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Opportunity seeker or a cheat

Getting to an elaborate shopping in 44 degrees Celsius is generally not my kind of an idea. Even more so when one is forced to be a host cum driver cum guide to guests from overseas.

Yes, I was sulking but it turned out to be a great lesson. Well worth the sweat in hot and dry summer of Delhi.

I was allotted to accompany my overseas relatives on a wedding shopping spree in India.

Whats is the price of item A? What is the value of the same item A?

This is a dilemma that is understood by quite a few businesses, for sure in India.

India has a rule of law that prescribes a written price for most consumer items but there are still quite a few items that do not have prescribed prices (MRP as we know in India or RRP as known in many other countries). Also, services generally do not have the diktat to mention the prices in advance.

The salesperson at the shop started to gauge the customer first. Looking at the dressing, style of speaking et al. I was thankfully sitting in a corner far away but looking at the process interestingly. To cut a long story short, the focus of salesman was clearly on the style, variety and latest in fashion and no attempt to say a word on prices.

The items were selected, 5 sarees for the bride (who will wear each one not more than twice in her life living in US of A), another 11 for gifts, a lehnga (long Indian skirt).

Then the packets were being made and the prices being mentioned. I was curious as a cat to look at the same. To my utter surprise, the handwritten note given to the buyer mentioned prices in Dollars. Did not say which Dollars (Singaporean or Australian or Canadian or American)!!

The person with the wallet was kind of okay with the charge. It seemed so much better than what they would shelled out in US of A. And then the unexpected happened. I was given the same slip to have a look. I have no accent, did not talk all the time.

The conversation went like:

I : Please write the prices in INR

Salesman (SM) : But they will pay in Dollars

I : No, in INR

SM : Just multiply by 65

I : But the exchange rate is less than 60

SM : If you say so, I do not know today's rate

I : I would like to have a look at each piece and check with my sister

SM: (angrily) Sorry, I do not have time for all this. (and had all the time for selection)

To cut a long story short, the final payment made was close to half of what was asked.

It left me wondering : The buyer was happy, the seller was happy but the value seen by me was so much different.

Is it fair? Is it wrong? Is it opportunism? Is it cheating?

Were the buyers also not looking for a bargain in India vs USA?

What is right and what is wrong?
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