How Much Do We Gain When We Bargain with the Strain?
Philipose Vaidyar
Bargaining
is an everyday practice in markets worldwide, but have you ever noticed
where we draw the line? While we don't hesitate to pay full price in high-end
stores, we negotiate fiercely with street vendors who need help to make a
living. This piece explores the disparity in how we treat the rich and the
vulnerable, urging us to reflect on our actions and their impact on those trying to survive.
We often
bargain to save a little money or get a better deal. But have you ever noticed
who we usually bargain with? We don't negotiate at fancy clothing stores or
jewelry shops, where we spend thousands, sometimes even lakhs, without a
second thought. Yet, when we meet a street vendor selling spinach or a scrap
picker offering to buy old paper, we negotiate for a few extra rupees. Why?
Imagine
this: You buy a beautiful silk saree, spending tens of thousands without
bargaining. The next day, you purchase gold for your daughter's wedding—again,
no bargaining, trusting the big store and their fixed rates. But when the
street vegetable vendor comes your way or is seated at the square, you argue for a
lower price on a small bundle of spinach, saving only a few rupees. Why do we
feel comfortable bargaining with someone struggling to make a living, but not
with larger, wealthier businesses?
Social and Economic Gaps
This behaviour
reflects a deeper issue in our society. Small vendors, like the vegetable
seller or the scrap collector, are often from vulnerable backgrounds. Their
livelihood depends on the little money they make every day, yet we pressure
them to lower their prices. We don't question or bargain with big stores
because they seem established, respectable, or too formal for us to haggle
with.
But when
we bargain with those who are struggling, we fail to see the hardship behind
their work. That street vendor who pulls a cart or sells vegetables from early
in the morning may be feeding her children or paying for their school fees.
Yet, we don’t think twice about spending on luxuries like clothes, food, or
outings where we never consider bargaining.
The Bigger Picture
This
pattern shows how often we underestimate the efforts of the poor. Bargaining
with them is not just about saving money—it’s a reflection of how we value them
and their work. We might not realize that every rupee matters for these small vendors. In the end, when we save Rs. 2 or Rs. 5 through bargaining, are we
really thinking about how much it costs the vendor who sold us that item?
A Call to Compassion
In the
city where we lived, I used to keep recyclable trash, instead of disposing of it with the daily garbage, and selling it whenever possible. It often fetches some money. Several times, I left scraps together outside the street
for the rag pickers to take away. Once, back home in Kerala, I had dismantled
an unwanted shed with a tin roof. The roof sheets weren’t reusable, so I wanted to
dispose of them. I didn’t want to dump them somewhere, moreover, there was no
place to dump them. A few days later, a scrap buyer came by on his scooter. I wasn’t
sure if he could carry those sheets on his scooter, but I showed him the items.
He folded, pressed, and packed them, then pulled out his scale to weigh it all.
It was a heavy load for him to carry on his scooter. While he was calculating,
I told him he didn’t need to pay; he could just take it away. All I thought
about was his need to make a living that day. I could see he was hard-working,
perhaps unable to do other types of jobs because of an internal injury he might
have suffered years ago.
As he was
about to leave, it began pouring rain. He had to wait, so I invited him to sit
in the porch instead of under the shed outside. I didn’t have to believe every
story he told, but I listened as he shared parts of his life until the rain
passed. I saw him a few more times in the area. He would wave his hand, grinning,
or stop by, just to say hello. That small gesture from that rainy day must have
lifted him, even a little.
The next
time we buy from a street vendor, let’s pause and think about their situation.
Bargaining may save us a few rupees, but what does it mean for the person
selling? Let’s show empathy and remember that the money we save at their
expense might be money they desperately need for survival.
We don’t
have to stop bargaining altogether. But we should be thoughtful and fair,
especially with those who are trying to make a living in difficult
circumstances. Let's treat everyone with the dignity they deserve, whether they
own a big shop or sell vegetables on the street. In doing so, we reflect the
compassion and justice that God calls us to live by.
Here are a few Bible verses that may be relevant in this connection:
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the
Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." — Proverbs 19:17
"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and
will exact life for life." — Proverbs 22:22-23
"And if you spend yourselves on behalf of the
hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the
darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." — Isaiah 58:10
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.'" — Matthew 25:40
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your
lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." — Luke 6:38
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." — James 1:27
"Has not God chosen those who are poor in the
eyes of the world to be rich in faith...? But you have dishonored the
poor." — James
2:5-6
