Like I said, my tips/gifts are repeat business, but there are exceptions.
Once upon a time, a regular asked me to take her shopping. Yes, I can hear the screams from the one-dimensional Philistines now, "the horror, the horror", "you fool". But I knew her, and she explained she had money (I do pay, AFTER), she just couldn't get any service. So the next day, after lunch, taking her home, on the way, we stopped at the "lux" mall.
Let her walk in first. Sure enough, sparse customers, 3 salesgirls standing in a corner, chatting. Ms Thursday looking at the stacks of clothes, but obviously, she didn't show up on their radar, just clutter who, hopefully, would dissipate soon.
Now, when I walked in, my mass (hey, wallet, boys, WALLET) was a MAJOR hit on the salesgirls' targeting radars. ALL 3 lighting their afterburners on the intercept, running over, surrounding me, ALL vying for attention. "Yes, SIR, how can I help you?" "Sir, are you interested in shirts or pants?" "Sir, we have many styles..." I looked over at Ms T, she looking back with that "Told you so" face. I simply said, "No thank you, I'm here for my wife..." looking over at Ms T. Those girls did the fastest about-face you've ever seen, afterburners lit, direct intercepts to Ms T... think rugby scrum. "Yes, Ma'am, we have that in different colors, would you like to see?" "Oh, Ma'am, there are different styles, a V neck that you (i.e. your husband) might like better, would you like to see?" "Ma'am, I'll bring a selection to you so you can pick; please wait here".
Ms T looked for a bit, then came over to me, saying, no, she could find the same back home, cheaper; let's go. I turned around to the salesgirls, an exaggerated shrug, and off we went.
We were POLITE; we held our laughter until we were outside.
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GIFT VALUE
Another, Kyrgie stunner, we'd gone to the cinema, arrived early (my mistake) so had time for some window shopping at the mall. Shoe store, she went inside, looked around, a pair of knee-high leather boots beckoning (my kryptonite). $400 USD, problem? HELL NO, isn't that what per-diem is for? She wore them to the film, and on any number of assignations after.
Months later, after she went home, we kept in touch. In one chat, she mentioned the boots. How she'd been so stupid to ask me to buy the boots. She should have taken the money. Back home, she could have bought an apartment for that, no use for designer boots back there.
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Dark is the ONLY chocolate... Thank you Burwood C9. Those foam insulating containers work quite well. (So maybe it wasn't JUST my wallet...)Originally Posted by Double_Adapter
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