"Customer service wasteland" is right!

Darkhorse

One of my students described Germany as a "customer service wasteland". I went into a coin shop today and waited about 5 minutes for the dealer to recognize my existance while he was talking on the phone. I then asked a couple of questions then he repeatedly said he couldn't help me and went on chatting. Fine, they lost a customer. Never have I come across such blunt rudeness from a business.

Luckily people seem friendlier here once you leave the big cities. The people I met in the Black Forest were quite nice.

1jester

"Never have I come across such blunt rudeness from a business." --DH

It will only take some getting used to... Also, remember that they're always right. Even if you speak perfect German.

Darkhorse

I asked about large Goetz medals for Scott, said he couldn't help me. Pointed out one coin I wanted (a simple 1871 Karlsruhe coin), said he couldn't help me. What's the deal? Ugh. Not so much that he said it but how he said it too.

I may be in Stuttgart in August or May, there's an excellent coin shop there worth spending my hard earned Euro at. I'm leery about using eBay here because I don't like how freely people can have access to your bank account.

Askari

Ah, it's a German thing ... you'll get used to it (just don't pick up the habit). Actually, you can find that trait to a similar or lesser degree most anywhere in Europe or the US. You are right, though, that the cityfolk are less congenial than the countryfolk and I'm told the Berliners are the hardest to deal with. I understand there are ways to deal with it, but it can require some sharp fluency in German.

Askari

Oh, a typical experience of my brothers when he actually ran a small business in Germany. He and his wife walked into a wine shop to pick up a bottle for that evening when some friends were coming over. The clerk was busy stocking and told them to wait, she would take care of them as soon as she was done. They waited. When she finished and approached them, it was to tell them, "Sorry, but I can't help you - we're closed." It was one minute after closing.

wybrit

I have found the same to be true in London to a degree. Get outside of London and folks are much nicer.

tonyhar

I agree with Wybrit, i visited London a couple of weeks ago. One dealer had his door locked, you had to ring to be allowed in, once in I asked whether he had any Newfie 50cents. He was blunt and rude in his reply and even though he had some nice Gold I was interested in on display I just walked out!
Outside London I found some interesting Lightside items in Antique Shops.