Steve_

I ask the question because really some of the crap that happens to me here never happens when I'm in the US.

Like people saying they're going to show up for X reason at X time and they don't appear. Well that's happened in the US, but here I've had X time repeated X times and the buggers still don't show up.

And people can't drive.

I'm sure the fact there are so many immigrants here from various places and back east is part of the reason but it's not the whole reason. (And frankly I tend to think the place would fall apart without them, they come across as the most competent ones!)

Like here is an example, needed some paint, phoned up, said have you got that colour? Oh yes we have. Are you sure? Oh definitely, I've got it right here in my hand (that's what he said). Go there and they haven't and make up some stupid excuse.

Lot of young people here too who have clearly been promoted beyond their level of competence.

I appreciate a lot of Americans don't know where Scotland is but they do appear to be generally competent. Like, the mail gets delivered.

Another example, had some plants put in my garden by a gardener - in the instructions on the tag it specifically points out the spacing requirements, and he put too many in, too close together. How simple does it get?

I know there are stupid people everywhere but the quotient seems to be on the high side around here.

scrubbedexpat091

Well driving in Canada is costly, gas costs more, insurance costs more, buying the car costs more, maintaining the car costs more, so no real surprise if people are not seeing the pros in driving.


The people are probably competent around here, but the issue I find is Canadian's and Canadian companies just don't care, Canadian companies are so used to not having to compete, they simply do not care.


There is also a labor shortage in my town for service industry type jobs, so your lucky if they even have enough staff to maintain any basic level of service let alone anything else.

Steve_

Mmm, that's a good point. That does explain a lot of the nonsense that's happened to me.

Bob

Just described multiple locations where I've lived in the US...same with the other points

Bob

Have you not shopped in Walmart or a host of clothing shops in any mall?

Bitch about stuff on twitter and it's amazing how quick some companies are to reach out to you, but in the stores, they just don't seem to care at all.

scrubbedexpat091

We don't have a mall and I can't recall the last time I bought anything in one, but I agree with Wal-Mart they simply don't care, but being the worlds largest retailer with no real competition as a threat, and the fact people keep going despite poor service doesn't encourage a company to improve.


However in my experience in the US the employees at those places don't excel and the companies don't either, they do a better job compared to Canadian companies as so many sectors have no real competition or no competition at all.

Take our 2 major airlines, they both have about equal share of the market, they both have good marketing, but at the end of the day are basically the same for a main cabin passenger (one doesn't have first class, one does.) but if your pissed off at Air Canada you go to Westjet or vice versa, they are the only 2 national carriers and as such neither has any real incentive to compete on the domestic routes and they don't, they just copy each other.

On a whole while the US service is not stellar, it is better then your typical experience will be in this part of Canada. (BC) WA and BC service wise are like night and day, WA service overall is friendly and competent, BC well your lucky to get a hello.

username.exe

Generally the same as anywhere else I've been with two main differences:

- Astonishing commitment to paperwork and bureaucracy; and
- I've come across a few individuals with average competency, yet a spectacular opinion of their own abilities.

WhyteBoar

So much about the US is 'surface' or appearance': as long as you tell everyone how great you are... it must be true!

Agree about the bureaucracy too... so much form filling and people with a 'computer says no' attitude.

md95065

Since you are posting in the U.S. forums it would help if you reminded us precisely where "here" is ....

(and, yes, I know that your location is showing "Canada" but lots of people don't seem to keep that information up to date so I tend not to trust it very much ...)

BEVS

I'm in the broom cupboard. It being Saturday night n'all.

christmasoompa

It says Calgary?

Weeze

I called and emailed round various building companies trying to arrange estimates for a bathroom remodel. About 10% of them bothered to contact me back. I presumed it was because I was a woman and therefore couldn't discuss the manly business of power tools (this impression was helped by the ones that actually bothered to talk to me on the phone). Maybe it was just general can't be bothered ness after all!

scrubbedexpat099

I got stuck in the middle of a project because of this. Foundation work, now she does play the dizzy blond too much. So I roll up and I still am not fluent in US building terminology, eg RSJ is a red beam or an I beam. So I take a friend long who really knows his crap and he obviously gets a very different response.

I do have friends who I trust and know what they are doing, I have helped them and learnt a lot. I actually did a bathroom remodel for another friend. and was told off big time for undercharging. My work is OK but I know I can do better.

I know one guy who is an excellent tiler but will not do a remodel as it is too fiddly and time intensive and people will not pay what it is worth, he sticks mainly to new houses.

People who are good can pick and choose, plenty of work out there, but there are a lot of iffy types as well. If you find someone good remember that they are probably stacked up with other projects. You need them more than they need you.

Pica

Been waiting since March for a certain person to come and quote us for painting the house.
Also since April for plumber to come and install a water tap on the balcony.
Waited 387 days for a water bill-when it arrived it was zero-result!

scrubbedexpat099

Not exactly complicated to install a tap.