I wanted to buy some boiled eggs today which I would use in eating the palm oil rice we prepared at home, only for my mum to beg me to go and patronize her farm neighbour who had just opened a mini kiosk around the neighborhood.
After she had told me the location of the kiosk, I told her that I would not go there because the place was a bit far as compared to where I normally go to buy something.
She argued that the kiosk was not far, and that the distance was just a stone throw from the bush track. After much argument, I agreed to visit the new kiosk and patronize her farm neighbour.
I went to the kiosk and truly the distance was not as far as I had imagined. I saw a little boy about twelve years of age, sitting by the kiosk. He greeted me and I greeted him too, I asked him if he was the one selling he said yes. I asked after his mom and he told me she had not returned from the farm.
I asked him if they sold boiled eggs and he said yes and pointed to the table where the boiled eggs were located. I asked him to give me two of it and asked for the price with which he told me the eggs were sold at N250 each, I asked him if it was not sold at N200 and he said no. I finally bought two eggs at N500 and gladly went back home.
When I got home, my mom already asked my why I did not buy raw eggs and come cook them at home I told her I did not have the patience to cook them because I was so hungry.
I took the boiled eggs I bought and began to peel them happily, only for the eggs to have a funny smell. That was where I realized that I have been cheated. The little boy sold an old egg which was cooked the previous day for me. I was shocked. I took the other one and the same thing occured. I felt like returning it to the seller, but my legs refused to carry me because by this time, I was so hungry and famished.
Because I was really craving for eggs, I decided not to trash the eggs, but managed to eat it like that, although I could not eat all of it because of its bad taste and smell. I complained bitterly to my mom and she apologized on their behalf, she told me she would go and meet them and inform them about the spoilt eggs.
My take here is that how can one who just opened a small kiosk be that cunning in nature. Some people feel they could get rich by cheating others but no, it does not happen that way.
I realized that most people blame leaders for every situation of things in the society whether good or bad but refused to look at themselves. Some things that happen in the society do not really happen because of bad leadership. Some happen because of people's character and attitude towards things.
The eggs were cooked the previous day and perhaps they couldn't sell all, so they had to resell them today being the following day and lied that they were freshly cooked eggs. Even when this already boiled eggs were not well preserved for it to last into the next day.
Imagine in the situation of this little boy selling a bad egg to me at his age although under the bad influence of his mother. Do they really think I will go back to that shop to patronize them again? the answer is clearly a no for me. What if they repeat that same thing with other customers who come to buy boiled eggs, next time those people will not trust their dealings and will not patronize them again. That is how people lose patronage in business when they sell bad products or render poor goods and services.
Tommorow the boy or his mom will blame the societal leadership for hardship and less patronage in their business, with claims that people do not have the money to patronize them because things are hard everywhere forgetting that the same business is what other people are doing and using the proceeds to expand, pay their bills and also feed their families.
photo is mine and was taken with my Infinix smart 5 phone camera.
Posted Using INLEO
