I was at the mall last night buying a gift for a high school graduate in our home group. I go straight to the sale pile. I find a shirt - perfect size, perfect style - looked at the tag. Orginal price 399 pesos with 2 sale stickers on two different parts of the tag that read 249 pesos. perfect - I wanted to spend less than 300 so I get in line. I wait maybe 5 or 6 minutes b/c they were very busy. I have my money ready. The shirt is rung up and I'm told "399 ma'am". "No, I'm sorry" I say, "it's on sale for 249". "No ma'am. It's not on sale. It's 399." "But these stickers on the tag clearly say that the price is 249." "No ma'am. It's 399. It's not on sale." Then a nearby co-worker repeats the exact phrase, "no ma'am. It's 399." Oh thank you for clarifying that because I didn't hear it the first or the second time.
I have learned after living in Asia for 4 years that taking a situation like this further by continuing to argue or trying to explain why it just makes no sense - 10 out of 10 times proves to be a futile waste of energy. So I smile, say thank you, and walk away - while inside I feel like yelling at someone and retreating to a quiet, relaxing place far, far away from a busy mall when I have too many things to accomplish the night before a holiday in the Philippines. Instead I went for dinner and ordered a beer.
2 comments:
Oh, my dear precious Jen. I wish I could have been there for you. The other side of the world is so very far away. Mom
You're so great Jen! I do love you.
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