Saturday, 16 February 2008

When chocolates replace Indian Rupee…

The ‘much-appreciated’ Indian Rupee has become a thorn in the flesh for the ‘much-depreciated’ US Dollar – a fact.

Now, how many of us know our good old Fifty paise / One Rupee coins have fallen victim to a certain kind of modern-day barter system?

The Fifty Paise/One Rupee coins are being fast replaced by certain chocolate or mouth-freshner brands. You know the names.

This has happened to most of us: Shoppers, with a quick pretended look of apology, hand those brands over to you as a consolation for the money. I can’t imagine a smarter sales method that that.

The profit-taking happens out of the blue for you and it totally stumps you. There is no time to react.

Still, I have protested against this barbarian barter system. And in return, I have received not the money, but some cruel and funny looks.

Now I have a vision. Why only the shoppers are allowed to do this barter system? I would carry some chocolates next time I step out of my house for shopping and I would try to exchange it for the coins.

For example, if the bill is Rupees 101 and I would hand over one chocolate along with the 100 Rupees note to the salesman. Understand me, I don’t have the change and this is the same chocolate you had given it to me last week since you didn’t have the change. You can very well accept it and push it out again through your next customer.

Would they accept it ever? You tell me.

It is not just a matter of money. It is the ethics. It is the decency that should be kept in any trade. But what is happening is an insult to the customer community.

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