Tuesday 15 March 2011

Manners cost you nothing

They say manners cost nothing. Today I went into the corner shop that I have frequented since starting my new job. I buy average home made sandwiches for £2.40, made by the Indian couple who own it.

This sunny Monday morning, I walked in, flashing a cheery smile to the old woman at the till. She didn't smile back. I thought perhaps the sun was in her eyes, so I positioned myself better, and smiled again. She still didn't smile back. She was wearing glasses, perhaps they were old and her sight has since deteriorated. I walked closer to the till, trying hard to make it look like I am not going off-path too much. I smiled, this time bigger than the last two smiles put together. She looked back at me, with the face of a woman who just watched a child take a shit on her dog. 

I immediately turned around and walked out. I will not give my custom to a person who will not even give me the courtesy of a cheery smile. I instead walked down the road to a different sandwich shop. I had heard about it, but hadn't ventured into it due to the menacing blue collar workers outside.

I was greeted by a rotund person, who was of course smiley (they all are), and by a menu where I could buy a bacon and egg sandwich for £1.95. I was cheeky and asked for sausage on there too, expecting an extra 40p. She asked if I wanted tea too. As I'm not made of money, I quickly said no, but the curvy saint insisted it was free. I was about to hand over £2.50, expecting little change, when she informed me that it was only £2. That is only 5p for a sausage. Amazing.

So, it is true that manners cost you nothing, unless you have none. Then it costs you my custom.

6 comments:

  1. Maybe you had something on your teeth lol.

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  2. Ugh, by the pic that you have uploaded with the post, I can only sympathize with you. Being an Indian myself I do not get these people! I go through such a bullshit routine out here that it is out of control!

    For example, I was walking down the street when I was studying in Canada, and a lovely old Englishman greeted me early in the morning, I was of course not used to this coz I was not raised that way, not to mention I was not good at conversation either. I greeted him back, being a little conscious. But then I got used to it. It is a beautiful thing, and every one should have it.

    When I returned back to India, I greeted an old lady in the morning and she gave me the exact same look like you have described above and also a similar expression to that picture. It's not just her, 60% of the Indian crowd is such and it sucks big big time, most of them are elderly people.

    It's probably intimidating to them, I really have not been able to figure out the cause behind this. But hey, if you ever pass by me if I end up selling Sandwiches in England, I will give you a wide smile and say Heyyyy Andyyyyyy :P :)

    So glad that you found a better and a more hospitable place! :)

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  3. I am ambivalent about most people, but I am automatically nice to everyone. Even people I'm not particularly fond of. It perplexes me that people fail to understand common courtesy - especially people in a situation like that who are the "face" of a business. If you are the only person a customer will interact with, do you really want to be an ass to them? Right.

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  4. Agreed with Nicole. I don't even really like people, but I am nice. I do smile to everyone and I have proper manners. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't. Now I want an egg sandwich though, so thanks.

    Lor

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  5. Old Asians look grumpy in general though.
    C;

    People here either laugh at you rudely or stare at you, especially old people XD

    I think it's just a weird culture thingy, we don't like to smile at people

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  6. 'So, it is true that manners cost you nothing, unless you have none. Then it costs you my custom'

    Perfect ending to this post. Well said! My dad refuses to go into a corner shop near where we live for the same reason.

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