Korean Job Discussion Forums

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

I really dread going to that place. Never once have I been where the workers have been polite to me. It seems like they hate their customers, and I feel like I'm intruding on some kind of secret meeting every time I go in. They just leer at me, may or may not greet me, never say thanks for the purchase, totally unhelpful when I ask about something..

If it weren't for the magazine selection at decent prices, I would never go there. If anyone knows of a place that has a comparable magazine selection (US news, science magazines, Economist, etc.) please let me know, because I'd never go to What the Book again. They need to learn how to appreciate business rather than taking it for granted.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

Wow, must be you then because I always get great service when I'm in there. Chiaa is always nice and talkative, and his staff are all pretty cool too. I've yet to have any problem there, and if I did, I wouldn't hesitate to talk to Chiaa himself.

As for other places, I haven't found anywhere else for magazines (or books for that matter) as cheaply as him. But if you do find somewhere, let us know.

KPRROK

jdog2050 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

jessiaka · Joined: 07 Jan 2006

http://magazinecity.com/

The subscriptions are cheaper than what What The Book charges Smile

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I would also like to say that I've had only great experiences there. Chiaa is always polite and helpful to me and I really admire the patience he has with a lot of young and clueless foreigners.

(Edited for typos that did not affect meaning.)

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I stopped by there a few years ago on Christmas before going to Geckos. I think it was his wife that helped me. No problems.

I've never seen the place since then, so I don't what the magazine selection is like, but I've always felt that the magazine section in Yongpoong Bookstore in the basement of Central City by Express Bus Terminal, was the best selection that I've seen, but some of the costs are expensive.

The best selection that I've seen where costs were very reasonable, was at the domestic tours office at the USO.

komtengi · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

definatley you...
everytime I've been there they help me out as much as possible, and I've seen the same service given to others

Young FRANKenstein

hadeshorn · Joined: 30 Jul 2003

Dude or dudette. I think you are seeing things that arent there. I just wanna be left alone when im in there and have peace of mind to get my purchases without someone bugging me.

But times when I have asked chiaa a question, he didnt begrudge me his time.

Christ I remember one time he was in the middle of an online risk game and he stopped the game so he could check his catalogue for something, and even tho he didnt have a sale he was still awesome about it.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

You for sure. I order text books there twice a year and stock up on new titles whenever I am in the capital. The owner and his staff are extremely helpful and go over and above to help me get what I want.

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

I too prefer bookstores that leave me alone and I really couldn't care less if they greeted me. I prefer a bookstore owner to be nose deep in a book and not even recognize that I entered his/her store.

That being said, Chiaa definitely has his better days...but wouldn't you if you had to put up with some of the Itaewon shit he deals with.

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:15 am Post subject:

I went in there with a pile of used books, but when she told me the price, it wasn't close to what I had been quoted on the phone. I asked her why, and she said, "Read the sign" without looking at me, really, really rude. I know what you're saying Quinella.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Ehh.. wasn't saying I expected typical Korean style service. I hate that just as much as everyone else. What I mean is, when I say, "How are you doing," I like it when the person responds, rather than looking down at the counter, or just grunting something.

Went there tonight and the lady at the counter didn't say anything at all to me, not even the price. I felt like I was at Emart.

'Definately' must be me. Maybe I do not look bookish enough, or my smile and friendly tone are upsetting..

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

Clearly it's you and your expectations of phoney, Walmartesque non-service.

I'm in that store twice a year (I don't live in Seoul), and Chris has always treated me kindly, even going so far as to ask about my wife, whom he's met all of once two years ago. No, he doesn't rush to the door to bow and hold your hand: he's too busy bringing in the books and magazines you and I want to buy.

The reason no one is rushing to your aid is because it's a bookstore, and civilised bookstores don't harass their customers.

As for your paranoia re: leering, maybe you should see someone about that.

Totally unhelpful how? I understand the staff are often busy, and so in the event I really can't find a title, I ask them to simply point me in the direction of a book. Never once have any of them failed to drop what they're doing and lead me to the object of my search. I suspect one would have to be really scary-looking or emit pungent BO for them to do otherwise.

When I call for info or order online, I am what most would call a 'difficult' customer, ordering obscure (even out-of-print) titles and requesting delivery to a pseudo-address in the countryside to which lots of mail gets lost. Again, whatthebook comes through quickly and efficiently.

With this many people in a single day sharing the opposite impression you got, I think it's seriously time you look at yourself as the origin of the problem.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

chiaa in person is definitely a personable and helpful businessman.

at the very least one should give him kudos for having an easily navigable website - in both english and korean - that gives lower prices than kyobo bookstore or bandi and luni's.

as well, they've made their used book policy more than public on a number of occasions. and think - with all the one-year sojourner nerds in this country, who has the extra cash to deal with all the books some 24 year old fruit wants to dump 1 week before his/her contract ends and then gets all pissy when a small businessperson says "no, i already have 17 used copies of LIFE OF PI"?

there are no korean companies ready to meet an english speaker's needs to the degree what the book has.

www.whatthebook.com

and please, if you're going to use the word "definitely", don't include the letter "a".