my customer service theory

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: my customer service theory
  here is my whacky theory for your consideration-

Immigration is an all or nothing commodity. You either get what you want - the PR card or you don´t. You are declined. One result makes you extremely happy, the other plunges you into total disappointment.

You arrive in Canada and are successful by your own standards which makes you happy, or you are not - which makes you extremely unhappy.

You hire a consultant to assist in the process - they give you exactly what you want, when you want it - at which point you are happy or they don´t perform as you want or don´t get the results you want, at which point they are stupid idiots.

Given the scenarios listed above it would seem that there is no middle ground on the satisfaction scale. You are either wildly satsified or extremely disappointed with the outcome. Do we all agree?

If this theory has merit why are we surprised when we have people come to this forum who are wildly disappointed with CIC and their processes; or disappointed that Canada did not deliver as expected; or a Consultant did not perform to achieve the required result. There is no such thing as semi-satisfaction.

So, after all this time perhaps I may finally understand why emotions are so black and white around CIC, Canada and why Consultants or those offering assistance get glowing testimonials or scathing posts on immigration forums and there is no calming them down.

The person behind the customer service counter at Walmart does not give refunds; the instructions are not in the box; and they don´t replace defective merchandise!

how did I do?

[10-11-2007,08:18]
[***.121.220.199]
Sharon
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
In my sclae your evaluation here is above satisfactory.

There is no middle satisfaction category in immigration process. Either very good or very bad.

That´s why bettween this 2 groups heated debates spark so wildly.

However, I have to say that CIC process and establishment in Canada is sort of beyond personal control, sometimes only God knows. But, at least consultants service can be within predictable limit.

[10-11-2007,09:43]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
there may enough control to actually believe you can force the outcome!

I waffle between being a fatalist and someone who believes you can direct your destiny. One thing I know for sure, I can control my attitude! I think we sometimes use God as our scapegoat for poor effort and bad planning. At the same time, I think we must acknowledge that the bigger picture is outside our realm of influence and it is up to us to make the best of what every comes.

[10-11-2007,10:28]
[***.121.220.199]
Sharon
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
"the bigger picture is outside our realm of influence and it is up to us to make the best of what every comes"

True.

The whole idea of immigration also comes out of this.

When I hear the idea of being positive, 1st thing comes into my mind my own pre-immigration experience. I became fedup in my country since passing high school and decided to migrate somewhere else. That time also there I had to listen the same advise from many. You have to be positive, if you are good/positive then everything will be good. Unfortunately I didn´t find it is always very realistic. Most events of the life go beyond our control and we have to use best way available.

[10-11-2007,10:40]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
Interesting observation in looking at it that way.

I think a lot of the euphoria vs. disappointment has to do with the extremely high expectations people create for themselves about Canada. It´s such a huge effort and undertaking - the application process, the moving and planning, the financial turmoil and risk, job search, housing, etc. That if in any way these not successful, all the pieces can collapse, like dominoes.

So you´re right, for most it´s an all or nothing deal. If you put so much of your life at risk, you only expect complete success.



[10-11-2007,11:33]
[**.53.225.148]
Richard
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
I would say Canada should suffer a bad case of Performance Anxiety!

I don´t know if anyone has ever worked a customer service counter but it is not a happy place. Customer is always right - even if they bought the wrong product for the specified use, or they did not put it together correctly, or they simply made a bad choice. Tough on the old psyche.

M

[10-11-2007,15:34]
[***.121.220.199]
Sharon
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
Richard,

The expectation or over expectation about Canada is not just due to the lenghthy immigration process. I would say that is secondary.

The real seed of expectation is in the colorful picture of the western countries. Since our birth, we only see the rosy colorful picture of the western world. So, landing in a western world means you got the paradise. This is the real reason.

[10-11-2007,16:10]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
DC,

Exactly, that´s what I meant to describe. In my case, Eastern Europe, especially those who lived under the communist systems there, and with similar opinions of the west. Our relatives and friends from Poland would visit us in the past. They would come with these expectations that everything should be like from the TV show "Dallas" (broadcast there) or look like Beverly Hills.

Then the big disappointment. Everyone works very hard here for what they have (unlike in the socialist systems), short vacations if at all, and the government doesn´t provide the kind of social support (i.e. medical, etc.) they assumed they would have for free (here I´m speaking of the States). So they often go back disheartened and disappointed. Many stay for few years, save like crazy, and return to buy their nice apartment in their home country.

So yes, you´re absolutely right. The west is always the dream.

[10-11-2007,16:40]
[**.53.225.148]
Richard
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
I have an aquaintance that came to the US from Nigeria when he was a university student. He now works at Home Depot and barely keeps up with his living expenses.

My friend dreads going home because they think he should have pockets full of cash. They also think he is being cheap or lying when they call him and ask for assistance and he has to say no. Is his standard of living higher - yes but it certainly is not ´Dallas´. He avoids going home because in his family´s mind he is a failure - when in fact he is doing exactly what all of us do in this part of the world- work hard, make choices, live modestly and hopefully have enough tucked away by the time we are 65 so we don´t have to work any more.

At the same time, my guy (perhaps I should just call him B.so Sutar leaves me alone) finds himself in a mid range economy (91/180 on the UN economic scale - I think Canada is in the top 3). As a university professor he can earn $1,000 a month. A construction worker earns $2-300.

His internet costs more than me, his laptop costs more than what I pay, his gas price is the same, his TV costs the same, his electricity, cellphone and water is more expensive, a comparable house to my apartment is about 13 years salary or beyond reach for many. For me it is about 4. He can come to Canada in the same job and achieve a standard of living beyond his wildest imagination. He can even come here and be a dishwasher and achieve the same standard of living as home. I suggest that he should have no difficulty whatsoever in earning enough salary to send $2-300 home every month to his parents - that would more than double their standard of living.

For him, he would be happy digging ditches if that was the outcome. Now, I happen to think that would be tragic and he will do much better things with his life but I would submit his attitude is appropriate. He wants to discover the opportunities that Canada can bring him. He wants to experience a federal election where you don´t know the outcome in advance. He wants to go to the doctor and not pay a full days salary for a bottle of antibiotics. He wants to live without intellectual oppression.

With or without me, I think B will do very well in Canada simply because he is modest in his expectations. If he thought he was going to find Dallas, he would be one unhappy camper.

[10-11-2007,17:09]
[***.121.220.199]
Sharon
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
Yes Richard, western world in our country is absolutely Hollywood movies, nothing else. Even 90% guys from here only shows the colored picture, send the pictures of nice home, car, but not how many hours they have to work.

People wouldn´t believe how crazy people can be to just have a visa. Fake visa can be as high as 15,000 $. Few years back, a poor young man tried to start for foreign countries by sitting on the plane tire. So guess what happned to him.

Sharon,
Many things depended on personal perception. I´ve a sister in ON, she was a physician back home, here she is very happy with a Shoppers Drug mart job. I know a PhD guy started his career as a hourly worker in a factory, now he is a shift supervisor. BUT, I observe now a days, specially with changing economy in the Asia, this attitude is changing. Most of the people aren´t this type, even some professionals think that they would be happy by driving taxi or washing dish. In relaity when they start those, can´t continue, because back home they never had to do any physical work. Then they start thinking that back home, I could afford 3 servants for 30$ a month with food, had a car+driver..stable job...may be I was in a corrupted society, but that was far better for me.

Everyone should asess his/her confidence, how well can he prepare, and also most importantly what´s the prospect of his field in the desired country.

[10-11-2007,17:30]
[***.254.208.242]
Departed_Canadian
(in reply to: my customer service theory)
exactly! at home that job would afford them 3 servants and they have come from a society where they have status. They arrive in Canada and guess what - they are average Joe with no more status than the next guy. Wow, that is tough to stomach. However, that servant would jump at the chance to get his hands dirty and escape his lot in life.

I see this challenge particularly in the Indian community. There is no societal heiarchy in Canada and they must compete like everyone else for the nice job, cute girl, expensive car and status. Often it makes for some very angry young men.

If you are in the upper class of your society, Canada/US is no prize. If you are the socially and economically oppressed - well... there is a lot that our society can offer. Regrettably, the socially and economically oppressed rarely have the resources to make such a dramatic change in their life.

Today´s paper discusses the ethics of luring a countries intellectual wealth away from their respective economies. How will those countries ever change their future if those who can make it happen leave for ´better opportunities´.

Very good question.

[10-11-2007,17:54]
[***.121.220.199]
Sharon