You want to learn how to be a successful sales person? Just go to a fast food restaurant in Newark, NJ where you'll see a top notch example up front and personal. My husband and I were pulled up in line at a drive through for McDonald's with the driver window rolled down ready to place our order (even though we were about 3 or 4 cars away). Right then, we made first contact. A lady looked straight at us and surely she noticed our UTAH license plates and decided to work her magic.
She points in our direction and says "You two make a great couple!"
We chuckle and think 'okayyyy'
She continues, this time pointing at my husband, "Make sure you put a ring on her finger!"
We just responded, "Yeah." And thought that was the weirdest exchange ever! Who says East Coast people aren't nice? So she is now walking in front of our car and then abruptly stops. Shakes her finger at us and continues her story.
Saleslady: "You know, I should tell you," she begins, now right up against my husbands face bent over on the driver side, speaking through our prematurely opened window. "I work as a nurse, I don't do drugs, I don't smoke or drink and I have four kids..."
Us: "Oh, yeahhh?" We then exchange a glance at each other as if to say 'What the heck?'
Saleslady: "My stove is completely broken, I just got the cops to come over to make sure there isn't a leak or anything..."
Us: Still baffled.
We begin to drive forward as our turn to order food quickly approaches, and she walks along side the car still bent over talking...
Saleslady: "Look I'm just eating ice!" At this moment she shows us a cup she's holding full of ice cubes and then continues, "I'm just trying to feed my FOUR babies at home, maybe looking to buy them some cereal or something, but I just don't have anything!"
She gives a sad look and then continues to remind us that she doesn't do drugs, smoke, or drink and that she's a nurse in the area. But, alas, it was almost our turn, and I'm a sucker so I reached in my bag, pulled out a dollar bill and handed it over across from my husband into her eager snatching hand. But that's not all...
Saleslady: Facing my husband now, "Sir, do you have any change? I don't like asking the ladies!" Was she being polite, demeaning, or just slick?"
Us: My husband shakes his head no, and by that time I give her a few more cents I found in my bag.
Saleslady: Snatchingly, "Thanks..." and then just walks away rapidly.
My husband looks over at me for being such a fool, but I've justified it as she needed it way more than I did. If her story was true, then I helped. If it wasn't, then too bad for her living a life where she had to beg. Either way, I did a good deed, :o).
After getting our food and driving down the town on our way to run errands we pulled over to a spot by a sidewalk to enter an address into our GPS and saw two men walking past. They were innocently, conversing together, with seemingly no perceived agenda. I reached over and locked the car doors as they were about to pass by.
My husband: "Are you serious?" Wondering why I was so paranoid.
Me: "Did you not just see that lady poke her head through our windshield? Yes I'm serious!"
Ahhh, just another Friday night in Jersey!
It's so hard with people begging, to know who is genuine and who isn't sometimes, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI know! I hate to see them coming, because I'm a sucker every time:o)
ReplyDeleteI thought of this post yesterday as we were being hit up by a guy on the streets of Chicago. He had a very smooth, albeit long-winded spiel. He said he didn't want my money. But he did want me to go get him a hamburger at a sit down restaurant. In the end he got my loose change. At that point Taryn ordered me to put the camera away so we would stop looking so much like tourists.
ReplyDeleteI think you did as Jesus would want you to do. However, I would have just bought her some food instead of giving her the money. This would ensure that she was in fact getting food. In Matt 25 Jesus says what you do to the least of these you do unto me. See scriptures below.
ReplyDelete35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’