Choices

I bought a laptop this winter break, and my brother helped me choose one that curtailed to my needs. Picking the computer was easy enough, but the process of buying it was not.

A sales assistant in her mid-forties was very pushy, to put it mildly, in trying to get us to buy the laptop along with a special 'package deal' which included Microsoft Office and an Anti-virus system for another extra $200 ($90 for the anti-virus system and $110 for MS Office). We declined politely. The reasons were simple: one, I already have Microsoft Office, and two, my brother is a computer professional. He had always been able to fix any problems I've encountered. (On another note, most anti-virus programs are useless, take up too much space, and make your computers slow...but that's not the point)

But apparently, a simple "No, thank you" is not good enough for this specific sales person. She started talking very fast (which sounded to us as a way of trying to confuse and intimidate the customers) about the merits of MS Office, and how past customers struggled with viruses. One part of her dialog with my brother went along the lines of this.

Clerk: "You have no idea how many people wanted to save this $90 only to come back the next with a virus infected computer, but by then, we'd have to charge them $200 for -just- the anti-virus system."
Brother: "That's alright."
Clerk: (who by now is beyond annoyed that we haven't given in yet) "So tell me, what're you going to do if your computer gets a virus?"
Brother: "I'll fix it."
Clerk: "Okay, but you don't look like it."

That last sentence was a direct quote. Needless to say, it was beyond insulting, and it's not just what she said, but how she said it. So insulting in fact, that even her colleague came to us later to apologize. My brother is an amiable person, so he lets it go easily enough.

In the mean time, several thoughts passed through my head.

My first reaction was shock - shock at how utterly rude this person is. Even if my brother doesn't know how to fix computers, she has no right to say that. At least not to our faces. Anyone with any business acumen should know that.

My second reaction was to be sarcastic and snap right back at her. She deserves it doesn't she? Who is she to insult my brother? Not only should I insult her back, I should also talk to her manager and get her in some trouble while I'm at it.

But I didn't do it.

"Is it worth it?" I kept asking myself. Sure, I'd feel emotionally satisfied and kept my brother's dignity and pride...but what about her? On the bright side, maybe her boss will just give her a little talk, otherwise she might possibly have lost her job. And by the looks of her, she's not exactly young. Jobs are hard to come by in this economy. What if she has kids who depend on her? Parents who're ill?

"Should I take offense?" It's not like what she said about my brother is true...and if he can stand it, why can't I? Is this really about defending my brother as much as sustaining my own pride?

"What will I lose if I let this go?" Nothing much I guess - other than a bruised ego. Besides, if she has this attitude problem, she's bound to get into trouble with some other customer. I don't need to 'bloody my hands' in this matter and deal with the possible guilt afterward.

And so the incident passed away quietly. We paid for the laptop and left. I did talk to my mom, brother, and several other close friends about the incident though. What they thought of it... How they would've acted... I have to say, I guess I don't know some friends as well as I believe myself to.

In any case, if you managed to plow through this entry, spare a few more minutes and tell me - how would you have acted and why?

Would you have done the same as me and kept your silence? Perhaps you would've argued with her and be done with it? Or maybe you'd just walk out of the store and not deal with someone like her at all. But then, maybe you would want to talk to the manager and rat her out like she deserved (or does she deserve it...?)?

'Till Next Time

TM