This is kind of the opposite end of the spectrum when you compare businesses in New Zealand to businesses in Malaysia. Businesses here place a lot of trust in customers and they are not out to take your money. I am sure there are businesses here that does the opposite but my experiences so far are that they don't take your money unnecessarily.
If one walked into a post office or post shop as they are called here, you could just help yourself to all the stationery, envelopes and what have you without having to pay on the spot. Often I have taken envelopes, written on them, went to the counter to buy a stamp and I have to tell the lady at the counter that I am also paying for the envelope because she had not included the envelope in the bill. How weird is that?
Once we were going to pave our backyard with pebbles. So we went to the local Mitre-10 to buy pebbles. I wanted enough pebbles to fill a 4 square meter area. Mitre-10 sold the pebbles I wanted in small bags and it would take quite a few bags to fill that area. So I enquired if they had bigger bags or how I could buy larger quantity. Instead of taking my business, they told me to contact their supplier and said I will be better off buying from their supplier who could also include delivery with the price. They gave me the name of the supplier, the phone number and the likely cost!
Last Friday, as I was walking along Lambton Quay, my shoes gave way. I had a meeting to catch and I had 10 minutes to spare. I went to the nearest cobbler and asked him if he could get it fixed. He said it would take him 2 hours, for he needs the glue to cure and could not do it sooner. So, I told him I needed a quick fix and did not have 2 hours. He took my shoe, placed some glue on the soles and nailed it in and took him all of 5 minutes. When he was done, I asked him how much I owed him for that. His reply was "if I can't guarantee it will stay, I can't charge you mate". It is now about a week of walking around in these shoes that could not be guaranteed by the cobbler and it is still as good as new.
Go figure!
6 comments:
I'm pleasantly surprised that those trusting attitude exists in a big city like Wellington. Wow!
....you are describing heaven to me, aren't you. Wait for me at the gate, I'm coming! : )
this sounds to good to be true!
It is the same here too in Perth, WA. If you cant find a things for example in KMart, they would suggest that you go to Target for the same things. KMart and Target are rival because they sell more or less the same thing. It is a shock compare to what you get in Malaysia. But I do miss the Malaysian shopping hours.
unfortunately, there are black sheeps who abuse the business people's trust. Today's papers mentioned motorists (in Bay of Plenty) who drove off without paying for their petrol.
Go back and pay the cobbler RM 50 the usual rate for anything.
Dai I am selling my Courier
Yeah go pay the RM50 or whatever the equavalent of NZ$...
Now I am the last man standing
Splashie Boy...
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