Though there are many horrid stories of the ugly behaviors of shopping customers, time to time comes a special person that walks into your day. He or she wants to purchase, but you end up with a meaningful and memorable transaction for life.
I am going to go old school. As I sip on my cup of joe, which is heavily medicated with half and half and Equal, an interesting story from a several years ago comes to mind. I was working at Giorgio Armani in Bal Harbour, FL at the time, and the day was a routine day until...
Like I did everyday, I stood on the carpeted floors with my 3 inch black heels and my black suit that cost most people three months of rent. As I mindlessly watched shoppers passing by, a lovely lady in her fifties strolled in. Her hair was mousy grey, pulled back into a low ponytail. Her voice was even yet gentle, and her figure, long and lean. Overall, she seemed easy to approach.
After hours of wardrobing her in countless one-button suits, cashmere sweater sets, flat front slacks, and silk tanks, she approached with the sweetest, and most generous gesture I will never forget. Before I tell, I have to mention she was single, no kids, and lived down the street from this extremely upscale, infamous, outdoor mall.
After the alteration pinning with the seamstress was over, she waved me into her fitting room. I eased inside, and listened to her sweet voice warm my heart. She took to heart how much I loved the one-button, navy with pink pinstripe suit she was buying, so she offered to purchase one for me in my size. WHAT! I was utterly speechless, here was this kind heart that wanted to share her wealth with a total stranger. A hot, Asian stranger at that. I was touched.
Except, I was raised by a Texan father and aunt, and a Filipina mama, and they instilled some extreme ethics into me and my sister. We were raised to say "mam" and "sir," offer gas money, write thank you notes, wait your turn, give to everyone, and the list goes on and on. So, in my world, this offer sent me into hysterics. I started to freak out that accepting this gift would be against the company's policy of no cash from clients.
Would accepting her heartwarming gift allow me to sleep with ease or would it torment me?
I, the young fool, decided that it would torment me and would be inappropriate and dishonest. So I graciously declined. She made it hard, by repeatedly offering, and appearing hurt by my dismissal. It was difficult, but I stuck to my ethics, even if it was foolish.
After she left I confided to my Department Manager the situation, and she listened and nodded her head to show compassion. The kicker, after listening to my whole story, she had shared the story with the General Manager, and he without hesitation said...... I should of accepted the gift!
For real?!! I could to this day, be wearing a three thousand dollar Giorgio Armani suit like it was no ones business. The amazing part, she continued to shop with me and would bring me random gifts that I couldn't decline, like a thousand dollar bottle of vintage red wine. Fart, I don't drink red wine.
So, in this industry you meet both angels and demons.
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