I’m any seller’s dream customer.
I can’t help it, I’m easy to convince that I absolutely need a product.
Even if that product is a $1400 rug. No, we didn’t actually pay that much, but that was the starting price!
Our little Monster was kind enough to model our new rug for me! He usually charges for appearances, but because we fed him today he did this sitting for free.It all started with a scarf. We were in Istanbul and I decided that I needed a souvenir scarf, since I hadn’t bought any gifts from Tanzania or Turkey. So, to the scarf stall we went.
This is when I knew I was in trouble.
The salesman showed me the cheap scarves (the 15 dollar scarves that I wanted to choose between), then he showed me the more expensive scarves (100+ dollars) and then he brought out the $350 scarves and that’s when I drew the line! But, I must admit I did splurge for the moderately expensive scarf.
It’s beautiful and silk, darn it!
Anyway, the salesman (at this point realizing I’m a sucker for a good sales pitch) told us that his uncle has a rug store, and quickly escorted us to the small shop down the road. The Husband wasn’t the most willing participant, but I wanted to see actual Persian rugs.
Well, at first I thought for sure that I would never actually buy one of these rugs. I mean, I didn’t love any that I was seeing but I did like hearing about how they were made and seeing all the different types.
Then I saw one I wanted. DAMMIT ALL! I knew I was in trouble.
The salesman picked right up on my changed expression and went into official ‘sales’ mode. The Husband was great at saying no. I wasn’t quite as good.
We told the store owner that we newlyweds and therefore broke.
The price came down.
We told him we didn’t even need a rug (lie, we totally did need a rug – I just hadn’t realized it until the very second I saw the one I loved in this small store in Istanbul!).
The price came down even more.
We told him that we had no room in our suitcases to bring it back to the States.
The price came down further and the man pulled out a tiny bag and somehow managed to fit the rug inside of it! Magic.
Basically, by the time I was invested in the conversation and really needed this rug.
The Husband thought I had completely lost my mind.
The salesman was mostly talking to the Husband, who kept referring him to me since I was going to be actually purchasing the goods. Ah, sexism at work.
Anyway, we finally all agreed on a price.
The Husband shook his head quite a few times.
OK, he shook his head more than a few times.
But now I have a rug, and a beautiful rug it is!
It really is one of the best ‘souvenirs’ I’ve ever bought myself, and by far the most expensive. Take that, cheesy shot glasses – you’ve been replaced!
