Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
Jun 24th 2009, 3:00 am
#47
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
I think that conversely it's the English that have a habit of self depreciation and apologising uneccesarily. I say 'sorry' when someone bumps into me!.......'sorry' is a rather English thing.I have come across 'No worries' or 'you're O.K' sayings used in places where 'sorry' would have been appropriate. The sentiment is still the same 
People seem to be more respectful of other people here...in an old fashioned way, helping if there's a problem, sense of Community, having time to talk kind of thing. I feel it's a Culture difference thing, not a lack of manners.
People seem to be more respectful of other people here...in an old fashioned way, helping if there's a problem, sense of Community, having time to talk kind of thing. I feel it's a Culture difference thing, not a lack of manners.
I'd say that Australians gush less than English people. But I would not say they are particularly rude - some deal with things that would have some English people faint. It's a brand of self-reliance. (Which some English people have too of course).
Many Melbournians have a deep respect for community in a way which I didn't always see in London.
Jun 24th 2009, 3:36 am
#48
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Ellenbrook western australia
Posts: 1,034
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
I have never found Aussies to be any different from the people back in the UK.The only time someone from a shop was rude and would not say sorry for really bad service was someone from England!Sue.
Jun 24th 2009, 3:40 am
#49
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Bris
Posts: 564
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
I'll tell you a little story.
I was moving from country NSW to QLD and did 3 quotes with removal companies.
Most came back around the same price, naturally I picked the cheapest. It was with a company based in Melbourne who do runs up and down the east coast.
2 weeks out I booked the job in for a specific date and time (10am) and I was asked to make a 25% deposit of $400, which I did.
The day of the move comes around and i have the carpet cleaners due that afternoon (I lived in a rental) 10am hits, no one is here yet. At 10:30am I call the removalist.
They say they'll call the truck and find out where they are.
1 hour goes by and I've heard nothing.
I call back. Same guy says he's still trying to get in touch with the truck.
90 mins go by. Still heard nothing.
I call back. Same guy answers and he tells me that the night before the offsider had killed the truck driver.
Long story, short. He says a truck won't be coming that day and it would take 3 or 4 days to get me another one.
No apology offered.
I tell him he can refund my $400 deposit. He says he will.
I am friggen stressed out at this point. I have a flat full of furniture and the carpet cleaners due that afternoon.
I also have the real estate agent coming the next day for final inspection etc and they have new tenants moving in that afternoon.
I call up a local mob and they thankfully can do the move but it will take 3 weeks before they go to QLD again, therefore my furniture will be in storage. It also cost me $500 more than the other quote.
They come that afternoon and take the furniture. I'm relieved.
I get to the other side on Qld and don't have furniture for 3 weeks and spent Xmas in an empty flat. Luckily red rooster was open for food that morning.
1 week has gone by now and I still haven't received the $400 deposit back from the first removalist.
I call them. They say it's being processed. No apology.
Another week goes by. Still no refund. Call again. We're still waiting on our bookkeeper to do it I get told.
Another week goes by. Still no refund. I call and crack it. Guy tells me to calm down, says he'll get it done and hangs up.
If I lived in Melbourne, at this point I would gone down and faced this grub.
Another week on. I lodge a complaint with fair trading and email the guy to tell him. I also say I'm going to list my story on every internet forum this side of Mars.
No reply given, but miraculously the $400 is deposited into my account that night.
Still waiting for an apology.
I was moving from country NSW to QLD and did 3 quotes with removal companies.
Most came back around the same price, naturally I picked the cheapest. It was with a company based in Melbourne who do runs up and down the east coast.
2 weeks out I booked the job in for a specific date and time (10am) and I was asked to make a 25% deposit of $400, which I did.
The day of the move comes around and i have the carpet cleaners due that afternoon (I lived in a rental) 10am hits, no one is here yet. At 10:30am I call the removalist.
They say they'll call the truck and find out where they are.
1 hour goes by and I've heard nothing.
I call back. Same guy says he's still trying to get in touch with the truck.
90 mins go by. Still heard nothing.
I call back. Same guy answers and he tells me that the night before the offsider had killed the truck driver.
Long story, short. He says a truck won't be coming that day and it would take 3 or 4 days to get me another one.
No apology offered.
I tell him he can refund my $400 deposit. He says he will.
I am friggen stressed out at this point. I have a flat full of furniture and the carpet cleaners due that afternoon.
I also have the real estate agent coming the next day for final inspection etc and they have new tenants moving in that afternoon.
I call up a local mob and they thankfully can do the move but it will take 3 weeks before they go to QLD again, therefore my furniture will be in storage. It also cost me $500 more than the other quote.
They come that afternoon and take the furniture. I'm relieved.
I get to the other side on Qld and don't have furniture for 3 weeks and spent Xmas in an empty flat. Luckily red rooster was open for food that morning.
1 week has gone by now and I still haven't received the $400 deposit back from the first removalist.
I call them. They say it's being processed. No apology.
Another week goes by. Still no refund. Call again. We're still waiting on our bookkeeper to do it I get told.
Another week goes by. Still no refund. I call and crack it. Guy tells me to calm down, says he'll get it done and hangs up.
If I lived in Melbourne, at this point I would gone down and faced this grub.
Another week on. I lodge a complaint with fair trading and email the guy to tell him. I also say I'm going to list my story on every internet forum this side of Mars.
No reply given, but miraculously the $400 is deposited into my account that night.
Still waiting for an apology.
Jun 24th 2009, 9:29 pm
#50
Canberra bound
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,062
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
Thank you for common sense. What a totally stupid thread to start.
Jun 24th 2009, 11:10 pm
#51
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Perth since 1997
Posts: 590
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
I've been over-charged, I've been given wrong change. I've had bad service and I've had appalling service* but I've never had an apology from an Ozzie.
What is it about their psyche that doesn't let them say "sorry".
(*Telstra - and still ongoing! How long does it take to sort out the fact that we only want one telephone number ?!
The Telstra customer services guy (ha ha) had the nerve to tell me "what I'm going to do for you" as he promised to refund the overpayment of $$$s due to their mistake. But never an apology!!)
What is it about their psyche that doesn't let them say "sorry".
(*Telstra - and still ongoing! How long does it take to sort out the fact that we only want one telephone number ?!
The Telstra customer services guy (ha ha) had the nerve to tell me "what I'm going to do for you" as he promised to refund the overpayment of $$$s due to their mistake. But never an apology!!)
Jun 25th 2009, 4:31 am
#52
Account Closed
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,708
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
Because they don't have to. 
Jun 26th 2009, 2:35 am
#55
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: In a paradise island
Posts: 624
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
I've been over-charged, I've been given wrong change. I've had bad service and I've had appalling service* but I've never had an apology from an Ozzie.
What is it about their psyche that doesn't let them say "sorry".
(*Telstra - and still ongoing! How long does it take to sort out the fact that we only want one telephone number ?!
The Telstra customer services guy (ha ha) had the nerve to tell me "what I'm going to do for you" as he promised to refund the overpayment of $$$s due to their mistake. But never an apology!!)
What is it about their psyche that doesn't let them say "sorry".
(*Telstra - and still ongoing! How long does it take to sort out the fact that we only want one telephone number ?!
The Telstra customer services guy (ha ha) had the nerve to tell me "what I'm going to do for you" as he promised to refund the overpayment of $$$s due to their mistake. But never an apology!!)
Australian cricket team of 90s ( not the current one ) perfectly fits the bill.
Jun 26th 2009, 3:01 am
#56
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 546
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
Millions of living Australians were alive and of voting age during times when appalling things were happening to indigeous Australians ... things could have moved down the path of decency a lot earlier if these people actually gave a sh*t .... they have a lot to say sorry for.
Jun 27th 2009, 9:24 am
#57
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Oz
Posts: 408
Re: Why do Ozzies never say sorry?
Veering wildly away from the debate on indigenous people, I have been here a week and have found a clear difference from being in Glasgow:
Swearing: very little on the streets of the gratuitously offensive variety
Politeness: delight to be here: people far more polite
Road rage: minimal
Hoons: maximal, but not of the Glaswegian variety........
Bogans:comparatively well dressed and behaved compared to the weegie variety......
Alcohol: drunk, not drunken
Customer Service: first class, people have, in general, more of a US attitude towards customer service than European...
In short, I have been pleasantly surprised. Long may that continue....
Swearing: very little on the streets of the gratuitously offensive variety
Politeness: delight to be here: people far more polite
Road rage: minimal
Hoons: maximal, but not of the Glaswegian variety........
Bogans:comparatively well dressed and behaved compared to the weegie variety......
Alcohol: drunk, not drunken
Customer Service: first class, people have, in general, more of a US attitude towards customer service than European...
In short, I have been pleasantly surprised. Long may that continue....
