Put This In Your Memory Bank
Oct 6th, 2007 by Don Ray
I should have known this, but I didn’t. I had the mistaken impression that the boys in PriceSmart, who help put all your purchases in the basket, were paid by PriceSmart. They are not. I knew that all of the boys that do same thing in the super markets worked only for tips. I just thought that PriceSmart was different.
Today, I asked PriceSmart management, because these boys always want to help me take my basket to the car. I had been doing it myself because I didn’t know that they were also working for tips.
I will start letting them assist me. I appreciate them wanting to help their families and jobs in Panama are hard to find. The next time you purchase things in any of the super markets or in PriceSmart, consider giving the boy some change. It may not mean much to you, but it will help them. I would rather help them this way and it could prevent them from resorting to less respectable ways of getting money.
I would like to thank you for those comments about those boys. Your advocacy work will pay off. Gracias.
I am a Panamanian, born in Chiriqui, but currently working as a teacher and stdudying in NC.
Bye,
Juan
Hi Juan. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Thanks for this info, Don Ray. I had no idea that the boys in Pricesmart and the grocery stores worked only for tips. We always tip in El Rey but we never have in Pricesmart. That will surely change.
Hi Kathy. Yes. It is something that most of us that come from the US take for granted. I have gotten into the habit of giving the boys something even if I carry a couple bags to my car. If I only buy a single item, I don’t. However if I buy $10 of some reasonable amount, I still give them a quarter. They deserve it.