Quality of customer service in Brazil

I had a very interesting customer service experience. A lot of time is spent on teaching people to be fluent etc. Actually I can communicate very well, but I have found out that there is a much bigger problem in having some people in Brazil understand you regardless of your Portuguese.

One day I went into a Tech Store with a Brazilian friend to get AAA batteries for my remote control. I used great Portuguese, but the clerk did not understand. He thought I wanted an iPhone Charger. Finally I called my Brazilian born wife and she said in native Portuguese that I needed AAA batteries. Still no luck. Finally his phone rang and he moved to the side to answer it. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, all this time he was standing in front of a AAA Batteries for Sale display.😔

Roddie in Retirement😎

Thanks for sharing, Roddie! 😄

That story really made me smile, it just goes to show that even if you speak the language well, sometimes you still are not understood. And to think the batteries were right in front of you the whole time!

Does that kind of mix-up happen often, or was this just a funny one-off?

@Cheryl, there is a strong pattern of - I know better -, regardless of what a qualified expert says. Unfortunately, I have mobility challenges, but when I go to the doctor my wife has to translate. Regardless of what the Medical Doctor says she feels I just have to exercise. The doctor will explain the situation for a half-hour or more. I try to nudge her to ask what he is saying, since my professional career was in sales and I am used to asking leading questions to get more information or the best explanation. Her response is always to shut up Ill tell you in the car AFTER we leave the doctor.  I finally hired an unbiased translator and found out that I might have a tear in my lung, so I dare not exercise to make it worse.  Hopefully I will go back to the doctors next month.

The lesson I learned is not to ask your wife to be the translator if she has a biased opinion.

On a very serious note, if you are not in a customer service situation but a LEGAL or MEDICAL one realize that the Translator has a natural language bond with the official. It is VERY IMPORTANT that they realize they are there for you. If you are arrested and using a translator, be sure you are on the same page. If they feel you should plead guilty and you dont it is literally their Portuguese Word against your Cant speak the language word. You may find yourself waving goodbye to friends and relatives in handcuffs if you don't even know the word for GUILTY in Portuguese. (Culpado)😕

Roddie in Retirement😎