Monday, June 27, 2005

Mr Humphries, are you free?

Aside from the obvious ones like the weather and the accents, one of the primary differences between Scotland and Australia is the standard of customer service one receives, either in person or on the phone.

Every Scot I have met so far has been downright charming; however, something happens to these people when they put on a supermarket uniform, or accept a job in a bureaucratic institution in which they have to deal with customers. They become the complete opposite (is un-engaging a word?).

I have noticed that it is very un-Scottish to announce to a caller who you are. People around here pick up the phone with a perfectly polite "hallo" but that's where the introduction stops. The onus is then on the caller to stammer through a conversation, never quite sure they are actually speaking to the right person.

So I ask "hello, is that Mr McX" and they gruffly reply "Aye" (roughly translated: Well of course it is, this is my telephone you've dialled, Stupid Tourist). How hard is it for people to say "Hello, Mr McX speaking"?!

Okay it's a tiny gripe and I should get over it but come on people - a little help here please....

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