I am a Virgin Islander who has travelled to many countries around the world, and I am at times embarrassed to see the way my fellow Virgin Islanders treat their customers in some establishments. On the morning of Sept. 20, I went to Road Town to take care of some daily errands. I am a contractor and my employees and I had been working the previous night until 2 a.m. in order to meet a project deadline. At around 9 a.m., I went to Huntums Ghut to collect payment from one of my tenants. I was driving my work van, and when I returned to it I discovered that there was an unpleasant smell in the vehicle. After looking around I realised that an employee had forgotten a pair of wet shoes from the previous night. My first thought was to place them in a plastic bag and tie it in order to contain the smell.
Plastic bag request
On my way out of Huntums Ghut I decided to stop by my “friendly neighbourhood market,” or so I thought, and ask for a small plastic bag. I am talking about the little bags they put customers’ groceries in. I walked in the door with a smile and said, “Good morning, can I please get a plastic bag?” The cashier looked up at me and said, “I’m sorry; we don’t just give away bags like that.” I was surprised at her response to such a small request. Nonetheless, with a blank look on my face I said, “Thank you” and left the store. I was disappointed by the clerk’s response, but I cannot say that I was upset: After all she did not owe it to me to give me the bag.
When I got to my vehicle I thought, “Okay, let me buy something that I need at home so that I can get a bag.” So I returned to the store. I walked through the store looking for something to buy, but I really did not see anything that I needed since my wife and I had been grocery shopping two days before. I eventually decided to buy a chocolate bar for $1. When I got to the checkout counter I realised that the wife of the business owner was now at the cash register. After paying her I asked, “Can I have a bag, please?” She looked at me and said, “Didn’t the lady just tell you no? You are still not getting a bag.” I honestly thought she was joking and waited a few seconds for a bag that never came. I asked, “Are you serious?” She replied, “Yes!”
I proceeded to explain to her why I wanted the bag, and she responded in a very rude tone, “So I am supposed to fix your problem?”
‘Full-scale argument’
Before I knew it, we were in a full-scale argument over a plastic bag. I asked, “Is this the way you treat your customers?” She replied, “This is my store and I choose who I sell to and what I do.” Then she told me to get out of her store. After she repeated this about four or five times I told her that I would be writing a letter to the newspaper about this experience and she said to go ahead.
Let me tell her that customers are the reason businesses exist and as a businessman I know the importance of treating your customers in a way that makes them feel appreciated.
After her husband heard all the screaming, he came from the back and asked what the problem was. I explained what had happened in front of her and all he had to say was, “You have your bag now; have a good day.” At this point I just left the store and I have no intensions of going back there.
The business owner did the right thing as far as his wife is concerned by not commenting on the situation because at the end of the day he has to go home with her. I am hoping that the reason for her arrogant behaviour is that she was having a bad day, because if this is her idea of managing a business, it’s just a matter of time before it catches up to her and gives my good friends from Lebanon another opportunity to open a new market. They have the right formula for business and as long as their competitors keep behaving like they grew up in caves they will continue to grow while we sit down and complain that they are taking over our VI.
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