There are times we do things for charity, like working with a local foodbank accepting cans in exchange for a discount. There was an older man who spoke no English, and I have a rule–never visit a country if you can’t speak any of the language. If you do, bring someone that can speak for you.
So he comes up and hands me a pile of clothes and puts a flier on top–which announces the charitable event–canned goods for discount. I ring up his purchace, because he has no canned goods, so I act as if he’s just resting it on the counter. And he sees the total and shakes the paper at me.
“It says you get discount if you bring in canned food.”
He stares at me.
“Canned food. Cans. Vegetables. Food.”
He still stares at me and points at it.
“Charity? Fundraising? Homeless? Starving?”
He still stares at me, so I go to the donation box and show him a can of vegetables. And he shakes his head. Then says, “I give, I get can?”
“No, the cans are for charity. For the poor. For people that have no home.”
He shakes his head angrily, wanting the discount. And I point at the box again. He yells, “No can!” while pointing at himself–he doesn’t want any cans, and I doubt he’s homeless.
In the end, he just slams down the flier and says, “No buy,” and walks away. Now there is a man, if he knew what an ass he made of himself–in front of a line of customers–would be ashamed of himself.
Customer Type: Learn the Language
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