Overheard at McDonalds Part II

Then, after 15 minutes a man called me from the store. He was the same person who had sold the table to me. He said: “Your table is here madam, you can come and pick it up. I am so sorry about this madam, but I was afraid to tell you that the table would arrive on Tuesday and not on Sunday. I was afraid that you would be angry, and that’s why I didn’t tell you.” :D This is very much the way for many Asian cultures - Thai, Burmese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Filipinos to an extent. I honestly didn’t know what to answer, I felt like screaming “you lied to me because you thought I was going to be angry if you told me the truth???”. This is a classic example of Dubai customer service… What can I say, what can I do? I just politely thanked the man and went to the store pick up my table. :D edited by fairytale on 08/09/2011 Unfortunately, this is the only way to deal with it. If you show anger or hostility, you will be shut out.

I will never learn to just keep quiet ... the driver at work was taking me from an appointment back to work, and I made a comment that some new parking meters were being installed where I normally park for free and pointed them out. Well, you can guess what happened... he pulled over where I had pointed out, and expected me to get out. Then was quite annoyed that I had asked him to stop there, and now I wanted to keep going to the main entrance... *sigh*

He probably had no idea what you meant :)

In a bar in downtown we'd handed over our credit card and it had been a long time with no materialisation of the bill. DH to waiter: where's the bill? Waiter: it's just comIng sir! DH: oh, I thought you were cloning it or something Waiter: I wish, sir! WTF?? They wish they were cloning my card???? This is the same place I went to a few weeks ago and about an hour after leaving got a text saying: Many thanks for patronising our restaurant this evening. <em>edited by Cheggers on 08/09/2011</em>

[Purple'> (seriously? They thought it better to make up some whacko story about latest trends in Japan rather then tell me they were out of stock.) I have a story of these "excuses" as well :D... I ordered a table from one of my favorite furniture stores in Dubai. They didn’t have stock of my table when I was in the store, but they promised me that if I paid for my table then, I could come and pick it up in 2 days. I said OK and paid for the table in advance (never do this in Dubai :D ). So the day came and at 5 pm I decided to call the store and ask where my table was. First I had a very confusing discussion with a lady who didn’t know what to say. Then I had even a more confusing discussion with a man who told me that their delivery truck had been in an accident and that’s why my table has not arrived (SUUUUUURE!!!). Then, a third person promised me that I would receive my table on Tuesday. Tuesday came and I called the store again. Nobody knew what I was talking about and they had no idea if my table had arrived. I lost my cool a little bit and said that I want my money back and will not buy the table, if I don’t get it today (I have learned the hard way that being nice gets you nowhere in Dubai – things start happening only when you loose your temper and raise your voice). The lady I was talking to, promised to check their warehouse and call me back. Then, after 15 minutes a man called me from the store. He was the same person who had sold the table to me. He said: “Your table is here madam, you can come and pick it up. I am so sorry about this madam, but I was afraid to tell you that the table would arrive on Tuesday and not on Sunday. I was afraid that you would be angry, and that’s why I didn’t tell you.” :D I honestly didn’t know what to answer, I felt like screaming “you lied to me because you thought I was going to be angry if you told me the truth???”. This is a classic example of Dubai customer service… What can I say, what can I do? I just politely thanked the man and went to the store pick up my table. :D <em>edited by fairytale on 08/09/2011</em>

So I called Creative Zone a few times this week. The receptionist picks up, and does not want to forward my call until I state my name AND my company. LOL. Creative Zone sets up companies. The majority of their callers do not have companies, but want one. Why on Earth does she demant to know my company? Only in Dubai!!!!

This one is not funny, actually it's serious issue concerns hygen and food poisoning in the place that have the thread name on.... today, just before 11 am, me and DS after his orientation in his school, he asked me if we can go to that fast food restaurant in Jumairah Beach Rd.... I asked the attendant if we can have the happy meal, she told me: sorry maam we only have breakfast, so it wasn't DS choice so I ordered instead the big breakfast with apple juice. after both attendants talked in their own language one of them told me to have a seat then she will bring it to us, DS went to the play area - yep it's the one that have inside play area and party room - after 15 min she come over and asked what exactly I ordered I told her big breakfast and showed her the receipt , then went back, I just kept keeping an eye on DS, after 5 min she come with apple pie as apology for the delay :\: as it will take another 5 min.... then she come with the meal, before she give it to me she said sorry maaam we don't have sausage, then I told her fine, he will be happy - it was almost 11:30 - then called DS for his meal, once I opened it I find a strange looking mustard thing look like it's made of wax, I just wanted to know what was that, with knife just made a cut, to see that it was once upon a time a scrambled eggs!!!!! I took the box as it is, then went back to her and told her what is that, the biatch just with indifferent face told me this what I ordered, I told her I want to to eat this thing front of me, she told me we are not allowed to eat during work!!! her manager was overhearing what was going on, not even pretending to show himself as the person in charge.... then I told him what is that? then he said sorry we are out of eggs as breakfast time is over!! I told what I want is respect, if they don't have eggs you can simply say you don't have same way you said no sausage, and this wash't what I wanted in the first place, but your staff made me buy this, which by the way is food poisoning in a box. the sod just said this eggs had been made at 5 am this morning... I told him this is a lie, this thing have been eggs 3 days ago, and you dared to keep it in your fridge then heat it up then serve it to your clients, I wonder if the municipality is aware of this? then he stopped talking and just kept listening to me - the 3 of them - with blank faces. I just told him you will hear from Dubai municipality. went home managed to get the # - by the way it's 800900 - and made complain....surprise surprise, someone yesterday had the same complain about the same place - that was said by the agent that I lodged a complain with..... after 40 min only, an inspector called me back as he was looking at this place until he parked his car front of it, as he said he is going to investigate the complain(s)...... this was my experience with this place, which now become a forbidden place from today on...

We had a curtain company come to install curtains in our rather massive 4 bed villa we were in before. First visit they came just to meassure, take details of colours etc etc. Next visit 8 blokes show up to actually fit my new curtains. This is what happened when I inspected their work. Bedroom. 2 curtain men working, they are installing possibly the ugliest arrangment I have ever seen, nothing at all as discussed. Me: Why is there two short poles (one at each end of the window), its ugly, it should be one pole Curtain Men: No maam, this is how its meant to be Me: no it isnt, this is not what I asked for, I want one pole CM: No Maam, this is what sir ordered ME: Sir havent ordered anything, I ordered it, and this is NOT what I ordered, I know what I ordered, please take it down. CM: Take it down madam? ME: Yes, take it down, I dont want this, its horrible, it should be one pole. CM: No madam, we can not take it down Me: WHAT??? CM: We have job to put up curtain maam, not take down. ME: Get me your manager on the phone, RIGHT NOW please CM: yes maam. Curtain blokes talk on phone, looks at me like Im a complete idiot and eventually passes me the phone. Manager: Maam, why you dont like curtain? ME: Its not what I ordered. its ugly. I dont want it. I want them to take it down and put one long pole - like I asked for Manager: No mam, this is latest fashion, its very nice ME: No, I dont like it, please have them take it down!!! Manager: its all the latest in Japan madam, its very nice.... Me: HAVE IT TAKEN DOWN NOW (!!!!) Manager: Ok madam, but we dont have long pole, will have to wait 1 week Me: Ok, fine, Manager: Ok I will tell them to take down. (seriously? They thought it better to make up some whacko story about latest trends in Japan rather then tell me they were out of curtian poles?) Living room. 2 massive long windows, one to left one to right. 6 men working. Me: thats fine (nodding at right one) but this (pointing at left one) is not straight. CM: Yes maam its straight Me: (BIG SIGH) No, its not straight, look at it! 6 men all stand back next to me... look at curtian. CM: Maam, its straight. We meassured Me: Please meassure again, its not straight. Cm: Maam, we already meassure, it is straight Me: (Very irate) Meassure it AGAIN or I will call my husband who will tell you to meassure it again (LOL) 6 men scramble to get ladder back in place and meassure again. 4 cm higher on one end then the other........ Kitchen. 2 blokes from bedroom are in there... why?? I told them very clearly when they asked me that I would not be needing a curtain for my kitchen. Me: Why why WHY is there a curtain in my kitchen? CM: Maam no like? Me: It doesnt matter if I like it, I didnt order a curtain for the kitchen! Cm: But maam, its very nice, if you dont like, just take down later they left, 2 hours later they showed up with a long pole for the bedroom. The kitchen curtain still up there (LOL) this was 3 years ago, the villa we are in now I made my hubby put every single IKEA bought curtain, NEVER again. <em>edited by Purple on 08/09/2011</em>

Recptionist: haaaaa Receptionist: haaa.... This really gets me : the "haaaa", the "tskkkk", the "mngmgnngm" :)

DH and I planning to try this new restaurant in Jumeirah...Since we havent been there and none of our friends too....I called to ask for the restaurants DRESS CODE.. Receptionist: Hello... Me: Hi...I just want to ask what's the DRESS CODE? Recptionist: haaaaa Me: FORMAL, CASUAL, SMART CASUAL? Receptionist: haaa.... Me: Jeans or Shorts...Closed Shoes or Slops? Receptionist:....ahhhh...FREESTYLE mam.... Got off the phone and asked my DH do u know what FREESTYLE means? LOL.... They have fantastic food though...hehehehe

Etisalat have called me 5 times asking me if I am interested in getting the e-life triple play package instead of the e-life double play package that i currently have. They call EVERY MONTH! And every month I explain to them that I have e-vision through the building, which I do not pay for, so no I will not add e-vision to my package and start paying for it. They keep telling me "but maam it cost you less if you get triple play, and you get xyz channels, and you save xyz dirhams with triple play" - of course only if I was actually paying for e-vision but I am not! They don't get it. First call lasted 10 minutes with my trying to explain why I am not interested. And I don't know why I even bothered explaining why the first few times! Last call went like this: Etisalat: "Hi maam this is Etisalat. We are calling..." DM (with an angry voice): "Is this for e-vision and triple play? This is the 5th time you call me and the 5th time I tell you I don't want e-vision. Why is my number still on your call list?" Etisalat: "Sorry maam I make note you don't want. Have a good day maaaaaam" Haven't heard from them during Ramadan...but that might have just been their summer holidays:(

I start off though with proper English. Using English like "you no work", "me go", only propagates the idea that incorrect English is correct, and gramatically correct English is too difficult, which it is not. And if you think truncated English is bad, then in Arabic the situation is even worse. When i use gramatically correct Arabic, they wont understand, but when i use a horrible bastardized version with incorrect words, they will wobble their heads happily.

Before getting my car, had to use a driver to office... on the 1st Thursday, I wanted to tell him that he doesnt need to pick me up on Fridays a& Saturdays: Me: Fridays & Saturdays are my weekend, so you dont need to come to pick me up Driver with a look: haaa Me: I have weekend on Friday and Saturday, so I dont come to office D: haaa Me: Friday Saturday I no work, you no come D: aaaaaaaaa okay okay I didnt know at the begining that it was that easy :cool:

This thread cracks me up! What surprises me is the full sentences people are speaking to the workers/employees in - I haven't used full sentences in 10 years :) ie for the cable to maid room it would have been 'want tv in maid room - fix cable', for taxi driver wanting water, 'no' (if I didn't want to pay the meter) or 'yes, be fast' if I didn't care about paying. The less words the better! :) I try to do the same thing now too. I used to try to ask nicely and say "would you mind doing..." but they just don't get it. it's better to just use the important words. We had a gardener for a while and his only words were "salary" and "plastic bag" - to collect leaves; i tried to explain about composting to him but had to give up.

My Indian maid; Ma'am, have you seen the ood outside, it's damaged! Me; What is damaged? Maid; The ood on the wall. Me; The ood?? Maid; Yes, the ood. Me; What's ood? Maid; The ood, ma'am, it needs new paint. Me; Please show me! Maid; You see, the ood, totally damaged. Me; Oh, the WWWOOD! Maid; Yes, OOOOOD, that's what I said...

Ordering Diet Pepsi and getting Full fat 7up, the reason was, oh they didnt have any diet!!!!! <em>edited by salsB on 04/09/2011</em>

This thread cracks me up! What surprises me is the full sentences people are speaking to the workers/employees in - I haven't used full sentences in 10 years :) ie for the cable to maid room it would have been 'want tv in maid room - fix cable', for taxi driver wanting water, 'no' (if I didn't want to pay the meter) or 'yes, be fast' if I didn't care about paying. The less words the better! :) I've only been here since April - guess I still have to learn.... :)

They say that and they know they're right.... ;)

I often get maamsirr but have got used to that now.

I don't bat an eye at the "Sirrrrr" now, heard it too many times. I also don't get upset when people ask to talk to my "Boss" when they want to talk to DH.

I really wonder if these international stores with impeccable standards in the US really know how their image is being butchered in the UAE. I have often thought the same. I am sick of Wai*rose having some products one week and not the next, rude staff and the essentials products being more than well known brands. Decided I am going to ask them back in the UK what they think when I go back in December. Also got a "Anything else sir?" the other day!(didn't know my facial hair was that bad!);) <em>edited by Rebecca W on 04/09/2011</em>

I don't use full sentences either (most of the time). How many of us now say "No need bag" in the supermarket? I do use full sentences when I'm upset - gets it off my chest without actually offending.

This thread cracks me up! What surprises me is the full sentences people are speaking to the workers/employees in - I haven't used full sentences in 10 years :) ie for the cable to maid room it would have been 'want tv in maid room - fix cable', for taxi driver wanting water, 'no' (if I didn't want to pay the meter) or 'yes, be fast' if I didn't care about paying. The less words the better! :) SO true! My husband still does this with people but works on the theory that it confuses them and he gets the result he wants! :D

This thread cracks me up! What surprises me is the full sentences people are speaking to the workers/employees in - I haven't used full sentences in 10 years :) ie for the cable to maid room it would have been 'want tv in maid room - fix cable', for taxi driver wanting water, 'no' (if I didn't want to pay the meter) or 'yes, be fast' if I didn't care about paying. The less words the better! :) And never ever ever ever a word that has more than 2 syllabuls.

I really wonder if these international stores with impeccable standards in the US really know how their image is being butchered in the UAE. I totally agree. I walked into Dior, MOE the other day with a baby in a buggy and the staff were all smiles and welcoming and "Good afternoon maam". I looked around then went to the Gucci shop just opposite and a staff member practically rugby tackled me at the door, stood in the doorway, stuck both his arms out, pointed to my buggy and rudely declared "not allowed inside maam". I asked why and got a repeat performance. I must point out that the Gucci shop is about twice the size of the Dior shop and was completely empty except for 1 customer when I tried to go in so they weren't stopping me because they were busy. I just said "well that's stupid and it's your loss I will never spend my money here again". The staff member didn't give a ****. No polite apology or explanation. I'm not a mother and it wasn't my baby and buggy but don't Gucci think that mothers shop? Is this really their rule or are their staff in Dubai just completely thick? Would they prevent a wheelchair from coming in? Sorry for the rant but it really annoyed me. I will never buy anything from them again not even a perfume or sunglasses.

As it's Ramadan, last Thursday I thought I'd call the restaurant down the road to see what time they open for dinner on the Friday. Restaurant: Hello. Me: Hi ... What time do you open tomorrow? Restaurant: Same time, Madam. Uh huh ...

Yes m'aam, I put the cable for the maid but you did not tell me you wanted me to connect it!!!! Love it! Silly you Suzy for missing that vital piece of information!!! It was obvious you were just getting him to put the cable in for the fun of it! LOL! :)

Had the satellite guy come to install sat for 3 rooms - one of which was for the maid. I asked him 3 times - are you sure you have prepared the maid's room for when Showtime comes? Yes m'aam cable all there ready to go m'aam. No charge for installation for Showtime all is OK. Are you sure? Yes I am sure. Showtime comes today, m'aam, there is no signal. But the other guy said he had installed the cable, and I even called him again this morning to confirm? M'aam I have checked on the roof, there is a cable but it was not connected to the dish. There are only 2 connections and you need 3. May I speak with the technician who installed the satellites? So I call him... Yes m'aam, I put the cable for the maid but you did not tell me you wanted me to connect it!!!!

"Overheard in a Fast Food Joint Part II"