[rausch]

I walked into Watsons a couple of days ago and this cosmetic section lady comes up to me and says " What about some pore cleansing products ? I think you might need it " EXCUSE ME ?!?! Oh well, I guess she asked me if I needed it but still, could they not give some English courses to those ladies so that clients don't feel offended by the things they say ?
I mean, it's not the ladies fault is it ?

[kombuchakid]

If you like to swing a cat by its tail, ie have room to pirouette while shopping might I suggest a wander down to L'Occitane, where they tend to employ a more becoming and fetching class of salespersons.

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by rausch

I walked into Watsons a couple of days ago and this cosmetic section lady comes up to me and says " What about some pore cleansing products ? I think you might need it " EXCUSE ME ?!?! Oh well, I guess she asked me if I needed it but still, could they not give some English courses to those ladies so that clients don't feel offended by the things they say ?
I mean, it's not the ladies fault is it ?

They don't feel offended; it's part of the chinese culture to be totally blunt and open about each others' appearances and faults.

[Max]

Originally Posted by lowlight

They don't feel offended; it's part of the chinese culture to be totally blunt and open about each others' appearances and faults.

Understood...but don't you think that their eventual target, i.e. sales, might suffer if they were "totally blunt and open about appearances and faults"?

It doesn't take a genius to know that if you offend a customer's sensibilities, it can not only cost you the sale, but also your job!!

[Max]

Originally Posted by lowlight

It's Hong Kong - There IS no space for them to move stuff around, and make room for your bag!

lowlight,....stores like Watson's must be able to make more space for patrons and shoppers to move around.....It's called "customer satisfaction". As opposed to what you might think, companies must at least try to do their best even if faced with constraints like space.

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by Max

Understood...but don't you think that their eventual target, i.e. sales, might suffer if they were "totally blunt and open about appearances and faults"?

It doesn't take a genius to know that if you offend a customer's sensibilities, it can not only cost you the sale, but also your job!!

They might look at it differently. To the average c-lai, having someone who works for a cosmetic company tell them that their pores look big might mean something. To them, these people are 'professionals' and they are probably often scared into buying something. It works for that crowd, but obviously to others a more subtle approach is prefered

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by Max

lowlight,....stores like Watson's must be able to make more space for patrons and shoppers to move around.....It's called "customer satisfaction". As opposed to what you might think, companies must at least try to do their best even if faced with constraints like space.

Again it goes to who they are trying to satisfy. If you live here all your life, you are used to small, crowded places and stores. Plus if you're native HKese, you're probably somewhat small too

[Max]

Originally Posted by lowlight

They might look at it differently. To the average c-lai, having someone who works for a cosmetic company tell them that their pores look big might mean something. To them, these people are 'professionals' and they are probably often scared into buying something. It works for that crowd, but obviously to others a more subtle approach is prefered

Sheesh!...No wonder most of the local women have a major self-esteem problem!

Then again, i'm sure many women wouldn't like being "belittled" by the sales persons of cosmetics products companies.

[lowlight]

Like I have said many times now; it's a different culture. Something that might make you feel 'belittled' or have 'low self esteem' may not have such an effect on others

[KnowItAll]

chinese culture to be totally blunt and open about each others' appearances and faults.

Again, a misconception. There is a concept of giving face.... do you think anyone ever walked up to Regina Ip and suggested intensive plastic surgery?