Outsourcing

[Carlene 12]

Before I ordered things online I often ordered by phone items from catalogues like J. Crew. They had their offices in the southern states and sometimes, I swear, I could barely understand the people on the other end of the telephone line.

I understand completely. I once had a sister-in-law from New Hampshire. She claimed that every time I talked about ice cream, her brain translated it as Preparation H. On the other hand, I once asked, in a grocery store in the NE, where something was located and I swear, the stockboy told me "the centa aisle" FOUR times and I still had no idea what he was saying. Notice to all Yankees.....there is an R in "center"!

[bitteroldhag 0]

I don't have much trouble understanding East Indians. In fact, when I was in England I had a serious problem understanding a guy from Devon. I was at the supermarket and had no idea what he was saying. A guy in the line behind me translated. He wanted to know if he should sack my groceries> I said, Yes, and then discovered that customers sack their own groceriesin England. Screw that. Then I went to Boots, a drugstore, because I was seriously nauseated and the clerk couldn't understand me and had to get a higher up to talk to me. I speak Standard English albeit with an Okie accent. If one is speaking to "Joe' from India, one needs to understand the w is pronounced v in India. I find the biggest problem is the lousy phone service offered by satellite. Someone told me that upper class Indians speak English with a British accent, but we are dealing with lower class Indians on the phone. They don't speak English very well. My thinking is that I'd like to deal with lower class Indians who can get a leg up in a very caste ridden society though I have to admit it's better to talk to an American or a Canadian. The Apple Macintosh service center is in Canada so we've outsourced to Canada. But the bottom line is that American companies can save a whole lot of money by outsourcing. This is just the leading edge of the global economy. What I want to know is how to make money in other countries so I can retire.

[Devana 0]

I understand completely. I once had a sister-in-law from New Hampshire. She claimed that every time I talked about ice cream, her brain translated it as Preparation H.

What the heck?? I can't stop laughing!

[Devana 0]

What I want to know is how to make money in other countries so I can retire.

OK, bitter, this is perfect. I know someone who is setting up ESL schools in India because the demand for outsourcing is so great.

[Wheetsin 714]

What is everyone's thought on OUTSOURCING?

I see both sides of it. I'm in a field that's subject to outsourcing, an in fact my particular position is often one of the first to go. So from a selfish standpoint, I cringe every time the words are mentioned. On the other hand, from the business side, it makes sense. Damn objectivity...

I can echo what's already been said. I don't like calling a customer service line and getting someone whose accent is so thick I can't understand it. This goes for an India, south... whatever. I had to talk to someone last week for a problem with software I have at work, and they had a very heavy southern accent, and kept referring to "Huppa". And I had no friggin clue what Huppa was. I didn't see it anywhere in the application, it wasn't in the user's guide glossary, etc. So finally I had to politely ask for someone else, because I couldn't understand what she was telling me. So then it becomes clear - hooper. That call took about 45 minutes longer than it should have, because of all the things I simply couldn't understand.

One of my first jobs was as a telemarketer when I was about 17. That company told us they like to base call centers in the midwest because we're the most accent-neutral place in the country. I can't vouch for the accuracy of that, but we *do* have a *lot* of call centers here. In fact, during the interview process for this company (I use "interview" lightly) we had to read a portion of a script... it was like a test. They told us up front that anyone who had too much of an accent, or couldn't enunciate, wouldn't go on to the next round.

So I'm guessing that company is out of business by now. :faint:

[green 6]

Before I ordered things online I often ordered by phone items from catalogues like J. Crew. They had their offices in the southern states and sometimes, I swear, I could barely understand the people on the other end of the telephone line.

I got a call from my bank's head office in Toronto offering some deal or other and the young man spoke so fast and it was so scripted (therefore devoid of inflection) that I could only catch every 6th word or so. I had no idea what he was talking about. I told him to try me another time when he was prepared to speak at regular speed and enunciate clearly.

Hahaha. I live in Toronto and we do talk fast. What I hate is when someone local leaves me a phone message with a phone number in it because they will actually speed up when it comes to leaving the number! :phanvan

As to out-sourcing phone calls, we have so many immigrants I can never tell. The only time I can tell is when the call is being sent to another part of Canada or off to the U.S.; those are the only accents I don't hear locally. :biggrin1: And the folks are generally nicer and much more helpful.:phanvan

[bitteroldhag 0]

OK, bitter, this is perfect. I know someone who is setting up ESL schools in India because the demand for outsourcing is so great.

But I would have to live in India unless I can teach ESL online. Hummmmm.

[Devana 0]

No you don't. Just set up the schools and hire good people. Gives you a chance to visit without living there. Be the boss, not the worker!

[bitteroldhag 0]

No you don't. Just set up the schools and hire good people. Gives you a chance to visit without living there. Be the boss, not the worker!

This is a good plan. I'll consider it though I know zip about ESL. I figure I can learn. My friend who is a rhetoric prof knows about ESL. Maybe I could finally retire. Thanks.

[green 6]

This is a good plan. I'll consider it though I know zip about ESL. I figure I can learn. My friend who is a rhetoric prof knows about ESL. Maybe I could finally retire. Thanks.

Come into the cold! We have Teaching English as a Second Language programmes up here in Toronto, Canada.