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1.16 The customer is not king: Just accept it!

Asia, and, especially from the Middle East or the UAE, you will find it extremely difficult to adapt to the way people speak to you in Germany, especially in a customer service type of conversation; be it at a supermarket, on the phone, in shops, or in restaurants, basically in any setting where you pay money to the other person in exchange for them doing something for you. The reason for this is that, back in your native country, you as a customer have become accustomed to set phrases like ‘The customer is king’ and ‘The customer is always right’. You have to understand that, in this country, this is probably the biggest misconception you have brought along with you. Thus, the fault is not with Germany, but with your own expectations.

But don’t be disheartened; there is a way to remedy this, although it might take a long time. Do the following:

• Repeat the mantra to yourself over and over again: “The customer is not king. The customer is always wrong.”

• Keep repeating these words until you finally get over your snobby expectation of being treated like a paying customer.

This is how I became accustomed to “customer service” in Germany albeit only after fifteen years of living here. Here’s one final strategy that I’ve found very useful: try taking a different approach. Imagine you’re a beggar on the street, having just stopped a complete stranger and asked them for spare change. That is how the German employee sees you. So, next time you come home after one of these situations, fuming at the shop worker, or whoever it may have been, and you’re pissed off about them being rude or unfriendly towards you, keep this notion in your head and everything will become clear as daylight. This is the German way. You’re welcome, by the way.