Day 244
I ran to the mall during my lunch time today for a quick errand. I was in quite a rush trying to minimize my absence from the office (translated-before anyone noticed I was missing). When I passed one of the kiosks and a man offered me a perfume sample I was tempted to keep going and wave him off. But I thought to myself, how much time will it take? So I veered over to accept the sample. He then pulled out a nail buffer, seemingly from nowhere and said “Can I show you something amazing ma'am?” I'm not sure if this was an act of kindness or a lack of assertiveness, but it did run through my mind “he is just doing his job, and this can't possibly be his first choice of employment.”
I said, “sure but I am not going to buy anything.” I then spent about a minute (although it seemed much longer) getting my thumb nailed buffed to an amazing shine, with the assurance that it would last for a month. I thanked him and he said I was a “nice lady” and I was on my way.
And here I sit admiring my one lustrous fingernail, while the nine dull ones protest that the kinder act would have been to buy the buffer and promote equality among them all.
This one made me laugh. It's hard to turn down a request like that-- "Can I show you something amazing ma'am?" Seriously. Who doesn't want to be amazed?
ReplyDeleteUmmm . . . one of those guys accosted me in the Prudential recently. He was selling a product package for about $35. You can get the same kind of buffer in Target to finish off the other nine nails for about two dollars. The money you save will buy a lot of peanut butter for the food bank.
ReplyDeleteOne day I too was urged over to buy some "beauty product" for the skin (I don't wear any make up etc but I do have very dry skin. Sometimes I wonder if I missed some boat b/c I don't buy "products")... I always try to make a bee-line past but this time I decided, because I made eye contact and smiled politely, that I'd given some boost to the seller's invitation. I succumbed after a demonstration of a Dead Sea salt rub which left my hand(only one) feeling very smooth. I used the expensive stuff one more time and after several years on the shelf, I recently sent the Dead Sea Salt to the garbage. I do think there's something to letting the sellers sell. I also think I know why I avoid -- because I am SURE I'll end up with something I neither need nor want. Just thought I'd share a similar story. Happy nail buffing!
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