On 26 March 2009 i.e. a day before Ugadi, I went to the shop to buy things that are needed to make Ugadi special dishes. As I was walking, I decided that I should demand a bill, refuse to accept the product if I’m given the ‘chaani paper’ and not cry when I’m talking (Harry Potter? Who? Me? You got to be joking. I can’t even be a Neville Longbottom!)
Now this store is not the usual one where we get to pick our own stuff. I had to stand outside and ‘request’ the shopkeeper for half a kilogram of Maida. I hated it! Besides, he sort of looked like Dhoni. (Maybe it was just his cropped hair and arrogant eyes) So obviously I hated him the moment I saw him. (I know it is too much. But I just can’t help it. I love hating Dhoni)
He brought the packet and I asked him to show me the other brands. He wore this irritated expression that again reminded me of this extremely talented cricketer I loved to hate so much. After getting what I needed, asked for “the” bill. As I had guessed he scribbled with his motta pencil on the chaani paper and gave it to me.
I asked, “Ethan bill-a? Bill book illiya?
“Bill book-a?” he said with another Dhoni expression. (I hate him!)
He went to his computer, typed something and gave me a printed bill (in Tamil! Now I was like Dhoni in the Tiger biscuit ad. C’mon yaar I’ve never seen a computerized bill in Tamil before).
It’s not a big deal, I know but I felt like I had climbed the Everest. Later, when I was narrating this to my online friend she said that very few people insist a bill at the stores. And the shopkeepers are not very fond of such customers. Sometimes they tend to treat them very badly. Because, giving the customer a bill => paying tax to the government. The customers don’t demand a bill for two reasons. One, waiting for a bill is waste of time. Two, billing for some products mean paying extra in the form of taxes. So they don’t encourage billing.
Before, I thought that demanding a bill is a small gesture to help my country. But it’s not only about seeing that your money reaches the government. If you have the bill, you can demand compensation or exchange your purchase for another one in case it is damaged. Imagine this scenario. You buy a milk mix in a carton and when you open it at home you realise that even though the expiry date is not due, the food product is damaged. Now if you have the bill, you can hold the seller and the manufacturer by their collars or even approach a consumers’ forum. But then if you don’t have any bill you might get this reply, “adhukku onnum panna mudiyadhunga ma!” some times added with an “edatha gaali pannunga”.
I have another tip. Do you know you can actually bargain on M.R.P? Of course you can and even I got the Maida for Rs.15/- though the printed M.R.P was Rs. 18/- .
So be alert, do your duty to exercise your right.
