The problem with customer service having an Indian accent is two fold-and has nothing to do with bigotry.
1. The reason most people are unhappy: it is harder to understand someone who has a heavy accent, and it may be harder for them to understand you as English is likely not their first language. The ability to communicate effectively is important for customer service.
2. When American companies have customer service employees who have Indian accents, it's usually due to outsourcing their customer service. The average American isn't a huge fan of outsourcing, and doesn't want said outsourcing to be obvious to them. A consumer has an easier time overlooking a "made in China" sticker than overlooking the Indian accent that made it difficult to understand customer service for half and hour.
And I realize that reason two would have more weight if Americans actually cared about outsourcing enough for it to impact their shopping, but the ability to communicate IS essential.
1. The reason most people are unhappy: it is harder to understand someone who has a heavy accent, and it may be harder for them to understand you as English is likely not their first language. The ability to communicate effectively is important for customer service.
2. When American companies have customer service employees who have Indian accents, it's usually due to outsourcing their customer service. The average American isn't a huge fan of outsourcing, and doesn't want said outsourcing to be obvious to them. A consumer has an easier time overlooking a "made in China" sticker than overlooking the Indian accent that made it difficult to understand customer service for half and hour.
And I realize that reason two would have more weight if Americans actually cared about outsourcing enough for it to impact their shopping, but the ability to communicate IS essential.