The other day two roommates and I went out to an electronics store
with the intention of purchasing two pairs of headsets with microphones,
for the purpose of playing online games together. We went into the
store, got help from a sales associate, did a comparison of all the
products available and quickly made a decision as to which product to
purchase. I picked up the headset that I intended to purchase and
started heading towards the counter to pay for it. The other roommate
that was purchasing a headset picked one up and got in line behind me. There were about ten people ahead of us in the line already.
The last
roommate said he would be right back and not to buy anything quite yet.
He went next door to another store that also sold electronics. A minute
later he came back and informed us that next door they sold the same
headset at exactly the same price. There were now about five people
ahead of us in line. He mentioned that next door there was no line. I
figured that by the time we put the product back went next door and
picked up the headset and paid for it about the same amount of time
would have passed. So, I decided to wait where I was. The other roommate
that was buying a headset decided to go next door and buy it there.
I
got up to the front of the line, paid for my purchase and then left the
building. I then proceeded to the store next door. As I was entering
my roommates came out. So, some time was saved by my friend going next
door to make his purchase, but probably less than a minute.
We
headed to our car and started on our way home. I considered the matter
finished with. We had left the house for a purpose, accomplished our
goal and were heading back home.
Then...the other guy that purchased a headset said to me " I feel kinda bad though".
And I said "what? Why do you feel bad?"
He
replied "well, I bought the last of this headset that they had. The
sales guy said they don't get them in that often And he just told me he
was planning on buying it himself after his shift that day".
The
truth of the matter is that my friend did not really feel bad. What he
felt was guilt because an action that he took prevented someone else
from getting something that they wanted. Of course the employee of the
second store could go into the first store and by the headset, but he
will not get his employee discount in the first store since he does not
work there. And now, for a time at least, each time my friend uses the headset,
he is going to be reminded of the other person not getting to use it. My
roommate says he felt bad but he obviously did not feel bad enough to
change his course of action to make things right.
As I was
meditating on this circumstance it occurred to me that this did not need
to happen. There was a way that we could have all had a win-win
situation. The first store had plenty of the headset we wanted to buy.
When my friend found out that there was only one in the second store and
that it would have benefited the sales person to be able to buy it
there, my friend should have come back and made his purchase at the
original store we were in. It would not have cost my friend any more
money and then the third person could have had what they wanted as well.
After
discussing it with my roommates we agreed that although we did not make
that choice this time, in the future we will. And we will look for
similar circumstances where by slightly altering our actions we can
create a win for everybody involved.
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