Job Discussion Forums

[Sashadroogie]

Perhaps a trivial gripe, but I wonder how many other Moscow-based EFL teachers share it. I mean, what is with specialised EFL book shops here and the unbelievable rudeness of the staff who purport to work there? Whether it is Britannia or Relod, the same surly couldn't-care-if-you-lived-or-died attitude is all it seems you can expect. Absolutely no call for it. And I don't believe it is a 'local culture' thing - larger shops like Dom Knigi or Biblio-Globus give regular, if perfunctory, service. No rudeness, at least in my experience.

It's been nearly twenty years since the old system collapsed. Why, oh, why does it seem to live on behind the counters of those rude and inefficient little shops!

[maruss]

It's not only in some bookshops but is still quite a common attitude throughout Russia in many fields....Perhaps trying to find out what these people earn might help to explain it?Probably peanuts,so their attitude is one of 'what's in it for me if I go out of my way to help someone?'Of course there are exceptions where staff have been trained by foreigners about customer service etc. IKEA is perhaps a good example:I amazingly heard a sales guy offering to exchange some faulty goods for a Russian customer and apologising profusely for the inconvenience-he even went through the assembly instructions to help answer some other queries!
Imagine expecting that in a traditional Russian store!

[Red and white]

Genuinely never had that problem in Relod, nor Bookhunter. Maybe I'm just lucky, but in general once I've made myself understood (my Russian can be a bit unpredictable at times) I get the info I need with a minimum of fuss. Except in the post office, but that's another story!

Was quite touched a couple of weeks ago in Dom Knigi: wanted a map of Yerevan, found it, took it to the kassa and was told that it cost 1750 roubles and I shouldn't pay so much for it. No arguments here, but a nice touch.

[Sashadroogie]

Oh, I see. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe you have a four-leaf clover. But sadly, I have not had very happy experiences in any of the little shops. Credit cards seem to be foreign magic to most of the girls behind the tills. Their own discount cards never seem to work - using them seems to add at least fifteen minutes on to an already over-long transaction, with no guarantee they will actually work.

All this I could probably tolerate but for the inevitable rudeness. I'm amazed you haven't been treated to a dose of this. Most my colleagues have also remarked on it - and this includes locals. What's your secret?

[Eamonn]

I thought they just did that for the benifit of us tourists??! Ensuring we got our 'authentic' Russian shopping experience
I once got called an Idiot in a supermarket by a cashier - i just snapped back 'what!?' and she just looked away with a bitchy face...
In retrospect i see it a truely golden moment.