Bit of context:
I’ve heard and read from other Australians who have travelled abroad that service in America is completely different – Not much smiling, no real greeting (“Hey, how are you today? How can I help?” Etc.) The general gist is it’s very straight to the point. But in movies it’s portrayed to be very sweet and wholesome, particularly in Southern based movies.
Sorry for the drawn out post and if I offended anyone, just a genuine question.
27 comments
1. At least in my experience, there’s many places like what you describe.
2. Movies are for entertainment and aren’t real.
>particularly in Southern based movies
You probably answered your own question. The South is big on manners and hospitality. Other parts of the country emphasize directness or efficiency more. Plus, movies gonna movie.
Not sure what the fuck your friends are seeing, but yeah customer service is typically great and are friendly, smile, and generally bend over backwards to be helpful.
Why would this be offensive lol?
It’s portrayed that way because in general it is good and retail workers are kind and accommodating.
We can’t speak to the anecdotal experience of your friends, but perhaps where you’re from they’re even more friendly.
Weird comment given that we get so many complaints from foreigners about our customer service being too friendly.
It is mostly
Service workers are encouraged to be friendly and accommodating to customers.
As someone who lived in both the US and Aus for a while, I’d say the main difference is the frequency of service. Australian restaurants just don’t dote on the customers/come around to tables as frequently. You get your food when you get your food, and that’s usually a fair bit longer than it is in the US, but you learn to be more chill as a customer.
And as a former server on a common tourist route, Australian customers were by far the best for this reason. Take people from almost any other country, make them wait 30 minutes for a burger during a busy time, and they’re gonna get pretty antsy
Friendly people are less likely to get fired.
Have your Aussie friends been to Europe? because they’ll be in for some culture shock there.
I will say if your friends are tourists going to tourist centers, the crowds can be completely overwhelming and people are just trying to survive and get through the hoards. There were tourists yesterday, tourists today, and there will be tourists tomorrow.
In general, our customer service is good and prompt. It doesn’t mean it’ll be overtly friendly. If you want southern hospitality, you’re not gonna get that in Seattle. Midwest also tends to be friendly, though we’re not as touchy-feely as southerners are.
Also if you’re visiting southern California or the Southwest and you are going to a primarily Spanish speaking business/neighborhood and you just make a bit of effort to speak Spanish, they will really appreciate it.
The only place I’ve ever visited where I just had bad customer service nearly everywhere was St Louis. I don’t know if I just went at a bad time but it seemed like everyone just had a stick up their ass. Except for the folks at the little Thai place. They were awesome.
I don’t know where your friend’s visited but in the middle US greeting customers, smiling, asking if people need help or found everything okay, a bit of small talk is normal. Particularly in small businesses.
Cause that’s their job
Customer service in the US is far better than I see in most places. There’s some downside to this for workers (customer is always right mentality, etc.), but customer service is very highly prioritized by any company that provides any service
It’s so incredibly easy and makes life much more pleasant to simply be friendly to the people that you interact with. I don’t understand what the appeal would be in being aloof or cold to somebody that is trying to spend money at your place of business.
There are exceptions to the rule: the DMV, cable and phone companies, chain mechanic shops (had nasty experiences at Jiffy Lube), highway rest stops, and fast food restaurants (which seem to have much friendlier service outside the US).
But overall, I find customer service in the US to be very friendly and welcoming. Especially service at restaurants, hotels, clothing stores, and at your bank.
I strongly disagree with the fellow Australians you’ve mentioned, customer service in the US has been on average much more overtly friendly than other places I’ve visited
It varies. I’ve had lovely, professional, warm customer service and I’ve had sales associates barely acknowledge my presence.
In films, it’s going to be whatever it needs to be to advance the plot.
Edit: I live in Kentucky for the record.
Your friends seem to have only been to NYC or other big city type places which most of the rest of America see as being very rude.
I’ve been travelling across the US for a month now and found it’s really hit and miss.
I found people in the southern states to be a lot nicer and not so much in NY, Philly etc.
Again, it’s so hit and miss wherever you go. Also been to Australia and it was the same.
It also depends on what attitude the Australians come in with. If you come in with an attitude I’m not going to go all out and give you the stereotypical service with a smile.
This country is very big.
At a sit down restaurant, always quite cheery.
McDonald’s? Not so much.
Did they accidentally go to one of those places that their thing is bad service and not know that was a gimmick
I can’t speak to the rest of the country, but there’s a reason there’s an idiom about Southern Hospitality.
Us sheeple prefer to be lied to.
>that service in America is completely different – Not much smiling, no real greeting (“Hey, how are you today? How can I help?” Etc.)
Dude what? Places like walmart litterally hire a person to greet you at the entrance of the store… vast majorty of places have arguably some of the friendliest customer service in the english speaking world.
I think either you or your friends are frankly lying. Smiling and a friendly greeting are absolutely the norm here.