This is a point that has often been raised in the media, especially when the topic of service standards in the retail or F&B industries is brought up. Just ask any person who has worked in these industries and without a doubt, almost everyone prefers serving Caucasians rather than Singaporeans. The funny thing is, you still see some Singaporeans questioning why this is so. I would have thought this was a no-brainer. For these clueless Singaporeans, this is why:
1. Singaporeans simply ignore you and do not acknowledge your presence when you ask :"Can I help you?".
2. Singaporeans do not smile even as you smile and say :"Hi" as they approach
3. Singaporeans do not bother to say a greeting when they first approach you
4. Singaporeans do not look at you when talking to you
5. Singaporeans use a curt, impatient tone of voice when talking to you as if you owe money to them, their parents, their grandparents, their great grandparents and all the way to Adam in the Garden of Eden
6. Singaporeans always want the 'new piece' even when told the one they are holding is the last one
7. Singaporeans are lousy tippers
Some other instances of rude Singaporeans:
1. Singaporeans do not say thank you when you hold doors at department doors or lift doors open for them.
2. Singaporeans do not say thank you when you give way to them on the road.
3. Singaporeans put their feet up on bus seats.
4. Singaporeans take their socks off in buses and air-conditioned places.
5. Singaporeans walk slowly in a group in the middle of walkways, obstructing other users
6. Singaporeans turn on their loudspeakers of their mobile phones to listen to music in buses and other enclosed spaces
7. Singaporeans do not move to the rear when buses are crowded
8. Singaporeans rush to get into MRT trains before passengers in the train alight
I once saw a man in his fifties at a petrol station. He was waiting at the counter as the pump attendant was filling up his car with petrol (a big gleaming Jaguar, I might add). The cheerful service staff at the counter, a young lady, was trying to get him to buy some promotional items. All the while when the lady was talking to him, this man just stared out the window and did not even bother to look at her or answer her. This poor lady then tallied the bill, processed the payment, and the man left.
The man might be somebody influential, filthy rich, or a big shot but I believe that to treat the people around you with so little respect, be it they are your equals or not, marks you out as someone of poor character and upbringing.
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15 comments:
Customer service in Singapore is a thankless, horrid, unrewarding job. There are people going on and on about how horrible the service is, and yet all the had on their minds in the first place was on how to make the poor lad's life difficult. I've had a friend who worked in Macs previously, and he wasn't having a good day so he wasn't smiling. Then came this customer who stormed up to the manager, pointed at my friend and said: "That BUGGER didn't SMILE at me!" -.- Yea yea okay, we'll compensate you with a Happy Meal.
¨The cheerful service staff at the counter, a young lady, was trying to get him to buy some promotional items.¨
I've never been to Singapore but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt on this kind of thing. Salespeople in almost every country follow you around the store, try to force you to buy stuff you don't want, ask personal questions about what you're looking for and why you want it... and customers are supposed to ¨be polite¨ and put up with it. If you make subtle hints that you don't want to be bothered while shopping they never give up. I'm sick of it and I just blatantly ignore them too now.
Leave the poor customers alone and stop trying to get us to buy more and more stuff. It's never enough for you shopkeepers is it? The guy can't just get gas, no he has to buy some promotional items he never said he had any interest in. No wonder he's annoyed.
You're obviously perfect, aren't you? Oh please, don't give the Internet this bullcrap. You've obviously never worked in the F&B industry before. And it's not just Singaporeans "who don't have basic manners" or whatever. Open your eyes, boy.
it's like this everywhere. PLEASE. and if you don ignore, they will pester you. so shut the fuck up go suck your dad's penis.
"almost everyone prefers serving Caucasians rather than Singaporeans"
Yup, cause it's illegal for Caucasians to be Singaporeans.... I was enjoying your blog until I found this nice racist remark hidden inside. Thanks for that.
So What?!?Everyone Is Not PERFECT!!You Can't Expect All The Singaporeans To Be So Good And Kind.And It's Not Like Your Country Are PERFECT.AND THIS IS A STUPID BLOG!I MEan Your Country Cant be The Best Right?!?!
Hahahahaa, funny.... agree agree.
I'm not actually hate singaporeans, but this post rather sums up their attitude.. I've experienced it
Please do not commit the fallacy of hasty generalization and assume that ALL singaporeans behave like this.
Not all singaporeans act like this but most do and I agree with this blogger. Why u here reading this if you are getting so worked up! Singaporeans have bad manners .. It's a known fact so much to the fact that they have ads all around the mrt station n buses reminding them what basic manners are. Everything written here I have seen first hand .. Yup sorry . True story
When u try the food at food court, you will get the unpatient service from the staff, especially the elders. I can say old birds in Singapore really rude
Im in singapore for the last 3 days for a vacation...and I've experienced a lot of rude manners from Singaporeans from shops to buses everywhere. Bad manners really. Now im writing this comment at the airport while waiting for the plane back to my country. All I can say is THANK GOODNESS im leaving this place. I mean the place is really nice but..the people? Nah a..I dont think so
I'm an Australian and Have been working in Singapore now for three (3) years. I read a story in the The Strait Times a few months ago stating that foreigners are very messy eaters and drinkers at the numerous Hawkers and Coffee Shops around Singapore. The article also stated that Singaporeans are not as messy (ie. never leaving uneaten food items or rubbish Laying around on tables when they leave). This is totally wrong. I have eaten at Hawkers everyday for the last three years and the Singaporeans leave a disgusting mess everywhere. Last week I was eating at MacDonald's. After ten minutes of trying to find a seat (ie. in between a restaurant full of university students studying and mess left by other Singaporean diners) I found a seat. When I finished my meal I tidied up my table, picked up my tray and took it the the bin. When I left the MacDonald's restaurant the Manager actually followed me out and thanked me for cleaning up my table. I said, "No problem!". This is the basic thing that my friends, my family and everyone I know (who are foreigners) do here in Singapore. That is, foreigners DO clean up after themselves. As an Australian here in Singapore I always have. Singaporeans need to cleanup after themselves when they go out NOT foreigners. Don't blame foreigners for your own mess. One other thing I hate in Singapore is the constant snorting and people spitting and picking their noses on the buses and MRT. Can't Singaporeans do this at home??? Sneezing and not covering their noses and the constant snorting! It's disgusting. Anyway, my work contract finishes in two years time and I'm out of Singapore. I'm never returning. Will be glad to be out of here.
Damn right. Sometimes I just felt anxious to mix up with the community probably because of their behavior and they way how they communicate. I had enough with this shit. Here is some cases which you can judge by yourself. In MRT, they acting like a king and do whatever they want even though actually they can be more polite towards foreigner or the tourist (Show some respect or at least give a face). To be frank, If you're a foreigner then please take a note. Whenever you're going to take a train, make sure that you find the spot as quick as you can so that you wouldn't have to argue with the Singaporeans. Finding a seat in MRT is like digging your grave and found a piece of gold. Be careful with them cause once they get a seat, they will not give you a single bloody chance to sat on their spot. Let say if you trying to snatch their seat then you have to deal with them. Why? They are first-class citizens but third-class manners.
Second, each time if you visit any stores or mart please don't be too polite with those Singaporeans by hold or open the doors for them as you just make yourself look like an idiot. I didn't mean to insult anyone or forbid you from making a kindness but sometimes you have to made some consideration before you start helping someone. Trust me, they won't thank you. Don't even expect them to treat you back. No sir, they won't do. Why? I ever been this kinda situation.
What about creating a new subject about social living (courtesy and manner) to integrate the national educational system?
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