"No Hable Espanol" on my business cards. (1 Viewer)

[alienken]

I own and operate a pest control company and I am sick and tired of non-English speaking Mexicans calling my office and demanding a translator. I am considering having "No Hable Espanol" on my business cards.Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Will I lose business?

 

[::Major_Baker::]

I own and operate a pest control company and I am sick and tired of non-English speaking Mexicans calling my office and demanding a translator. I am considering having "No Hable Espanol" on my business cards.Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Will I lose business?

you should at least use the correct verb tense.
"No hablo Espanol"

 

[Caine]

I own and operate a pest control company and I am sick and tired of non-English speaking Mexicans calling my office and demanding a translator. I am considering having "No Hable Espanol" on my business cards.Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Will I lose business?

Dude, its your Business, run it how you see fit.

Personally, I would probably do the same damned thing if I knew absolutely no spanish and was getting spammed by Spanish only speaking customers.

But of course, there will be those radicals who think you should be forced to conform and learn Spanish or hire a translator.

I say, its your Business, if they don't like it, **** 'em.

 

[disneydude]

Dude, its your business run it as you see fit. However, if it were my business I would probably do everything that I could to get as much business as possible. Hell, I probably would run ads in Spanish newspapers, Korean papers, gay publications, Christian newsletters....because I would want to reach out to my communities and try to be a smart businessman.

True, I could put on my business ads..."I don't want any right-wing Christians" or "I don't want any mexicans" or "I don't do business with gay people".....but from a business stand-point it probably would alienate some potential customers.

But again,...Dude, its your business. You do as you see fit.

 

[Caine]

Dude, its your business run it as you see fit. However, if it were my business I would probably do everything that I could to get as much business as possible. Hell, I probably would run ads in Spanish newspapers, Korean papers, gay publications, Christian newsletters....because I would want to reach out to my communities and try to be a smart businessman.

True, I could put on my business ads..."I don't want any right-wing Christians" or "I don't want any mexicans" or "I don't do business with gay people".....but from a business stand-point it probably would alienate some potential customers.

But again,...Dude, its your business. You do as you see fit.

I think your missing the point.
He isn't trying to make a political statement.
He probably doesn't speak spanish, so a communication problem doesn't help when you have to communicate with the customers in order to get the job done.

I don't think Gays or "Right Wing Christians" speak a language that you can't understand.

 

[alienken]

I think your missing the point.
He isn't trying to make a political statement.
He probably doesn't speak spanish, so a communication problem doesn't help when you have to communicate with the customers in order to get the job done.

I don't think Gays or "Right Wing Christians" speak a language that you can't understand.

Yes, he did miss the point. We kill bugs and do termite inspections but it really is a people business.If I can't talk to people, I just can't serve them. I live and work in Texas- the Houston area and we are being overran with illegal imigrants. I was outraged when they started protesting and demanding rights that they don't have because they are not even supposed to be here, while waving their Mexican flag. I admit my stunt might be somewhat political, but it might be a protest that I can't afford.Too many people will get the wrong idea.

 

[Caine]

Yes, he did miss the point. We kill bugs and do termite inspections but it really is a people business.If I can't talk to people, I just can't serve them. I live and work in Texas- the Houston area and we are being overran with illegal imigrants. I was outraged when they started protesting and demanding rights that they don't have because they are not even supposed to be here, while waving their Mexican flag. I admit my stunt might be somewhat political, but it might be a protest that I can't afford.Too many people will get the wrong idea.

All I say is, Do whats best for yourself, your family, and your business.

 

[alienken]

All I say is, Do whats best for yourself, your family, and your business.

Yes, but deciding what best IS is the tricky part.I may have half of my cards printed with "No hable espanol" and give them out accordingly, just to be safe.

 

[BodiSatva]

I agree with Caine...surprisingly

Do what you want to. You will lose business, at least initially, but you might find that with adjustments, new areas with growth potential might open up.

As a business person, you never want to alienate ANY potential customers, but you also can't run your business effectively if you are not in a good frame of mind. Owning your own business is tough, we can attest to that, but I am sure that you will find a savvy way to do it and be more successful for it.

Major Baker
you should at least use the correct verb tense.
"No hablo Espanol"

Hahaa...bro, that is simply funny on many levels, none of which you intended, I am sure.

 

[disneydude]

I think your missing the point.
He isn't trying to make a political statement.

"He's not?"?????
I think you're missing the point.

I don't think "Right Wing Christians" speak a language that you can't understand.

I seriously beg to differ.

Again....its his business, let him do as he sees fit. All I am saying is when you are in the service industry I'm not so sure that alienating what is obviously a large segment of the population is a wise business move.

 

[Caine]

"He's not?"?????
I think you're missing the point.

Strange, lets see.

Yes, he did miss the point.

Are you going to argue with the man who started this thread himself and tell him that he is obviously making a political statement???

So, by being honest and writing on his business card he doesn't speak spanish, because he doesn't speak spanish is a political statement?

So if I said I don't interpret sign language im making a political statement?

If I don't speak Chineese?

C'mon... get over this attempt to accuse everyone of being politically incorrect just because they can't communicate with spanish only speaking people.

I seriously beg to differ.

Again....its his business, let him do as he sees fit. All I am saying is when you are in the service industry I'm not so sure that alienating what is obviously a large segment of the population is a wise business move.

Im sorry, its a pain in the *** enough to work with spanish speaking complainants as a police officer, where they aren't actually giving me money (and since half of them don't pay taxes, aren't "paying my salary" either). So I can imagine how hard it would be if you dont understand spanish to have people try to speak spanish to you when your attempting to contact them to do business, or even communicate with them on the job.

Of course, you seem to think you know everything about this situation, more than the business owner himself, so I'll let your almightyness be the judge.

 

[LeftyHenry]

Don't. Just hire a translator. If you get so many spanish customers you'll make a larger profit that way.

 

[Stace]

I don't see a problem with it, especially since you said you live in Texas and that there's a large Hispanic community there. You'd simply be informing folks that you don't speak Spanish....you're not saying that you refuse to serve Hispanic customers, you're merely informing them that you don't speak that language, so they will either need to communicate with you in English, or they will need to find an agency that speaks Spanish.

 

[alienken]

Don't. Just hire a translator. If you get so many spanish customers you'll make a larger profit that way.

I can't hire a translator, this is a very small, new company with just me and my wife.At times we are doing good just to get the bills paid.I am running low on business cards anyway and it will not cost much to make changes.

 

[alienken]

Again....its his business, let him do as he sees fit. All I am saying is when you are in the service industry I'm not so sure that alienating what is obviously a large segment of the population is a wise business move.

The situation here is this..I am not alienating a segment of population if I already can't do business with them because of the communication problem. The Pest Control Industry now is more precise. One treatment does not wipe out everything. I have to have some questions answered to be able to do a proper treatment. If someone calls with a problem with ants..We have five different species of ants and three of them require their own treatments.

 

[disneydude]

I admit my stunt might be somewhat political.

Caine:

Next time, read a little more carefully before you start criticizing others for "missing the point". By the posters own admission, you missed the entire point.

 

[Caine]

Caine:

Next time, read a little more carefully before you start criticizing others for "missing the point". By the posters own admission, you missed the entire point.

No, he was talking about YOU!

When he replied to MY post, he was agreeing with ME that YOU missed the point.

He is NOT trying to make this political, only you are.

 

[LeftyHenry]

The situation here is this..I am not alienating a segment of population if I already can't do business with them because of the communication problem. The Pest Control Industry now is more precise. One treatment does not wipe out everything. I have to have some questions answered to be able to do a proper treatment. If someone calls with a problem with ants..We have five different species of ants and three of them require their own treatments.

hmm...well in that case if it were me I'd try to make due with a 'spanish for dummies' simple translation book lol. I mean if you get alot of spanish customers than it'd be foolish to shun them, on the otherhand it looks like there's no other option...

 

[alienken]

hmm...well in that case if it were me I'd try to make due with a 'spanish for dummies' simple translation book lol. I mean if you get alot of spanish customers than it'd be foolish to shun them, on the otherhand it looks like there's no other option...

Why is it up to me to learn Spanish? Why can't it be up to them to learn English? Most non-English Mexicans do not want pest control. It's not because of their culture, but lack of money because they are usually lower-middle class.I grew up lower-middle class and if we had bugs we had to use a shoe to kill them. I have English speaking Hispanics that are upper class and they can't stand to have roaches.Since they speak English (sometimes better than me) they call me and I am happy to schedule the appointment. I have seen evidence like this that shows speaking English helps all Hispanics to get better paying jobs and a better future.(Now it goes political) It is next to impossible to be successful without understanding English so why do you liberals want to keep these people down?

 

[Stace]

Why is it up to me to learn Spanish? Why can't it be up to them to learn English? Most non-English Mexicans do not want pest control. It's not because of their culture, but lack of money because they are usually lower-middle class.I grew up lower-middle class and if we had bugs we had to use a shoe to kill them. I have English speaking Hispanics that are upper class and they can't stand to have roaches.Since they speak English (sometimes better than me) they call me and I am happy to schedule the appointment. I have seen evidence like this that shows speaking English helps all Hispanics to get better paying jobs and a better future.(Now it goes political) It is next to impossible to be successful without understanding English so why do you liberals want to keep these people down?

Whoa, whoa, whoa....what's up with the "you liberals" comment? I'd certainly consider myself to be liberal, and I agree with you....if someone immigrates to this country (whether it be legally or not, that's a whole different subject), if you expect to have any sort of success here, you need to learn the language we use, which is English. Just like if I were planning on moving to, say, Germany, I'd need to learn German. I certainly wouldn't expect them to speak English just to accomodate me, and immigrants to our country shouldn't expect us all to learn their languages to accomodate them. The burden is on them, not us!

 

[alienken]

Whoa, whoa, whoa....what's up with the "you liberals" comment? I'd certainly consider myself to be liberal, and I agree with you....if someone immigrates to this country (whether it be legally or not, that's a whole different subject), if you expect to have any sort of success here, you need to learn the language we use, which is English. Just like if I were planning on moving to, say, Germany, I'd need to learn German. I certainly wouldn't expect them to speak English just to accomodate me, and immigrants to our country shouldn't expect us all to learn their languages to accomodate them. The burden is on them, not us!

What a minute the world has stopped turning and the Universe is breaking up. Not only is there a Liberal agreeing with me but there is a liberal here using common sense and logic to draw a conclusion.(just kidding)Logic does hold on this issue, it's when emotion is used when things really start getting messed up.

 

[Jerry]

I own and operate a pest control company and I am sick and tired of non-English speaking Mexicans calling my office and demanding a translator. I am considering having "No Hable Espanol" on my business cards.Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Will I lose business?

Er, if you don't speak Spanish, and they don't speak English, how do you know that they want a translator?

 

[disneydude]

No, he was talking about YOU!

When he replied to MY post, he was agreeing with ME that YOU missed the point.

He is NOT trying to make this political, only you are.

Dude: Seriously.....do you know how to read? What part of "I admit that this stunt might be political" do you not understand?

Please follow the posts before jumping in and making generalizations.

 

[Stace]

Dude: Seriously.....do you know how to read? What part of "I admit that this stunt might be political" do you not understand?

Please follow the posts before jumping in and making generalizations.

How about we get back to the topic at hand? He still said that you missed the point. Move on.

 

[Tashah]

The problem here is that this is a plateau where capitalism and culture sometimes clash. Some entrepreneurs feel that capitalism must always be ascendent because earning a higher profit is the intrinsic goal of every business and all avenues to increase earnings must be implimented to achieve this capitalist oriented goal. Other entrepreneurs are of the opinion that there are certain limits as to how far they will stray from their personal milieu in order to generate higher profit margins. These are individualistic and/or corporate choices.

alienken... the choice here is of course yours to make, but I wish all American business owners had the fortitude to adopt a business philosophy that does not promote lingual disunity. As much as is possible, I personally will not patronize any business that tacitly encourages the fostering of a bi-lingual Americana.