ka-su-to-ma sa-ru-bi-su
The 1 week I was in Japan, I felt like a god.
Whenever I walked into a shop anyway. Japan’s customer service is the best I’ve ever seen (or heard for that matter) and I seriously think that we could learn a thing or two.
In Malaysia, whenever you walk into a Japanese restaurant.. typically you will hear the employees there chanting this same phrase ‘Irashaimase!’ (Welcome) to welcome you. More often than not they are quite shy and will only manage a feeble attempt, so far for the places I’ve been in Malaysia, the best ‘Irashaimase’ I’ve heard is Sushi Zanmai at 1U. So here’s the deal, take that effect, and multiply it by 10. That’s basically the welcome you will get in shops in Japan.
It’s also very typical on shopping streets that you see whole groups of ‘ushers’ in front of their respective shops, clad in sign or/and sandwich boards, attempting to entice you into entering their humble establishment. And the thing is, they’re not PUSHY. They won’t direct their hollerings towards you and force you into their shop, no. It’s basically up to you. I was surrounded by these ushers/promoters almost everyday in the streets of Tokyo, and I never felt intimidated or pressured to succumb to their demands..
If you love girls, you’ll love the LOVE GIRLS MARKET! @ Harajuku
Here, I feel very awkward when I walk into a shop, knowing I’m only looking. I do not appreciate the fact that a ‘sales assistant’ is constantly orbiting me, monitoring my every move. Also, I will only like recommendations, IF I ask for one. In Japan, you’re basically left alone. It’s not that they completely IGNORE you, but they will be very happy to help when you NEED them.
So here’s the scenario. I walk into a shop in Tokyo, get greeted by a chorus of IRASHAIMASE and an army of store clerks bowing to me (I bow back sometimes.. it’s just polite). Most of the time if I don’t have anything in mind, I’m just window shopping. (In Tokyo..NOTHING is cheaper) So basically I’d spend 10-20 minutes browsing… Then walk out. Once I step out, I’m greeted by a very cheerful chorus of ARIGATOGOZAIMASU! + bowing. I (optionally) bow back and (optionally) smile, and walk away, a satisfied (window)customer, and everything is right in the world. Try finding that type of service here.
There was even an instance that due to language barriers, I had a hard time telling this particular store clerk that I wanted a previous Japanese National Football Team jersey. After 15 minutes of trial and errors, consisting of the store clerk going to and fro fetching various jerseys throughout the years, we came to a conclusion that it was not available. I felt so bad that I quickly apologized for the inconvenience, but the store clerk 1-upped me, and gave me an even sincere apology for failing to meet my demands. Now that’s customer service!
I think they will provide a different type of ‘customer service’ here…
It was the same at Disneyland and DisneySea. They gave us the basic Japanese customer service coated with a sweet layer of Disney brand friendliness. (I think it took most cashiers there less than a second to switch to English when they noticed our blank stares in response to their Japanese questions.) For the 2 days I was in both Disney resorts, I was almost convinced that terrorists did not exist, war was just a myth, and that it was possible for everyone in the world to hold hands and dance to ‘It’s a small world’.
These kids don’t look too happy.. they were probably expecting Mr. Donald.
My travel buddy Jia Pei experienced it in a hair salon as well. Determined to get a haircut in Japan, we went to this reasonably priced salon in Ikebukuro Sunshine City. It took a while for the haircut to be done (I think I had a nice half hour nap waiting). And the afterthought? to quote JP in my own words: ‘The barber treated every strand of hair gently, and cut it softly but accurately, and he made a point not to tilt or force your head in an abrupt way.’ I’m very satisfied with the ppl at the hair salons in KL, but hey, I gotta try THIS someday. Too bad my hair was too short to be dealt with when we were there..
Sunshine City @ Ikebukuro
I was brought down to earth last weekend. Walking to an unnamed DVD shop with a friend here in KL, I took one of the DVDs off the rack, read the back jacket, and put it back onto the rack a bit tilted. Straight away, the fat clerk behind the counter stood up, made a beeline to the DVD I just put back, and adjusted it about 0.5 degrees to the left so that it was perfectly aligned with the rest. He then lumbered back to his counter and sat down with a grunt. Looking at his obvious weight I suppose this was all the exercise he ever did. I was so disgusted that any ounce of buying intent was immediately vaporized. We quickly walked out.
Sigh… how I long for the days when I had the powers of a window shopping god…
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BONUS MATERIAL: How much FF Figurines cost in Akihabara..
Assuming 500 yen = RM20 , All the figurines in the bottom level (Sephiroth, Aerith, Yuffie, Tifa, Tidus, Selphie, Squall and Rinoa) will cost RM160 each.
The top level is not that affordable.. The Sora + Riku KH 2 sculpture will cost about RM620, while Cloud and his classic hardy daytona bike will cost about RM410. Whew..being an otaku is costly..
