Lesson from a Shop Keeper
· Experience
This was my experience when I am shopping in a local market, for a leather jacket at Jalandar, Punjab two days before. My plan was to buy two jackets, one for my friend (gnanam) and another for myself. I also accompanied by a local person to help in my mission. We went to a shop which is one of the oldest and finest shops in the market. I think the market name is shelwar bazaar. As informed by my companion, the shop did have fine pieces. First I choose for my friend, I took one black jacket, but the price told was 2500 bucks, which is 1000 more than my budget. I bargained. But he refused to come below 2000. After that I asked him whether “You can give two jackets for 3000 bucks”. He finally settled for hundred more than I told. And I chose another jacket of same quality. I haven’t known the tricks at that point of time. Then the two pieces were packed. When I opened the package after reaching our place, I was shocked; the second one I chose was replaced by a lower quality with the same design which also had some minor faults in it. Again we went to the same shop with haste. The shop keeper previously there was replaced by another person. We told the annals to him but he refused to accept the difference between the chosen one and the given one. So I was replaced with another jacket with the same quality. I was in guilty feeling of being deceived by a shop keeper for hours. But that was faded when I visited another shopping mall nearby. The look alike of one I chosen for me in the market is tagged as 3000 bucks with twenty percent off. Before my eyes two people brought that. Sigh of relief finally. Coming to the topic. Let me summarize the lessons learnt:
1. Always search for the things in the local market before going to show off shopping malls. The difference between the local market and the malls are only price tag and the outer package. Oops, forgot to mention about the AC.
2. Use reasonable bargain to avoid the usage of dirty tricks by shop keepers (like in my case).
3. Choose the items before bargaining, rather than the opposite. If you does the opposite, you are giving time for his tricks.
4. Check the package twice for the chosen items.
5. There is always an advantage knowing other languages (In my case, I don’t know Hindi. I felt very difficult to bargain with him. I m seriously gonna start learning Hindi. Any suggestions for quick methods are welcomed).