sparkslife

Don’t you just hate it when someone just pop out from nowhere and do something to ruin your day?? If we have a position for them I guess it will be "Disturbance Initiator Executive (D.I.E.)". They will be working in this big company where their objective is to ruin other people’s day (i.e. by stepping on people’s shoes without apologizing [the aunties are born for this task], walking slow [tak makan ke??] or deliberately forget your 20 cent change and pretend as if it was the normal thing to do).

Anyway the human being i met the other day should be able to get a high post in the aforementioned company. Her skills are well above the others and her annoyance far outstrip all the small little idiots outside there. Do not mess with her!

She operate a normal kedai runcit (if you ask her she will probably said it is like a Wal-Mart giant mega tycoon store). Well after a thorough analysis of her store, the only stuff that can save it from instant distruction is the product variety she have. As much as I hate to accept it, her store does have almost all the neccesary consumer goods. And oh yeah, she does own a photostating machine (wow!).

So unfortunately by a twist of fate I ended up in her store. I wasn’t appropriately dressed that day as I was wearing the clothes I sleep in. But seriously who cares, it’s just a kedai runcit. So when i saw her I handle over my paper and mutter the word "FOTOSTAT".

She seem to understand my language and proceed gingerly to the photostating machine (wow!). At first she seem to be having some dificulties in handling the cold big machine (duh). But after a few test and trial she seem to grap hold of the concept of photostating (Bravo). At this moment, her Indonesian maid emerged with a pail of water and mop. She quickly instruct her to take over her photostating job. I wasn’t surprised she didn’t do it herself (ahem..).

Anyway, to clear up some confusion, I do know this auntie personally. Well, she operate a kedai runcit in front of my home (Located at a walking distance within my house). So I bet my last penny she know me as well. And of course, I will usually smile and greet her when I see her (Don’t cha wish I will do it to you now?).

So after the maid finished photostating my notes, she proceed to the counter and counting the total amount it in some foreign way. I do not know how she count but she tell me the total amount.

Maid: Dik semua RM 4.80 ya.

Me: (Shocked and show my disbelief face) Har? Berapa satu ar?

Maid: 15 sen satu ya dik. Dia tak cakap ar?

Me: (Mouth open)

At that point, Her Majesty emerged and enquire on the going-ons there. I simply point out to her that I brought 3 bucks but the whole amount is 4.80. In Cantonese I said to her:

"Auntie, I stay behind de. Later i bring the money back to you la"

I guess talking to a customer (a one without money) will be a complete waste of her saliva and preeeeeecious time. Without looking at me she turn to her maid and utter the words I will still remember till today.

"Simpan kertas tu. Nanti dia bawa duit baru bagi"

WTF. She think she work for CIA or what? Some negotiator expert perhaps? The worst part is she didn’t even bother to look at my face. I don’t expect this kind of service even in her old torn down store. Crap.

Sulking and disbelieve, I make my way back to my home (empty handed) to take RM1.80 to donate back to her. I wish she will get filthy rich with the RM 1.80. I know is my fault for not bringing enough money but her attitude and her customer service (what customer service??) totally belong to the drain.

If she allow me to get the money back to her later, I will guarantee (I swear!) that I will bring it back to her. And for an extra points, I will tell everyone how good she is for extanding an credit term for me.

But she did the other way.

To quote my Retail and Distribution lecturer, "At the end of the day, I hope she remember that RM 1.80. That 1.80 is the monetary value for losing a customer. That 1.80 is amount that she offer to me to spread negative word of mouth about her precious shop. And no doubt, that 1.80 is also the amount of money she offer to not see me in her shop anymore".

Sounds like a fair deal to me. Anyway she can earn SO much more working as a professional fulltime D.I.E.