....or "how I became the proud owner of this little truck"
How many supermarket employees does it take to sell Easter candy to a Western Expat?
A: 6
I went shopping today in our neighboring town in search of candy to pass out to friends in honor of Easter. I felt totally in luck when I found jelly beans and other goodies at our friendly Carrefor supermarket, but things went south when I arrived at the counter and discovered the chocalate confections of my choosing lacked a barcode: DA DA DUN!!!! It seems to happen to us whenever we go for seasonal items at this place, so I was not surprised.
The woman working the check out line asked the bagger in the standard issue yellow jumpsuit to go find a barcode for my items. My other groceries were rung up and I was passed off to a new check out lady and asked to wait. Standard procedure. I know this drill. The gentleman returned with a little toy truck with another bag of chocolates in it and I was told, "This together, 42." I had seen the truck on the shelf, but there was only 1 truck and there were several bags of candy, so I (wrongly) assumed they were prepared to sell the candy without the truck. So I asked, "But how much for just the chocolate?" Confused looks. Uh oh, this may take awhile.
Eventually a manager is brought over and we exchange smiles as he once again explains this is a package deal. I said, that is fine, but you only have 1 truck, so what will you charge me for the other 4 bags of chocalate? Again, confused looks. Another yellow jumpsuit man is sent to somewhere in the store in an attempt to answer my question.
When he returns again I am told the truck and the chocolate go together for 42 dirhams. <facepalm> <failure to communicate>. This time I had to work really hard to smile,as I point out that they ONLY HAVE 1 TRUCK! but eventually I offer to buy each individual bag of chocalate for 10 dirhams (really a generous price for what I am buying!!!).
Finally, another manager enters the conversation - so now we have involved 2 cashiers, 2 managers, and 2 baggers for a total of 6 store employees. He once again explains that the truck comes with the chocolate for a price of 42 dirhams. Exasperated that my point is not getting across, I say, "Ok, then I need 4 more trucks for those bags." Silence. Looks of understanding dawning on 6 faces.
A conference occurs as the men discuss the situation [sidenote: I can't understand the conversation because all of these people are guest workers from India and Pakistan, and I know absolutely no Hindi or Urdu]. Finally they turn and the the manager says, "Madame, all of this for 42? ok for you?"
ok, I offered 10/piece which would have totalled at 40 for my original 4 bags of chocolate, but now we have a 5th bag and a truck thrown in. Completely amazed that they are determined to see me leave with this truck, and seeing this is probably my only way out, I accept. Deal.
So now you know how I came to own my very own, 3-wheeled, "banania" truck.
How many supermarket employees does it take to sell Easter candy to a Western Expat?
A: 6
I went shopping today in our neighboring town in search of candy to pass out to friends in honor of Easter. I felt totally in luck when I found jelly beans and other goodies at our friendly Carrefor supermarket, but things went south when I arrived at the counter and discovered the chocalate confections of my choosing lacked a barcode: DA DA DUN!!!! It seems to happen to us whenever we go for seasonal items at this place, so I was not surprised.
The woman working the check out line asked the bagger in the standard issue yellow jumpsuit to go find a barcode for my items. My other groceries were rung up and I was passed off to a new check out lady and asked to wait. Standard procedure. I know this drill. The gentleman returned with a little toy truck with another bag of chocolates in it and I was told, "This together, 42." I had seen the truck on the shelf, but there was only 1 truck and there were several bags of candy, so I (wrongly) assumed they were prepared to sell the candy without the truck. So I asked, "But how much for just the chocolate?" Confused looks. Uh oh, this may take awhile.
Eventually a manager is brought over and we exchange smiles as he once again explains this is a package deal. I said, that is fine, but you only have 1 truck, so what will you charge me for the other 4 bags of chocalate? Again, confused looks. Another yellow jumpsuit man is sent to somewhere in the store in an attempt to answer my question.
When he returns again I am told the truck and the chocolate go together for 42 dirhams. <facepalm> <failure to communicate>. This time I had to work really hard to smile,as I point out that they ONLY HAVE 1 TRUCK! but eventually I offer to buy each individual bag of chocalate for 10 dirhams (really a generous price for what I am buying!!!).
Finally, another manager enters the conversation - so now we have involved 2 cashiers, 2 managers, and 2 baggers for a total of 6 store employees. He once again explains that the truck comes with the chocolate for a price of 42 dirhams. Exasperated that my point is not getting across, I say, "Ok, then I need 4 more trucks for those bags." Silence. Looks of understanding dawning on 6 faces.
A conference occurs as the men discuss the situation [sidenote: I can't understand the conversation because all of these people are guest workers from India and Pakistan, and I know absolutely no Hindi or Urdu]. Finally they turn and the the manager says, "Madame, all of this for 42? ok for you?"
ok, I offered 10/piece which would have totalled at 40 for my original 4 bags of chocolate, but now we have a 5th bag and a truck thrown in. Completely amazed that they are determined to see me leave with this truck, and seeing this is probably my only way out, I accept. Deal.
So now you know how I came to own my very own, 3-wheeled, "banania" truck.
