Athens
After this narrow escape I has in Santorini, (check out “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts – part one), I arrived in Athens and wanted to buy a SIM card – not that simple in Athens. However after wandering around for a few hours, getting a really good look at all the back streets, I finally found a Vodafone shop in the main shopping complex.
I was a still a little shell-shocked from my Santorini experience but still the same happy, trusting, naive traveller. I waited patiently for my turn trying to understand the odd word and failing and finally it was my turn.
I explained what I wanted to this really friendly young man. He was extremely helpful in working out the type of SIM card I needed. He quoted me a price which was completely satisfactory and I paid using a 50 Euro note. He processed the payment, printed a receipt and then gave me the change…but not all the change! He retained the coins!! 4 Euro!
He took me over to a table and started to help me change the SIM and get the phone active on the network so I told myself to stop being a suspicious, cranky old woman and that not all people were out to rip me off!!!
Finally I was on the system and he said his goodbyes and returned to the customer service section of the store. I stood there completely bemused and started to have an internal conversation in my head. Good thing I am not talking to myself out loud just yet because the listener would have called the padded wagon and taken me away!
Finally I thought no I am not going to take this so I walked up to him and said:
“so sorry but my change is not correct?”
“yes it is” he said – “the SIM card cost 10 Euro”
“really, why does my receipt show that the cost was 6 Euro”
“Oh” he said and then reached into his back pocket, got out my coins, gave them to me and then quickly retreated out of sight into the back office, leaving me standing like a shag on a rock but at least I got my 4 Euro!!!
So as where I started – so I end this sorry saga…
Traveller beware!
Post Scrip: I was not concerned about the 4 Euro as an amount of money but simply felt that I was being taken advantage of because I was clearly a tourist and had no language and perhaps limited understanding of the actual value of the notes and coins that were being exchanged.
Happy Bumbering!
