On Saturday I bought some fruit and vegetables costing, in total, €2.60 from our nice greengrocer's. I had the 60 centesimi in change but otherwise had nothing smaller than a €10 note. The greengrocer, having no change either, did not rush over to the nearest café to get some or wait till another customer arrived with some; instead, he just thrust the goods into my hands and said that it didn't matter. When I went over today to give him the €2 he looked at me as if I was mad and seemed about to faint from shock! His gesture has, of course, ensured him my trade for evermore.
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4 weeks ago
10 comments:
Hi WCLC,
I was in Italy early in 2002, the year the euro came in. No one had any change because everyone was still collecting it. Shopping was a shambles. I was used to needing coins, our smallest bill in Canada is $5 so always contrived to have the right change if possible. The Italians, forget it, they handed over their notes and waited angrily while the clerks tried to round up change. Once I even tried to give the correct change to mia consuocera but she wouldn't take it. She wanted to rail at the clerk.
Remember change in gettoni?
Regards
jmb
Hi, jmb. Yes, I remember change in gettoni - and even sweets!
It seems sad that anyone would be amazed by your honesty. In fact, I'm not sure which act of kindness is the most unusual in today's Me, Me, Me world - the greengrocer's or yours, WL. (I would also have gone back with the right money today).
could never see that happening in England.....
A very good businessman and a nice man.
When I worked in the bookshop my boss was very careful about change-giving but never generous. And she was a lovely lady so I think it must be just a different way of life and looking at it.
One tiny move like that and it can do wonders for your business. I saw this years ago when I was working in a corner shop.
Ahhhh....that's the kind of shopping I love...and people wonder why I hate going down to the Gold Coast where one is just a number amongst thousands!
That certainly would ensure you continuing to shop there. :)
Well done for teaching them integrity: you are a great ambassador!
A new look. I thought I had arrived at the wrong site. Different. It will take some time to feel at home.
Hi, everyone! Actually something similar happened to me once, in Britain, at the news kiosk at Cardiff Central Station: it was a rainy night, I wanted a magazine and neither I nor the newsagent had change. So he let me have the magazine, although he didn't know me. I went back with the money the next day that time, as well, and again, was greeted with amazement.
Steve, I had to change the template to the "layout" thing to be able to get other items on it. Someone came round today who knows a bit about it so I decided I could dither no longer! This is not what I want it to look like in the end but hopefully - fingers crossed, touching wood and everything else that is lucky - I'll be able to refine it later.
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