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valis2Can anyone help me with this mess? I need someone to write up a simple letter for me in Japanese, tonight.
Seriously. I am completely at the end of my rope with this woman. She does not seem to understand what I am saying and I have no clue what she's saying. She uses relatively complex words, but strung together in the most impossible manner.
I am pleased in these two goods.
If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
The number which I wish becomes below.
Because there are so many variables in this transaction I'm GOING INSANE trying to figure out what she wants. And I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I really need to clear this up.
cranky lion post #2!
Seriously. I am completely at the end of my rope with this woman. She does not seem to understand what I am saying and I have no clue what she's saying. She uses relatively complex words, but strung together in the most impossible manner.
I am pleased in these two goods.
If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
The number which I wish becomes below.
Because there are so many variables in this transaction I'm GOING INSANE trying to figure out what she wants. And I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I really need to clear this up.
cranky lion post #2!
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:23 pm (UTC)I am pleased in these two goods.
She liked what she received?
If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
She'd like more if the items arrive in good condition?
The number which I wish becomes below.
Is there a number written below? Maybe this is the number of additional items she'd like if her "state of goods is good"?
I'm no help, I know :p
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:27 pm (UTC)Seriously, I have no idea how to proceed. Argh.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:24 pm (UTC)I'd write her and say politely that you cannot understand her English. Ask her to please write a letter in Japanese, and get someone to translate that into English. Otherwise, you can't understand what she wants, you should add.
And don't ever try this with someone in Japan again, obviously. I would say that your experience with her (someone who can't actually use English to really commuicate) is very typical of educated Japanese people. Their English instruction must be abyssmal over there, I've concluded, because they can't really speak it even after years of instruction (although they can often read it---they must teach in a way that stresses passive understanding rather than active use).
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:33 pm (UTC)I asked her to tell me the number of items broken, and that I would subtract the number of EXTRA items I sent, and then I would subtract the additional shipping charges from it, and then process a refund (though I said it much more simply and clearly than this).
She sent me round numbers (20 and 50) for the two items she claimed were broken. I'm sorry, I don't believe that exactly 20 and 50 were broken; that's really weird. Both numbers shouldn't be rounded like that. And apparently she didn't understand at all that I want to issue a refund, NOT send another package to Japan, which is why I'm going crazy.
I explained that I could not send any more of one of the items, that I have only a few left and I'm going to auction them off. Part of her response was that I should send her the replacements, and send her another 50. *groans*
I'd write her and say politely that you cannot understand her English. Ask her to please write a letter in Japanese, and get someone to translate that into English. Otherwise, you can't understand what she wants, you should add.
I'm going to try one more time to make myself clear. I just hope that it works.
And don't ever try this with someone in Japan again, obviously.
The thing is, I have another Japanese customer who is terrific, I just sent her a large package and it all went as smoothly as silk. As usual, eBay is 98% simple, and 2% aggravating.
Thanks for the comment. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 12:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 01:49 am (UTC)I think I can understand her email at this point, but what I think is happening is that she doesn't understand mine at all.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 02:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 02:15 am (UTC)THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:26 pm (UTC)If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
The number which I wish becomes below.
WTF is that? From the second sentence - at least the second half, the first part makes no sense at all - it sounds like she wants to buy more from you. Gah! Don't do it!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:28 pm (UTC)i'm always up for commiseration
Date: 2006-09-20 06:32 pm (UTC)Hopefully. ;)
Re: i'm always up for commiseration
Date: 2006-09-20 06:34 pm (UTC)Re: i'm always up for commiseration
Date: 2006-09-20 06:38 pm (UTC)Reading your response to c_v, her replies and the round numbers make it seem very fishy to me. Just keep all your communication in case it's needed someday, I guess.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:45 pm (UTC)My guess, knowing Japanese on a conversational level, and from experience with Japanese people, is that the first one is pretty much meaningless (politeness forms are pretty typical), the second one is saying that if she gets what she wants, she'll order more, and the third one sounds like there should be a number later in the letter that is the number she wishes. Either that or she may want less of that item.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 06:50 pm (UTC)The problem is that it doesn't make a lot of sense in regards to the letter I sent.
What I need is to have the short, simple email I sent her translated into Japanese and sent to her so that she understand that I would rather send her a refund. She seems to be saying that I should send her replacements (I never said I would, I said that would be impossible) and then she'll want me to send her more after that. I really don't want to do this. Honestly. Two more expensive packages would kill me. Plus, I explained already that I spent more money sending the package than she paid, and I sent EXTRA items as well in case there was breakage.
Let me know if you're interested in translating a relatively short letter. I can compensate you. I'm dying to have this finished up before tomorrow so that I can make the proper arrangements.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 07:11 pm (UTC)(here from skennedy; already sent out a couple emails asking folks if they could be of use to you, as I cannot!)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 07:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 08:34 pm (UTC)I am pleased in these two goods.
If my state of goods is good, I want much more numbers.
The number which I wish becomes below.
Ok, the first one means: all is fine. No refund (my interpretation - if she wants refund, she must say so)
2. could mean "if you have more in stock" or "if my payment/credit is good for you"
3. Should be followed by a number of items she wants. She probably wants an offer for that.
My advice (unasked for): Tell her you don't have any more aside from what you offer at ebay. She can check there and use the ebay channel with the propper shipping cost, or get lost (in polite and simple terms of course ;-). It'll be much too complicated to explain to her that shipping will be more expensive this time, and each item will cost more, because you ran into red numbers last time, etc.
My twopence worth anyway. I hope that helps a little.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 09:07 pm (UTC)The thing that makes me crazy is that I explained that I only wanted to send a refund, not more product. Your advice is very sound, and it seems like a good way to go. Thank you! It does help. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 09:00 pm (UTC)http://www.freedict.com/onldict/jap.html
Its an English to Japanese / Japanese to English online dictionary...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 09:07 pm (UTC)Hey, I'm thinking of having a Pirate Party in October. Think you might be interested?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 11:43 pm (UTC)The Userpic says it all...
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 01:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 12:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 02:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 09:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 09:49 pm (UTC)But thanks for the offer! *hugs* You're awesome.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 02:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-21 03:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 11:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-09-20 11:39 pm (UTC)