Without trust, no deal

Why trust is the invisble deal-breaker

The most important message in my recent note about trust:

Without trust, no deal.

Then I brought my overseas visitor shopping. I have no interest in shopping but it is a popular thing to do here and of course I want to be a good host so off we went.

We found the place she had been recommended by someone and were suddenly surrounded by hundreds of handbags.

Tiny shop that looked closed from the outside.

Thick blackout curtains covering all windows from outside light and curious eyes. I spent the next four hours reading Substacks while my visitor filtered her choices. Labels. Models. Colours.

3 pm and I felt my lunch was long overdue. Breakfast had been my usual black coffee at 6 am. I was more hangry than friendly.

Only then did I discover we were locked in. Someone had locked the door from the outside without any warning and I had not noticed.

I was furious.

I was locked in, curtains closed, in this shady little shop because somehow the owner had concluded that we were not to be trusted.

I could not get out by myself but it has never been easier for me to walk away from a bargain deal.

I did not want any of that stuff anyway. I do not enjoy shopping and I certainly do not like the kind of shopping we were experiencing, for many good reasons. The shop owner’s behaviour then became a total dealbreaker for me. I will not ever bring any visiting shopping enthusiasts there again.

In all fairness, I have been locked into shops before. The jewellery store where I went to get my rings polished. The watch store where I brought my husband’s watch for maintenance. They have those double door entrances where you are stuck in between for a little while, before entering or exiting the store. I do not mind that. You know beforehand that is how it works. The process is clearly visible to you and it is easy to sympathise and accept it needs to be like that for everyone.

Yesterday’s experience was something else.

I had been trapped without knowing it.

I left with nothing but negative feelings.