
So far, this conversation may be typical to those who have visited Armenia, or have lived here for some time. Her following answer is what pissed me off most. I lost it and started yelling at her and at her male staff who had now gathered around her and were telling me that I should not talk to a woman like that. I don't care if today is International Women's Day (in Armenia, this holiday has become a celebration of beauty, not at all a celebration of empowerment and fight for equality) NO ONE should talk to me that way and utter such vile sentiments.
She said: "TSER YERGROUM E AYTBESS, AYSDEGH, YES VONTS UZUM EM AYTBESS EL GKHOSSAM"
(that's how it might be in your country, but here, I speak the way I want)
NOTE: I think I have earned the right to have replied to her that I live here and this IS my country.
So you see, the more "developed and civilized" we get, the more arrogant and resentful some (I stress on some) people get!
posted by Raffi N at 3:03 PM
9 Comments:
When I visited Armenia last year, I remember being surprised by how backwards social attitudes were. Particularly the gender thing.
This was not everyone of course, but there were definately certain characters types with whom I remember thinking to myself, "This is just embarrassing. You'd be a laughing stock if travelled anywhere in the world and thought, looked, and dressed the way you did."
For those guys to gather around and say "you shouldn't talk to a woman like that" is just so old school. Who thinks like that anymore? And even worse, who aspires to an ideal less than equality and then prides him/herself on it!? It's just bizzare.
The worst vibe I got from Armenians (local Hayastanstsis) is that although nowadays communism is over and they are plugged into the world, they don't seem to want to join it. Meanwhile, everyone around them is.
I mean I saw young people on vacation in Armenia from Islamic Iran (and I emphasis the word Islamic). And they were more in touch with world fashion trends than Hayastansi youth on average, particularly the guys.
So how did that whole story end? Did you tell her that it was your country too?
At the beggining of the winter I went to dry-clean some clothes. They asked me to pay 100% in advance. I said what happens if you ruin my cloth, would you give my money back? The lady started to yell at me saying that in this country things are just like that. This argue went for about 5 minutes, until I decided to leave with my 20,000 amd stuff to another dry-cleaning center. While I was leaving I said "in five years time you will need customers and then you will remember me, you don't know a shit about customer service"
i have been to armenia and america and i can understand the clash of cultures when it comes to customer service. customer service is just amazing in the US, for a western european like me. but i can guarantee there are places worse than armenia, places where sales clerk would threaten to call the police, like here in Africa for instance!
Anonymous #1 (the one with the dry cleaning),
When that lady tells you, "in this country things are just like that",
she is basically telling you:
"I come from a backward Borat culture and I'm proud of it!"
How pathetic. What a dissappointing people. Are these really the descendents of Mesrop Mashdots?
And yes, I know not every one is like that but a significant number of people are to make it a problem.
How those of you repats who live in Hayastan can put up with that mentality on daily basis without going crazy I'll never now. It's not for me.
good job Raffi! i would have done exactly the same.
I don't know why you guys have been getting such bad attitude in Armenia, but it's completely contrary to my experiences. I have visited Armenia twice in the last 2 years and have not had a single bad customer service experience. As a matter fact I always thought that they offer even better customer service in cafes and restaurants. I know that stores are not as friendly as restaurants but still, I have never been offended. I hope things will start going better for you soon.
its not so much the bad service I was complaining about. i know this happens in all countries (a little more in Armenia). I am used to it and have learned to deal with it in my way.
My main concern was her attitude towards us diasporans... the "your country" comment was what ticked me off!
I agree with Raffi. Nothing pisses me off more in Armenia than when people insinuate that Armenia is not my country.
Raffi, I've found one way to appease my fury. I simply ask the person where their grandparents were born and when they say Armenia I tell them so were mine! Usuallly they get the point.
On the rare occasion that they don't I'll add that my Grandparents were driven out of their villages during the Genocide and didn't pack up and elect to leave Armenia by choice. In fact they survived the Genocide and when they attempted to repatriate they were denied re-entry into their homeland by the Soviets and forced to live the remainder of their lives in exile!
I don't understand why they can't comprehend this simple truth, commend reapts and welcome them with less hostility.
I think you handled yourself well. I would have lost it when she asked "ed inch tsevi ek nsdel vor?" Honestly, that's an unacceptable comment for anyone let alone a salesgirl. I wouldn't expect any type of civilized customer service from someone with such a basic lack of social graces anyway.
I agree, the our country vs. your country is completely uncalled for - it was totally out of the blue in that conversation.
I also must say that like the other person who commented, I feel like I generally get extra nice treatment... which I appreciate whenever it happens and am extra nice in return :-)
But it's also nice that we Diasporans aren't so exotic anymore that we get asked where are you from, and is it better here or there 12x a day! No biggie on a 2 week trip, but torture 365 days a year :-)
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