Solicitors
Saturday, October 29th, 2005 -- J. DoeIn the US you will often find on buildings and stores a sign that says ‘No Soliciting’ In Italy you won’t, or if you do, it won’t be enforced.
Saturday I decided to grab a sandwich at a bar. I chose one, paid, and then sat myself down at a table.
5 minutes later a solicitor, a seller of stuff I didn’t want entered the bar and proceeded to ask all the clients eating what they bought at the bars tables if they wanted to buy his expensive stuff.
They all shook their heads ‘No’ and he moved on.
Then he gets to my table. I don’t know what it is about me but ALL Non-Americans seem to be able to pick me out in a crowd as being American (what they think of as a rich tourist).
They see me as a human bank. Anyway, this life-form in the shape of a man asks me if I wanted to buy his stuff.
I said ‘No thank you’. Not leaving a supposedly rich American tourist target alone, he then proceeded to beg me for money ‘I’m hungry. I have no money. I have 3 kids. Help me.’
I felt bad for him, maybe it was true. I then saw that he had a package of 6 travel-size tissue packets with him. ‘How much are the tissues ?’ I asked, thinkining that maybe I will buy something from him after all.
‘10 Euros’ he replied.
Thinking that was a little expensive for tissues, I said ‘No thank you’.
He insisted. He put them on the table. He cut the price down to 8 Euros. Then 6. The whole time I was protesting ‘No’ ‘That’s too much’ ,’ No thank you,’, ‘No’ , and ‘Please let me eat’.
The whole time the other clients at the 2 other tables occupied were staring at the scene we were causing.
So were at least 2 of the baristi behind the counter, yet even though I PAID 2.50 for my sandwich and 1 Euro for my water, no one came to rescue me and/or throw this guy out.
Finally I got up, took my sandwich and water and walked away, leaving him, the other customers and baristi that were watching, and that bar behind.
In the United States, sign or no sign, that aggressive selling/panhandling of paying customers is simply not allowed. I am not asking that stores in Italy become like those in the US, but show some respect for paying customers. Don’t allow soliciting.
I learned long ago (way back in the 60’s) that, if I don’t want to be identified as an American…
1. Do not speak. Grunt!
2. Never (EVER, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, EVEN FOR THE SLIGHTEST FRACTION OF A SECOND)…Smile. The smile gives you away every time.
You are right!
I’ll just save all my smiles for Buzzurro.
The previous comment meets the Buzzurro seal of approval
The fact that you’re American drew the panhandler to you, but do you think had this happened to a local, the owners would have tossed him out the door? Really??
Thats sad. And discouraging.
No, I don’t think the store clerks not throwing out the panhandler had anything to do with my being American.
I think it had to do with, what is a common theme on this blog, the lack of customer service and respect for others that one finds in Italy.
I was a paying customer. I was paying not only to eat a sandwich, but to eat it in a relaxing environment.
Usually the baristi come out of they bars to chase unwanted solicitors. Probably those two were busy serving other customers.
But you are right, in many town centers street vendors, migrants almost all of them, can sometimes become fussy. Specially with women or tourists. Usually, the best way to get rid of them is to say a loud NO.
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