DOES THE U.S. DO THESE 5 THINGS BETTER THAN FRANCE?
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
- A couple months back I made a video all about things that France does better than the U.S. and in the name of balance, today I want to talk about a bunch of things the United States. does better than France. And yes, for all you skeptics out there, there are some! ;-)
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Salut! I'm Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/RUclips channel Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond." I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, with a sprinkling of food, travel, and language topics and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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Hi Diane. Enjoying all your videos and your blog.
I saw this and wanted to share something I wish I had known as an American expat. 26 states have a reciprocal agreement wit France that allows drivers to (effectively) trade their state license for a French one, but --- it must be processed within the first year after receiving your titre de sejour. After that, you have to go through the process here. You likely have to register with an auto école, take the Code test at la poste, and do the driving test with an examiner. The cost in euros can get unmanageable particularly with the retakes of the Code test (30€ a pop). Not sure if you've noted this elsewhere (blog, YT video) but for any newbies, it would be a big help, bien sûr!
Bonne journée!
You bringing up parking again made me think of another story... I had reserved a parking space at the hotel in Limoges. After parking, the desk advised me to turn around and back in, while there was room to do so. Of course, being an American and "I can drive anywhere", I did not listen. I had a bugger of a time backing out of that tiny courtyard garage when it was full! LOL! Lesson learned!
you can't just drop a teaser story like that about your dad and not finish it! lol i can't wait to hear it!
When I lived in France I was in awe of their ability to park in small parking spaces, often being "show offs" and neatly backing into the spot! 😲 I had to have about 6 tries and I had a little car! 😂
From the USA. Thank you for such an objective evaluation. I enjoyed this video.
Your broad-minded and respectful discussion about national characteristics is so admirable that I cannot praise it highly enough.
Bonjour Diane, I'm from the U.S. and have been living in a small town in France for 10 years. I've have both extraordinary good and bad Customer Service while living here. Also, I enjoy your channel.👍👍
Ive lived in france for 10 years and all the points you made are 100 percent correct, but ill tell you something even weirder, i went to Milan and the customer service there is 10x worse than france, they literally blame you and scold you.
oh man, that sounds rough!
I am truly amazed at how well you can pinpoint the differences between France and U.S. When people ask me, I can only be a bit vague at best. I am about to move back to France, after 20 years in the U.S, and your videos actually help me -the irony!- to remember some of the things I used to love in France, and also some of those I will miss from the U.S. Some very good and valid examples in your video! Thanks.
I wonder if the "Ce n'est pas possible" thing comes from the fact that French people don't like to make promises they might not be able to fulfil. By saying "no" first they won't disappoint you if they can't but you (and they) will be happy if they eventually can please you. On the other hand if they said "yes" straight away and were not able to help you, they (and you as well)) would feel bad about it.
I am so impressed that Chewy sent you a sympathy gift 😊 Wow. They clearly get the pet human connection. Lovely 💐
Chewy sent us flowers when our guinea pig died. They really are the best company ❤
"Enjoy what we like and make peace with the rest" - very quotable! Always enjoy your videos, Diane 🗼🌎💕
We’ve found that the “it’s not possible” response is often preceded by “it’s not my fault”. And “customer service” is also a concept they often just don’t seem to grasp. We have experienced multiple occurrences of these phenomenon.
It definitely takes some getting used to (like anything else)!
Hi Diane,
On points 1) and 2): 100% agreed;
3) it's exactly the same as in the UK: "not bad" meaning "pretty good". That's the Art of the Understatement, some sort of a secret language code that I find quite enjoying: it somewhat rattles the brains.
4) Why should there be larger parking spaces in a country where cars are smaller (and less and less welcome), and where ... drivers would be better at manoeuvering? The US's gigantic parking lots are an abomination ... so very bad for the environment (which the Americans don't seeem to care much about ...).
5) Yes and no. Once one's done his job, why go OTT about it? But that attitude is certainly not general in France where you do get good service most of the time.
Personal experience: I once went (on my free time) at the Lost & Found centre to pick up an item our company's American visitor had lost in Paris, and sent it bak to his US office. When I informed his P/A that I'd posted the parcel, she thanked me with a "Thank you, you're a Star"??? Was I, really, for having been simply helpful?
THANK GOODNESS things are different from one country to anotther! "Vive la différence"! ;o)
Excellent!
Et j'adore votre "phoque" T-shirt...
Ha ha, "c'est pas possible", your first point it's so true that there is even a famous song with that sentence for title. I wonder if you know it "Zebda - Je Crois Que Ca Va Pas Etre Possible".
I definitely agree with these, #2 in particular! I remember I overhead a conversation in my local grocery store in the U.S. a few years ago between two women who'd run into each other, where one was mentioning that she was going back to school to finally finish her degree and the other was enthusiastically congratulating her, and thinking "I'd never hear that conversation in France!" And to take an even deeper dive, part of the reason it's so challenging to change careers in France is that there's no such thing as part-time studies, and the order and timing of the courses is very rigid. You must take classes X, Y, and Z in this year at these times. I don't know that anyone could study while working full-time in France.
Now on an unrelated note, I just realized who you remind me of: Lynda Carter aka Wonder Woman! 😄
Please google "cours du soir"
Some misleading information here. That's very easy to change career path in France people are even encouraged to do so. In fact they are paid to do so. Every worker is entitled to free training or to go back to school. That's entirely paid by the State for private education. In fact currently the government says they want people to pay 100 euros for this and people aren't happy with the idea.
So people get on a "training leave" and once they complete their training programme they can either do that career change or go back to their old job, same position, same salary same everything as if they never left. I don't know what's easier than that.
She's referring to changing careers and not having to get training because you have comparable skills.
@@GinaMarieCheeseman I never talked about training because having comparable skills. People train to change career path. If you have comparable skills, you don't need to learn a new skill. For instance it's very common that people doing white collar jobs change their career to do a menial jobs and vice versa. Recently I read an article about a woman who used to work in finance and at 39 started medical school. She is now 45, still in medical school, wants to become haematologist which requires 5 more years of studies.
Highly skilled workers like engineers etc changing career path to become baker, chef, craftmen etc is also very common.
I think you're missing the point here: she's talking about transferable skills where an employer would identify these skills therefore not having to go thru another gov. training to back to school.
@@brunobreillet3829 No, that she only used it as an example which is also inaccurate for there is no need to go through a gov program to transfer skills. And those skills (like her example on languages) aren't even measured through gov programmes.
She simply cherry picked specific anecdotes (her husband) and tried to make it a norm. That's not complicated to change career path in France and people are encouraged to do so. Changing jobs with apparent similar skills depends on many things, there are too many situations to make a generalisation like that. Still to pick her husband's example, that's not because you're fluent in several languages and have been practicing those languages for years that you can become a language teacher or a translator in international business or a butler in a palace. Those jobs require other skills than just speaking fluently languages for years.
Really? Lemme tell you something. l left 35 years ago. l had a coffee shop bakery, l've been published, l trained people, l won awards and guess what? l'm a nobody here. l can't rent a space to do my workshops because I'm self taught and I don't have that stupid patisserie/boulangerie cap diploma. I mean how screwed up is that? imagine l want to start a cookie by mail biz. Well l can't. Because of the aforementioned reason. Such a mistake to come back to this BS country. Anyhoo, she does have a valid point. l know so many expats or returning folks with the same problem with companies being arsy about employing ppl in the same situation. Don't believe me? l can take screenshots.
Hi Diane, Another great post. So on point. We love your videos, my husband and I really relate to most, if not all the things you talk about. We are happy to know we aren’t the only ones experiencing expat living. 💕🇫🇷😊
IT to ferryboat captain. Wild. I want to hear this story lol
Had a dream and went after it. And happily retired early. ;-)
I too like Chewy. I mentioned to them my dog was having some difficulties and they sent a free toy. How thoughtful!❤ (coming to you from Virginia)
Diane, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and informed point of view on so many different subjects. I find that I love to come to your channel to end my day on a positive note.
❤ thank you.
Your behind the scenes videos are my favorite. I can not imagine the amount of work you put in.
That makes me so happy. ;-) Thank you for your support.
Très interresant ! J'apprécie ton point de vue sur le sujet !
Thanks for the balanced view! And I love the slogan on your shirt!
Good stuff, Diane. KILLER T-shirt, btw...! We've been here since 2006 and you're right the French don't know how to properly nourish customer loyalty, nor do they care about repeat business. It boils down to how we (they) work here. Ultra-high levels of commercialization don't exist because of IMHO, « L'art de vivre ». Living a French life. It's not being lazy, but rather hustle culture is seriously disdained upon - again in favor of « L'art de vivre ». Getting things done in a certain way can sometimes be a sport - but they get done, eventually. I find humor and my accent 'ricain can be helpful to move things along at times. Great clip. Keep'em coming.
les américains vivent que pour le travail , le travail , le travail ; ils sont comme les fourmis ! Mais 85% des habitants que connaissent ils du monde ? pas grand choses , sauf qu'avec la propagande américaines , ils sont persuadés que leurs pays est unique , le plus beau et ils sont les meilleurs ? les français travaillent tout en profitant de la vie , il ne faut pas oublier que nous n'avons qu'une seule vie et a l'échelle du temps c'est juste une petite étincelle après nous retournons à l'état de particules élémentaires
Great perspective Diane! As an aspiring expat in France, it's important to balance the ideas in your head with the reality on the ground.
You do a terrific job of showing us the pros and cons!
I appreciate your support!
Thanks for another great video!
My pleasure!
Go where you feel you are treated best and where you enjoy being.
Diane, I’m from the US now living in Portugal. IMO, all these points you mentioned are also true of Portugal. 😊
Interesting, thank you! How do you like Portugal?
@@OuiInFrance Portugal is great! Learning the language has been a fun challenge. I enjoy your content because it’s been helping me adjust to European life. There are aspects that are a lot different than American culture and norms.
You make your glasses look good.
French citizens don't have to deal much with bureaucracy. For foreigners bureaucracy in France is as bad as for the foreigners dealing with bureaucracy in the US.
I think you are great and I like your content 😍
Thank you so much 😁
Bojour, Diane.
Do stores in France take returns now? I was a student and worked there for a few years in the 1980’s and I remember being shocked that stores did not accept returns on new, unopened products. If true, I’m glad to hear that they do now!
Thank you for making these videos and keeping us au courant with every-day life in France!
Hi there, yes stores have return policies and will accept unworn/unused merchandise. No issues there.
Glad you enjoy my work! xx
As far as I know, it's pretty common for French stores to take returns of new unopened products, but the only legal requirement is to take returns of defective products (even if they've been opened). On that score, the store that sold you the product has to take the return itself and can't direct you to the manufacturer or any intermediary.
Really? I don't remember any store refusing to take returns, unless clearly indicated and it didn't happen often.
Haha, my dad ALWAYS used "not bad" to describe things he liked. We knew if he said that, something was good.
As an American I once watched a UK couple list 5 things that they liked/admired about the USA and every single one did NOT apply to the average American's lived experience. The impression I got is that they knew nothing about the USA on the ground level and didn't like a single thing about us (fair enough but then why make a fake video saying that you do). Like for example, one of their listed items was Hollywood makes good movies to watch anywhere in the world. Okay, well, the average American doesn't live or work in Hollywood-- we consume movies absolutely no differently than a UK person would. I really like, by contrast, your lists really connect to ordinary, everyday people. This list (as well as your channel's ethos in general) shows cultural impacts that we've all actually lived.
I like your video’s very much. You have objective views about things in France and the USA. But sometimes I think , that’s not only in France the case. I’m from the Netherlands and I recognize so many things you mentioned in this video. So, it’s in my point of view a European attitude.
Thank you! So glad you enjoy my work.
All so true, Diane. Thanks for your video. I'm enjoying your channel, which I've recently found. I'm a Francophile from way back when. I was a study abroad student in Paris in 1989. I've started regular trips to Paris in the past few years after 15 years traveling to other places. I've especially enjoyed your trips to Monoprix, one of my favorite places in Paris. I love their wine selection and I use their fold up shopping totes everyday! Thanks for reminding viewers to keep it classy. I hate the negativity on the internet. Looking forward to the next video.
I LOVE YOUR SHIRT!!!
Love the shape of your glasses they really suit you 😊 great video
Thank you!! 😊
Thank you!! 😊
Hello Diane. I would sum up with one word. Ambition.😊
When I was walking GRs in France, I often came across French people who positively revelled in gloom with the phrase, "C'est fini ..." Eg one slightly drizzly day in Florac, "C'est fini l'été". (The summer wasn't finished - the next day the sun was out again.) I heard several times, "C'est finie la France". Well, that was between 2000 and 2017 and in 2024 France still survives!
Agreed! Well said!
bonjour. big fan of all your videos. based on my experience, customer service in France is very professional but not friendly at large shops. However, when I go to smaller shops, especially in smaller towns where the owner is the one helping you, they are very personable and helpful. Of course, it could change if I tried to return something.
Regarding changing careers and applying for jobs not exactly aligned with your CV, as a hiring manager, I am excited to see a CV/candidate with alternative skills. They frequently bring fresh ideas to the team/function.
Bonjour Dianne! Great vid! Just now 'got' your tshirt slogan. Would like to hear about French version of USPS and DMV. Bet they are nightmares. Also, I understand Europeans in general dont move to different towns as much as we do here in the US...is that right?
Bonjour Good Day from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I love your Vlog Video about "Five Things The U.S. Does Better Than France" . In Canada, We are like the U.S.A. in some things and like French in other things. Canada is a mix of U.K. or G.B. , U.S.A. and Europe or France because we are English and French Country. Quebec have some European way of doing things and Thinking and English speaking provinces have U.K. and U.S.A. way of doing things and Thinking.
I agree with all your points, although I think the career path thing is changing - but it's definitely a fairly recent things, not a mindset
The US has changed since 2010. It’s pretty much the same as you described in France regarding applying for employment. If you don’t have the exact job skills and job history they’re looking for forget it. There’s so many people looking for work that the employers have gotten very picky.
Computer AI now screens the aps/resume and it's hard to beat the AI at a game that has no rules.
This may be more common than before, but I think it depends a lot on the field. I have a job pretty unrelated to any of my education, and only tangentially related to previous jobs, but it's never been a problem. I admit it was originally a temp position, but that was largely because the previous employee retired and they weren't sure if they wanted to keep the position.
What do you mean so many looking for work? We are at near record low unemployment. There definitely aren’t that many people looking for work. You may be having difficulty but that doesn’t mean it is in any way wide spread.
I think it has a lot to do with your job field, wage expectations, and geographical location in the US. I work at a smallish university in a mediocre small city-the salary doesn’t seem very competitive, but our cost of living is pretty reasonable. We hire people who are qualified, but we have to be pretty flexible because it is so hard to recruit applicants. However, 2.5 hours down the highway, there is a college in another smallish city with a more desirable location-they routinely reject tons of applicants who are over-qualified. They pay about 20% more than we do, but rent/property costs are easily 2x ours. I have family all over the US in different professions, and it seems pretty difficult to generalize these things.
With all these job websites now there's also too much competition. Before, it actually took effort to apply for a job, now anyone can apply with the few clicks of a button. So unless you apply for a job that's hiring multiple candidates, you REALLY need to stand out to get hired. Our hiring system is crap!
Also, volunteer and internship positions have taken away many opportunities. I find it fascinating how employers suddenly don't care about experience, when you're applying for an unpaid position. But no young person wants to go for free. Our hiring system is far more complicated than it should be.
2:10 I agree, I wanted to change career at 32. I've been to a school and expected students to be more mature. 1/3 of them were still children and some of them even made fun of me because I was... 32. A childish attitude (I think it's because it was in Paris).
Aide au référencement
Yep regrading the first point. Totally true. In France people are put in boxes. Your career path is strongly diploma-oriented. You can change career if you're wealthy and privileged, and want to change your lifestyle that became too much stressful, for instance going from engineering to farming. So, basically if you decide to become independant. But if you've got not much in terms of diploma you are screwed, all the opportunities you will encounter is other shitty jobs. Same thing if you think you can go from being an employee in one specific sector to another. Your potential employer will tell you you've got no experience.
Bonjour from Cuenca, Ecuador.
Bonjour!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Vive la France! Vive Diane! 🎉😊
I think.... I will fit it well in France. I complain all the time. And my friends love to tell me I complain too much... hahaha
Good one.
Thank you! Cheers!
I changed careers TWICE, first time in my late 40s, then 50s, and am sooo happy now. Finally got the right fit with my personality. I did encounter ageism but in the long term, I was able to do it. American here btw.
When you say people work less in france, I guess you mean work less hours. but the outcome at the end is still the same.
on the parking, I agree, in germany, they are bigger too. probably because car are sacred in germany, don´t you dare touch them. I guess france allocates the space to some other use which is more important for the people there.
I feel you are totally right ! I especially try to avoid a bunch of people at work... trop râleurs !
Love your channel. And yes, customer service in the USA is very good.
My veterinarian has always sent sympathy cards signed by all the staff whenever one of my pets passes.
Regarding the change of position / employer / field, it will not be exactly the same depending on where you live, what you do and if you are self employed.
But, the crux of the matter is that if you change job, companies, you are considered unstable so not reliable. I have been working now for 29 years with 7 different companies. I received this comment at the beginning of my career after having worked for 3 companies, roughly 30 months each time.
Another aspect is the law regarding workers protection. It is very difficult in France to fire someone so employers tend to not take any chance when they look for employees. They want a perfect fit because it would take a lot to fire an employee.
And it becomes more difficult after a certain age. Which is my situation. So I have chosen my current employer very carefully to ensure that changing position was normal and not the exception.
Bonjour Diane! I highly recommend that you watch Franklin with Michael Douglas on Apple TV. It’s a Franco-American collaboration and I love observing the cultural clashes. Franklin was a keen observer of the culture and he also appreciated French culture. I’d love to hear your take on the series.
bonjour, globalement tout ceci est bien proche de la réalité. merci pour ces vidéos très intéressantes et sans polémiques.
Hey @ouiInFrance love your videos. I’ve noticed you always say « all full-time employees get 5 weeks holidays » but the 5-week paid holidays also applied to part time, it applies to all permanent employees of any company. Cheers ;)
What???!!!
@@donnamurphy1871 yup, but the amount of the paid timeoff will be equivalent to your salary, so if you part time you have 5 weeks off paid as part time :)
Very true
I suspect youth today in the US feel it’s more like as you describe in France, but I also think our youth undervalue themselves often and hesitate to try something new. As a person who returned to college at 38 and completely changed my career, I was amazed at the various people I met from other countries who thought that was absolutely insane. Yes, I had to pay for it somehow, but that kind of change is still simply unavailable a lot of places. Don’t know about France, but young people in many other countries are expected to choose a career very early and just stick with it. We’re still a lot freer to choose (within many constraints I know!) our paths or change them later.
O, Yes to the first point made! And I live in France and I Have a full size VW Passat station wagon. and the spots are too small for it.
By what I've seen on RUclips, many Americans who live in Europe share your opinions. So do many Europeans who have lived in the U.S.
If you have a consumer product, such as makeup, that you actually believe caused an allergic reaction or was in some way defective the vendor should be very interested in the product and if they will not handle it themselves have a procedure for notifying the manufacturer of an adverse response. That is part of standard Good Manufacturing Practice. Submissions from end users can sometimes be the first indicator of a serious problem. Retailers should be trained on those concepts. On the other hand "the colour doesn't match my shoes" should get short shrift.
I love visiting France. Not this year due to the Olympics. Talking about small things in France. Once stayed in a lovely little hotel in Paris, room was nice, a view of the Siena out the window =. The shower on the other hand was so small and the valves stuck way into the stall it was difficult at best to use and I am a normal sized person. Naturally, it is difficult when putting bathrooms in old buildings that would be the case. The elevator was also very small and took the stairs the whole time. Very small barely room for two people. Sometimes, I dream of a little villa in the south of France for retirement.
For 2 or 3 million dollars i think you can fix the problem
3:59 Sounds as if France 🇫🇷 doesn’t do “transferable” skills…
the 'pas mal' is a perfect example. For me as an American, it's quite the compliment but the French see it as 'it's not bad ....but it's not good either'
5/5!!!!!!!
Many people have transferable skills to another type of work
I've never really had a problem with French fonctionnaires. The system is often convulted but I've never found anyone deliberately trying to be obstructive. And I've been in France for 23 years.
I don't think it's a deliberately personal thing. Just part of the culture to say "nope, not possible" the first time
@@OuiInFrance Nope, never found that. An example, going back to 2001, I applied for my carte blue. I was of course an EU citizen at the time. Actual card application no problem but then the lady in the cpam office said, "now choose a mutuelle from this list and we'll pay as you currently have no income". "Err...no". I replied. "But I'm not exactly poor, I have just sold a farm in England and am currently buying one here".
"Don't worry, you haven't got an income so you come within the rules".
So there you go, I never expected it, never asked for it. I was more or less made to have it. And, additionally, SAFER led me by the hand through the farm buying process, couldn't have been more helpful.
Am I the exception that proves the rule?😄
@@brianbarcroft9167 there are exceptions to every rule. But it’s pretty well-known thatin France, people love telling you that something isnt possible.
@@semilvr Pretty well known by who? Not by me. French bureaucracy can be cumbersome. I've never known it to be openly obstructive and no fonctionnaire has never, ever, started a conversation by saying that it can't be done. But what do I know? I've only been here for 23 years.
On the positivity and "can do" thing, there can be a downside to this in that many american folks, and even companies, can have a completely misplaced and unfounded confidence in their abilities, tecnology, knowledge and skillset to do things (which they seem to genuinly believe BTW). When i was working on high tech engineering projects, and getting quotes, Americans tend to promise you the world, plus more features than you asked for or wanted, in half the time at less cost. The project would overrun, go over budget, and not work properly.
Germans would say this is a very difficult project, we must limit your expectations, either; it will be done exactly on time and will cost what it costs, or it will be done at your budget with lower spec in a longer time frame.They would deliver exactly as promised on time....but it would cost you A LOT.
French will say, it can't be done AT ALL, at any price.....however Jean and Pierre will start work on it on Monday and we'll see how it goes 😂😂😂😂
Hi Diane. I agree. And I am British. Even we are more positive than the French - I love France, and enjoy their culture, but they are very resistant
Very similar to Spain. "No es posible" attitude, even among children. Transferable skills and changing careers are not a thing, and you need to have a specific educational background to even bother applying to jobs. I'd say they're less optimistic than Americans but more than the French. Customer service-enough said, lol.
As far as other things the U.S. does better, I'd also include laundry and sales/discounts. Washing clothes is always a pleasure when I'm stateside, lol.
Great video!
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you! What specifically do you like better about laundry in the US?
@@OuiInFrance It's the only place where getting clean and dry clothes in less than 2 hours is the norm. Here it takes 2 hours to wash and 2 days to dry. Only laundromats and wealthy Americans have a dryer here.
I remember the "manana" Spain ... :o)))
C'est pas faux.
You right on everything, but I learned the hard that "System D" although are real pain to learn can help to blance things out to what you may lose when coming to France! The crazy part of System D there is no book rules to learn and no can really help learn this because we all learn this System D thing at different rates and levels! I have a brother-inlaw how breaks most rules of normals here in France and that is his level of System D levels higher than me more like a thief in my eyes, but all at the same time never actually caught breaking the law, but his famliy is like this, now I am sure the cops know him for this, and yes this is something I could never do; he is one of few that take level of System D! I do not like him for all his games, and System D-ing he is willing to do! Because I am half Ameican I can push to get some things done that some French people would get done all because I could not have knew before this more true if I don't push that I am American so I should get it, but to play a little dumb yes I will next time goes a long way! Where as stateside it is black & white do you have it yes or no next please here in France sometimes things don't move you need to understand why, work around it, and still get it done for American rule followers this is not easy because the French don't always follow the rules when are where you will never know is the one rule we do follow! You must always be ready for the unknown, and at times play a hand you don't have sometimes you win sometimes you don't but it will equal out over time often your ahead of things if you mix it with wine, and cheese with a good meal!
❤
🤔 on parle de la bureaucratie aux états-unis
Made a mistake yesterday. I saw some door screens for insects at a store and the American me bought it , saying to myself, if it doesn't work I can return it. So it wouldn't work for my door. So I returned it, unopened, with the receipt and got NO money back. I took it back out of the clerk's hand, torn the package cover and threw it in the trash. Quite infantile of me, I know, but I was not going to let them sell it again. I know they said some choice words as I was leaving, but I turned my French hat off.
Hi, what was the reason for them denying the return? Usually stores accept returns (on non final sale stuff) within 30-ish days if stuff is unopened. Definitely understand your frustration!
I'm very surprised they did not take the screen back. You should have asked before if they had a return policy. I guess they've lost a customer! I've never had problems bringing things back to French DIY stores and getting an immediate refund for things that did not fit or I did not want any more (providing they were in their original state). Leroy Merlin or Castorama, for example, give you a 2-week period to change your mind.
Okay, I came here to laugh because I'm French and we are definitely not the best out therebut ! I must disagree ! If you have an allergic reaction to a product you can return it (I actually did it at Sephora). On the other side, I believe (I may be mistaken) not being able to return an open product is actually a European law.
Customer service by phone is horrible in the USA. Most companies do ALL THEY CAN to avoid having a human talk to you.
A lot of those customer service calls are going overseas, especially any tech help.
@@MissBabalu102 No, they have extensive self help nonsense and AI chatbots. You have to waste 15 to 30 minutes to ask a question a human could answer in one minute .
@@SenorJuan2023 Yes, that too.
This seems to be a plague everywhere! First, you have to fight your way through pressing buttons for 4, 5, 6 or 7 options, none of which address your issue. If you are lucky, the last option will be to speak to a (human) representative (although that also usually means holding the line for anywhere between 10 and 45 minutes). Sometimes, however, when you press that option or hold the line, you will be told that all representatives are speaking to other customers; please call back later! That‘s super bad for my blood pressure.
I am french ,leaving in Colombia.
I left France and my country men because tey complain too much.
Evidently, you haven’t dealt with a Call Center for a US Retailer outsourced in India 😂
P.S. People in the US have been much less friendly and optimistic since Covid, actually, exceedingly rude sometimes and Customer Service has been awful.
I see it's been a few years since you've been to the DMV! LOL
Renewed my FL license pretty recently!
As a French, I actually think n°1 and 5 are things France does BETTER than the US. In our education we are expected to adjust to society, so basically following the rule not to trouble the organization. And about the customer service, I'm ABSOLUTELY shocked that someone can return something like makeup already used. It won't be sold anymore, so that's encouraging waste. And if you eventually don't like : well, that's the best lesson one can be taught to think twice before buying the next time ^^
About changing careers, i have mixed feelings. I've already heard a craftsman saying in his field it takes about 10 years to get your hand. Probably also true for some intellectual professions. So basically if people change their career every 10 years, you never get someone able to do quality staff. I believe in France we favor quality and having specialists.
Same for parkings, big ones are proportional to big places in the US, more difficult in France.
The only point I actually fully agree on is optimism.
You assume anybody in the us can get money back while the product was obviously used. That's a false equivalence. In general, you will not get an attitude or an uncomfortable questioning session in the United States should you return an article for valid reasons.
Diane, vous n'avez pas été élevée en France, vous n'avez pas eu à apprendre, comme tous les enfants élevés en France, les fables de La Fontaine (qui sont dans une langue superbe, par ailleurs) dont "Le Corbeau et le Renard" dont la morale dit "Apprenez que tout flatteur vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute, cette leçon vaut bien un fromage sans doute". Imaginez tous ces petits Français qui grandissent dans la peur que celui qui leur fait des compliments cherche en fait à leur voler leur fromage. Les compliments sont suspects en France, ils ne sont jamais gratuits. C'est pourquoi on abuse de litotes (C'est pas mal, c'est acceptable, c'est pas vilain, c'est pas idiot...) pour éviter d'apparaître comme un vil flatteur.
Quand aux employeurs français, ce sont fondamentalement des esclavagistes et des tyrans. Si le peuple ne leur imposait pas des règles par la loi, les employés seraient des esclaves et les clients des gueux...
C'est faux! Nous, les français, faisons tout mieux que tout le monde!
lol
On rale beaucoup mieux que le reste du monde ! 🙂 C'est un art en France !
MDR! Très drôle!
@@OuiInFrance or better said ; Ouais, pas mal la blague ! Not so french yet, Diane...
I am your mirrored self, i am French and i have lived two decades in the Usa. I completely disagree with your comment on customer service in Usa. Maybe you've been out of the country for too long. I cannot think of any place in the entire world where customer service is more apaling, unpredictable, unreliable and prone to go wrong than in the Usa (and i will get into many examples).
What you described as a good customer service from a pet store in the usa is not customer service it is self entitlement and privileged service (no, not what you think) which americans have a bad habit to demand. We French are social and customer service is something that every customer can expect with no effort, no pushing, no pressurizing the store required that Americans are used to. Your definition of customer service based on what you just presented in this video is to be treated better than others. That is not customer service. And you are right this is how Usa functions you constantly have to push, pressure (threaten if needed) to get american employee to do something that they should do for everybody. Then when they overcompensate and sent you flowers, that is privilege and bad customer service.
I hate having to pressure others to do something they ought to do when i am a customer.
This is why in France as a civilized country customer service is reliable, predictable and you do not need to get all hyped and rehearse a complaint to get things done as in USa. I cannot count how many times i was badly served in Usa and had to battle and push to get things corrected. Then yes they overcompensate (sometimes) but that is STILL bad customer service.
For example i have owned many new car brands in usa and the regularity at which the dealership service departments messed up my cars or damage it, from scratches, greasy interior, stripped screws, bent mechanical part, is mind boggling. Especially when they know it is in area of the car that 90% of customers won't be able to check.
Same thing in any usa restaurant, like you, they confuse privilege and self entitlement with customer service. I don't need a waiter to be pushy and slide into my day like someone i must talk to and hear their superficial talk.
Honestly the only place i had had surprisingly good customer service is with the departments of state. Because there they follow a script to the line and it does not deviate from person to person. I do not like self entitled americans who don't understand what customer service is.
If it is not something they readily do for all customers then it is not good customer service.
In France you rarely have to push a corporation to treat you right because their operatus modi is well defined and set for all, that is why they will always do it right for all, and if you ask something they do not do, they will tell you "ce n"est pas possilble:" And that is the correct stress free reliable, predictable customer experience. Not this bartending pressuring, stressing american way where you have to claim priviledge (and hope they'll overdo it and overcompensate you) that is going on in the Usa.
You madam deserves a big lesson in life and maybe return to the usa while I have been strongly thinking to return to Europe.
I seriously disagree with all of your points. After 51 years in France, I have learned the ropes and know exactly what to say to get exactly what I want. But I will admit that many of my (French) friends have never figured out the system.
Returning make up - how odd!!
I've bought products over the years that have caused reactions and definitely wanted my money back! I don't think that's odd ;-)
@@OuiInFranceUlta has an excellent return policy 👍🏻