OPINION: Bad cling peaches and the rise of the overdraft army

WHAT’S going on? Time is flying, the days seem to be shorter than ever before, and yet getting through to the end of the month – and by that I mean payday – seems to take an eternity.

And that’s just for those with regular incomes – spare a thought for pensioners and those hustling odd jobs to scrape by. It’s already tough out there, and we haven’t even hit the VAT increase coming on May 1 – International Workers' Day, nogal!

At this rate, they should rename it ‘International Sukkeling Workers’ Day’.

All I am suggesting is that they say sitting in a draft can make you sick – well, soon many of us might be sitting in an overdraft, and that’ll definitely make you feel under the weather.

Most would probably agree: the income side of things isn’t rosy. But what about the spending side? If it’s getting harder to make ends meet, the least we can expect is decent products and fair service, right?

Not always.

Just the other day, I was at a store and spotted some cling peaches that looked too good to resist. I turned over my wallet six times and finally said, “You know what? I’ll treat myself.” I bought four. I ate one. The other three were brown and grotty inside – they went straight into the bin.

Now, I know what some might say: “Why didn’t you return them? Kick up a fuss? Demand your money back!” But honestly? I was just too deflated. My bigger question is: Why is it sometimes so hard to get good produce in this city?

I’m not having a go at retailers – times are tough for everyone. But let’s be honest: poor service or dodgy goods shouldn’t become the norm, especially when every rand counts.

Maybe it’s time for retailers and customers to start talking.

Unhappy customers should speak up – not to cause trouble, but to give stores a chance to fix things. If no one complains, how are they supposed to know what’s slipping through the cracks?

And retailers? They need to see their shelves through the eyes of cash-strapped shoppers. One limp display of spinach, for example, can ruin the impression of an otherwise good store.

But what happens if we don’t sort this out? After all, consumers are getting pretty frustrated, even angry. Also, remember that miscommunication leads to misunderstandings, and misunderstandings can spark conflict.

Take this story I heard recently for example: A local store, trying to help pensioners stretch their rands, announced an early-bird special – every Wednesday, from 8am to 9am, everything in-store would be 20% off.

So on the first Wednesday, a queue of elderly shoppers lined up eagerly outside at 7.45am. Soon, a young man strolled over from the parking lot and tried to cut in at the front. This was not on – one gogo beat him right back to the parking area with her cane.

Seemingly undeterred, he returned. This time, an old man gut-punched him, and five elderly gentlemen hauled him off like nightclub bouncers.

But on his third attempt, clearly rethinking his tactics, the young man approached slowly, raised his hands, and said: “Look, if you don’t let me unlock the door, you’re never getting in.”

Moral of the story: It’s good when you can offer a bargain – but clear communication can open doors. Literally.