Customer Service in the UAE

Well, tonight is one of those nights that highlights the lows of UAE's customer service.

Djahanne, I and a friend drove through to Dubai from Abu Dhabi (1.5hours drive) using Silverine to take a look at 3 Beetles for sale. So, since there is no Marble Slab (the yummiest ice cream in town) in Abu Dhabi, we passed by the Mall of the Emirates to savor some. The guy informed us that they will soon open one shop soon in Marina Mall. That would be a disaster as you would probably find me there every one or two days. Yikes. I told Djahanne to confirm to the guy that we are at the MOE(mall of the emirates) and that we will see him at what time. The guy confirmed 10.30. At 50 past 9 pm we left MOE to head to Crown Plaza in Shiekh Zayed Road thinking the traffic would probably stall us from arriving on the exact scheduled time. Luckily, traffic was not that hectic. So we were left with almost more than half an hour extra time to wait for the guy.

The three of us spared some good time playing guessing games on songs being played on the radio and watching people passing by. All sorts of people, from women wearing the abayas and hijabs, to men wearing the skimpiest of short pants. Uhuh! Men.

Come 10.30, the notorious 3 Beetle owner guy called Djahanne telling her that he is only at the Fairmont Hotel which is two buildings away from the Crowne Plaza. So Djahanne provided him of our exact location so he could come to us and show us the Beetle.

The guy showed 10 minutes later. I stayed in the car listening to music, Djahanne went to talk to the guy. A few minutes later I got a missed call from Djahanne so I egged on my companion so we could get out and see what the fuss is happening. Djahanne has a dismayed look on her face when she told me "He said we cannot see the car tonight."

Okay, to cut the story short, the local guy was actually an asshole business lad who had no sense of business at all. He, for all his stupid arrogance set the time, knowing that we are coming through from Abu Dhabi, told us that the shop closes at 9 or 9.30 in the evening. When asked how he could not have told us earlier, he just replied a nonchalance cold shouldered "But this is the business in the UAE." Man, what a prick. Total son of a camel! He did not even apologize. At all. So our guy ended up telling him "What were you thinking when you set the time for us to meet you all the way from Abu Dhabi? That we just travelled all the way here to see your face?" Man, that local guy really looked like a donkey. Not worth looking at all.

Anyways, this is just one of the tales of UAE customer service. Here are a few...

Buy your eyeglassses at Yateem. I bought mine for Aed.950.00. I mistakenly slept on it so it was bent a little. I had to bring it back to their shop so they can 'repair' it. What does the repair center in Yateem say on their wall?

ALL REPAIRS AT OWNER'S RISK.

fothermucking son of a gun.

Another case. I purchased lots of pants from Zara using my credit card for some girls we hired. I needed refund for that from my company but I lost the receipt. I went to Zara to ask if they could give me a copy of the receipt. I asked nicely at the guy behind the cashier's counter. The guy was rude and sarcastic. He said he won't be able to give me a copy of the receipt. That it was my fault I lost the receipt. I was like, hello? That is why I am asking for a copy if its possible because I made a fault of losing my receipt. He was a mean arrogant Arab who descended from I-dont-know-and-couldn't-care-less-where.

I asked him, "I would like to speak with your manager, please." Oh, and guess what he said? "I am the manager."

Me: "Oh you are the manager? What is your name?"

Him-the-%*X@^&: Mohammed.

Me: Mohammed, this is not the first time I purchased items here. I have spent a lot of money here and your shop assistants know that. Can you at least give consideration in giving me a copy of the receipt of my purchase?

Him-the-as%^&*(@): Madam, in the whole world no one will give you copy of the receipt if you lost it.

Me: Mohammed, DO NOT talk about the whole world, you are only representing Zara, you have no right to speak in behalf of the the world.

I was furious I called up their head office in Dubai and told them the story. I mentioned that if it was their policy not to give copies of receipts I would understand it that he declined. But to not tell me that and to be rude to me being a regular customer was totally despicable and that if they didn't do anything about him or my receipt, I will tell all my friends to boycott Zara and all their other affiliates.

After two days I got a call from Mohammed-the-prick.

Him: Hi, Miss Alfie, this is Mohammed from Zara. How are you? Craptalk, craptalk. Do you remember you were asking about a copy of your receipt (duhuh)??

Me: Yes.

Him: Please come here to our shop because I have prepared a copy of your receipt already.

What a nice man he became.

I will give you a story I made up out of the lousiness of most of UAEs shops.

In a trendy girly shop, a chubby girl walked in and looked at clothes. The shopkeeper looked at the customer to give her time to look. The chubby girl took a dress to try it on. The shopkeeper then went to her when she was looking at herself in the mirror.

Shopkeeper: Are you going to take it?

Chubby Girl: I'm not sure...

The customer was twitching her lips right and left as if not happy with how she looked.

The shopkeeper asked: What's wrong? The dress looks good on you.

Chubby Girl: I don't know. I look fat in it. (With a sad look on her face.)

Shopkeeper: Hmnn... But... You are fat...


Man! Really, you will go nuts here. Specially with all this humidity in the afternoon. Hainaku.