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True Color .

My friend Philip (not his real name) , works in a guitar shop in KL . We were having a drink the other day and He told me a very interesting story .

Last week , a customer walked in his guitar shop . How should i describe him? well-dressed , late 30s , looked somewhat upper-middle successful . Of course , my friend did that usual “hi , how are you ? may i help you ? “ routine . The customer spoke confidently , about what he was looking for , just like any potential customer .

The customer told him he was looking for a guitar for his 8 year old son . After 20 minutes of gear shopping , he finally decided to buy an Ibanez RGR , that was going for about RM1500 .

At that “price-nego” moment , the true colors of the customer came out , it was like an on off switch , and he just switch his POWER NEGO switch on. He started lowballing , acted very rude when my friend politely decline , he insist and started gaving a long lecture about his trip in U.S last month and their prices were wayyyy cheaper than Malaysia’s prices , Malaysia price overpriced bla bla bla . LOL , if we are getting shit like that here , i wonder how much the Australians are getting from their locals .

My friend told me , he was a tough ass customer . It was almost as if both of them were arguing when they were talking .

In the end , they agreed on a price , the customer said he will bring his son tomorrow , and pay for it .

The next day , the customer show up with his 8 years old son . This time , He was a different person , he became very soft spoken , spoke very politely with my friend . The son told his dad , he wanted to get an amp , a bag and also a strap . The father said with a smiling face , “go and pick anything you want , i will get it for you” .

He pick up a RM990 Marshall MG30 , a strap that cost RM58 , and a bag that cost RM60 .

Then , the father went to the payment counter . Didn’t even try to bargain a single cent , paid it all FULL with credit card plus the 3% interest . He bought the guitar (which he lowballed yesterday at their agreed price) , the amp , the bag and the strap  . There were no complains . Before he leave , he said to the cashier boy “great job , i believe you guys will change the Malaysia’s Music Scene”

.

What can you learn from here ?

Its funny , people change in front of people who look up to them . Your son , your lover , your student , your employees , they all look up to you . You don’t wanna show them a bad situation .Yesterday when he was alone , he didn’t care what people thought of him , he just wanted the best deal , today he was the guy who can say “as long as you’re happy , i am fine” .

Don’t get me wrong , i am NOT judging the customer . This situation is a very COMMON situation in guitar shops . I realized , i can learn so many things from things that are happening around me . Its funny how working in a guitar shop can give you so much thoughts .

I can’t help but to question , are all the people that i look up to , for real ?

Are they being completely honest with me ? Are they who they really are in front of me ?

Or

They are nothing like what i thought of them , they are just “putting up a show” to show me an example what is right , and how to be a man .

…now , what about you ?

When you become a father ,

Would you lie to your son ? or would you show him your true colors ..

or maybe , lie to your son when he is young , and show him who you are when he is old enough to understand ?

Or , lie to him for the rest of your life .

Nobody is perfect , i have weaknesses that i do not want people to see , you have weaknesses that you do not want people to know . Hide , show , or wait for the right time to show ?