"Why do people cheat?" That's a ridiculous question, don't you think?
We all know cheating in whatever form is bad. Everyone frowns upon it. But somehow, it still happens; unknowing or not. It always happens.
UnsplashSometime(late March/early April) this year, my phone developed a fault. Prior to that time, I had been managing it that way as there was a constant power supply in my location, but, when I moved places, it was so difficult. Because my schedule from thence required I had a working device, I had to send it in for repairs.
The day I went by the artisan's workshop and told him what the issue was, he told me the issue was the battery and I had to replace it.
When I enquired on what it would take to get a new one, the price almost had me heading back home. At the time, I was quite low on funds and I needed every penny I could lay my hands on. But the repairs was important to me as my other needs.
He also told me that the battery was of two variants of different qualities. I don't do substandard so I haggled price(unlike me to) for the one of the better quality, until he agreed to take out a little something. I was grateful.
Because I had a little time to spare, I opted to just sit and wait for him to work on it. Scratch that! I don't know if it comes with familiarity but he tends to delay working on my device(s) if I took it to him. That time was different for me.
I paid him in full and excused myself to go get something just feet' away. I got back and met him coupling up the phone. Apparently, he was done fixing it. I promise you, it took not more than three minutes for me to go get the stuff and get back, and my phone's battery was the inbuilt kind.
I was very surprised. First, because, he said he did not have the phone's battery kind and would need to get it at some other shop afar off.
Second, because, I knew he never left the shop.
I suspected something was amiss but I kept mum. Benefit of the doubt kind of thing, I guess.
I got home and barely used the phone that day. Next day, I was using and charging it when power outage happened. Guess what? In less than 15 minutes, it went from about 80% to 32% . I was pissed.
I immediately took the phone back and made my complaints. Even told him to just let me have my old battery back. He just kept smiling(a smile that could be translated to mean, 'you've caught me).
What happened next? He went out, returned shortly after with this new battery and did the needful. You needed to have seen the battery he took out of my phone. It looked weak.
Nah! I was disappointed. Why would anyone even joke with their business? What's the gain in cheating over a few bucks that can barely see you through a day? It did not make sense.
What annoyed me more was, I have been a long time customer and have known him since forever. Everyone at my house does. A neighbour and family acquaintance. I've heard of cases as that one but never assumed it happened with people one knows so well. It was disappointing.
Now, you might ask, why did he cheat? What happened to customer satisfaction, giving quality and gaining trust and referral? For how long will he have whatever he cheated for?
Well, I don't know.
But I know I would not be visiting there and not let anyone close to me use his service(he sells gadget accessories too). Oh yes! I've done referrals and brought a couple paying customers to him.
But, that's that.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!