Just had an argument with my wife. On the subject of bargaining. Though not the first time. Not a heavy one either.
It concerns her mom too. I had to agree with another party, that some people's idea of bargaining is indeed ridiculous: Squeezing the seller's price quote as much as possible. Not to mention incredibly selfish.
Were we being too honest? And Pak Tong giving back some money to his seller years later after realizing the market price was supposed to be lower.
Always know the value in pursuit. If any mistake is done on my part, it would be in this part. After that, the bargaining can be easily based on this. It is absolutely not supposed to be based on how much more we could go against the market value. The Chinese would disagree, but they are wrong. If someone involves me in a successful bargaining that is too much lower than the real market value, I have learned to feel ashamed and guilty about it. Which on some occasions, I did and my heart usually ached in silence.
When everything is done with the right conviction, we have to learn to let go and not let some earthly value strangle our lives.
How can we testify for Christ when we have to win all the time? What gospel can we tell the sellers when we have the opportunity? Are they not to be targets of preachers(that means Christians)? Or are they on their own with God as long as we don't have to see them again after the "business"?
This is actually a case I've longed solved with some white hairs. I have to bring it up as a reminder to myself.
While on the subject of preaching to "enemies", I had to add a fault today. That during the snow plowing this morning, some black (he looks black, so black it is) guy came over to instruct me not to dump the snow on the side walk. Of course, with my usual sinful attitude, I did not take it kindly (not to his face). I didn't say sorry, because my wife had later told me (which I sort of knew already) that the side walk is the guy's responsibility as it is his house that is cornered by it. I was angry enough to be sinful. And I had imagined that it was his car (could still be his but who cares, I saw a black guy drove it last night) in front of our car and dump the snow in that direction. What's more aggravating was that that dump site is actually proper and legal, so I tried to throw the snow a little further until some smashed his car, and I laughed about it, hoping that he would witness it and what could happen next is obviously predictable. But it was just snow. It wasn't a rock. No damage was done. He didn't come out nor perhaps see it. Perhaps he did see it and drove his car away later when I wasn't around.
No matter, I was in the wrong and I should apologize to him. When I get the chance. There is no excuse for me as to how his attitude was when he told me not to throw snow in the pavement. Even though I did try not to dump the snow there, but the fact was I wouldn't have cared if I did.