Why don't Polish service workers smile?

Why don't Polish service workers smile? Cashiers don't smile. Bartenders might. Store clerks? Forget about it. Is life that miserable? I doubt it. In 6 days, three clerks/cashiers/waitresses/bartenderers have smiled. One waitress has smiled. One bartender, and only in response to the question if I thought she was pretty, and one clerk. The clerk works at the piekarnia, and she has my business. Liquor store clerks think I'm hassling them when I ask for a bag.

That's an excellent question. This is the first time a visitor to Poland (even a Polish person who's lived abroad for some time) notice. Some of them want to maybe show they are studiously doing their job and smile would not look professional? Maybe there's something in genes.

poles are a serious bunch.

Well I always seem to get lots of smiles and laughs out of people in Poland, so make of that what you will! :D

IMO I don't think some believe that a "fake smile" from someone you get in a store is genuine.

If you were making 3 zl ($1.10 usd) an hour, you'd be pretty pissed off too.

I like it, because when somebody actually smiles, you know it has to be genuine.

that's highly un-approachable.

They don't smile coz they got stained teeth from drinking herbata

Yes they are;) Actually, I found the Polish people I came across didn't smile very much, but I attribute it to the culture....it's not rudeness...it's just the way it is...I'm somewhat outgoing, and I also found that when I attempted to speak Polish (which my total vocab is very minimal) people were more receptive and more likely to smile (they may have been laughing at me, but that's ok). Fortunately for me, there was almost always someone around who spoke both Polish and English to translate.....one thing I have always admired about Europe is that many people learn more than one language.

B-I-N-G-O!!! ;) :D

They have this respect thing going on, like: Pan, Pani. You have to look serious coz then you look smarter.

Gee, thanks plk! :D

serious, yes.. :)

and you're welcome ranj. lol

NO!!!!! They werent laughing at you. They were laughing WITH you. That's a difference.

Good point, because I always had to laugh at myself when trying to speak Polish.....Kudos to those who can actually speak it!

oh no.. laughing at her sven. :D

We are blondies. We think differently.

Maybe most of them don't understand you (if you speak in English to them) and are confused?

why are you assuming i'm not a blondie myself? should be rather evident if you've seen my posts. :D

He ya, regionp...I hope that your wife smiles at you a lot, and that's what counts. Who cares about a smiling clerk. Just get me what i need and I'm out of there!

Anyway, when I get pictures in my email from Poland, some people are serious, no big hahaha in the pics...but, there is usually a hint of a smile and a twinkle in the eye :)

I'm speaking my best Polish, which isn't very good, but it's not english. I know my opening line, so to speak. I have my money ready, grozny included. I can't make small talk, though.

I have to agree that most service workers in Poland do not smile and appear quite grim - they also have a lot to learn about customer service !

I was born in England, but speak Polish fluently due to parents/grandparents being Polish, so I don't believe it's anything to do with anyone not being able to speak Polish properly.

recently when I was purchasing numerous items in Carrefour supermarket, the check-out girl was scanning all the items until she came across a dvd that wouldn't scan - instead of calling a colleague for assistance, she threw the dvd away. I said I wanted to purchase that dvd, to which she replied "go get one that scans properly then"!

This could be an age related behaviour, because I have noticed that the younger generation and those working in better class shops do have better customer service skills.

I had very good customer service this morning. I visited four stores, and everyone was very pleasant. I think the younger people are nicer. I think that if they are better educated, they have a different outlook.

lol

Count yourself lucky... over here, you'd probably have been beaten up for "disrespect" ;) :)

It's too hard on the face muscles.

Ive found that Polish girls working in cafes and bars in the UK smile a lot.. in my local cafe which is run by Turks, they only employ Polish girls (one at a time as there is a high turnover).. the latest wears the tightest white trousers you have ever seen, she has a big dupa and you can see her g-string through the trousers, besides that she always has her tits hanging out too... I reckon it must be in order to get more tips.. most of the male customers seem more intersted in checking her out than ordering any food though.

ok sapphire, tell us the address of your local cafe, i think i will visit there for my morning coffee, may-be have 2 or 3 cups of coffee, lol worth it just to see her thongs, lol

im not happy to admit it but its true. And its not only in stores, bank and so on. When u want to smile to someone on polish street he will think ure trying to flirt with (when a girl smile to a a boy) or that ure homosexual (if to a girl) lol
some kind of crazy

Well then. People must think that I'm the biggest gey or perv there ever was.

lol, no worries they think the same about me. But remember: scandal is always ok
more ppl talk about u and ure more famous :)