Khaberni - One day, I decided to buy an outdoor sitting area that decorates the house garden. I searched a lot for something beautiful and durable, then entered one of the stores that offered me dozens of options. I chose the most expensive sitting area they had after the seller assured me it was the best and that it came with a five-year warranty.
I asked him to write the warranty on the receipt… and he did so immediately.
Less than a year later, the seating began to fall apart! I called the seller, he welcomed and confidently said, “If you have the receipt and the warranty… we are ready to repair it,” certain that I would not have kept the receipt… but he was shocked when I sent him the pictures and the invoice.
From that moment on… he disappeared, no response, no contact, no interest.
After many attempts, I sent him a clear message:
"This is the last message I will send you." And yet… he completely ignored me.
So, I decided to resort to consumer protection, submitted the request, sent the pictures, and was sure they would follow up.
Week by week… month after month… and the response was always:
"Under process… and we will inform you as soon as possible."
After three months of following up and failed calls, they told me on WhatsApp: "The business owner does not respond… and the matter is not with us."
I called the seller and he answered from the first ring! And said, “Nobody from consumer protection contacted me.”
I told him: “I am not angry at you… whether you fix it or not.
My real anger is towards the organizations whose role is to protect people… but they are form without substance."
The man promised to repair it… and took the sitting area, and since that day… he has neither returned the sitting area nor refunded me.
I lost the price of the sitting area… and lost my trust in two parties:
The seller… and consumer protection.
So, each of us has experienced deception from a blacksmith, carpenter, builder, electrician, mechanic, or even an employee.
And every time we look for a suitable option, we hear someone say:
"By God, he does not miss a prayer at the mosque!" as if it’s a trademark for quality assurance! But the truth? His prayers, fasting, and pilgrimage… are his relationship with his God only, they have no relation to his religion... nor his piety… nor his worship, I deal with his honesty, his truthfulness, his conscience, it’s unfortunate that we treat honesty as if it’s an attractive trait if available…while in reality:
Honesty is not a virtue… honesty is a duty, and truthfulness is not a favor from a person… truthfulness is an ethical law that must be enforced regardless of his religion or belief.
Whether you are a government employee, a simple worker, an employee in the private sector, a top manager, no matter your monthly salary… you are required to be honest, obliged to be truthful,
and accountable to God… and to people… and to yourself.
