“Strawberries, strawberries, fifty pence a pound.” The familiar bellowing sounds of a London food Market.
Right now in Kathmandu it’s banana season. Bananas are ripe, plentiful and tasty. You can pick them up anywhere in the city, but why venture far from the hotel, when Shiv Barosh brings them to your town in tourist town, Thamel?
SO SHIV, WHAT DOES A GOOD BANANA SELLER DO FIRST?
Shake the customer by the hand. It’s important to establish a bond of trust. Sometimes they aren’t even sure they are a customer by this point [he chuckles] but they most definitely are.
WHAT NEXT?
They’ve come to buy bananas, so give them what they want. Personally, I peel one straight off and get them to try it before they buy it. This proves the quality, but more importantly ensures they can’t walk off without paying me for at least one banana!
CRAFTY. DO YOU SELL BY THE KILO?
No, by number of bananas. I think weighing scales regulate our industry unnecessarily. I also find that people underestimate their own need, so if someone asks for five bananas I’ll generally fill a bag with twelve.
HOW THOUGHTFUL. SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE DOING A ROARING TRADE, THEN?
Oh yeah. It’s not just bananas, though. My variety of stock allows me to chuck in oranges and apples as well. You cone for bananas and leave with a veritable fruitbowl.
WOW. AND ALL THIS AT CHEAP NEPALESE PRICES?
My customers understand that there are overheads associated with my close proximity to their hotels. I charge competitive rates for the area. Sure, you can go down the road for cheaper prices, but will it have the Shiv Tourist Seal Of Approval? No. It won’t.
DO MANY PEOPLE OPT FOR THIS CHEAPER OPTION?
What cheaper option? Who said anything about a cheaper option? These prices are rock bottom. Curse you for suggesting otherwise. Come back here and eat my banana.
OH, OK. I’M ACTUALLY NOT HUNGRY RIGHT NOW, BUT NICE TO TALK TO YOU. THANKS. NAMASTE.
Thanks to Shiv for his time, and for his offers of fruit… Even though I eventually got mine elsewhere.
