service in Japan
I just heard the kerosene (parrafin oil) truck song - it drives around the street delivering oil - and I went down to get my 18L drum topped up.
About 10 days ago, I had put my drum down on the 1st floor (inside the foyer, which isn't locked) with a little envelope with the money in it, to get it filled, and the next morning when I went down to get it the drum and money had been stolen. That never happened in all the 15 years I spent in Gifu. Inner city living I guess. Live and learn. Anyway, I had to go and buy another one. (786 yen)
Tonight I asked the guy if he'd come last week and he said, "No, it was New Year holiday." I answered, "Yeah, I thought so." and I told him my drum and money had been stolen. Next thing I know, he runs around the front of the truck and comes back with a brand new drum to give me.
I refused it of course, telling him I didn't need it and that "You didn't do it!" (the theft)
It constantly amazes me when businesses take those things so seriously, and that every individual responds like they ARE the company, especially when I don't consider them at all to blame. I mean the cultural thing is I can't tell these people, without them feeling personally responsible. All I wanted to do was just share a happening with a person who it was slightly connected with, but that was taken as maybe a complaint (?), but the whole customer-business relationship thing here still catches me out, when I just want to chat with the guy in a friendly manner. *sigh* He was a sweet boy though, and I'm glad I made sure he knew I didn't blame him!
In other news, I finally joined the gym here in Nagoya after a 7 month furlow! It's about damn time I got my act together! I got a good New Year sale/promotion deal, so it was quite a bit cheaper with the joining fees waived. I must go tomorrow.
About 10 days ago, I had put my drum down on the 1st floor (inside the foyer, which isn't locked) with a little envelope with the money in it, to get it filled, and the next morning when I went down to get it the drum and money had been stolen. That never happened in all the 15 years I spent in Gifu. Inner city living I guess. Live and learn. Anyway, I had to go and buy another one. (786 yen)
Tonight I asked the guy if he'd come last week and he said, "No, it was New Year holiday." I answered, "Yeah, I thought so." and I told him my drum and money had been stolen. Next thing I know, he runs around the front of the truck and comes back with a brand new drum to give me.
I refused it of course, telling him I didn't need it and that "You didn't do it!" (the theft)
It constantly amazes me when businesses take those things so seriously, and that every individual responds like they ARE the company, especially when I don't consider them at all to blame. I mean the cultural thing is I can't tell these people, without them feeling personally responsible. All I wanted to do was just share a happening with a person who it was slightly connected with, but that was taken as maybe a complaint (?), but the whole customer-business relationship thing here still catches me out, when I just want to chat with the guy in a friendly manner. *sigh* He was a sweet boy though, and I'm glad I made sure he knew I didn't blame him!
In other news, I finally joined the gym here in Nagoya after a 7 month furlow! It's about damn time I got my act together! I got a good New Year sale/promotion deal, so it was quite a bit cheaper with the joining fees waived. I must go tomorrow.