An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

So fireworks night was last Friday – one would think that it’s a simple ritual – a yearly thing for this small town – and the entire town are usually out at the waterfront or by Wendy’s where everyone finds a place and sit and wait for the sky to turn dark and enjoy the firework.

This year’s firework was slightly better than the previous years and this year we opted to go down by Wendy’s instead – but we didn’t come with chairs nor a towel to sit on.  So we met our neighbor and chatted for abit – when the guy sitting in front of his car by the road – raised his voice and said we were blocking his view.  Yes! rude and the firework hasn’t started for that matter – and really – this is afterall – a free space and anyone can stand in a big open space where they want.  But as usual – we didn’t want any trouble – and i asked the boss to move a few feet away and the big Caucasian guy moved his chair where we were.   Like i said – no need of that – the space didn’t belong to him – if only he would ask nicely – we wouldn’t have been offended at all.  My grandmother used to say – people like that ” San Yan Ba Sei Dei” – meaning – direct translation – living person placing order on a dead land.   Why can’t people be nice?

Anyhow who plays Magic knows about these new Fat Packs coming out on Friday – so the boss had written on FB telling everyone that he has it and will be on sale on Friday.  Well, you know how FB works right – it’s like a fan page for the store – and meant for people who comes to our store everyday.  So as soon as he posted it up – a fella came on and told the boss “friendly warning” ?  that these packs were only to go on sale on Friday – 16 th July.  Hahahha!! so i see someone is watching our back – but really – does people really think we would wanna get ourselves in trouble for a few dollars?  Plus we are such – law-abiding citizens -hhahah!!  it was really amusing though – and i was really surprised  – it only shows that you never know people eh.

While i was reading about a diet supplement a local resident pointed out on a local Facebook page about what Percy Paris – the Minister of Economic Development had said in his recent interview on one of our local papers.  Apparently, with or without the transport report that they were all supposedly to be waiting for – wouldn’t make a difference.  If that was the case, why did they waste the tax payer’s money by hiring a professional survey company to do the study?  It sure doesn’t make any sense how these people are trying to run this province.  So in other words – they are saying – if i wanna screw up the town – i can screw you up regardless?

The interview continued to say that it wasn’t an overnight decision and if that was the case – was the locals here being brought in at all – to review the decision or to be given a chance to make a presentation and state our case?  It is really sad – and i cannot imagine – staying here and being toy with -  your entire future!  your entire business !  these people donch care about us here in Y-Town do they?

So the landlord’s foreman was in to rent a movie tonight and the boss had asked about the next door neighbor who had vacated the place a few days ago.  The next door neighbor is a huge financial establishment both in United States and Canada.  But they are pulling out of Canada altogether.  The foreman said it wasn’t expected and that he forsee more closure in September.  Already there had been a few businesses that up and left and now he is speculating more closure???  Mannnn!! he was such a JOY!  although other businesses does not directly affect us – ultimately – all these empty store houses – can only mean that there are not enough ppl spending money to maintain the stores.  Therefore, meaning people don’t have jobs to help the economy.  *sigh*.

So i’ve been in Canada for 10 yrs now and with the by election a few days ago, I thought i would do my part as a Permanent Resident and go vote.  Now when i got my Permanent Residency many years ago, i was told i cannot vote for provincial only but i had a rude surprised.  I was told rudely by a big woman who was manning the poll that i am not a Canadian..!!!! mannnn!!  i mean it’s ok.. if i cannot vote but to tell me off so rudely – mannnn..!!  so i said that’s ok..  and took my  tiger direct coupons and went shopping instead.  What i found really strange was – i could vote for the town councils and for the Premier but i can’t vote for MLAs???  darn weird !!!

So my customers asked me if i was going to be a Canadian citizen anytime soon..??  Well, truth be told, i would rather keep my Singapore citizenship because it’s a lot safer to keep it this way – at the rate things are going – i better have a back up plan and that is to keep my citizenship.

So another eatery gone?  The Pita place wasn’t even opened for too long and it’s already gone – according to another customer who walked in today.  But why..?? oh why..?? where am i gonna get some good pita..???  I can’t believe it.. it’s like one business after another – what is Main Street becoming?  Are you worried yet..??  I am.. i don’t know what to think?  ppl just up and leave – their businesses just overnight.

I was checking out  eczematreatment.org when a customer walked in and told us that some business was going bankrupt and having a liquidation sale.  Yes ! another business in this small lil’ town is closing !  who?  a competition.  Many had come in and said – ohhh! it must be good for your business !  but what they don’t understand is – how it will impact the economy of this town.

I’m sure they don’t mean anything bad – but you can also see they don’t look at the big picture.  As a resident of this town and a small business owner – having competition/s is healthy – because it keeps the prices competitive for the consumers.   It is also important to have lot of various businesses in this town for this town to flourish – it’s not all about one or two business – it’s about everyone.  Now that one business is closed – that means more unemployed and more who needs to be careful with spending – so if they have no jobs – meaning they are going to spend less and the tax payer will be tax even more.  Vicious cycle eh.

Or is it a crook calling the other a crook?  10 yrs in business – one would think you would have seen it all – but nope – a crook will always be a crook no matter what good intentions they had in the beginning.  And in any business – you never truly see the true color of a person – till they decide to rip you off.

But one such crook – is even more crazier than the rest of the crooks – we’ve met by far.  Rented a game from us – didn’t come back for 4 weeks – the boss caught up with him on Facebook asking if we should send him to collections or was he returning our game anytime soon.  He wrote back to ask if he could buy the game straight out without paying his lates.  The boss offer him $10 in lates and to buy out the game.  He thank the boss for the game and that he was keeping the game and the money!  How stylo malo is that?

The next day – he tried to sell it on Facebook yardsale – the boss when online to tell everyone that the game belongs to the store.  The crook then told the boss he was calling the cops on us  *roll eyes* and yes called us crooks instead.  So we called the cops on him instead.  You see – we don’t threaten nor do we play games.   And yes – his name is on our rip off list – so if you are around town, you should come by and see our rip off list – it’s called “People who have ripped us off, recently!”   If we had enough wall space – I will bring back the “Wall Of Shame”.

Is this depressing or what?  this week – we’ve heard 3 small businesses closing its door – due to different reasons.  I  buy diet pills online and was minding my own business at the store when someone from the cafe came in and talked amongst themselves that they didn’t even know that they didn’t have a job anymore.  They went to work and the restaurant weren’t opened.  This is shocking to me – I remember this place so well because when i was pregnant with my only child – this restaurant and its quiche was the only thing that kept me and the kid alive.It is very sad – even though it doesn’t affect us directly but to see one after another leave or closed is just too much for the week for me.   Are there anymore depressing news next?  and what is the town doing for people like these restaurants?

So i was looking at my term life insurance when a customer/friend walked in to collect her notebook – she had left for the spouse to fix.   Then the big news came – that she and her entire family is moving out of Canada.  Of course, I’m happy for her – but that would mean that my hope of another expat in town sharing the same ideal of making it home here is just  not feasible to make good in this town.

So yes, yesterday was there last day of operation and they will be leaving town as soon as their kid is outta school.  I am very happy for them but it certainly left mixed feelings in me.  I want what is best for my kids too – but what has this town gotta offer?   What future has my kid got here in another 10 yrs?   Is she gonna be able to meet decent people and build a life here?   I have so many questions right now – running around my head.  I woke up feel rather depress to be honest – what has this town got for our future?

A month and a half ago, i had written about this ex-customer renting 3 movies and not bringing them back.  After leaving a message on a voice mail for him at his parents – about collections – he came in to scream at us in vulgarities – but still not returning our movies.  Yes ! the nerve of some people – he then told the boss he was gonna bring it back the next day – and pay up his late fees.

But guess what?  another month later – today – he came in with the movies – but walked right out without paying his lates either.  2 months and 3 movies later – paid only $3 bucks for renting it each – this person has not even an inch of integrity in him – for people like that – he will never rent from us again – and the next time – he comes in and wants to rent – i would give him the  best acne treatment i can find and tell him to take it with him free – for he is nothing but a pain.  People like that don’t know that they are hurting not only our business but others – because we are planning not to even rent movies soon – all because of people like him and his g/f.  Both owes us money – $100 each.   You see his g/f ripped us off – a few months ago – and now the b/f – so birds of the feathers do flock together eh.

It’s that time of the year again – whereby – it looks like just about everyone in town is looking for money – from the town.  This year I heard from our deputy mayor who is also a friend that there were more organization looking for money from the town.  I have nothing against it trust me – some people like the parent’s place and the boys and girls’ club – they should get all the money they need.  Afterall, these are the people who are really helping the people in town.  But when a local bus service – privately owned who is already getting $60K in subsidy every year asked for another $10K – now that is beyond my comprehension.

Why?  in my 10 yrs here – i never took the bus.  Why ? because the route that the bus uses – does not go everywhere and it only goes hourly – considering how small this town is – it’s terrible.  That means I have to wait like the right time to take the public bus – pay $2.75 and take a ride for at least another 30mins and then i have to walk home – if it was going near my house or where I wanna go.  What about if i had a few kids with me?  that don’t make it anymore economical does it? and it’s time consuming – so no – i don’t take the bus.   Taking a cab is about $6.50 but me and all my kids can go into it – and if i didn’t have a car – i would definitely take a cab.   So for us taxpayer to fork out $70K for a bus that doesn’t serve a lot of ppl – who cannot sustain itself – then i say – it’s not feasible. This $70K must go to some organization who really needs it – for a great cause but having said that – that’s only my opinion and maybe – i haven’t heard all angle of the story.

Movie and game rentals are the most painful lost in our small business – not only do we loose the money – the aggravation from people renting them and not bringing it back is bad enough but to see the thief try and sell it in the local yardsale online is really too much.  With all the movies and games lost the last 10 years, we could easily afford more inventories.  In fact – if we really want to put them altogether – from people owing us without paying us for work done on their computers or people taking stuff without paying first – because we were stupid to trust them.  We could actually open another small store that sell books in Digby.  So I have spoken once again to the spouse to stop renting – just buy and sell and there will be no aggravation and no money lost there.

So the Premier was in town today – and guess what – he was welcomed by the crowd chanting – “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho – Dexter gotta go! Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Dexter gotta go”  Some had their  terry romper on and was standing as a by-stander and just watching.   About a dozen of the town ppl were at the town hall picketing – the numbers were sad!  for those who were there ranting and giving all sorts ofmouthy speech on Facebook were just empty vessels. When the real deal to talk to the Mayor presented itself – there were no spokesperson.   I was late and i didn’t get to see the Premier – but had i seen him – i did have a few questions prepared for him.  Shortly after the doors were closed – the group lead by former Mayor Crosby dispersed.  It was a very sad day for me – i had expected a better turn out – when they were fighting for the Yar’c they had more turned out than this.  I see that the Yar’c is far more important to the people of this town than the ending of tourism.  How sad is that..?

So we have people who rents from us – games and movies and they expect us to be ok that they don’t bring it back on time.  Some even expects us to forget about our rentals for playstation 3 games and you and I know how expensive they are and no – if i can help it – i would do everything and anything i can to get our games or movies back.

So – we call and we leave messages and if we so happen to know you know someone that we know – we will ask for help from your friend.  If not – we will leave messages for you.  We always try to be nice – but after a month – and i still can’t reach you – because you don’t have the correct phone number for us – and we only have your parents  – well, we’ll leave a message for your parents.

So that was what i did to a renter today – at his parents – i said in my message that i wasn’t going to call no more because it was his responsibility to bring it back and that if i didn’t’ see it at the end of the week – i was going to send his name to the collection agency.   And guess what he miraculously appeared the very same day – albeit swearing at us and tell us that he didn’t like we threatened his parents – blah, blah, blah.  Well, buddy – in the first place – if you respected yourself and your good name – you would have brought it back like 4 weeks ago – and since you can’t – i have to do what i have to do – to protect our property.  It always work and no amount of swearing would get him anywheres – he is definitely  not renting from us for a long time.

I was doing my diet pill review when yet another customer came in coughing and sneezing and without feeling bad about it at all.   This sick customer like any who comes in sick – still carry on chatting with the spouse and selling him stuff and sticking around and coughing and even telling other customers that he has the flu *slap forehead*.  Why are ppl so inconsiderate?  just because you are sick doesnt’ mean that you need to get other ppl sick right?  common sense tells you that flu or any kind of illness can be contagious thru’ the air.   But we can’t control who comes in or out of our store and even though we lightly joke about not wanting to get sick along with them – they still hang around – and guess what..?? not only is my spouse sick – so is my daughter now.  *shake head*.  I don’t mind if we adults get ill but the kid – i’m sure you know where i’m coming from.

So I saw a report today that Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg counties has the highest unemployment rate in this region and why am I not surprised?   The government of Canada is giving out money to various companies like they were custom mugs but refuses to support the ferry for Nova Scotia area.   Folks in this area are so complacent even though there are programs and programs and more programs to help them to get back into the job market.

Many years ago – I would have helped anyone who would come in looking for a job and telling us that no one would hire them.  But you see – they don’t really want a job – all they want is to show their social worker that they did attempt to look for a job.  You see when we did offer them a job – they either don’t show up for work or give all sorts of excuses to change their shifts.  One just needed to sit and collect money while pregnant.. and yet she found ways of not coming to work.  It’s pretty sad but I don’t think some people in Canada wants to work at all – I think they only want to work if they are paid more than minimum wage but small businesses like ours just can’t afford it unless you are an exceptional worker.  And in all my years here in Canada.. i’ve only seen one or two exceptional workers.   So how can our region not be the highest in unemployment rate?

We have a local community college of the town – and today we learned from a loyal customer that  this community college will not take quotes from small businesses like ours instead they only support big companies like Staples.    Ironic eh?  Yes!  well, I don’t know the real reason why they wouldn’t take quotes from a smaller company just for a computer or laptop sale for one of their students – surely we can handle giving them a better quote no?

I can understand why they would go to other places for office supplies but not to take quotes from a local but smaller business?  you gotta wonder eh – maybe some kickbacks from bigger local stores than ours?   But nevermind – we won’t be supporting any job placement nor year book donation for some community college too from now on – don’t see a need for supporting our community college anymore from now on. hahah!!

Looks like we are not getting the ferry this summer at all.  The NS government refused to budge even though the town and 3 municipalities are coming up with half the money for the CAT to run this year.  But our dear Premier Dexter said he doesn’t have the money – but on the same day – they gave Irving close to $20 million..??  I don’t know what kind of summer Yarmouth will have – but I can see a very bleak one this year and what will happen next year..??  politics can be really deary – we just hope for the best – and do the best we can eh.

I can boldly say that when we walk into anyone’s business – we are always welcome with open arms – why? because we respect the ppl who owns the store – the ppl who works there – we treat them with utmost respect.  Even if i was just getting a auto insurance quote i still treat the insurance man with utmost respect.

Unfortunately, for us – in our business – it is not always the same – once in a while we get some very unwelcome customer/s – that you hope your worst enemy don’t even encounter.  Not only does this person wants to cheat me of a mere $1 – he wants me to be his philipino maid!   Not only expecting me to throw his coffee cup for him but to drain his cup empty before throwing it out.  On top of it – he goes around the store and touching and turning on just about everything without even asking if it was alright.  Ppl like that have no respect for other ppl or their things – if my grandmother was still alive – she would tell him – he has got no manners in his face.   BOY! i really don’t know how these ppl survive – but having said all the above – i don’t think he works – because he is always at our store – and what a sight for sore eye.