Customer Service Has Terrible Broken English

[calculus314]

Now that Ebay seems to flooded with calls, Why can't they get people that can speak proper English? I have waited on hold to finally get someone, only to have to wait on hold for someone else that I can understand. I get it they are getting the help for cheap, but they should at least speak the language correctly.

[southern*sweet*tea]

When you find native English speakers who are willing to work for $2 with no benefits, let Ebay know. I'm sure they'll hire them.

[gwzcomps]

I just wonder why unlike other countries US based corporations don't have enough pride to hire people in the country they are based out of.  I guess it comes with that mentality that people aren't humans they are just another disposable product.

[southern*sweet*tea · Accepted solution]

---

@gwzcomps wrote:

I just wonder why unlike other countries US based corporations don't have enough pride to hire people in the country they are based out of.  I guess it comes with that mentality that people aren't humans they are just another disposable product.

---

One reason only:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[calculus314]

I get that. You can use that logic to export everything including farming and oil production, until the last dollar is gone and so are we. Kind of interesting how people in foreign countries are pulling up your financial information.

[calculus314]

Maybe for $2.50, they could speak better English

[mam98031]

---

@calculus314 wrote:

I get that. You can use that logic to export everything including farming and oil production, until the last dollar is gone and so are we. Kind of interesting how people in foreign countries are pulling up your financial information.

---

It is encrypted and they do not have access to it.

[pburn]

I live in what is considered to be a place with an "accentless accent" (aka Standard American, or Broadcast English, or Network English). I feel the same way you've described when speaking with people from other regions of the country. 

I've heard it said that "people don't speak with an accent--people hear with an accent."

It's not just the spoken word, either; for example, in your post, we would spell your "Ebay" as "eBay," we would not capitalize the word "Why" in your first sentence, and we would never use the phrase "for cheap," where I'm from. I could understand what you were trying to say, but it can be like fingernails on a blackboard for me to read it.

As a member of a global population, I try my hardest to understand people who are making an attempt to speak English--one of the hardest to learn--when it's not their native language. I sure couldn't speak to them in theirs. 

My town has a large immigrant population from all over the world, and we pride ourselves on making them feel welcome and appreciated as members of our community and as human beings on this shared planet. They make a valiant attempt to learn English, and, for my part, I go the extra mile to try to understand them. If that means I have to say, "I'm sorry--could you repeat that" every now and then, so be it.

I also travel overseas to countries where I don't speak the language. I sure appreciate it when someone is willing to help me out, rather than having to rely on my translator apps.

Granted, the overseas customer service reps must speak English as requirement of their job, but I sure like to try to meet them half way. It's all part of living in the world.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@calculus314 wrote:

Now that Ebay seems to flooded with calls, Why can't they get people that can speak proper English? I have waited on hold to finally get someone, only to have to wait on hold for someone else that I can understand. I get it they are getting the help for cheap, but they should at least speak the language correctly.

---

You should see the messages I get from domestic buyers... many of them are harder to understand than the overseas CS I talk with. It's one thing to not be fluent of a second language... but to not have command of your own primary language??

[ed8108]

If has been reported that the U S educational system significantly lowered expectations & standards for students.

You are experiencing the result.

[tools*]

---

@calculus314 wrote:

Now that eBay seems to [be] flooded with calls, why can't they get people that who can speak proper English? I have waited on hold to finally get someone, only to have to wait on hold for someone else that whom I can understand. I get it [that] they are getting the help for cheap, but they should at least speak the language correctly.

---

[southern*sweet*tea]

::general reply::

I like to listen to ATC communications. (ATC = Air Traffic Control) English is the language of international aviation as per ICAO.

In order to be a commercial aviation pilot, you must know English and pass a fluency test. Pilots are rated on their English fluency, with 6 being expert (most, but not all  native speakers)  down to 1 (pre-elementary). ATC have similar tests with five levels. To be an ATC you must score in the 4th or 5th level.

Having said all that...I cannot understand French or Chinese pilots at all. They all sound like they have a mouth full of marbles. All of them. How they passed a proficiency test I have no clue. 

I also cannot understand native New York and New Jersey  ATCs. They sound like they're full of the same marbles the French and Chinese pilots are chewing on. Not all of them, obviously, but some the accents are so strong it's ridiculous. Then you have Hong Kong ATCs that speak beautiful English, clear and understandable even with an accent.   My favorites by far are the Irish pilots and ATC. Clear as a bell even with the accent and they speak not too quickly and not too slowly.  Most, but not all, native English ATCs and pilots are fine, easy to understand, but can tend to talk too fast at times. (or maybe I just hear slow lol)

One may know English. One may know English well. One may be an English expert. One may be able to write English perfectly. That doesn't make them able to speak it well at all.  When you are in a job that requires clear, understandable communication you need to hire people who can speak the necessarily language clearly - even with an accent.

Having said all that, the only time I've called CS here has been as a buyer, and each time I got an American rep, so I can't speak to any of the overseas CS and their speaking skills.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@ed8108 wrote:

If has been reported that the U S educational system significantly lowered expectations & standards for students.

You are experiencing the result.

---

Unfortunately I agree with you. Also there's the attitude and mentality taken to remedy this problem. When I was in school, we were taught that "You'd better learn to read and write correctly otherwise people will never understand what you are saying."

But nowadays, these people act like it I'm inconveniencing THEM for not understanding their poor spelling, grammar, and lack of punctuation. That it's my responsibility to decipher their "code" and they are the victim. I'm not here to fix your skills, just clearly tell me what you want so I can ship and move on.

Every year it gets worse and worse. The human race is devolving.

[wrong66]

Where I'm originally from, the correct phrase would be "on the cheap".

[bigdeals.etc]

Your story reminds me of Brad Pitt in the movie Snatch. Ever see that? I forget if Brad Pitt plays an English, Irish, or Scottish. But whoa baby... he needs subtitles in there.