Guest Editorial Opinion: Bargaining And Haggling With Struggling, Poor, Small Vendors, or Low Income Earner
Most times when we walk into big malls, boutiques and supermarkets we never question their prices. We pay exactly what we see on the price tags and even hand out tips to the staff.
But the moment we are out of these shops and want to buy banana and peanut our bargaining power rises to the roof.
A poor woman with hungry children at home sells you banana at a very low price, say N100. She even takes her time to explain how difficult it was for her to buy it from the market. But we insist that if it’s not N50, we are not buying.
Some of us even step back into our cars and make to drive away. But because ‘half bread is better than none’, the woman is forced to run after you and sell at no gain.
In her heart she cries, she’s worried about how she’ll survive with her children. She silently reassures herself that ‘It’s well since she is not returning home with the banana. Her motivation is God will definitely provide some other day.
Meanwhile you drive off and happily “chop” the luscious banana.
Take some seconds to think about this.
I am always moved to tears when I see people who genuinely and helplessly hawk petty goods to feed and survive for that day, especially women and children.
Please consider the point raised here before you bargain with a hawker or low income earner/seller. Is it necessary to bargain too hard with small vendors? They do business not to buy designer bags, trendy phones, watches, shoes or designer clothes, but to FEED the family and CARE for the children in school.
This touched me when I realised it … it would be nice to consider changing our ways in this regard. Its another way of spending on humanity in the will of God.
“He who gives to the poor lends to his Maker”
Sources
Text – Whatsapp submission – Writer Unknown.
Image – sconzani.blogspot
