Customer Service in Switzerland

Oddly enough, I am feeling wonderfully comfortable with my ambivalence following our trip to Zurich. I had hoped to come back with clarity on our future plans to either a). move back to Zurich or b). settle in Spokane. Now, I feel totally at ease with going back and forth multiple times a day. What's coming? We don't know, and it honestly doesn't matter. Clarity, shmarity!

But, one thing that I have 100% clarity on is the total and utter lack of customer service in Switzerland.

Switzerland is known for horrid customer service in retail settings. Here are a few examples:

The photos above are of Einzigart, my favorite store in Zurich. I love that store despite the fact that no one greets me when I walk in the door. In addition, questions are met with scowls and scoffs. During our trip, I bought Coco a pair of slippers there. I tried to pay in cash, which is the norm in Switzerland. The total was 22.85 CHF, but the store didn't have any change. IN SWITZERLAND! The land of cash. No change! What followed was a big confusing hullabaloo in which a friend tried to step in and shuffle everything about, until I finally paid with a card. Ridiculous. What would they need money for anyway?! It's not like they're selling stuff. I'll still go back. ;)

Next was the Apple Store. As I mentioned yesterday, I happened to drop and smash my phone after a night of too much champagne. It happens. In fact, it happens a lot. This is actually the third time I'll have my screen replaced. When I just happened to be walking by, I popped into the Apple Store on Bahnhofstrasse to see how the price compared in Switzerland. At that point, little chunks of glass were falling out every day. It seemed better not to wait until we got home. It went like this:

Walk in, find a guy in a blue shirt.
Me: "Hi, I need a new screen for my phone," holding phone so he can see.
Him: "Yes, you'll need to schedule with the repair department, which is that line there." Points to long line of six or more people waiting to see girl in a blue shirt hunched over an iPad.
Me: "I was just wondering what the price is."
Him: "She can tell you when you schedule."
Me: "But, depending on the price, I might wait until I'm in the States later this week."
Him: "I don't have that information, you'll have to ask her."
Me: "You honestly don't know?"
Him: "No."
Me: "Seriously?"
Him: Silence
Me: "Okay," walk out the door.

How many times a day do you think people go in there with that EXACT SAME question?! Maddening. My screen is still broken, by the way. As soon as I'm done with this post, I'm scheduling a Genius Bar appointment. Any recommendations on full-coverage cases? They're all sooooooo ugly. Woe is me!

The final example happened at Starbucks and comes from my friend and comedienne Sylvia Day. I think this status update says it all.

One morning before the Writers Workshop, I stopped in at Starbucks and they were out of coffee! They offered to make me something else (and charge me more!) so in the end, I just waited five minutes and was late to the workshop. Not cool, Starbucks. Not cool at all.

If you're not already following Sylvia Day on Facebook, you should be. And if you're in the Zurich area, she has a holiday show coming up. J and I went a couple years ago and it was great fun. Don't miss it!

Tell me your hilarious (lack of) customer service stories. I would love to hear! xo