Je want un ticketer pour Lausanne s'il vous plait. (I know better French than that, but it's just an example)
They will eventually just speak English or find someone who does speak English.
Anyway ... although Ikea shopping isn't exactly fun, the staff in the Basel (well, ok, Pratteln) branch are extremely friendly and helpful. In English.
I once, as a customer, freaked out a shopclerk in the states.. she was greeting everyone that came into the shop with the same droll sound bite
"hi, welcome to XYZ* today , how are you?"
I replied simply "thank you I'm fine, how are you?"
she stammered... didn't know what to say, because she hadn't imagined actually having to deal with someone , while her manager standing behind actually laughed.
Almost all of us have been shocked one time or another in CH for the sheer lack of Customer Service with the Service Establishments such as Cell Phone companies, Restaurants, Hotels etc etc.. I think no one told them about that the Customer is King or the Customer is always right BS that we are used to outside of CH.
Of course there are exceptions on either side in CH or outside CH. But the sheer lack of expectation of Customer Service from the locals almost always blows me away. My theory is the protectionist economy, the avoid confrontation at all cost Swiss Behavior and the nature of all Swiss to think - If a guy who works there is telling me, it is possibly the rule of the establishment so why question it.
So in summary - In my humble opinion:
1) Cut the OP some slack because he is a CH Virgin.
2) OP should put the effort when interacting with the likes of Ikea Reps.
3) OP should reduce is expectation of service if he expects to survive here
(Stig goes back to taking a nap hanging upside down)
Said so, I'm sorry you were unlucky, but try and put things into perspective: you were in a French-speaking place, so you were the one at fault because you could not communicate and you put no effort to at least greet them in the local language.
Remember a local who can speak a language you understand is a courtesy , not a requirement. Take into account these salespeople are only human and their main jobs is not even to be fluent in 3-4 different languages (bear in mind that they maybe have studied German and/or Italian to be able to communicate with their Swiss customers)... you can't really expect them to speak also English.
Also, learning English is often not a priority for French-speakers (in Suisse Romande but also in France), while in German-speaking Switzerland you will find more people who believe English is a good passepartout language (even for communicating with other Swiss).
I don't think they meant to be rude to you (maybe I am naive, but I usually assume good faith when things like this happen) I think they were just as frustrated as you at the linguistic barriers... for some reason the guy wasn't comfortable speaking English, yet he did, but you still weren't happy. Maybe he felt you were being a bit confrontational.
Or maybe he was really an asshole, who knows?
But whenever staying in a foreign place I do think it helps to spend a few minutes to learn at least the local greetings. It's a great way to make conversations start with the right foot.
I was a bit shocked and forgot about the situation but it got me thinking WTF?? BTW I am 99% of the times very polite unless of course you are actually asking for a piece of me
It also helps if you can offer another language, even one that is probably useless in that situation (like Greek, when you're in a bar in Belgium, for example!), as it shows some kind of linguistic willing.
Foreigners are capricious creatures, and must be dealt with carefully if you want to get anything from them. A sensible traveller must be prepared to manipulate their pride to his own ends.