Tuesday, March 08, 2005

All Hung Up

I didn't bring many clothes with me..


when I first got here, but we soon remedied that. The first place we shopped at that i can remember was either at Marshall's or Ross. In Malaysia, we are so used sales people asking you for your hangers and taking them away from you as you walk towards the changing room, and if you slipped by them and had your hanger still, when you were at the cashier's, then the cashier would be the one to retrieve that hanger.I was quite surprised therefore, when I realised that the cashier had folded our clothes with the hanger still on and put the clothes, hangers and all, into the big sacks.

This wasn't just a Marshall's or Ross' phenomenon.. even places like Walmart allow you to bring the hangers home. Sometimes, if they didn't, we would be thick skinned enough to ASK for some ( or at least for the items we had bought ) and a cheery face would say "sure thing!".

When I look into my closet now, there is such an assortment of hangers from every shop imagineable but my favourite ones are the ones with the clips for pants..woohoo, what an invention!

11 comments:

Miss H. said...

Yeah, isn't it amazing how the little differences in cultures just astounds us?

Monica said...

I guess New York Is cheaper, most stores dont give you the hangars, some do, but usually its the really cheapo ones....

My brothers friend was in England and he was in McDonalds and asked for ketchup packets, they charged him for it, also no bags in the stores, you have to bring your own, this was the 80's maybe its changed there

When i was in California, in the supermarket, the people just stood there and waited for the cashier to ring up their food, get paid and wait until they bagged all the itens, THEY JUST STOOD THERE AND WATCHED!!!! I was so annoyed! this was in Cali in the 80's, so maybe they are not as laid back anymore.In NY you bag as fast as you can ,the cashier helps but you do it also, its rush, rush, rush here!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Those little differences in culture are interesting to me. Sometimes I think I'd rather explore another culture's grocery store rather than visiting a museum or something because I like to learn about how people really live, just like your post.

letti said...

steve: well, i've shopped only in mostly dress for less stores and even GoodWill and yup, they all let us keep the hangers

Hiromi: Yup, and it still continues to astound me!

Sugahboo: Lol..i remember the first time i was at Sam's or Costco and they didn't put anything in a sac and we had to look around for boxes to put stuff in

monica: I KNOW! Usually when we do groceries, we have TONS cos we do it only like once a month or so..and i'm always helping the cashier with the "sacking". The first time i did that, David was like, " you don't have to do that, honey..no one does that here" and i was like, "WHAT?!" I still do it anyway.

hannah: That's so true....just doing mundane stuff everyday has brought a lot of little things like that to light for me.

Anonymous said...

They gave you the hanger? Where can you find this kind of offer in Asia? So, no complains one.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm in some stores here in the UK they let you keep the hangers, places like Marks and Spencers, BHS and other large stores,I especially like it when I shop in GAP or Adams for my kids and they let me keep those cute liddle hangers. :)

Monica said...

In New York you help with the groceries!!!! :)

Tell David that if he comes here he has to help or you will have alot of cranky people online complaining!!

Monica said...

Find out some of the words people use in the US, its different all over, like POP for soda

NYers dont call it pop!!

also Heros are called different things all over in the US, it varies state to state in the US

(also accents!!!) I have a Lawn Guyland(long Island) accent, I waulk the Dawg(hee hee)

letti said...

Raven: I think the most i've had to pay for condiments ( and probablly the ONLY time ) was 70 cents for a small wad of blue cheese ( david likes it, i hate it )

mrkiasu: asian shopping places can be sooo stingy!!!!

kay: Back in Malaysia, the warehouse places make you buy a bag if you need one too..BLEH. The only shopping "bag" i've bought here so far is the Freezer Bags to keep frozen stuff frozen ( esp ice cream..heheheh)

ria : yup! I have loads of small tiny hangers for ..er..undergarments too..LOL

monica:ooo..i'm keeping those for another post..malaysians call soda "soft drinks"

makuahine said...

I guess it depends on the person that's actually working. Because everywhere I used to go they would take the hangers when you paid for the stuff also. Now it's hit or miss. I guess if the sales clerk doesn't feel like it, they don't remove it! Oh the best fun is when they forget to remove the little anti-theft tags. GRRRR

Ms One Boobie said...

Hey.. Letti,
Over here in Canada.. they give you the hangers too.. ;) but i already have plenty.. so i usually donch take them.. ;) Even chloe has her own special hangers..;) in pink.. ;)