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-- Both quotes can not be accurate. Now it's up to you to use common sense to determine which one is more likely to be accurate. Keep in mind, both sources are reporting on the same exact interview with the shop worker
-- Just curious, why do you think Oprah is concerned about a story about racism growing so big? Did Oprah have the same concern about the Hermes incident a few years back? If not, I to wonder why the difference reactions to the course the story took.
Funny, same can be said about the whole incident. We have Oprah's version and we have the shopgirl's version. Both corroborate that at one point, she does not get the specific item asked for but indicates that what she is holding is the same as the expensive model. That particular action then causes the problem because that can be interpreted in varying ways depending on the person on the receiving end.
Simply put, the context is not Oprah's film in the USA but segregation in Switzerland becoming public policy. Americans are being distracted by antipathy or dislike of Oprah from a much darker and more worrying story.
The Oprah incident and the asylum seekers issue are two separate things that have absolutely nothing to do with one another.
The media is conveniently conflating the two as if they were even remotely related. I wonder why they often forget to mention that Switzerland takes in way more asylum seekers per capita than any other European nation.
Our government insists on housing these asylum seekers in small towns where they will obviously stand out and where people are bombarded with stories of drug dealing and other assorted criminal activity allegedly going on in and around these asylum centers. Some context and some honesty would be appreciated, but then again, that stuff doesn't make for catchy headlines to fabricate all the righteous indignation and outrage now, does it?
That may be the case, anyhow - the Oprah incident is becoming yesterday's news. I still would like to hear from anyone who would be happy being served by a store assistant who won't bother to get an expensive item down for view that they asked for.
Anyhow - the media may see the asylum issue as context. Could it influence people's behaviour towards obvious foreigners in their midst..
No, that's mentioned in quite a few articles on the whole story here - as well as the BBC website.
We're almost heading into a tangential issue which is dispersing immigrants into smaller towns and looking to integrate them or putting them into ghettoes.
Except that's not what happened. She told Oprah the item was identical to the ones she was already showing her, only much more expensive. She did offer to show it anyway, but Oprah was already all butthurt and imagining all kinds of racist scenarios and decided to leave. If this happened to me I would ask the obvious question "Well, how much is it?". I certainly wouldn't be offended.
-- That's ridiculous. It may affect people in certain areas, but definitely not in downtown Zurich, on the freaking Banhofstrasse, where all manner of wealthy foreigners of all races shop till they drop every damn day.
There is no perfect solution. You put them in rural areas where the number of foreigners is low and the locals are going to complain. You put them in urban, more multi-cultural areas and they'll eventually end up in a ghetto.
First - a salesperson's job is to sell, I worked in a shop many years ago and my job was to sell. If I could sell a more expensive item then I was helping the company and myself. Instead of upselling - the very least "Adrianna" was doing was downselling.
Secondly, customer service - if a customer wanted to look at a more expensive item than the one being seen then good sales is to make sure to offer the customer a potential sale. Not advise them against it or find ways not to do your job.
Third - she devalued an item - even a $10 handbag is in essence the same as a Tom Ford $35,000 handbag but you don't sell expensive items that way.
Tom Ford should pull his bags from any store that says his high value ticket items are no different from a value item in the store. Does no good to supplier or shop reputation.
Fourth - she devalued the shop and besmirched Switzerland's reputation. However, there will probably be some somewhere who may frequent the shop more now it has a reputation.
So "Adrianna" is an experienced sales girl going by her account and she made several wrong calls.
I've been there, expensive and very rarified but that doesn't mean "Adrianna" doesn't read local news or see what local Zurich villages are doing with regard to immigrants in the Zurich area.
I mentioned it because in another thread - you postulated how good the "melting pot" was in the US. It's good that you acknowledge there is no perfect solution. However - some would argue the perfect solution is to utterly restrict all immigration. (I've not said you say this.)
That may be the case, anyhow - the Oprah incident is becoming yesterday's news. I still would like to hear from anyone who would be happy being served by a store assistant who won't bother to get an expensive item down for view that they asked for.
You asked what people's reaction would be if they were in Oprah's shoes. I tell you I wouldn't care and would probably ask just how expensive the bag is. Not sure why you feel the need to lecture us on proper salesmanship. :shrug:
This has nothing to do with the US "melting pot". What I'm talking about here is specific to Switzerland and its asylum seekers.
It's called reality, mate. Not everyone can afford to buy a 40k purse and the store isn't obligated to cater to someone's curiosity about an expensive item. It's a business, not an information center
It wasn't a lecture - I'm pointing out that her actions were poor decisions all around. Yet here on this thread - it's almost Oprah's fault or Oprah is a liar. As for your reaction to such a sales tactic - I asked my partner (she didn't know about the Oprah story) as she is head of a sales dept and she just felt such actions (by a salesperson) were not justified. YOU may have thick skin about it for partisan reasons (I really don't believe you) but I would wager normally that your reaction would be more like Condoleeza Rice when faced with a similar situation in the USA. (just from reading your posts over these years)
Her professionalism is up to her boss to evaluate. None of us were there.
Should she have jumped and opened up the security display case to show Oprah the bag as soon as she expressed the slightest interest in it? Maybe. I don't know. I wasn't there.
And what do you mean with the Condoleeza Rice comparison? I'm not sure I understand.
I'm imagining that if a wealthy and potential customer
there's the rub. In such situations a sales rep has to evaluate the customer and decide if this is an actual potential sale or if it's just someone window shopping for things they will never be able to afford. In this situation it was decided to be the later
I believe I dealt with this element earlier in the thread - many posters were fooled by the slouch pants photograph when the evidence from "Adrianna" and Oprah show different.
Another clueless rant, I see.
Yes, so do I!
The charities of Oprah Winfrey support a variety of organizations, mostly focused on African Americans...
Is this not racist? If not...Explain!
Wolfie, just stop.
I'm "talking crap"?Why should I stop??
Is it because you are talking crap??
You are the master of one-liners...
I'm "talking crap"?
You know what, I won't waste my time. Have a nice day, Wolfie.
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