Well done WRS,you should have more of these social topics. I have lived in the French Part for 10 years, the first thing that struck me was how unhappy people are. The main problem is that they do not like to communicate or share things and are unable to express themselves.They do not want to show any weaknesses, so silence is golden.They do not apologise either or admit that they have done something wrong and do not use any common sense. It will take more than a few smiling courses to change their attitude. The Swiss Germans are a lot better.They had the same problem about 20 years ago, they have a more proactive attitude and did something about the problem.They like interaction, meeting people etc. Many years ago I worked for the Migros in a ski region in the German part of Switzerland.The management actively encouraged staff to talk to shoppers.It was in the contract. Don’t forget, the customer chooses to go to a particular shop,bank,ski resort etc. It is the responsibility of the host to make the customer welcome and initate first contact,by talking to the customer and making them feel special and welcome.It is not the responsibility of the customer. Just imagine if a friend visited you at your house, you are the host, you are responsible for that person, make them feel safe, feel welcome.

I think customer service in Switzerland is very poor without sympathy and empathy. Most customers only rememember what an organisation does to put things right regardless of who is at fault. Profits are mostly generated through repeat business and word of mouth.

I have been here for 5 years, I dont work for a multinational or a bank, I speak french am a brit fom London where people interact and talk, well I think so,, Here they have good weather , mountains, good standard of living and yet they are not a happy smiley people, unfriendly and lack the ability to communicate, why because they dont want to, and as for intergration amongst the different nationalities here,forget it,ive not seen it often. I work with people with learning disabilities and they are a pleasure to be with, more sociable than the locals, and to end with it is not out of trying for 5 years to mix with the indigenous people, as the above comment stated Zurick, Swiss germany in general is far better. Bonne anne .

This is funny. Because I actually think they actually smile more in French speaking Switzerland compared to neighbouring France where I live. Also the client service attitude i find a lot better than in France. So it’s all relative:-)

well Ok me as a Swiss I have to say that smiling is may not always be our stength but honestly: I’m not always being treated with a great service in the UK or the States either. We have our culture, you have yours. Don’t expect to find the way you know it in a different country if you do not understand anything about culure. Besides: most people working in Service now are Germans anyway.

The problem here is the lack of competition. We are forced to return to these shops and restaurants etc because the options are limited and they know it. If you don’t get a smile at Coop, you can go to Migros where the chances of getting a better service is equally slim. You can’t get deals at Orange or Swisscom, sales are terrible in the shops (what is a 13% discount are you kidding me). If you have an administrative problem and complain your papers end up at the bottom of the pile. Simply put there is no pressure to do anything different here. I lived in the US and service was incredible. When I moved to London I complained about how poor customer service was in comparison, now that I live in Geneva and go to London frequently I am shocked at the stark difference, people there are just more human. Here, disinterest in the most you will get as far as acknowledgement goes and these days that is just enough for me…sad huh