Wednesday 4 September 2013

My first Shopping experience

So finally, I am home, my new home, to begin my new life as a wife and an immigrant. I don't know if a lot of Africans have been to Portland, OR because the African community over here is very small. Portland is a very laid back city, but people are generally nice to you. They smile at you when you walk by, they hold the door for you , they crack dry jokes at the supermarket etc. But nothing can still beat the African nosiness hospitality.
When I arrived at my new home, I was expecting neighbors who saw us taking out my luggage of the car to come and ask my name, where I am from, welcome me to America etc but no they just walked by. I learnt very early on that people minded their won business over here.
Ok so I mentioned that I came over here in the winter right? and I did not bring enough warm clothes so we had to go shopping for some new clothes for me. Yayy!!! We went to the shopping mall, and I was pleasantly surprised with the customer service over there. They greeted us with a warm smile and asked how our day was going. I was about to tell her that I just came from Africa and I had just come into the country when my husband cut me short and just said "We are good". We walked through the store for some time and I couldn't find the right size of boots for me, my husband asked me to find out from the store clerks if they had any my size. I told him that I didn't want to disturb the store clerks and my husband replied that that was what they were paid to do. You see, back home in Ghana, customer service is really nothing good to write about. Sometimes when you enter a store, especially if you don't buy anything, you would be lucky to get out without being cussed out. I had experienced this so many times so I really don't like to disturb the store people when I go out shopping. But I guess things are different over here.
I still couldn't go to the sales girl, because I knew she just wouldn't understand me, and really I didn't want to bother her, so my husband went over to her. She came around and helped me find a good pair of boots.

15 comments:

  1. It's the same in Nigeria. U come into a store n no one attends to u or asks to help u. If it's a really good store they size u up and then attend to u if u meet up their criteria. Mich

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    1. Yeah if you don't dress the part, you would definitely feel invincible. I really don't now why anyone would want to treat a customer that way.

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  2. Lovely blog by the way

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  3. Different people with different culture! I think you should tell us more about your husband so we can picture him. Is he tall, short, slim, big,african, american? Hot tempered, tolerant, doting.... Lol! Don't mind my inquisitiveness pls, im married, I just want to know. Lamie

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  4. Your story cracked me up. I have lived in the US for 8 yrs now. I rmb my first shopping experience. My aunt told me after we got home that if I didn't like the cloths, we could return them and check other stores. I was shocked, and my response was that after we have already paid them? She replied yes, you can return something if you don't like it and still get a full refund...lol! I'm Nigerian, and I know that when money changes hands, forget it...lol!

    Found your blog from Bella Naija. I'm reading your stories, and I'm having a flashback about when I had just moved her. Just 22, fresh and naive :) Good luck and best wishes!

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    1. lol same thing in Ghana. Once you've paid for it and taken it home, just forget it... The return policy is the best thing since jollof rice..I love it

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  5. Hehehe# return ke.in naija if you buy anything #Gbam# dats d end oo..even if its tight or too big..u r on ur own.inshort if u dare enter the store to say a word about it or else you are in for deep wahala.

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  6. Nice blog. Loved reading this post. :) It reminded me very much of my own country, Bhutan. The customer service here is no different than as u have mentioned in Ghana. Anyways, hv a good tym ahead n enjoy..

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    1. Hi Subba, thanks for taking out time to read and comment on my blog.Lol I thought it was only in Africa that had bad customer service.

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  7. Hmm! Even wen u deposit for something and they sell it. They won't giveu ur money Oo°˚˚˚°! They'll ask u to wait till they have another one! Very annoying u go talk tire. Shout tire. Smh

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