There is an asian bakery nearby that I’ve frequented for years, which sells all manners of sweet and savory buns for reasonable prices.  It has always been run by the same family and definitely falls under the “awesome places to eat” catagory.

So there I am, selecting my favourite treats from the display cabinets, when the customer ahead of me ask (loudly), “Do you take debit?”, making a swiping motion with her hand. The owner replies, in broken English, that the store takes cash only.  The woman says that she will be back later and turns to leave.  The owner burts out and says that the customer can eat now and come back and pay later, saying that he “doesn’t mind”. The customer politely refuses and the owner insists.  Both parties clearly becoming frustrated, the customer finally leaves.

After paying for my food (today, instead of “next week”, as suggested by the owner), I am left puzzled by the extension of a verbal contract to pay for goods on “credit”.  Is this a common practice where this man once lived?  In the North American style of commerce, where business is defined by written contracts of all descriptions, this kind of verbal contract is unheard of, hence the customer’s confusion and dismissal.  I wonder if the owner was equally puzzled by the refusal of such an offer as the customer was.

The buns were delicious.