big-will 7 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 1 I ordered something from amazon.co.uk and a few other places last Monday. All were in stock (apparently). To be sent to a UK address. 2 of them have STILL not arrived - there is no takyubin like deliveries after noon on Saturday apparently. Rubbish. Makes me realise just how brilliant Japanese delivery services are. 2 Go into a shop here and invariably the service is just embarrassingly poor. What the hell do you want attitude. Go into some coffee shop or something and expect to pay lots for shoddy service and dirty tables that they don't come and clear up. 3 Packing. Buy a piece of china. You got the box? No! Here we'll wrap it in a bit of newspaper then put it in a plastic bag! I get worked up at some things in Japan, but.... Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 The service in Japan is second to none IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I agree with the general point, however I point out the exception: the city hall (shiakusho) or bank which is closed on the weekends and weekdays at 4.30pm. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 the banks?? wtf are they all about?? All this technology in the world and there are noe hole in the wall atm's, you can't get money out after 9 on a sunday?? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 you should meet some JFSA beurocrats. The stiffest bunch of stiffs I've ever met. Ask them about your banking hours. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I also like when you walk into shop and EVERY member of staff says welcomes you!! You see guys running from the back just to say it, cracks me up! Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Originally Posted By: Mantas The service in Japan is second to none IMHO. Yep service is great but it lacks being personal. It's all a programmed spiel and doesn't usually go any further than that. Never and eye contact at cash registers and to me it creates an uncomfortable environment I dread experiencing again. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 so you're not going to buy anything again? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 ah yes. And when you actually ask a question about something that they don't know the answer to, rather than say "hang on. I don't know, I'll have to find out for you", you get the "ah no. That is impossible. We CAN'T do that" I'm not talking simple cafe service. I'm talking about when you have a computer question or something other, and you ask in a computer shop. Some guys will go out of their way to help you, but many will tell you it can't be done simply because they don't know about it. I have experienced this in a big electronics shop. I spoke to one guy one day and he was very helpful, came back about the same thing another day, spoke to a different guy who insisted that it couldn't it was impossible and nothing could be done. When I pushed the point and asked for the other guy, he had to admit he was wrong. I have found this attitude a lot here. Often goes hand in hand with the "That's just the way it is (so bugger off)" attitude. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday so you're not going to buy anything again? Restricted to a life of internet shopping! Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I've just had an hour of brilliant chiropractic treatment for 800 Yen. I reckon that's pretty good value. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 but was it just robot-like pulling and shoving or was it done with feelings from the heart? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 It was done from the heart. He spent a lot of time measuring me up to make sure he got me straight. Nothing superficial. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I'm in two minds about service in Japan. I go to the same seicomart every morning on the way to work and generally am served by the same people every morning. Each time I am greeted by the familiar "Irashaimase" which is nice enough but the last year or so you would think maybe they could strike up a little more familiarity. How about a 'how are you?', 'looks like a nice day today', 'are you busy?', etc. I often ask these questions of them but they never ask me. Also every morning they ask me if I want a straw with my iced coffee even though for the last year or so I have always said no to this question. So in this case I've really found the service to be overly robotic, they just say all the things they've been told to say without any ability to strike up a little familiarity with regulars like myself. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I have to agree with that GN. While service down here in OZ is often friendly and genuine. Japanese service is meticulous to the point of 'robotic' Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 domo arigato mister robato Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Trains, you can not beat the Japan Rail system anywhere in th world, here in Oz its quicker to walk. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 and that's why i drive drunk, your honour.... Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 For me the best thing of living up here in the rural north of Japan is there is virtually no crime at all. It's incredible the difference it makes living in a place devoid from all fear of crime. Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 How do they pull that of ? Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 It's not as safe as it seems. I know of 3 people who have been burgled in daytime. And in Osaka I saw a salaryman get beat up in front of at least 200 people in the main shopping area by a group of roadworker characters, then they threw him in their van and drove off. (an aside: everyone just stared at this for about 10mins without doing anything. I was lookign to see if anyone was calling the cops (I had not phone at that time) but no-one did). But I agree with the general comment that it feels safer here. The absence of aggressive adolescents is the main reason, and beer-ed up gangs of 40 year olds who should know better. Link to post Share on other sites
cal 6 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Quote: The absence of aggressive adolescents is the main reason Spot on. I want to know where all the aggression is coming from. Link to post Share on other sites
Rag-Doll 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Originally Posted By: bobby12 beer-ed up gangs of 40 year olds who should know better. I think that's just a Niseko problem! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Originally Posted By: Rag-Doll Originally Posted By: bobby12 beer-ed up gangs of 40 year olds who should know better. I think that's just a Niseko problem! C'mon, RD< you know better than that. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 Hahaha! Shoulda known a Niseko related thread with violence would drag you out of the woowork RD Link to post Share on other sites
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