As I am going back to hometown today, I went to Ubud market last Sunday to buy something for my sisters, a close neighbor and my granny some gifts. It was raining hard that day, actually it was raining from the day before. So, before I went to Ubud center, i decided to visit Delta Dewata at Jalan Andong and hoping the rain will stop. It does stop for a nick of time and started to rain again and didn't stop until the very next day. Good thing that when I was strolling, it was only drizzling.

I am happy as I was walking in the rain. Walk around the little town with my silver umbrella and stopping by at every little store that caught my sight. That was my imagination. Thanks to the shop attendants who ruined the supposed-to-be-my-happy-moment.

People in Ubud, well, in Bali, usually wrongly guessme as an East Asian tourist... either from Japan, Korea, China, Singapore or Malaysia. So they usually speak to me in English. That day was the same. So when I entered the store, they always welcome me warmly in English..with a very warm gesture, mimic and tone. But, suddenly after I asked or spoke to them in Indonesian, they always change their attitude. In bad way.

They was treated me friendly as they think I am a foreigner, but then they warm attitude changed coldly... easily... like you were just flipping your hand. I don't feel respected at all, like I was not even welcomed at the shop, which not even theirs.I can read from their face that they just wanted me to leave the stores rightaway. I felt they yelled "Go away and never come back!" When I asked things, they will reply reluctantly, in a very bad manner. It was actually pissed me off, but I keep calm all the time and carry on... (and in my heart I said, let me write this on my blog later)

It was actually my second experience to be treated not as a valued customer in Ubud Center. I heard from the others that it also happened to them. Even worst, one of my guest once complained that when she was in one of the cafe in Ubud Center, the waiter/waitresses didn't served her like her expectation. She described it just like what I experienced and she felt offended.

My point is, come on, you are selling your stuffs... But, with your crappy attitude? I am working in tourism industry, in one of the 5-star resorts in Ubud. Why would you treat your customer differently just because they have different skin, language, race? Just because I am an Indonesian you think that I cannot buy/afford your product? Just because I am an Indonesian I am no good to use your goods? Not suitable for your things? Or maybe you are not allowed me to use it as you think foreigner are better than locals? Money is money. You still eat from my money if I buy from your store anyway. Oh, Puh-lease!

Here a little piece of writing, hope you, the business owners in Ubud Center, read it....


Dear business owners,
Please take care and operate your business seriously. I hate when I got different treatment (in a bad way) just because I am Indonesian. If you still loves money, you have to teach your staffs so they did not treat your (potential) customers badly. Treating a customer in a bad manner and make them uncomfortable is a big no-no. So please keep this in mind or you will loose some market share.
Thanks for reading and hope you/your customer service management could be improved.
Best Regards,
chisa


*****

PS. The only shop attendant who treated me like a valued customer was the shop attendant at Periplus at Monkey Forest Street. I stopped by for quite sometimes, when I asked about a book that out of my reach, he was willing to help me. I ended up bought three books. Definitely will come back to satisfy my thirst on books. :)