RicandJo Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I just wanted to try and do a little to dispel the myth about French inefficiency! Since arriving in France we have been constantly amazed by various departments and found ourselves walking away saying to each other 'wow - that was easy!!'Anything from CPAM registration to Quittus Fiscales (for car imprts) to EDF coming to the house 10 minutes after we call them (power failure - main fuse blown), on a Saturday!In fact the only time we have seen inefficiency it's been from English tradespeople who then use the phrase 'well you're in France now' as an excuse for being lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I hark back to my days as an apprentice and being told "Take a pride in yourself and your work" .....The French didn't have a youth opportunities hiatus and retained apprentices...My theory is that they haven't forgotten how to have a pride in themselves and their work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I agree with you both, apart from one misery in a local supermarket and people associated with AXA, I've never found the French anything other than efficient, courteous and willing to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 They take more pride in their work and are glad they have a job,a way of thinking that may shortly be in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Why do people continue to make idiotic generalisations about 'The French'?By all means quote a particular example of something good or bad, but why make a pretentious statement about it as if it were a "truth universally acknowledged"? [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Only slightly off subject, but this thread reminded of this one http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/828316/ShowPost.aspxWhy was that never adopted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gosub Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 "I just wanted to try and do a little to dispel the myth about French inefficiency!"This does not tally with my experience, with CPAM, IMPÔTS, EDF, SAUR, Car/House insurance or any other French company that I know of.[:'(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Gosub, for me the worst but very worst offender is France Telecom............Worst in my experience in France, nay, I wouldn't hesitate to say WORST ever on both sides of the Channel!!!!!!!!!!!! (no suitable emoticon available to put here!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Whilst I find most organisations fairly efficient, anything that is based in Béziers (CPAM, Sous-Prefecture) are horribly inefficient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 The last 3 postings have relieved me, before that I was beginning to wonder if I had been living in a parallel universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 You people living in Europe and talking about efficiency (or lack of) really are living in a dream world.The Arab world wrote the book on 'lack of efficiency' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 But, Steve, if it's written in Arabic, and you don't translate it into English, would it matter?[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 [quote user="sweet 17"]But, Steve, if it's written in Arabic, and you don't translate it into English, would it matter?[8-)][/quote]Not really, a translation would be something like '' you must be joking- on your bike sunshine'' [:(] or the equivalent in any language you care to name.I dont actually think there is an Arabic word for efficiency (or for please) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 [quote user="Maricopa"]Whilst I find most organisations fairly efficient, anything that is based in Béziers (CPAM, Sous-Prefecture) are horribly inefficient![/quote]True...and specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicandJo Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 CPAM Carcassonne - in and out in 20 minutes. Following week went to CPAM in Narbonne to get the attestation and number - again in and out in 10 minutes with everything we needed.IMPOTS Narbonne - in and out in 15 minutes with Quittus Fiscales for two cars, 15 minutes before closing time.Called EDF from a friends house one Saturday and by the time we walked back to the house they were outside waiting.Even FT (Orange) in Narbonne were great - connected 10 days before they said we would be.The list goes on!Actually I can't think of anytime things have gone slow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 The moderators have removed a couple of messages from this thread, as they broke the forum Code of Conduct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 It is good to know that praising French effeciency breaks the rules. Back to moaning chaps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 [quote user="Renaud"]It is good to know that praising French effeciency breaks the rules. Back to moaning chaps![/quote]Insulting users breaks the forum CoC.Forum Moderators Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Yesterday,thursday, popped into Le Brico de Edouard to order 3 M3 of UNGRADED Loire River sand.Today, friday, by 10:30 AM delivered , dusted down and coverd with a tarpaulin.[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Oh really, just to balance that it isn't all perfect. Went into CMA to order 3m3 of sand, could not be delivered till Thursday PM, this was Tuesday AM. Delivery notice placed into pigeon hole for Thursday, there were no delivery notices in Tuesday's slot or Wednesdays and CMA is only 5km from the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Perhaps the pigeon holes for Tuesday/Wednesday were empty because their delivery truck was booked in for a service.............? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Perhaps they have a delivery sub-contractor available on certain days or share a suitable delivery vehicle with other local branches both of which may be quite efficient if slightly inconvenient.In my sweeping generalisations for which I must of course apologise I should make the point that what I was talking about was specific to 'My experience' and therefore by this qualification make the statement at least a bit more specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 [quote user="Renaud"]It is good to know that praising French effeciency breaks the rules. Back to moaning chaps![/quote]I find that really efficient when the Moderators tell us mere ones why postings have been pulled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]Perhaps the pigeon holes for Tuesday/Wednesday were empty because their delivery truck was booked in for a service.............?[/quote]Or, parked in the flippin yard!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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