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Eshin Direct

May 10, 2004 Rude Photographer

It would seem that time of patronage gives you a license to be rude. Some expat was in front of me at the photo shop and his attitude was quite appalling. It was evident that there was only one server available to deal with the customers and this particular server’s English ain’t that great. Naturally, being the nice asshole he is, he goes off in rapid fire English.

Asshole: “I need NPS film”

Server (confirming): “NPS?”

Asshole: “Yes, NPS.” (Impatiently)

Server walks to cabinet.

Asshole: “Where are the other people? Are you new here?”

Server (not quite understanding): “Err, here…NPS film.”

Asshole (irritated): “Okay…where are the other people? I’ve come here over ten years and I’ve never seen you. I need 100.”

Server (not understanding whether he needs 100 ISO film and getting confused because the film they have is only 160 for portraiture photography): “Err, we don’t have 100 NPS.”

Asshole: “Yes, you do look…look give me all of those. I need 100 pieces.”

Server (being cleared out of their full supply of NPS film): “We only have these, sir.”

Asshole (irritated): “No…I need 100 pieces…I need them today…No don’t phone anyone. Just give me what you have…I’ve come here for ten years. The people before were much more helpful.”

Server calls her colleagues anyway to ask about NPS film.

If the guy had stopped shouting at her, listened to what she was saying, and perhaps realised his English wasn’t coming across, then maybe it would have all gone smoother. I’m quite picky when it comes to customer service and I’ll be honest, this place is sometimes lacking in that but this guy was a real wanker. Patronising a place or being in a place for ten years doesn’t exactly give you the right to be a complete wanker or asshole. You can do that without the time requirement and all by yourself. I might have said something to the guy had there not been a risk of them losing business.

Oh well, I’ll just satisfying myself with saying that a photographer by the name of Michael W. in Hong Kong has no manners or courtesy. He deserves a smack.