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Talking to potential customers for my small business?

I own a business in the Mexican border, why do American customers think they should get special treatment?

  • I own a laundromat, it's far enough from the International Bridge, so I don't really expect to get American people, but they sometimes make all the way here. I go out of my way to please my regulars, but Americans are going to be a one-time only customers, so I don't feel the need to go out my way. Americans more often than not come with with a condescending attitude like I'm supposed to be grateful they came to my business, that another reason I go out of my way for Americans. Yesterday I had to tell an African American to leave my laundromat: -My laundromat has a lot of chairs, yet he goes and sits down right next to a hot girl who was waiting for her clothes. -I could clearly see the girl was uncomfortable with him talking to her, so I ask him if I could help him with something, but he tells me to "Go away". -His clothes finish their cycle in the machines, I tell him they are done, and he tells me to go put them in the dryer. I'm not supposed to do that for him, but I did anyway. -The dryers finish the cycle, and I tell him they are ready, so he tells them to fold them, and put them in his suitcases. I kindly tell him, it's not my job to fold clothes, I offer him a basket to take his clothes and fold them himself on the table. He gets ANGRY, and furiously begins folding his clothes cursing as though I couldn't understand what he was saying. -He finished folding his clothes, and starts yelling at me "YOU SHOULD TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS", I smile, I simply turn around in the middle of his ranting, go back to my chair, and tell him to "PLEASE LEAVE, YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE AGAIN". I cross the border like once a week, I never get special treatment over there, not even in the stores that get the most money from Mexican customers. I know in most American laundromats people don't get any assitance to use the machines, much less have someone to fold them for them, yet it seems ALL Americans expect one to do that for them. The thing that bothers me about American customers is that they expect me to do everything for them when I'm perfectly aware that no one does that for them in American laundromats. Most people I know who own business in my border town have the same problem with Americans, they always seem to think they are entited to some special treament? WHAT MAKES AMERICANS ONE SHOULD GO OUT OF HIS WAY FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE HERE?

  • Answer:

    Wow.......... I don't want to sound racist but it looks like this man felt superior only because, most likely, he feels inferior while being in USA..... so he comes down here and thinks he can do as he pleases and deserves the kind of treatment he doesn't get over there. However, as per what you said about the other laundromat owners' experiences and your own, it seems like this isn't exclusive to african americans but to americans in general. It's sad and, even though I agree that one shouldn't generalize, americans DO tend to feel like they are superior and deserve a better treatment FROM SOMEONE THEY CONSIDER INFERIOR. I guess they wouldn't make such demands while at a US business, but they do feel they're entitled to do it in a country whose inhabitants they consider to be inferior to them. Sorry but that's the truth, and it's so sad. The worst thing is that they also show this kind of behavior when they travel to other places such as Europe - they behave as if those countries should be THANKFUL to have them as visitors and everyone should accomodate to their needs and speak THEIR language - they make no effort to speak the local languages. Such a pity. That's why I don't like americans (I do have some good american friends but they're rather the exception!).

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None of us should accept the behavior of one as representing everyone in that same group. That is a common form of prejudice and we should all fight prejudice in any form. Not all "Mexicans" are the same... Not all "African Americans" are the same... and not all "Americans" are the same. That said, I agree with you that the guy you had to deal with was an *** and I would have called the cops! I think you and the girl showed restraint, so congratulations for that. BTW, I am an American living in Mexico.

Kenito

There's 3 parts to this. 1. Please don't tell me that you are actually judging the culture of an entire country based on the actions of a single individual. 2. Assuming that your example was just that - one example of a number of prior experiences of your own and others - you should know that there is a segment of the population in the US that acheives its goals based on intimidation of others. This is not particular to the black community - many times business managers (as just one example) act the same way and take advantage of people that don't have the cajones to say 'no'. One way to deal with this is to politely explain that what is being asked for is not part of the standard service package. 3. An even better alternative may come from the realization that there is a very deep acceptance in the US of everything and anything being available for a price - and the way you use this to your advantage is that when someone asks you to do something that isn't included in the normal set of services is by making it clear that you'll be happy to help them with (whatever they may be asking for) - for (some specific price). If you don't trust that the person will pay, you explain that the price is payable up-front (ahead of getting the service), just like a doctor or lawyer. And if you don't really want to do whatever they are asking for, you just set the price very very high and let them change their own mind about wanting it done. Using these strategies you can work with all kinds of customers on their own terms. Lastly - if you decide that you just don't want to deal with anyone that is likely to be a pain in the *ss, at any price - it's easy to put a sign in the window (just like "no shoes, no short, no service") which might say something like "We reserve the right to terminate service at any time WITHOUT REFUND in the event of inappropriate behavior". It is after all, your business.

Theodore B

Wow,that was not cool the way that man treated you. I come from Europe myself,and people are generally nice to deal with. I suppose that person you bumped into was a one in a million,unless it happens a lot then I'd surmise that you get vacationers and tourists from other states. Not all Americans are like that my friend. Some people(as customers)believe that since they are paying any sort of money,that they should be treated like royalty. I personally treat people with respect,until they either disrespect me or cross the line. Another thing to understand is where that person comes from. Maybe where they live,where they maybe deal with minorities like you and I,they do get everything handed to them and maybe this one particular customer was visiting from another state. I doubt he was a Texan,seeing as I live there and people are nice(unless you go to the ritzy areas,then it's ignorance city)I suppose it also amounts to that persons expectations in life as well. Customers feel like they shouldn't have to"need" anything,and that everything should be taken account of,including their own personal desires. Those kind of people believe they are better than everyone else because they make more money in a week/day,than you do in a month you know? All you can do,is what you did,which was very smart and logical. Myself,I'm more of a doer and I do things myself without people doing it for me. In short,not all Americans behave that way,but it's shameful when people don't respect others.

theterrorofdeath

many white and black amerians think that. because their are america.. they are special... and that is not the case!

XOLOS A 1ra(LOME)

I suggest you treat everyone equally and if they treat you bad then stand up for yourself and speak up against it. It doesn't matter what the race or skin color.

covertcode

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