Has anyone else noticed the extra amount of rudeness you get from the NEX, COMMISSARY, and TACO BELL?  They always stare at me like I'm the plague.  I always smile and say thank you to try and turn their mood around, but it never seems to work.  Most of the time they just ignore me.  Is it because I don't speak their language?  Sometimes I feel like they think if you don't speak their language that your not worth their time to talk to!

...treat others how you'd like to be treated in return and hopefully it will be contagious!

I've never really noticed an excessive amount of rudeness from them.... I mean, sure, occasionally people are rude, but everyone is entitled to a bad day! I know I've had bad days and been short with people at work.....

I treat people very nicely on base!! Like I mentioned I always smile hoping it will rub off on them, but they just stare. They rarely talk back or are always talking way too loud. It's like one extreme or the other.


AND I always treat others with respect.

Whenever I come across something too rude I just ask if I did something to offend them, kinda makes them stop and think, usually I get a response of, "Sorry, I am just having a bad day". I always try to smile and be kind to rudeness; its hard for someone to be mean to someone smiling.

I know right...I am always smiling at them, and it never works...Sometimes I just want to make to most terrible/funny looking face ever just to make them laugh! haha

I remember at my son's old school, the lady in the office was so mean to everyone! No one liked her at all. But one day she could tell I was upset and she pulled me to the side and talked to me (I was so shocked since she's a known rude lady) but she was actually comforting to me and said how she has a bad night everynight. She was telling me about things she is going through at home, and at that point I could see why she is so mean all the time. I dont think that excuses her behavior at all, but sometimes you just never know what people are going through. BUt yeah, you cant be mean to someone smiling at you lol.

I've never been to Taco Bell but I haven't been treated rudely at either the commissary or NEX.

It's not that they treat me rudely. It's that that don't treat at all. It's hard to explain. Sometimes they are rude in general i.e. they throw your stuff around on the floor not caring about what they just put into the bag, but mostly I try and talk to them and ask how they are doing and they just ignore me! That's what I think is really rude.

For me, compared to the customer service of my shopping experience outside of the base, on base is a little substandard.

Posted By Frank on 01-19-2012 11:57 AM
For me, compared to the customer service of my shopping experience outside of the base, on base is a little substandard.

so true!!  Japanese people are always so nice, helpful and respectful.  I always come out of a Japanese establishment feeling good because they are so sweet!

I was just saying the other day how Japanese will always have an edge on Americans. No matter how big or small their job is, you can tell they take pride in it! They go to work to do just that WORK! Americans can step their game up in that area. We have an issue with entitlements at time and can half-a** too! I agree, when dealing with the Japanese, I always feel good when I do business with them.

If comparing it to a Japanese establishment I agree. Their customer service is heads and shoulders above any typical American place, here or in the US.

I haven't been spoken to rudely, ignored, or had my stuff thrown around on the floor on base though.

If this is a frequent experience with anyone I highly recommend making a written complaint.  The boss can't fix a problem unless he knows about it.

 

Posted By Groovie on 01-19-2012 12:36 PM 

If this is a frequent experience with anyone I highly recommend making a written complaint.  The boss can't fix a problem unless he knows about it.

ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON! 

it used to happen to me often. Not the rude part, the careless effort to put the bags around the counter on the floor neatly. They used to just bend around the corner and drop in right in the floor instead and placing it there. So now when they bag stuff and try to put it on the floor I just say ill take that. So now I don't have to worry about anything being tossed around. I am not a complaint maker usually unless it is something serious. (Like when I fell in the NEX because the floor was wet and they didn't have a wet sign up) I laugh now because it was a little embarrassing, but at the time it really hurt.

dont be embarrassed, the sidewalk by McDonalds grabs my foot and I trip ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've gotten used to the grown men snickering when I trip (even my husband lol)

Hi everyone. I used to work at one of the food courts on base. And even though I am half-filipino I got some American friends and I remember her complaining to me how my workmates used to be so rude to her when she buys breakfast. I asked them why they are like that and I observed as well on why they always have sour faces. They said its usually to the fact that they can't speak much English like in a conversational level. Usually when you apply for a job in a blue collar position your ability to count and basic English is the only thing that matters and they are embarrassed to talk to Americans coz their English aren't that good. But I observed as well, I know it isn't fair for customers but employees argue a lot especially during busy hours because everyone is tired, people point at each other on who's to do this or that. But as I said these aren't customers fault. But I hope you guys have Atleast one person who you remember is nice on your favorite place. I remember this one lady shopped baby clothes and bring it to my work as a gift with a card while I was working pregnant. So I think I made a good impression to her ad she's not Filipino nor Japanese.

This reminds me of another thread I read on here recently. A sailor, in uniform, was verbally abusive to food service workers at Subway. Even though it was crowded, no one stuck up for the workers. While I am not saying that this is always the case and that everyone is like that, because I personally am not, and I'm sure most people aren't, just one person doing anything like that to me would sour my mood for the rest of the day and possibly the rest of the month. I would truly hate my job if I had to deal with that on a semi-regular basis. If you know that you're nice, I wouldn't take it personally if they seem aloof. Like almost everyone else has said, if you know you're treating them well and with respect, it's more than likely not you.

It's the radiation!!!

See my post here for the radiation story:
http://www.japanbases.com/forums/af...fpg/5.aspx

 

LOL 

I've never noticed anyone being outright rude to me, but I have noticed that they sure aren't all that helpful when it comes to helping you get to products you can't reach, looking in the back for certain sizes, or seeing if there is any yogurt that hasn't been re-stocked yet.

Yes. I remember one time while I was working a big drunk guy came for breakfast and he won't leave. He keep trying to hold my hand and he bought almost all types of food that we had and he just won't leave and when I was trying to resist and call my supervisor he throw the money to my face. I was trembling and I hid at the kitchen and my supervisor called the military police and he was driving but when he saw the police he sat in front of Starbucks all day till they left. It is hard working as a service worker too. Not everyone is nice. Plus a lot of customer is not having a good day and will use that bad day a reason to employees who are just trying to do their job. Especially during the morning. Sometimes people are too lazy to cook their own food and then go to food courts and expect them to feel like home. There's nothing that can be compared to a home cooked meal. So let's all be nice to each other. 😄😄😄

Posted By Akakmg on 01-19-2012 9:19 PM

There's nothing that can be compared to a home cooked meal. So let's all be nice to each other. 😄😄😄

Great advice, Aka.  Perhaps the best advice ever posted on JB!