How to do business with people with very strong accents?

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  • wtfent
    Confirmed User
    • Nov 2003
    • 3790

    #1

    How to do business with people with very strong accents?

    I have a few very important clients that I think are from india and they spend a lot of money. My problem is I try so hard to understand them but I can only make out like 40% of what they are saying. I feel bad saying "can you repeat that again" every other word they say. I feel like I treat them different than other clients because of this even though I know they are way smarter business men. I don't want to sound rude or like some jerk American. Any suggestions on how I can not only better my relationship with these clients but have better communication with them? They all sound so serious and on the defensive side for some reason probably cause I talk to them different than i would with someone that speaks good English.
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  • TidalWave
    Confirmed User
    • Sep 2007
    • 2706

    #2
    try to keep most things to email?
    www.SwiftNode.com

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    • d-null
      . . .
      • Apr 2007
      • 13724

      #3
      hire an interpreter?

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      • eightmotives
        Confirmed User
        • May 2007
        • 811

        #4
        Spend a couple hours in the quickie mart asking for assistance with the slurpee machine.
        - "Pimping Domains Ain't Easy"

        23868443

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        • Persius
          Tap into MOBILE!
          • Jul 2003
          • 11779

          #5
          say your phone/cell has bad reception sound tell em to speak up and slow so it doesn't cut out heh..

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          • Gary_TLX
            Confirmed User
            • Feb 2006
            • 776

            #6
            I have the exact same problem, but thankfully only with one client. I try to keep everything to emails because I absolutely hate to talk with him over the phone. To be honest I don't think there is anything one can do to solve this.
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            • Antonio
              Too lazy to set a custom title
              • Oct 2001
              • 14136

              #7
              go rent a few Bollywood movies, most of them are like 90% music and 10% dialog but you'll pick up the accent in no time

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              • G-Rotica
                Confirmed User
                • Aug 2005
                • 4258

                #8
                Originally posted by eightmotives
                Spend a couple hours in the quickie mart asking for assistance with the slurpee machine.
                qft, and you beat me to it.

                Comment

                • IllTestYourGirls
                  Ah My Balls
                  • Feb 2007
                  • 14311

                  #9
                  learn their language so they can ask you "can you say that again?"

                  Comment

                  • severe
                    Confirmed User
                    • Dec 2007
                    • 331

                    #10
                    i say keep speaking to him and ull get better with accents.
                    I used to have this problem since i was involved in recruiting. After a while i could really understand some of the heaviest indian accents.

                    we did however have the benefit of not having to deal with the worst of the worst accents (there were people that i could not understand a single word) since they wouldnt get the job anyways...

                    Comment

                    • Kevin Cunningham
                      Confirmed User
                      • Aug 2005
                      • 962

                      #11
                      I don't have any problems with accents but I get some emails that are so tough to figure it out, I just don't know what to say or do. Here is one from today actually when I asked the guy how he planned on promoting Twistys? It's kind of hard not to laugh, even though I speak only one language and definitely do commend him for his efforts in learning English.

                      His response:

                      I be because I made a/the homepage



                      I think that I want to do the WEB guidance of the you manner



                      I think that it is good if it improves the proceeds by loading an/the advertisement


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                      [email protected]
                      Mobile: 407-256-2874

                      Comment

                      • JamesK
                        hi
                        • Jun 2002
                        • 16731

                        #12
                        Yeah you'll get used to it. If it's that important for you, you can make a trip to India. That will solve the problem quickly.
                        M3Server - NATS Hosting

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                        • Kevin Cunningham
                          Confirmed User
                          • Aug 2005
                          • 962

                          #13
                          But you guys do have me craving Indian food now. :-)


                          Online Payment Processing | Merchant Account Specialists | E-commerce & High-Risk Experts

                          Kevin Cunningham, President
                          TransSource | Transactions Simplified
                          [email protected]
                          Mobile: 407-256-2874

                          Comment

                          • DateDoc
                            Outside looking in.
                            • Feb 2005
                            • 14243

                            #14
                            Originally posted by IllTestYourGirls
                            learn their language so they can ask you "can you say that again?"
                            That would be my answer too. Also, they are very important clients but you only think they are from India?

                            http://www.rosettastone.com/personal/languages/hindi

                            Comment

                            • Jai
                              Confirmed User
                              • May 2005
                              • 6915

                              #15
                              Originally posted by DateDoc
                              That would be my answer too. Also, they are very important clients but you only think they are from India?

                              http://www.rosettastone.com/personal/languages/hindi
                              yea i was thinkn same thing

                              most indians know amazing english

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