Very strange experience in Quebec

[stinkynuts]

I want to share something that happened to me a couple years ago. For context, I am Asian and speak only English, no French.

I was traveling from New Brunswick to Ontario, and passed through Quebec. I was in a tiny town, and I decided to stop by a small corner store to pick up a few items.

When I went to pay, the owner greeted me in French. I replied in French, as I can speak very basic phrases. He then proceeded to talk to me in English and, after he gave my change back, the receipt was printing. I stuck out my hand to receive it, but what he did next shocked me. He took the receipt, crumpled it up, and threw it in the garbage. I didn't say anything, but just left.

I suspect that it was his way of saying, "You don't need a receipt because I don't want you returning anything you bought here." Maybe he didn't trust me?

In any case, I've never had that happen to me before, obviously. I have had cashiers ask me if I want the receipt, and often I will decline. But no one has crumpled it up so blatantly and thrown it in the garbage. I can almost even understand if he just tossed it in the garbage without asking. But to crumple it up while I'm trying to receive it was very rude.

I believe it could be because I was Asian, but of course I can't prove this.

My question is, has anything similar happened to you? There are many French people who were warm and friendly, so it's not all French, obviously.

 

[Coolsin000]

I want to share something that happened to me a couple years ago. For context, I am Asian and speak only English, no French.

I was traveling from New Brunswick to Ontario, and passed through Quebec. I was in a tiny town, and I decided to stop by a small corner store to pick up a few items.

When I went to pay, the owner greeted me in French. I replied in French, as I can speak very basic phrases. He then proceeded to talk to me in English and, after he gave my change back, the receipt was printing. I stuck out my hand to receive it, but what he did next shocked me. He took the receipt, crumpled it up, and threw it in the garbage. I didn't say anything, but just left.

I suspect that it was his way of saying, "You don't need a receipt because I don't want you returning anything you bought here." Maybe he didn't trust me?

In any case, I've never had that happen to me before, obviously. I have had cashiers ask me if I want the receipt, and often I will decline. But no one has crumpled it up so blatantly and thrown it in the garbage. I can almost even understand if he just tossed it in the garbage without asking. But to crumple it up while I'm trying to receive it was very rude.

I believe it could be because I was Asian, but of course I can't prove this.

My question is, has anything similar happened to you? There are many French people who were warm and friendly, so it's not all French, obviously.

Hi,

First thing first, I'm sorry to hear that. It is unfortunate that you had to go through that situation.

Honestly, I cannot say much about the smaller towns. But I could only mention about Montreal city. I'm born there and left around 7 yrs old. Yes, my background is East-Asian too. I have to say, the French culture are very prideful people. They love their language, their culture, their tradition and hate the tyrannical government (aka the British Monarchy et cetera). Because of that, they hate the English, and foreigners who doesn't communicate in French. So, as an outsider, I will say that, if you go to liberal city like Montreal, where they have McGill University, and maintain your visit to the downtown core of Montreal. You will be respected by 75-80% of the time because there are lot of English Canadian and International university students that live and work there.

However, most of the intellectual French people that I know are very liberal and very accepting to foreign culture; those are the University French professor that I am talking about. Overall, it really depends on where you are located in Quebec. In some sense, they are somewhat xenophobic but not lol It is very strange circumstance that the Quebec government have created over the years from Jean Lesage to Francois Legault.

Hope this helps. Again, I am sorry that you had to encounter that.

 

[bazokajoe]

I was in Montreal way back in 86. 3 of us went into a clothing store to look around. 1 guy seen a leather jacket he liked and pulled it off the rack to get a better look at it. A salesman came over and said bonjour. My friend replied back hello in english. As soon as the salesman realized we didn't speak french he turned and walked away. My friend said" fuck it, lets go" loud enough to be heard by the salesman, threw the jacket back on the rack without the hanger and we left.
Later that night we went into a bar downtown and the bar tender was a rude ass bitch. When it was my turn to buy a round I ordered 2 Caesars and a non-alcoholic drink for me( I don't drink). She proceeded to tell me I didn't want a non-alcoholic drink , that I wanted a Caesar to. My buddy who is a pretty big guy heard the conversation and yelled at her," just do your job and give him what he asked for" in a very demanding tone. Well I think she almost shit herself. Needless to say I got my drinks pretty quick. My buddy said," fuck her don't give her a tip". Of course I didn't.
No desire since then to every go east of Ottawa ever again.

 

[Spunky1]

Gasp ! A rude French person .... I never heard of such a thing ! Do people return stuff at corner stores?

 

[Josephine Grey]

I want to share something that happened to me a couple years ago. For context, I am Asian and speak only English, no French.

I was traveling from New Brunswick to Ontario, and passed through Quebec. I was in a tiny town, and I decided to stop by a small corner store to pick up a few items.

When I went to pay, the owner greeted me in French. I replied in French, as I can speak very basic phrases. He then proceeded to talk to me in English and, after he gave my change back, the receipt was printing. I stuck out my hand to receive it, but what he did next shocked me. He took the receipt, crumpled it up, and threw it in the garbage. I didn't say anything, but just left.

I suspect that it was his way of saying, "You don't need a receipt because I don't want you returning anything you bought here." Maybe he didn't trust me?

In any case, I've never had that happen to me before, obviously. I have had cashiers ask me if I want the receipt, and often I will decline. But no one has crumpled it up so blatantly and thrown it in the garbage. I can almost even understand if he just tossed it in the garbage without asking. But to crumple it up while I'm trying to receive it was very rude.

I believe it could be because I was Asian, but of course I can't prove this.

My question is, has anything similar happened to you? There are many French people who were warm and friendly, so it's not all French, obviously.

My question is : if you wanted the receipt, why you didn't ask for it?

 

[Josephine Grey]

I was in Montreal way back in 86. 3 of us went into a clothing store to look around. 1 guy seen a leather jacket he liked and pulled it off the rack to get a better look at it. A salesman came over and said bonjour. My friend replied back hello in english. As soon as the salesman realized we didn't speak french he turned and walked away. My friend said" fuck it, lets go" loud enough to be heard by the salesman, threw the jacket back on the rack without the hanger and we left.
Later that night we went into a bar downtown and the bar tender was a rude ass bitch. When it was my turn to buy a round I ordered 2 Caesars and a non-alcoholic drink for me( I don't drink). She proceeded to tell me I didn't want a non-alcoholic drink , that I wanted a Caesar to. My buddy who is a pretty big guy heard the conversation and yelled at her," just do your job and give him what he asked for" in a very demanding tone. Well I think she almost shit herself. Needless to say I got my drinks pretty quick. My buddy said," fuck her don't give her a tip". Of course I didn't.
No desire since then to every go east of Ottawa ever again.

So you guys threw merchandise on the rack because the person was not able to answer you in your language of choice, while you are in a obviously French province.

Maybe I should do that. Go to store in Ontario, speak French and when the lady cannot help me I just throw her shit there.

 

[bazokajoe]

So you guys threw merchandise on the rack because the person was not able to answer you in your language of choice, while you are in a obviously French province.

Maybe I should do that. Go to store in Ontario, speak French and when the lady cannot help me I just throw her shit there.

So clueless.
A retail store in downtown Montreal that hires a sales clerk that isn't bilingual is total incompetence on the owner.

 

[bazokajoe]

So you guys threw merchandise on the rack because the person was not able to answer you in your language of choice, while you are in a obviously French province.

Maybe I should do that. Go to store in Ontario, speak French and when the lady cannot help me I just throw her shit there.

Go ahead. You'll just be reinforcing how the rest of Canada views Quebec.

 

[stinkynuts]

My question is : if you wanted the receipt, why you didn't ask for it?

I had my hand stretched out to get the receipt, and he ignored it. Just as the receipt came out, he immediately crumpled it up and threw it away. There was no time to ask for a receipt. It's not that I really wanted one necessarily, more his action that threw me off.

Imagine you go the store, and pay. The receipt comes out and bring out your hand to accept the receipt. The casheir takes the receipt, and instead of putting itt in your outstretched hand, he crumples it up aggressively and throws it in the garbage. Would you consider that normal?

I never ask for the receipt, as it is always given to me automatically. Or the cashier asks me if I want one.

 

[Josephine Grey]

I had my hand stretched out to get the receipt. Just as the receipt came out, he immediately crumpled it up and threw it away. There was no time to ask for a receipt. It's not that I really wanted one necessarily, more his action of crumpling it and throwing it away, when I had my hand out to accept the receipt.

I think it was not against you. More just a reflex. I worked in gas station in my younger days and nobody ask so you just throw it.

 

[Josephine Grey]

So clueless.
A retail store in downtown Montreal that hires a sales clerk that isn't bilingual is total incompetence on the owner.

In 1986. You are the clueless one.

Go ahead. You'll just be reinforcing how the rest of Canada views Quebec.

It's okay lol I think what you guys did was rude. No matter the province. It cost zero dollar to be a decent human being with employees. Throw your shit on the rack and call the waitress a bitch for a bad joke...Quebec don't want you too lol

 

[stinkynuts]

I think it was not against you. More just a reflex. I worked in gas station in my younger days and nobody ask so you just throw it.

That's a possiblilty I had considered. Could just have been a reflexive reaction. But that would mean he did it for all customers. It's hard to imagine that every customer would not want their recipt. And if that was the case, it would be a lot less effort just toss it in the garbage instead of crumpling it. Also, my hand was stretched out before the receipt had finished printing, so he would have had time to correct his relflex.

 

[Josephine Grey]

That's a possiblilty I had considered. Could just have been a reflexive reaction. But that would mean he did it for all customers. It's hard to imagine that every customer would not want their recipt. And if that was the case, it would be a lot less effort just toss it in the garbage instead of crumpling it. Also, my hand was stretched out before the receipt had finisehed printing, so he would have had time to correct his relflex.

I am sorry my dear but I think you are overthinking this a lot more than he was himself. He might not have seen your hands. I had cashiers put the change on the table when my hand was there to catch it. In Ontario and Quebec. I just didn't think anything of it. Reflex probably. I don't think it was because I was French.

 

[Josephine Grey]

Go ahead. You'll just be reinforcing how the rest of Canada views Quebec.

I think overall you are projecting your own feelings on the rest of the Canada because obviously you have nothing to hold such a statement. Pure xenophobia.

 

[stinkynuts]

I am sorry my dear but I think you are overthinking this a lot more than he was himself. He might not have seen your hands. I had cashiers put the change on the table when my hand was there to catch it. In Ontario and Quebec. I just didn't think anything of it. Reflex probably. I don't think it was because I was French.

Could very well be!

 

[Josephine Grey]

Could very well be!

I do not deny tho that there are a lot of people that doesn't speak English in Quebec or that are not super friendly to English people. I think there are a lot of the opposite too here.

I put myself in the shoes of that barmaid who is trying to have her customer having fun and hear

"just do your job and give him what he asked for" in a very demanding tone. Well I think she almost shit herself. Needless to say I got my drinks pretty quick. My buddy said," fuck her don't give her a tip". Of course I didn't."

I understand why she might feel some type of way. Assholes.

 

[stinkynuts]

I do not deny tho that there are a lot of people that doesn't speak English in Quebec or that are not super friendly to English people. I think there are a lot of the opposite too here.

I put myself in the shoes of that barmaid who is trying to have her customer having fun and hear

"just do your job and give him what he asked for" in a very demanding tone. Well I think she almost shit herself. Needless to say I got my drinks pretty quick. My buddy said," fuck her don't give her a tip". Of course I didn't."

I understand why she might feel some type of way. Assholes.

Yeah, I think there are racist people among every group, including the French. No country is without racist people.

I've had so many incredibly rude Chinese waiters. As an Asian, I can say it's not because of racism. But if I were black I'd probably chalk it up to racism.

 

[The Oracle]

I've had nothing but good experiences in Quebec.

Had a few French girlfriends and have to say they were just a thrill to be with. Very passionate and expressive. Wear their heart on their sleeve.

My best friend went to Concordia. He loved the city and the night life. Used to visit him and was always well accepted by the citizens.

When I was in Ottawa we used to hit Hull every weekend practically. That was when Ontario bars were closed at 1AM. In Quebec it was 2 AM.

Hope I got the times right, it was a long time ago. Anyways the Hull/Gatineau club scene was open much later and was hopping.

Love the Quebecoise culture.......Especially at Christmas time . Very embracing. I remember going on sleighrides up in the Gatineau Hills with my buddies and all our girlfriends. Great food, lots to drink and smoke. The locals always treated us first class. Great times really.

 

[Charlie_]

The British and French have hated each other since 1066.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

When I went to pay, the owner greeted me in French. I replied in French, as I can speak very basic phrases. He then proceeded to talk to me in English and, after he gave my change back, the receipt was printing. I stuck out my hand to receive it, but what he did next shocked me. He took the receipt, crumpled it up, and threw it in the garbage. I didn't say anything, but just left.

If this was a few years ago, then it could be several things or a combination of things. It could be racism, either racial or linguistic. I can tell you that separatism in Quebec is dying a painful lingering death. All the old geezer separatist have died off, or have gone silent. Some have admitted that separatism is not viable. Young kids of today want prosperity and opportunity, especially today when the economic climate will be clouded for years if not decades. All the country folk have moved out of rural areas to live in the big city, you will find the bulk of separatist in the countryside. If it is racism of one sort or another, you have to accept this as the other guys problem. The only harm done to you is that he had denied you a worthless piece of paper that you have no need for.

I was in Montreal way back in 86. 3 of us went into a clothing store to look around. 1 guy seen a leather jacket he liked and pulled it off the rack to get a better look at it. A salesman came over and said bonjour. My friend replied back hello in english. As soon as the salesman realized we didn't speak french he turned and walked away. My friend said" fuck it, lets go" loud enough to be heard by the salesman, threw the jacket back on the rack without the hanger and we left.

Holy flying, flaming, feces! This was 36 years ago! 1986 was between the two Quebec referendums or separation. Starting with the election of the separatist parti Quebecois in 1976 after the Montreal Olympics may French people of Quebec were all riled up, mostly they were the lower class working poor. They believed their time had come. It was estimated that over 400,000 English speaking people left Quebec in the 10 years after 1976. You can thank the separatist for sending all the head offices from Montreal down the 401 to the GTA.

I can remember the days of driving my car in Montreal with my radio tuned to CJAD ( English radio ) and I would get cursed out by come scumbag yelling "Dis is Quebec" This sort of thing does not happen much these days. The separatist movement have educated their young and the vast majority of young people speak English. The young people of Quebec are not the uneducated country bumpkins that came to the big city in the 1950s and 1960s. The Parti Quebecois still exist but they only have 3 seats out of 125 seats in the Quebec government.

When in Montreal, I purposely speak only English and have had no problems with service or communications.