With this customer's accent, I barely understood what he wants
By kingparker
@kingparker (9673)
United States
July 31, 2011 1:54pm CST
Okay, I want to do my best to help the customer and get what they want from their orders. I work at the restaurant during the weekend as part - time, and I usually take to - go order from the phone. Some customers whose first language isn't English, and they usually have this accent. Last night, this customer has this deep accent and I can't barely understood what he said. When he placed order, I have to listen to it twice or more, or ask him to repeat it a couple of times so I could figure what he said. The whole taking order process take up to more than 20 minutes. What a strenuous accomplishment. No doubt, I misunderstood him a couple of times of what he want, and I had to made so many scratches over the order ticket. Oh well, that is service business, because we have serve all kind of customers.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@Chastised_Dreamz (559)
• United States
1 Aug 11
This is true. Many restaurants have menus with number codes that correspond to the dishes that they are next to. It makes it a lot easier to make an order when you just have to say a number, letter, or a combination of the two.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
31 Jul 11
I can understand that. I've had customers like that before in the past as well. I know it's both annoying for them and for me, but you can't help it. When it's over the phone it's even worse. I just hope they understand that we're trying to understand them as best we can.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
1 Aug 11
That is what I am trying to do. He sounds like that I wasn't respect him at all, because I was taking my patience and trying to understand what he wants to order without making any mistake.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Aug 11
I know what you mean. I hate it when that happens. It is so hard for me and hard on the customer also. It gets very frustrating too.
@Chastised_Dreamz (559)
• United States
1 Aug 11
I've only had one job so this wasn't really an issue for me. I have been on the other end however in the sense that I've had professors and teachers that were difficult to understand because they had accents.
You're a really good employee for staying on the phone and trying your best to serve your customer. It shows that you have very good customer service skills. There are some people that would just give up or hang up, but you stuck it out and made sure that you helped your customer.
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
1 Aug 11
What an experience. You could have asked him to write it down, but not sure if that would be possible. But i think that could have made the situation easier.
One of my students told me that she really find it hard to understand native speakers from Alabama and she would just sometimes pretend that she understood though she couldn't. She said that she felt she's gonna burden them if she's going to keep on asking again and again.
But of course your situation is totally different because it was your job! To be patient.
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Hi Kingparker, with much patience I pray you got the order the person requested. I have problems when I make a call to a customer service representative and I can't understand them because of their deep accent. I try not to offend them, but sometime it get very annoying. As you stated you serve all kind and we get served by all kind. Thank God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Keep up the good work of serving with respect and patience.
@TeamCholent (2832)
• United States
31 Jul 11
It is something people need to try and learn and understand when in the consumer business. I know here in the US there are many speech therapists that work on getting rid of accents. I myself love accents but I agree with you that extra effort is needed but hey money is money 
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
31 Jul 11
I can relate. I feel embarrassed when I can't understand a thick accent, especially when it is an older person. I apologize, but still feel terrible, though I do my best to understand them.
On the other hand I have had some punks get nasty and unfortunately I am not so nice to them. I really dislike bullies, and understand they may be a bit embarrassed, but that is no reason to be rude. 
