Trying to do business with Polish businessmen... but it's not easy.

Hello,
I have been trying to do business with various Polish businessmen. I'll email them and they'll respond. We go back and forth about various aspects of business. Then silence, it's like they dropped off the face of the earth. This has happened with four different businessmen. Perhaps, it takes them a long time to respond. It just seems very strange to me and yes, I have been very polite.
Brian

It's quite common. Poles like to take their time; when it's weekend - it's weekend, no work; a holiday, no work. Some decisions (easy ones too) they like to discuss in detail on a number of useless "management meetings," managers afraid to make decisions, etc. So too much talk, no actions.

It does put off many serious businessmen who want to do business in Poland.

You may check this thread too -- http://www.polishforums.com/polish_companies_think_they_smart-4_1398_0 .html

We are loking for investors who wants to do business in Poland and can investin about 500.000 euro. We will answer your every question about this investing.
Contact: m_rogowski@wp.pl

Importer? Exporter?...Investor?.... what are you?

However...in Poland....if your business associate is supposed to spend his/her money over it.... the person will surely take loads and loads of time... and the answer might be shockingly inconclusive. Because money is hard to get in here... we are definately one of the slowest in development towards the east of the European continent :).

See... please do not take my opinion into a general rule. People can be different... but that is my observation of how people behave in common in poland.

I'm an importer of navigation systems.

OK, but the problem with some Polish "businessmen" is that they don't even take time to write a simple note, like "Thank you for your inquiry. Please allow us up to two weeks for reply." They just don't care (or - which is more likely - don't know the basic rules of doing business in general).

It's true. Polish businessmen have bad manners.

In my example- I had boss from USA, UK, now from France. From Poland I had 2 weeks and I said STOP! No more polish amatory.

Yes i agree, im not a Pole but really they way they think in business and the things they do i really dont get it , Poland is very different when it comes to business. I prefer the quick thinkers and quick money making , it seems if you are not a doctor lawyer or havent studied something well known the people look at you shittty. hahaha

It's problem. Polish businessmen want from you- 6 languages, 10 years experience, And age 25. And get you 800 PLN.

B2B

They scared about money, don't like invest. They are closed!

Yes the Pole business are very weary about what they do with theier money and always take ages to decide on terms its really sad. Im a go getter and love quick money , but i cant work with these guys that are to scared to do things the way i have always done it.

Brian,

You have my sympathy !!

I've made the same observation and it really is infuriating. It makes no difference if you communicate with them in English or Polish. I guess some Polish business people are quite content with their "lot" .

They just don't understand business.

Yes, all I ask people to do is say, I'm interested or I'm not. But typically no one replies. Or if they do and start a conversation via email, it usually ends when I hear nothing... Thanks everyone for your replies, so I'm not the only one :).

No, you are not the only one :)

It really is so frustrating. I've lost count the number of times I've had to cool my interest in different ventures simply because the Polish company couldn't be bothered to pursue my enquiry. The crazy thing is they would make money from any such venture.

The only reason I can think of is that Poland is still a relatively new democracy and capitalism is still in it's infancy over there.

I'm polish, born and grew up in Poland but I have also spend time working and doing my own business in other countries. For me also it's been a shock to observe the way business is done here. As a hint I may tell you that typical polish business person would like to know first who is his partner not what are the principles of particular business. The funy and frustraiting part is constant change of agreements or conditions. Something decided yesterday would surely be debated again the next day or forgoten until something else would transpire. My way out of this was to be in total control of my enterprise and not to allocate any decision making to those I cooperate with but rather demand some action. Also I did stop discusing and persuing things with people who show me their very first signals of inadequate conduct.

So, you are suggesting that I say to future Polish businessmen. My name is Brian and I am looking for a partner for the particular business. I hope we can work together so we equally benefit in this venture. Is this something you'd be interested in? Something along those lines...
Thanks,
Brian

^
There are at least two ways to do it.
If you have "numbers" give them to your polish partner and be as direct as posible, talk money and skip any typical friendlines and sugestions tha you are an honest partner with good intentions etc.. It will be measured up in practice only - they think and is not needed. In very first contact propose to pay, give real numbers or brackets for this kind of service or product you want and ask if they would be interested. Focus just on what you do want from your partner and make an offer.
Sometimes you are not ready with numbers so your aproach should be informal and by this I mean that you should include in your letter. Good pointers are compliments about Poland, polish girls, football, travels, anything general really. You may ask irrelevant to your bussines questions because in fact you are building a relationship. In your aproach include then the paragraph about business. You may give it a title: Now About Business, I was wondering...

Ok, great thanks for your feedback. It's invaluable information...
Thanks again,
Brian

Now... If I had only posted my initial message before contacting every Polish businessmen with these products. :)

A big problem is the bloody goverment in Poland there in the E.U. but they dont understand what it means or just dont give a **** about it polish people working in the uk are expected by the Polish gov to pay income tax in UK as well as in poland when importing a car from another E.U. country you are supposed to pay tax etc. etc..the goverment just thinks that they can do whatever they want over there and currently at least they are right

write to my email matthewjackson83@yahoo.co.uk i know quite a few people with accounts on allegro.pl if you need translations english to polish or polish to english i am bilingual so no problem there either

Thanks for the offer(s). I found a Polish businessman to do business with. But if things change I'll contact you at your email address listed. Thanks everyone for for feedback.
Brian

I have had similiar problems to all of the above, indeed to make matters worse in each case it was I who wanted to spend money with the people involved. No replies from estate agents with a view to buying a flat or if I had replies with the amount involved then I said when would be a good time to come over for a visit and no response.
I also book hotel groups in Poland and wrongly I based my hotel choice on who replies to e-mails and seems the most efficient rather than the best hotel.
I have an ongoing problem with one hotel who is supposed to be sorting tour arrangements but i never receive an answer to tour details only that the rooms are booked.

That has been my experiences also, contacted 15 people. Couple responded and then never heard from again. Your best bet is to find a Polish friend or pay someone for your business dealings. I kind of found both in one person and I'm real happy. He understands capitalism... Well good luck with business (s)
Brian

I've had the same experiences. :(

It really is baffling as I am the one offering to pay for their service or buy their products so it's a "win win" situation for them.

This behaviour can't be excused on the language barrier as often I will write to them in Polish.

im not putting up with it any more... im fed up with the lack of communication, appauling time keeping , shoddy service and price quotes that change half way thru the job...

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Ludwik

top stuf... is it run by poles...?

is there anybady spaek businez?

yes
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