Tokyo and tech through the eyes of a split pea

Friendly Sales a Happy Salesman Make

Had a nice day of sales today; didn’t earn a lot, but sold a number of lower-revenue goods. Since it was also Sunday, I had a number of visitors who kept me company throughout the day. Thanks go to my “tutor” or big-brother Honda-san for checking in and updating me on what’s going on back at the lab, my friend Goh, mom, aunt, and Andrew.

The morning started off well with a sale to an expat working for UPS/Yamato. He brought along his two daughters (approx. 3rd or 4th grade age), and was shopping around for a few computer accessories. He kindly asked how long I’d been in Japan, to which I mentioned my ES/MS attendance at ASIJ. I then mentioned I went to the U.S. for college, and had returned recently in September. After answering that Brown was my alma mater, he raised an eyebrow and asked if this sales stint was some sort of hobby! I clarified the significance of my current occupation, and was duly amused and grateful to hear his story of being a truck driver for UPS early on in his career!

It’s nice to meet people who understand and appreciate the significance of working a retail sales-type job like what I’m doing right now. All too often there’s the customer who expects to be served hand-and-foot and forgets that in the end, it’s two human beings making an exchange of interests. It doesn’t help that the submissive-nature of Japanese culture makes retaining one’s dignity in certain uncomfortable situations all the more difficult. It’s an interesting clash of cultures in a way; the whole Asian “group mentality” vs the more Western “unique individual” bartering on the sales floor.

This experience has already taught me so much, and I’ve still got two more weeks to go :)