Chile Forum

I´m trying to be as fair as possible when it comes to the lack of customer service here in Chile.The good news is that I found 2 decent places that are willing to go the extra mile for the customer. One is a brand new place in Temuco that´s competing with Sodimac called Imperial located where the old Sodimac was.They just opened their doors so you won´t find items wall to wall but the service is quite good, in fact we bought a laminate for the kitchen that is a special order item. Today I got an email advising its arrival to Temuco and afterwards the shipping to Valdivia by bus. For us that´s a major plus.
The other is in Santiago.A restaurant supply business El Volcan (probably Mauricio ought to pay close attention) where we bought a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer thru the internet. I was happy to have found Maria Elena Benites as a salesperson. She was excellent, contacting us every step, going beyond the "call of duty" to please us.So there is hope out there, it's a matter of finding it.I just wanted to pass this along.

Gloria thanks so much for the info...

I will make sure to visit El Volcan when I move back to Chile in the next few weeks.... btw, where are you originally from in Chile and where and how long did you live in the US. I am curious to know, because I know you spent a long time away from Chile and I would love hear from you regarding your move back to Chile. How did people react to you?, did they consider you a gringa?, did they think you were faking your "gringoness," I am just curious, because I know how our compatriots can be sometimes...

Mauricio

Everyone considers Gloria A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!!!!

mauricio wrote:Gloria thanks so much for the info...

I will make sure to visit El Volcan when I move back to Chile in the next few weeks.... btw, where are you originally from in Chile and where and how long did you live in the US. I am curious to know, because I know you spent a long time away from Chile and I would love hear from you regarding your move back to Chile. How did people react to you?, did they consider you a gringa?, did they think you were faking your "gringoness," I am just curious, because I know how our compatriots can be sometimes...

Mauricio

Hi Mauricio, you are welcome and if you email me I can give you her phone # and all the info necessary.
I was born, "partially" raised in Santiago and lived in the USA 41 years.My moving to Chile was fairly smooth due to the fact that it was researched and planned a year in advance. Generally people's reaction were positive and we were welcomed by strangers.I have no relatives here.I did my very best to " hide" my "foreign" accent and I practiced the "lingo" as much as I could. My major problem has been not knowing some words or or simply because I forgot them and I stumble...I know them perfectly in english but I have no idea in spanish.Some slangs are totally strange to me and sometimes I have no idea what they are talking about but I make believe I do and I laugh. I do the..."monkey see, monkey do" thing.
Because Santiago is not what it used to be, we decided to live in Valdivia.It has been a year now and we have no regrets.

Vicki and Greg Lansen wrote::mrgreen: Everyone considers Gloria A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!!!!

Hey Vicki, thanks for the compliment Love the little queen thingy.
I guess all those years in the good ol' USA taught me few things. hehehehe

...and of course I meant it with admiration and ALL DUE DEFERENCE! And on the subject of Good Customer Service, I wonder if companies and businesses reward employees who get good customer comments? I don't recall ever seeing any "Customer Service Comment" questions asked, as you might see in the US.

Vicki and Greg Lansen wrote: And on the subject of Good Customer Service, I wonder if companies and businesses reward employees who get good customer comments? I don't recall ever seeing any "Customer Service Comment" questions asked, as you might see in the US.

I doubt it very much and I'm sorry to say but chilean businesses have very poor business ethics and to find one that's willing to go the extra mile for a customer, it's time to call the Press and put it on the front page.Sad though.