The deal: Frozen by a fridge deal

By Michael Oriedo

"This time I can save more money," Peter said as he perused through Home Appliances, a foreign magazine he was holding.

A quick mental calculation told him he had saved Sh4,999 when he bought his 14 inch TV a month ago.

That time, his friend had linked him with Caroline, an attendant at a popular supermarket in the city centre.

He had visited her at the supermarket and she had showed him the best brands on sale, giving him her advice on the quality of pictures the TVs displayed.

But when Peter wanted to pay for the TV, Caroline came up with a better idea.

"I can help you get that TV at a lesser amount," she had told him.

"Give me two days and I will deliver it at your place," she had assured. "You see the price is Sh9,999 but you will give me Sh6000."

Happy savings

Later, they had settled for Sh5,000.

After two days, Caroline had delivered the TV to a stunned Peter. As he scanned through the magazine, he found himself admiring the beautiful pictures of refrigerators splendidly displayed. Deeply engrossed in the pictures, he jerked excitedly; "I think I should buy a fridge this month."

Without a second thought, he called Caroline for help. The next day, he met her at the supermarket and she showed him the refrigerators on display.

Peter looked at the different makes and their prices; Samsung RT 26/27 white, Sh27,995, Sanyo 2 DR F32MKW, Sh39,995, WP 2 DR Refrigerator RF/200, Sh26,495 and so on.

"Can you find one with a double door?" Peter asked.

"Yes, but you will have to cough more money. The risk is bigger," Caroline said with the last words coming out in a whisper when she saw a colleague approaching them.

"I will call you," she resumed after her workmate was out of earshot.

"Then we shall discuss the amount, including the risk allowance," she added.

The days that followed dragged on as Peter waited anxiously for Caroline’s call. On the third day, it came and with good news.

" I am sorry I didn’t get exactly what you wanted," she said.

"No…. No….No…., not in that sense, it is something bigger and better. I got a Sanyo with double doors. In the shops, it goes for Sh33,995," she told him.

"So, how much are you selling it?" Peter asked excitedly.

"I think Sh25,000 would equal my troubles," she said.

"I appreciate your troubles, but I will give you Sh22,000," he said with finality.

"Okay, no need for haggling anymore, let me get the full amount tomorrow evening when I deliver it," she said.

When Caroline delivered the fridge at Peter’s house the next evening, she found him anxiously waiting.

Offloading a fridge

It was packed in its box, complete with all the labels that guarantee genuineness.

Peter could not believe his eyes. "You are a strong woman," he offered his compliments.

Together, they offloaded the fridge from the vehicle and into his house. Then Caroline paid the taxi driver before returning into the house.

Peter helped her unpack the fridge from its box. Then, they placed it at a corner, which he had already set. She installed it and told him some routine maintenance procedures before handing him the manual.

‘You stay alone," she asked

"For now yes," Peter answered hesitatingly trying to avoid her prying tongue.

"You don’t need to rush home anymore to cook, just prepare food in bulk," she teased him.

He then gave her the money, adding Sh500 on the agreed amount as a token of appreciation. After two weeks, he realised there was something wrong with the fridge. Every time he stored food in it, it went stale. Unable to discern the problem, he tried calling Caroline but his call ended in the voicemail.

Peter contacted an electrician who after finding the inner components rusty, gave him his verdict — the fridge was refurbished.

"This one has been in use for not less than five years," he told him.

"What do you mean? I bought it two weeks ago," he wondered.

After testing the rusty parts, the electrician told him; "You need to replace the compression system; I mean the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the evaporator."

"How much will it cost?" he asked his voice trembling with rage

"It is as good as buying another fridge," the electrician said.

Peter bit his lower lip. "So, she conned me?" he shouted, surprising the electrician.

Disappointment

The following day, he went in search of Caroline at her workplace only to be told by a colleague of hers that she had been sacked the previous week after she was suspected of stealing a TV set from the supermarket’s store.

When he intimated to him about the refrigerator, he was shocked to learn more, "You are the fifth person to complain about her this week," he told him.

"My friend, why did you go for shortcuts?" he asked Peter.

Peter froze on his tracks and hurriedly left the supermarket while repeating the words "short cuts" several times.

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