Bad Business Practice Part1

I picked up the bill at the counter and look through it casually and sommething caught my eye.

"100RMB/m.sq"

Wrong.

I was just telling my german friend at starbucks 2 hours ago, that i found a printer that charge 70RMB/m.sq for high res digital printing, and i had gone to them twice in the past.

"Hey...isn't it suppose to be 70RMB/m.sq?"

"Huh? no...er...do you ask for lamination...or...er..."

This girl obviously did not know what she is saying. I came twice and I never ask for lamination on my pictures. She did not even look at the bill before saying it. Obviously, she is trying to play the ball on my side of the court.

"No! since when did you see me laminating my pictures? are you charging me extra for what I did not ask for?" This is not the first time i got screwed by locals because i am not a shanghainese.

"er...no...let me check..."

Ha! typical shanghai work mentality. to save themself trouble, they prefer to talk their way out rather than going through the trouble to ensure the customer is not compromised. It takes a fierce face and a stern tone sometimes to bring the ball back to their court.

"...well...it is 100RMB/m.sq...the bill is right"

"haha...how can it be?? i came here twice and you are the one that gave me the bills last time too! how can it be 100RMB now?"

"but the computer says that's the price we had always been charging you sir...it was once in october...and another time in nov..."

This girl wants to test my history. Luckily, I am not that old to forget things when i need them.

"I remember, and the first time i asked for a courier to my home right? for an extra service charge of 7RMB right? I remember. and i remember it's certainly 70RMB for a god damn METRE SQUARE!"

The girl got a little taken back. Of course, she probably did not expect a guy from a city famous of being obedient, to take charge of a negotiation in her homeground. I got screwed enough to know the rules of engagement in this city.

She went inside and ask a elder lady to come out and check the computer. and they started talking in shanghainese language. The elder lady made her move

"...it says here 100RMB/m.sq all right. and you signed for it the last two times you were here. this has always been the price we charge you"

"ya! that's what i told him too!" the small girl added.

"70RMB/m.sq is not possible. thats above costs." the elder ladies cuts in.

"even staff price is 90RMB/m.sq" the small girl harmonizes.

Old tricks.

Now they have two mouths to sing a duet against me, i have seen this before in cheating tricks, in negotiations etc. shanghainese are really good businessman. they have all sorts of tricks to smash the ball in my court.

But not today, not with someone who got seen enough of such trickery.

"well...you know whatever. I am asking you now, if i take a cab back now and i show you the bills i had last time, which i am god damn sure its 70RMB/m.sq, are you gonna pay for my cab fare?"

Silence.

"we are not authorized to..."

"i thought you are so sure you are right? your computer don't lie isn't it? "

Their hesitation suggested confirmation. these two girls probably doctored the amount in the computer to get some fast cash out from the customers. and they know the boss is not around now, and i would probably pay that extra amount just to get my pictures. they seen me here before, they saw my works. they probably think i am well off enough to not bother about such a small amount.

I am gonna prove them wrong.

While they are still discussing in another room, i stood up and storm towards the door, i close the door behind me real hard to make sure they heard it. How smart i am to choose a printer near my home, near enough for me to just take a bus back(i know they will never take the bet on the cab fares), look for the two previous bills and come back to prove them wrong.

Traffic is not so busy today.

I got in the bus, and think about a new victory to add towards my records of dealing with local business bullies. I would probably kick the door open later, slap the bills on the table, pull their head via their hair to look at the numbers.

hahahahahaha.

I reach the traffic lights, damn...it's red. but what the hell, traffic lights had always been just a reference according to local culture. i dash across the street, i made a car braked. he horn at me, what's new, i show him my longest finger.

I check through my piles of paper. for a few seconds i hoped that I am a much neater person when it comes to my bedroom.

Damn! Couldn't find it. Proabably threw it away. Am i just gonna pay that extra amount because of two bills that I could not find.

Suddenly, i remember. I kept it above my cupboard. hahaha...good memory

I reach for the paper, yes it's the one! The logo is there, that's the bill.

I look for the column "PRICE/UNIT" with eager eyes, there it is.

Printed in bold "100RMB/m.sq"

----to be continued----