As I was eating my bowl of Mee Soto, I cannot help to ponder the logic behind what I have paid for it. I tried to blend common sense and business together to comprehend the reasons or theories behind the pricing of the food but I still did not manage to come to a sound conclusion. In my view, even a reasonable 12 year old kid would find it appalling. One would think that I am merely being penny-pinching because it only involves a very small amount of money but I would like to think of it as a matter of ethics rather than a 'small amount of money'.
It was not my usual place to have lunch but I frequent the food court about twice a week and over here, you will only have two choices of food if you are a Muslim. It is the norm to see only one Malay Muslim stall and the other one, Indian Muslim stall in most of the food courts or coffee shop here. Therefore, we the Muslims here are not left or spoilt with many varieties of food. I often settled for the Malay Muslim stall because I have this 'thing' about Mee Soto. I can eat Mee Soto daily for one month without getting tired of it. I wouldn't say it's my favourite food but I just have a 'bond' with it and if I were to pick other food, I would feel bad, and the imaginary side of me would say Mee Soto is disappointed with me as if it is alive. Call me crazy or weird but that's the truth and nothing but the truth.
A bowl of Mee Soto cost 3 dollars and is served with a fair share of portion. It comes with the noodles, soup, and slices of chicken, bean sprouts and the fried mashed potato, served in a bowl. Usually, the level of soup is about 2cm below the rim of the bowl. Having frequented that stall and never failed to have Mee Soto for lunch for more than 10 times, I have begun to recognise each of the stall's staff. Most of the staffs there are friendly and give service with a smile. Most of them are quite generous with the portion of food they serve us. However, I began to have an unpleasant feeling towards one of them. This happened when she served me a bowl of Mee Soto. I did not expect to be served with such unbelievable portion. The difference is obvious just by looking at the bowl. I was surprised but I did not say a word because I knew she could be one of god's measly slaves on earth who happen to work there. I paid for it and walked away with great dissatisfaction and regret. When I dug in into the bowl, I noticed not only the noodles and the soup were little but even the slices of chicken meat as well. It turned me off and I couldn't help to wonder why did she serve with such unbelievable portion? Immediately, I promise myself not to place my order with her anymore.
The next two days after that, I came to the stall again and saw her working. I tried to avoid her from taking my order but luck was not on my side and damn, she took my order. Knowing how little she would serve me, I asked for extra noodles. Now, extra noodles would cost an extra 50 cents and this is acceptable and reasonable. I was served with more noodles but with less bean sprouts, less chicken slices and less soup. How she served me was not even equivalent to the portion I would have if the other staff were to serve me at the usual price. I was not only disappointed but I was upset as well. I did not let that matter deter me from coming again so there I was placing my order for a bowl of Mee Soto. I guess luck will never be on my side when she was around and I really had no other choice but to surrender the fate of my order to her. Having served twice by her, I knew I had to ask for extra noodles which cost 50 cents more and remembering that she was not generous with everything else; I took the initiative to ask for extra soup. The minute I asked for extra soup, she gave me an unpleasant look and told me that it will cost me 4 dollars in all. I knew the look she gave me meant more than just a look. It was as if she was sending me a message not to think that everything comes extra without paying extra. I kept my cool and looked away from her.
I was taken aback when I was told it would cost me 4 dollars for extra noodles and extra soup. It didn't cross my mind that I would have to pay extra by merely asking for extra soup. I believe no one would even think so too. When I went to the cashier to pay for my food, I spoke to the cashier whom I believed is the owner of the stall about what I think. She seemed embarrassed and apologetic and I told her that if a request for extra soup which consists of simply water and spices could cost me another 50 cents, they might as well charge me for the chilli. I was thinking to myself, don't they have any standard operating procedures on how much should be served and what should be charged and what shouldn't be charged? It was not as if I ate there for the first time in my entire life that they can charge me as and how they like. I asked for more bean sprouts before but I was not charged for it. Does it make a difference in the way I make a request? Do they only charge when a customer asks for 'extra' and not 'more'? Do I have to say 'may I have more soup please' in order not to be charged? It is silly and absurd. I never believed she charged me because she has to, but it is more of her miserly despicable attitude. I am so revolted by people who are selfish, stingy and calculative when it comes to food matters. How much profit do you want from the food you sell? Where is the business etiquette here? Does every ladle of soup counts and every pieces of bean sprouts count?
I began to believe that they have double standard pricing policy. It makes me sick and it saddened me as well so much that I have promised myself not to have my lunch there anymore. It is not about the money but it's the approach that I am disgusted with. 50 cents is just money less than a dollar but it's how I was being priced that sickened me and I cannot and will not tolerate such behaviour.
What bothers me most was the fact that, she was so ungenerous that it is becoming astonishing. It seems ridiculous to the extent that it is illogical. I am sure; nobody would have thought that by merely asking for an extra soup would cost us even a penny let alone 50 cents. Take all the other foods in the world which are served with gravy on the side or soup. I have eaten Indian Prata or Canai, Mee Siam and Mee Rebus many a times and I couldn't recall being charged extra when asked for extra soup or gravy. So where the hell is the common sense here?
I am disturbed with the existing mindset in her and I am worried that it will become the habits of food stall handler to be so parsimonious even for extra soup. It seems to me that profit making is becoming the number one priority for businesses without taking logic and common sense into considerations. Generosity does not seem to have any value anymore and I am not surprised if a spoonful of chilli will cost patrons of that stall with people like that working for them.
Nobody do business to lose instead business is to make profit and I began to think if the thought of profit making alone is making our businessmen becoming unethical and dishonest. If it is, then it is utterly shameful.
I have been to a cobbler and a key smith shop before. I wanted to get my belt shortened and he did this for me for free. I offered to pay at least a dollar for his workmanship but he politely decline with a smile. I never can forget that one good deed he did to me. It was a simple job and if he was a shrewd businessman who only thinks of profit, I was sure that I was going to be charged for at least 3 dollars. Why can the cobbler be generous and why can’t the food stall handler be? I started to wonder if is it just the inborn characteristics of a person that determines the kind of businessman they would be or is it the thought of profits? How much can a business lose if 30 customers request for extra soup which is only half ladle full for each request in a month?
It is miserable to know that we are living in a world where there are such people who would make extra soup request into a priced item for sale, who only thinks of profit overlooking the rational behind it. All I know she has lost one customer and respect not only as a food stall handler but also as a person altogether.
