Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog

I posted this on IBC's Facebook page earlier tonight, I imagine it's been removed by now:

My wife and I went to your Mao Tse Toung store tonight and we were treated very rudely by your staff during the entire visit. There were three greeters at the door, who were too busy talking to the staff at the counter to greet us, even when we greeted them in Khmer. Your cashier did not respond when we said hello in Khmer, rudely demanded that we gave her the correct small change in riel so she wouldn't have to make change, and otherwise refused to speak to us - no hello, no goodbye, no thank you - even though we speak Khmer. As we were leaving, she loudly insulted us to the next customer who was Khmer.

I went to the same store with my Khmer business manager yesterday and spent a fair amount of money, but got the same rude treatment. I bought a large whiteboard, but your staff made it very clear our business was too much work for them, and joked loudly and rudely about the two of us.

Your staff on the first floor were talking rubbish about us quietly as we shopped for books, clearly without knowing we could understand them.

Perhaps the guy sleeping in the sporting goods section could be re-tasked to customer service.

I have received good service at the Sihanouk Bvd store, but good luck with your business at the MTT store, I won't be back.

Interesting. When writing a complaint letter, it's better to give specifics rather than just generally saying the staff "insulted us" "joked loudly and rudely about the two of us" and was "talking rubbish about us." Without details, the reader doesn't know what happened or what your specific complaint is, and they also can't educate the staff about what they did wrong. If they called you old or fat or ugly or smelly, you should say that, it might get the managers attention.

You repeatedly mention that you speak Khmer, it sounds like you expect a higher level of service because of that.

myfriendme wrote:Interesting. When writing a complaint letter, it's better to give specifics rather than just generally saying the staff "insulted us" "joked loudly and rudely about the two of us" and was "talking rubbish about us." Without details, the reader doesn't know what happened or what your specific complaint is, and they also can't educate the staff about what they did wrong. If they called you old or fat or ugly or smelly, you should say that, it might get the managers attention.

You repeatedly mention that you speak Khmer, it sounds like you expect a higher level of service because of that.

I think it's sweet you expect the manager's attention might be 'got' for this situation - as though the good manager cares. You also sound like you believe staff education might actually happen in this place.

If you speak Khmer, and you thought the staff insulted you and your wife in Khmer, you would have said something back to them I hope

I'm honestly interested Stroppy........what did they call you. "Dog" and "motherfucker" e.g. is a standard substitute for the word "foreigner" here (sadly)

i bought a mouse at sihanouk ibc, it looked shitty, but said "1 year warranty".

at the cashier I asked multiple times (and there were 3 girls, all agreeing) and made minimum triple sure, the thing has "1 year warranty".

of course, the girl asked if she should test it and I declined, because it has "1 year warranty", so what...

ok, at home, after 2 hours or so...
3 days later I went back to change because it had "1 year warranty".

ok, the cashiers said "no warranty" - this time.
i said whatever warranty, the thing doesn't work properly.
manager came and said, it had been tested at purchase, so no refund. and no warranty as printed on the package anyways.
i said, wasn't tested, and manager with triumph in her eyes said, she is going to watch cctv in the office of my purchase. i agreed.
after 20 minutes i went looking for her. she came from a totally different corner, wasn't in the office (anymore).
it was a major major fuss, asking for her name, blah blah, will complain, blah blah... then got another mouse. they were looking at me, as if i was a heavy criminal.

I mean, they lied at me, multiple times, three cashier girls. why did they do this.
and when you then come back to what they confirmed, they look as if you are doing something evil.
and moreover, they were laughing as if it was the most foolish thing asking for warranty...

not even a word like "sorry for the misunderstanding".
this was SO disgusting. I mean - this people.

something is really wrong with them. seriously so.

yes, you can always argue, that they are "not well trained" or anyway "not the smartest ones on the planet"...

but the basics of politeness - is this really a matter of IQ ?

when i asked her, what she saw on cctv, she didn't reply. just this.

Spooner's 6 easy steps;

1. Take a deep breath
2. Step outside
3. Have a look at your surroundings, take them in
4. Remember what country this is
5. Go back inside
6. Have a beer

-