SG Grab driver asks foreign woman to “walk it” after missing her hotel

SINGAPORE: An incident on social media sparked a discussion about customer service and attitudes in Singapore as a Grab driver asks a foreign woman to “walk it” after missing her hotel. The woman who came to Singapore shared a video on social media saying that her first impression of SG was “very, very bad.”

In her video, she voiced her dissatisfaction, stating, “People are so rude!” She recounted an incident involving a Grab driver who missed her hotel, leaving her with a 5-minute walk with a heavy bag. She requested the driver to make a U-turn due to her heavy luggage, but he declined her request with, “No, walk it”.

Why SG people are Rude?
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After hearing the Grab driver ask her to walk it, she insistently said no and said she would not because she had a heavy bag with her and told the driver that she paid to be taken to her hotel. The Grab driver, however, informed her that he had another customer waiting and instructed her to get off, adding, ” If you don’t get out right now, I’m going to drive with you to the next customer.”

Desperate to reach her intended destination, the woman pleaded with the driver, asking him to return to the original drop-off point. She said, “Can you please just take me back to the place you were supposed to drop me off?” Unfortunately, the situation escalated when the driver began driving recklessly, causing the woman to get emotional and ultimately agree with the driver, saying, “Fine, I will walk, whatever.”

The woman’s video on social media has prompted various responses from online users. Several commenters pointed out their concerns about customer service in Singapore. They noted a perceived lack of empathy among service providers, saying, “Singaporeans lack empathy, simple as. That’s one of the things that cannot be taught in school. We’ve only been taught to be competitors.” User New_Bad4087  described it as a “3rd world mentality but with a superb modern infrastructure.”

Others shared their own experiences, mentioning that Singaporean customer service might not be as accommodating as in neighbouring countries. For instance, Grab drivers in nearby nations are often willing to assist passengers with their luggage, while some Singaporean drivers may not consider it their responsibility.

Another user named jalepenos127 admitted that Singaporeans are rude, stating, “We are quite rude actually. Not gonna deny it. Don’t see it as an issue if people think we are a**holes either.” However, another user countered, saying that it might not be accurate to generalize the behaviour of all Singaporeans but conceded that a significant portion of the population might display rudeness.

As for practical solutions, one user suggested that the woman could file a complaint regarding her experience. Another user lamented that while there were certainly kind Singaporeans, they might not represent the majority.

How can Singapore address the varying perceptions of customer service and attitudes in light of incidents like this?/TISG