Swindled out of change

THE EDITOR: Kindly allow me to express my views on an observation which I have been making over the years with respect to the granting of change to customers. It seems that the average vendor always feels that the customer should be comforted and willingly accept a dinner mint/power mint, and additional pepper or the smallest possible sweet potato depending on where the product is purchased. I remember a few years ago I went to the Port Authority to do a transaction — receiving a barrel from abroad. The cost was $198. The gentleman told me that he had no change — no single dollars — when I handed him the $200. I later learnt that this was a common practice since the officer who cleared the barrel is entitled to receive this $2 for every barrel he clears. What a handsome bonus, considering the mad rush for barrels at the holiday season.

Yesterday I went to TTPost to post a letter. My card was duly weighed — well I should say I was told “Rest it dey” while the clerk looked at the scale. She said that it would cost $3.75. However the young lady happily informed me “We only have dollar stamp eh. It eh ha no 75 cents. So you will have to get $4 stamp to put on dat”. I therefore stupidly felt that since it was the fault of TTPost, I would be given back my 25 cents so that at least I could purchase the power mint myself . . . No such luck. Imagine at Christmas time, when people are posting cards black is white, you are dictating to me that I either take it or leave it because that is what you have! I resent this. It is not that I am cheap, it is the principle and the attitude that I am questioning and the fact that people think I should take whatever dishonesty and impropriety they mete out.

As I left I observed the length of the line behind me and the innocent victims with their scores of Christmas cards, waiting to be swindled. Of course no one would question, I guess. This is the season of peace and goodwill! I smiled. TTPost made a mint if all those cards to be posted cost $3.75. The poor cashier may not even realise that she is being used to perpetrate this white collar crime. Oh well . . . It never ends. CrimeStoppers, are you there?

ROSLYN COOPER-TRIM
Port-of-Spain