How to do business with people with very strong accents? - GoFuckYourself.com

wtfent · 05-27-2008, 01:52 PM

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.

TidalWave · 05-27-2008, 01:54 PM

try to keep most things to email?

d-null · 05-27-2008, 01:55 PM

hire an interpreter?

eightmotives · 05-27-2008, 01:55 PM

Spend a couple hours in the quickie mart asking for assistance with the slurpee machine.

Persius · 05-27-2008, 01:59 PM

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

Gary_TLX · 05-27-2008, 02:04 PM

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.

Antonio · 05-27-2008, 02:12 PM

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

G-Rotica · 05-27-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

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.

IllTestYourGirls · 05-27-2008, 02:18 PM

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

severe · 05-27-2008, 02:34 PM

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...

Kevin Cunningham · 05-27-2008, 02:42 PM

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

JamesK · 05-27-2008, 02:43 PM

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.

Kevin Cunningham · 05-27-2008, 02:46 PM

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

DateDoc · 05-27-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

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

Jai · 05-27-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

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

05-27-2008, 01:52 PM	#1
wtfent Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, Cali. baby!!! Posts: 3,790	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. __________________ ThisWillShockYou.com DVD Store - TWSY UNCENSORED ICQ# 194020367 E-mail: shockingbucks(AT)gmail.com Promote something different!! Shocking Bucks

05-27-2008, 01:54 PM	#2
TidalWave Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,706	try to keep most things to email? __________________ www.SwiftNode.com

05-27-2008, 01:55 PM	#3
d-null . . . Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 13,724	hire an interpreter? __________________ __________________ Looking for a custom TUBE SCRIPT that supports massive traffic, load balancing, billing support, and h264 encoding? Hit up Konrad! Looking for designs for your websites or custom tubesite design? Hit up Zuzana Designs Check out the #1 WordPress SEO Plugin: CyberSEO Suite

05-27-2008, 01:55 PM	#4
eightmotives Confirmed User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 811	Spend a couple hours in the quickie mart asking for assistance with the slurpee machine. __________________ DNPimping.com - "Pimping Domains Ain't Easy" 23868443

05-27-2008, 02:04 PM	#6
Gary_TLX Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Budapest Posts: 776	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. __________________ Quality custom exclusive content: ICQ: 286786153 email: contact(at)tlxproductions(dot)com

05-27-2008, 01:59 PM	#5
Persius Tap into MOBILE! Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hollywood Posts: 11,779	say your phone/cell has bad reception sound tell em to speak up and slow so it doesn't cut out heh..

05-27-2008, 02:12 PM	#7
Antonio Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spartaaaaaaaaa Posts: 14,136	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

05-27-2008, 02:18 PM	#9
IllTestYourGirls Ah My Balls Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Under the gold leaf ICQ 388-454-421 Posts: 14,311	learn their language so they can ask you "can you say that again?" __________________

05-27-2008, 02:34 PM	#10
severe Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 331	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...

05-27-2008, 02:42 PM	#11
Kevin Cunningham Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 962	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 __________________ Online Payment Processing \| Merchant Account Specialists \| E-commerce & High-Risk Experts Kevin Cunningham, President TransSource \| Transactions Simplified [email protected] Mobile: 407-256-2874

05-27-2008, 02:43 PM	#12
JamesK hi Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 16,731	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

05-27-2008, 02:46 PM	#13
Kevin Cunningham Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 962	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