you can't speak english-but want to start a company?

[suchislife]

Some of you may recognise this post, I've moved it from CS, it seemed that while it was not my intention to do so as from what I could see,obviously looked that way to others. So now it's here, enjoy ripping into is

ok I decided I wanted to do kickboxing, and I found a pamphlet in my mail for a new place in my area. I called, no answer..oh well. Few hours later a rather confused guy calls me asking who I am and why I called his number and HOW did I get his number I explained I got it from his pamphlet, and started asking about the kickboxing classes...he literally couldn't understand me, and his English was so broken I couldn't understand him properly either, he gave up and gave the phone to a woman, who was no better, I think she understood me better, but her English wasn't much of an improvement on his. I gave up and said thank you and goodbye.

I'm not dissing them or anything, I just can't understand people who want to start a business, in an English speaking country, but can't understand it properly, let alone SPEAK it properly??? I'm pretty sure if I went to France or the Netherlands, couldn't speak the language but started up a business I would soon go bankrupt. If your in a country that's "main" language is English, I think it sure be fair to assume you learn it if you want to start up a business that involves interaction with people.

It's not the first time I've had the problem either, rang a place I used to go to, to get my hair cut, the lady answered IN JAPANIESE! and actually HUNG UP on me when I asked if she spoke English, or had someone there who did...GRR

Oh well that’s my opinion....

[Boozy]

I think maybe this martial arts place caters to the Japanese, primarily. Maybe they aren't even interested in anyone else as customers?
My husband, who's about as white as they come, was very involved in karate for about ten years. His dojo was traditional Japanese, so he HAD to learn some Japanese to go. For them, it wasn't just about the kicks and the punches, it was about their culture and way of life. You had to embrace it all, or go somewhere else.
So that's one possibility, anyway.

[BusBus]

Maybe the business owners got their parents to look after the store for a while? Seems kind of silly if you're going to distribute english brochures for your business, but not even speak english. Just doesn't make financial sense.