Now, it's not always bad ( honest ). I guarantee that if I go into a Perfumery or makeup department I will get wonderful service.

The girls mill round, wanting to give you free samples and ‘perfume' you.

The last time I wanted to buy a lipstick the assistant showed me and demonstrated an above-the-lip filler.

Should I have been insulted? I don't know, but I bought it, and replace it whenever it's empty, and at 30 € a time, that's good saleswoman-ship.....

On the other hand most of us would rather stick pins in our eyes than visit a France Telecom shop. ( I couldn`t agree more ..ed !!)

I have seen me walk past glancing in, for over half an hour until there is a queue with just one person in it, then leap in.

Even so, that person took ten minutes to discuss his telephone bill, and then both the customer and the assistant realised that the one charge was for 2 months and not 1.

Still, at least it was only 10 minutes.

I have known people stand there for over an hour waiting to be served.

My friend wasted 60 minutes waiting and ended up swearing very loudly in English and walking out.

Also, don't even think of buying a mobile phone in the largest supermarket in Fougeres, unless you have and hour and half to spare.

Really!

--------------------------

When my daughter in law had an old car, my son shopped around for two new tyres, and went to a garage that had a notice implying same day service.

Most impressive. He asked for a price for the tyres, then waited 15 minutes until he came back. Agreed the price and then asked him to fit them. The assistant got out his diary to make a rendezvous, but my son pointed to the notice behind him, asking him to do them there and then.

The assistant stared at the notice, then wagged his finger at my son and gave the cartoon-type French laugh haw-hee-haw, non, non. More or less saying it was cheeky to even think of having them fitted that day.

My son walked away.

---------------------------

Michael went in to a "Brico" and asked did they have 50mm nails for his nail gun?

The reply ‘Non.' So they both stared at each other in silence.

As I remarked later, you had asked a question, and got a reply. So he tried asking what did they have?

They went to the shelves and found only 30mm, which Michael said was too small.
"Ah desole" was the reply. No chance of ordering them? "Ah oui"

In the end Michael tried some English sarcasm by saying in French ‘Many thanks for your help'.

The reply? ‘De Rien' Obviously straight over his head

--------------------------

My funniest incident was when we'd just come to France and I didn't know any better than to say ‘I'm just ‘popping' to the shop.

I went to the village shop for a baguette one
Sunday morning, but unfortunately the church service had just finished and I got in the shop behind 5 old ladies.

I was just in time to see them greet each other with 4 kisses each, then the first one was served with a few things from the shop, which the owner had to get for her and a baguette.

Then she got out her chequebook, for 7 € and gave it to the owner to write it for her and the stub. She then kissed everyone good-bye and the next lady started. She took 4 very large loaves, and again the chequebook came out.

This time she couldn't carry them all to the car, so the owner took them for her, then she came back because she'd forgotten to kiss everyone goodbye. And so it went on.

After about 20 minutes I felt like shouting ‘ I only want a b*** baguette !'

Norman was just about to set out looking for me thinking I'd broken down
when I finally came back.

Sounds really funny now, but very frustrating then.

-------------------------------

How do you deal with assistants? They give you their attention whilst you are talking to them, completely ignoring the size of the queue behind you. They don't really care if they haven't the product that you want.

Is it just a job and nothing more for all of them? Don't they want promotion as a good sales assistant?
I don't think so, but don't know why. Any ideas?

Back to Articles