Or why India s##ks in services.
You know those famous “Surina” wooden knitting needles and hooks? Well, googling and research led me to their Indian manufacturers’ website, and I dashed off an email, enquiring nicely if I could buy their stuff here in India. How nicely, you ask? Well, like this:
Hello!
I found your website via someindianbusinesssite.com. I am very interested to know if I can buy the wooden crochet hooks and knitting needles that you sell (both straight and circular, in all sizes) here in India (I live in Visakhapatnam, AP). What would be the price?
Thank you for the information.
Mrs Fife
And this is the answer I get:
From: DHL INDIA EXPORTS<dhlindiaexport@yahoo.co.in>
Please dont sent again!!!
Is this how India does business?! I’m speechless with fury irritation frustration bewilderment total shock.
On the other hand, the man could have written back politely:
Dear Mrs Fife,
We are extremely sorry, but we much prefer nice green $$ notes and euros and pounds. We detest talking to or doing business with people in our own country *shudder*. Please refrain from bothering us with such frivolous queries.
Thank you kindly,
Poorly-etiquetted responder
OR
Dear Mrs Fife,
Someone has obviously stolen our email ID. We do not now, have ever in the past or in the future intend touching such products with a 40-foot bargepole (not Surina wood). Please do not disturb our peace by enquiring about them.
Thank you kindly,
Badly-educated responder
So, how am I to take the mail? Opinions please!
swakrta.com 
8 comments
Comments feed for this article
June 2, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Deneen
I am taking it as they don’t want to do business in their country. My SIL is from Shanghai, China and she told me that all the stuff they produce there for other countries, it is rarely available there for their own country. She has found more stuff in the US “made in China” than her own country.
June 2, 2006 at 7:54 pm
sara
OH that’s terrible. How rude!
June 3, 2006 at 1:16 am
Lucy
I would probably reply with a “may I please ask why I am not to send this again?”
June 3, 2006 at 8:47 pm
suse
Breathtakingly rude, not to mention grammatically incorrect. Send it back with red corrections all over it and a note to complete their homework correctly next time.
June 3, 2006 at 10:09 pm
houseofmuses
Ya want I should ruff him up?
Goodness, Guess RPs arent as lovely as other forms of cash!
Tell ya what gimme his addy, I will e-mail as well.
GRRR!
June 5, 2006 at 7:12 am
moraie
Get someone to translate your message and try again?
June 22, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Rose
Hello Mrs. Fife,
As per the comment on word express .com supplied on 5th June 06.
Regarding DHL India Exports. Our reason for writing in such a way is that last year an Indian had cheated on us and tried to spoil our business. A man from Delhi contacted us and asked for the details of our company product and samples, which we gave him. He took all the information from us and started contacting our buyers with the samples that we provided him at a cheaper rate.
And he also started spoiling our buyers market even. This is the reason why we don’t respond to Indian e-mail.
Best Regards
June 23, 2006 at 9:12 am
Where is she now? » Blog Archive » Bad taste
[…] This whole thing is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Remember my rant about an Indian company selling wooden needles and hooks who wouldn't even grace me with a proper reply? Well, I'd written back to complain about (a) their rudeness (b) their illiteracy on June 5. After due consideration (of 17 days!!) I've got them to comment on my blog here, which more or less said the same as in this mail (which they sent me 3 copies of, kindly): Hello MrsFife, […]