[Mike Halliday]

did a job this morning, answered my mobile phone and the customer went through the roof!! it was like I'd murdered her first borne child   she was an elderly woman and part of a religious group ( I mean no disrespect all all to her faith) it was the religion were they woman cover their hair with a headscarf I got the feeling that she objected on some sort of religious grounds.


this got me thinking about how many other gaffs I make with other people because of our differences.
 we all know about wearing shoes in the home of someone from India but is'nt  it also  impolite to refuse the offer of food in a middle eastern home? and I believe it is polite to speak to the eldest person in the room first in an Kosovan (sp) home.

anyone know any more?

[from edge2edge]

Mike I had that same reaction from a Pakistani lady when i asked for £5 extra to clean a big rug she just threw down in front of me.I almost walked out i was so peeeed off.The only one i know is to be very humble and offer loads of beer to large Scotsmen from Swindon before tipping large wedge.Regards Alan(swindon)

[JandS]

Do you mean she was mad at you for answering your mobile?
Never had a problem with this sort of thing and this area is quite a diverse area.
Never had an issue with shoes in an Indian home either.

John

[Steve. Taylor]

Mike wasnt there a HSB advert on the tv about this sort of stuff.

My nan nitted me a bright green jumper for christmas with i hate foreigners on the front

Isaid nan i cant wear that its bright green

[Art]

Never knew the one about taking shoes of before entering an Indians house...i know you take them off before going in if there chinese

[Andrew Briscoe]

I was watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding earlier and the gypsy leader (bare knuckle champ) said. You can call me a gypsy, a traveller and even an irish c*nt, but dont ever call me a Gypo or a Pikey.
The size of him i wouldnt of argued.

Andrew

[colin thomas]

i think you will find it is their prayer room only that they don't like you to wear shoes in, i have done work in mosques before and it is overshoes for definate,  never had problems with any faiths though other than some as we know like to barter and get something for nothing which we of course don't like.

colin

[Neil Williams]

Some years ago when working for the Mickey Mouse Carpet Cleaning Company I turned up at a house with Indian occupants and was asked not to wear shoes inside the house.
Why the salesman hadn't picked up on this and passed it on beggers belief, because I had to do the job with just socks on, which when the job was done meant my trainers got wet inside, which really upset the rest of my day.

Another top tip: If someone rings you up and gives the address such as Carousel Park, using a slight Irish accent, mobile phone number and you can't find the place on the map, but on the day of the clean you eventually find the place and it's a semi permanent travellers camp....................keep driving. One month on and I'm still waiting for payment after numerous phone calls

[james roffey]

Did a job recently a French Morrocan family they offered me a Morrocan coffee and a fried egg on Morrocan bread with turmeric  i got the impression that i was expected to have it and thought it would be rude to refuse so i ate it, it was very very nice they said they always offer visitors food.

[Stu.Clem]

Had just finished vaccing a lounge carpet of a young Iranian engineer and he ushered me into the kitchen to wash my hands - then he politely insisted that I sit while he brought a large silver tray of food and drink - so there we sat cross legged in the middle of his carpet munching what tasted like dairylea breville toasties and glasses of clear sweet tea - had a good old chitchat then washed hands and carried on with the clean - a very cool 15 minutes enjoyed by both parties....

Good job I hadn't presprayed 

Stu

[Ken Wainwright]

I view things in a slightly different way.

Firstly, always be courteous and polite. Besides, it makes good commercial sense. Yes, change shoes at the door and ask if it's acceptable to answer the phone etc.  I will usually say something like, "would you excuse me while I just divert this call" I wont actually speak to someone on the phone if I'm in conversation with a customer.

Now, us Brits are a soft touch, and I'll illustrate it with this scenario,  Imagine a businessman visiting Japan. He would be expected to initially greet his host with a bow. Reverse the situation with the Japanese visiting here. We're still expected to initially greet our (now) guest with a bow!

Generalising, we are an open, giving and caring society who open our arms, and doors, to one and all. And we bend over backwards to accomadate one and all. In my view, if people want to come here and do business with us, or live in our society, they should be prepared to embrace what we have to offer. Not change or set up a little "just like home" community.


Having said all that, you get Brits emigrating to, for example, Spain, and they want to live in a community with an English pub, have egg and bacon for breakfast, a chip shop on the corner, maybe a little C of E Church (just for weddings and funerals) and swear at the locals who are driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

I suppose there are no winners and we're creatures of habit looking for "just like home" comfort :

Safe and happy cleaning
The Ken

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Ken

You are right "be courteous and and polite" is the most important thing. You cannot second-guess other cultures and especially you cannot second -guess those who elect to be offended.

When you get it "wrong" can often be the making of a strong relationship between client and cc (especially if you can both laugh at the "gaff" together).

Roger

[Dave_Lee]

Be courteous and polite yes, but what 'they', have to remember is, that we are not members of their religion or culture and should accept that we do things differently. I have many Indian, Muslim, Jewish etc customers and they all "make allowances" when I am doing a job in their home, and so they should. If they want a CC to follow their rules to the letter, they should get someone from their own culture to do the job, otherwise they should be prepared to be flexible.
Dave.

[Mark_Jubb]

Be courteous and polite yes, but what 'they', have to remember is, that we are not members of their religion or culture and should accept that we do things differently. I have many Indian, Muslim, Jewish etc customers and they all "make allowances" when I am doing a job in their home, and so they should. If they want a CC to follow their rules to the letter, they should get someone from their own culture to do the job, otherwise they should be prepared to be flexible.
Dave.

I think that's just about spot on from my point view Dave

[John Kelly]

Slightly off topic but quite funny. I once new a guy who did a lot of business in China. His half sister was American, 6 foot blonde and stunning. He was over there on a business trip and as you probably know they like to provide a banquet in your honour. Here they were sitting round this huge table and some of the Chinese guys were talking to each other about what they wanted to do to this blond babe. She let them go on for a while and then asked them to pass her something in perfect Mandarin. Apparently the shock on their faces was a picture. They don't believe any wide eyes (thats what they call us) can speak Chinese but she was fluent in 6 lanquages including Mandarin and 2 other Chinese accents.

Mike that lady would be Plymouth Brethren. They don't like mobile phones as they believe they interfere with messages from God.

[AJB]

Just be curtious and polite. If you don't want to eat say
"thank you very much, but i've just eaten before arriving"
Having said that i've had some fantastic dishes to try from all
over the world
I never remove my shoes when working, as a matter of HS.
I've cleaned in Mosques, where allowances were made for me
when i explained the situation.
Proper communication negates any disrespect or offence.

Ps John
Old friend of mine spent a few years working with indians,
Whilst cleaning a 3 piece, 4 women sat around speaking hindi
saying he's not trying very hard etc. He let this continue for a while
then said in their own language, words to the affect of
"If you can do any F*~@*#g better your welcome to try"
They promptly left the room and let him get on.